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Gators' Ingram gone for season because of torn ACL
By Chris Low
ESPN.com

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Florida coach Urban Meyer confirmed to reporters following practice Thursday night that senior tight end Cornelius Ingram would undergo season-ending knee surgery next week. Ingram, who caught seven touchdown passes last season for the Gators, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a 7-on-7 drill Tuesday in practice. At the time, he didn't think it was a serious injury, but his knee began to swell later that night and into the next morning. An MRI showed a complete tear of the ACL.

"It's the hardest part of the game, the hardest part of coaching and the hardest part of playing, especially when you've got a guy like that who does everything right," Meyer said.

Ingram considered turning pro following last season, but elected to return for his senior season. The Gators had spent a big part of the spring and summer putting in a two-tight end package that would feature both Ingram and sophomore Aaron Hernandez.

"You feel terrible for [Ingram]," Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said. "He's such a big part of what we were planning to do, and I know he was going to have a great season. We've got to handle it, deal with it and go on, but it's not easy."

Ingram, who's already used up his redshirt year, could petition the NCAA for a sixth year, but Meyer indicated that the NFL would probably be Ingram's next stop.


Ohio State's Washington, O'Neal will sit out first two games of season
By Adam Rittenberg
ESPN.com

Ohio State defensive backs Donald Washington and Jamario O'Neal have been suspended for the first two games of the season, the players told reporters Thursday at media day. Multiple news outlets reported Thursday night that the players confirmed their suspensions but did not elaborate on the reason for punishment. There has been no official announcement from the team.

Washington is a starting cornerback for the Buckeyes. O'Neal is a reserve at strong safety. The two will miss games against Youngstown State and Ohio before being allowed to return Sept. 13 at USC. Both players were held out of portions of spring practice for undisclosed reasons. Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said only that they needed to "earn their car keys back."

The Buckeyes secondary is already without Eugene Clifford, who transferred shortly after an assault arrest, and James Scott, who is not participating in training camp. Washington has made 22 career starts, including all 13 games last year. He has 80 career tackles and an interception. Sophomore Chimdi Chekwa, listed ahead of Washington on the preseason depth chart, likely will start in his place against Youngstown State and Ohio.


Auburn CB Savage injured knee in practice, surgery successful
Associated Press

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn cornerback Aairon Savage will miss the season after undergoing knee surgery. Coach Tommy Tuberville said Wednesday's operation was a success.

Savage was a starting safety last season and finished with 26 tackles. He hurt the knee in Monday's practice. Tuberville did not specify the extent or nature of the injury. Savage's brother told the Albany Herald in Georgia that the player had a dislocated knee cap, a torn ACL and a torn MCL.

Savage is eligible for a medical redshirt and could return in 2009 with two years remaining.


Miami determines Dixon was not dehydrated at practice
By Heather Dinich
ESPN.com

Miami defensive tackle Antonio Dixon was released from the hospital Thursday after hyperventilating in Wednesday morning's practice, a school spokesman said. Dixon will return to practice Friday, but it's not clear yet if he will participate.

Miami coach Randy Shannon had originally said Dixon was dehydrated, but the team later said he wasn't and they were still reviewing his test results.

Two players -- running backs Damien Berry and Lee Chambers -- left practice early on Tuesday after suffering heat-related problems. Shannon has been starting practices at 7:45 a.m. but has had to stretch them to almost three hours because there are so many young players on the roster still learning the system.


Dismissed LSU lineman, Jones, transfers to Oklahoma
Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. -- Former LSU offensive lineman Jarvis Jones has transferred to Oklahoma. Jones played seven games during the Tigers' national championship season last year but was dismissed after breaking team rules. The 6-foot-7, 294-pound Jones was at Sooners practice Thursday.

"Jarvis is a talented guy who we recruited when he was in high school," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "We're excited that he has joined the team."

Jones played as a backup at left tackle and right guard as a freshman last season. He must sit out a year under NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible to play in 2009. Oklahoma had a scholarship open last week when receiver Josh Jarboe was kicked off the team.


Kentucky kicks QB Pulley off team for rules violations
Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Curtis Pulley's off-field problems never allowed him to live up to his on-field promise. The talented but troubled Kentucky quarterback was dismissed from the team Tuesday by coach Rich Brooks for a violation of team rules, a move that hands the starting quarterback job Pulley was vying for to sophomore Mike Hartline.

"I'm in the business of taking a young man and building him into a responsible young man, and obviously I feel like I've failed in this situation," Brooks said. "Sometimes for the better good of the whole, some parts have to be sacrificed."

The dismissal follows a turbulent offseason for Pulley that included a pair of run-ins with police. Pulley was arrested on traffic charges in Hardin County on July 22 and pleaded guilty to speeding in district court last week. He received a citation for marijuana possession in Louisville in June.

Brooks said last week Pulley would miss playing time because of his legal troubles but still had a chance to win the starting job. The coach reconsidered after getting more details on Pulley's situation.

