Alabama and Utah adjust to suspension

NEW ORLEANS — Andre Smith’s suspension for Friday night’s Allstate Sugar Bowl didn’t only dominate Alabama’s day.

Perhaps the game’s marquee matchup won’t take place. Utah’s touted sophomore defensive end Paul Kruger was eager to challenge the Crimson Tide’s Outland Trophy winner.

Kruger said it was disappointing, “more for him than me. ... I think it would have been a good matchup. I was really confident going in.”

Kruger has 56 tackles this season — 15.5 for loss. He has 7.5 sacks. He has broken up seven passes, forced two fumbles and intercepted a pass against BYU.

Kruger still expects a big test on Friday.

“Whoever they throw in there, I’m sure, will be a tremendous player,” Kruger said. “(Smith), of course, was recognized as the best tackle in the nation — so it would have been a great opportunity for me.”

Utah middle linebacker Mike Wright said it won’t change the Utes’ preparation a bit.

“Obviously, he’s a very good football player and it’s a big hit for them offensively, but we’re not going to focus too much on that,