"There is basically a little more as I delved into it than I was aware of at the time," Brooks said.

The decision came as a "shock" to Hartline, who will likely be the starter when the Wildcats open the season at Louisville on Aug. 31.

"I knew he was going to get in some playing time troubles," Hartline said. "But in the end it's all about what you have and how you plan to move on. Since he's not on our team anymore, it's tragic and everybody wants him on our team, but we can't really dwell on it."

Brooks said he's not concerned about Hartline's ability to lead the Wildcats, though he would have preferred to give the job to Hartline based on merit, not necessity.

"I had hoped this wouldn't be the way that the starting quarterback would be named," Brooks said. "I would have rather have done it on the field and without controversy."

Controversy, however, seemed to dog Pulley nearly from the moment he stepped on campus. Named Kentucky's "Mr. Football" following his senior season at Hopkinsville (Ky.) in 2004, Pulley's combination of speed and athleticism caught the eye of offensive coordinator Joker Phillips.

"When you recruit a kid, you get all these expectations of Curtis being a great player, and he is a great player, we just never saw it at Kentucky," Phillips said.

Pulley played sporadically at wide receiver and quarterback in 2005 and 2006, but left school briefly after losing a quarterback battle with Andre Woodson. He returned last fall and starred on the offensive scout team and appeared to have turned a corner during the spring, showing flashes of brilliance at times during the team's annual Blue-White game. Pulley passed for 134 yards and ran for another 82.

Brooks said afterward he was in no hurry to name a starter, though Phillips hinted during the summer that Hartline had gained an edge during offseason workouts by displaying the kind of leadership qualities Phillips is looking for in a quarterback.

"[Curtis] had improved, it wasn't as bad as it was the year he lost his job to Andre," Phillips said. "We just thought that Mike was the guy that was leading the guys the right way. Curtis was better, but Mike was ahead of him in the area as far as leading."

Pulley has two years of eligibility remaining, and Brooks said he anticipates Pulley transferring to a Football Championship Subdivision school. Brooks said he wasn't trying to send a message by dismissing Pulley but felt it may have shown his players that they will be held accountable for their actions both on and off the field.

"I'd like to think we try to keep a fairly high standard here," Brooks said. "I want to continue that, but it still breaks my heart any time something like that happens."


Bow's Graunke not practicing because of reported academic issues
Associated Press

HONOLULU -- Hawaii quarterback Tyler Graunke waited patiently for three seasons behind Colt Brennan and filled in well when called upon. With Brennan gone to the NFL, this season was supposed to be Graunke's opportunity to lead the Warriors.

Graunke, however, has been held out of the start of fall camp while he resolves undisclosed issues. It's unknown when the senior will rejoin the team, putting his status for the season opener at Florida in jeopardy. First-year Warriors coach Greg McMackin said Graunke's absence has not and will not affect the team.

"We've just moved on," he said Tuesday. "If somebody's not here, we just move on. If somebody gets hurt, we move on."

McMackin would not disclose why Graunke wasn't with the team, citing student privacy laws, only adding "Tyler has some things he needs to take care of."

The Honolulu Advertiser reported Tuesday that the problems are related to academics. Graunke has not officially been suspended by the team, as he was earlier this year. He was suspended because of academic reasons but was reinstated just before spring workouts.

Graunke is, by far, the most experienced quarterback on the young Hawaii team. He appeared in 10 games last year, throwing for 1,234 yards and 10 touchdowns. In two starts, he threw for 358 yards and two TDs to lead Hawaii to a come-from-behind victory over Nevada. He also passed for 285 yards and three TDs against Charleston Southern.

He even outperformed Brennan in the Sugar Bowl, throwing Hawaii's lone touchdown. He was 13-of-19 for 142 yards and was one of the few bright spots for the team, even if it was late in the game against Georgia's backups.

Graunke came to Hawaii the same year as Brennan following a heralded prep career in Tucson, Ariz., where he set the state's single-season passing record with 3,372 yards. He was listed ahead of Brennan and started his first game at Hawaii against No. 1 Southern California, led by Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.

With Graunke's absence, Inoke Funaki and junior college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch will compete for the starting job. Funaki, a short and mobile quarterback, is the only one of the three with playing time at Hawaii. He was 10-of-15 for 135 yards and three touchdown last year.

McMackin said a starter will be selected about two weeks before the Aug. 30 season opener at The Swamp and will get about 75 percent of the reps in practice. Center John Estes, one of just three returning full-time starters on offense, said he has "full confidence" in the new quarterbacks, who just need experience.

"We've got great players at quarterback because everybody wants to come and play quarterback here," he said.

Running back Leon Wright-Jackson said Graunke's absence has been a minor distraction and the team has remained focus.

"We have to move on. We have to," he said. "It's unfortunate because Tyler is like our older brother and he knows everything. So it's just unfortunate, but we just have to move forward."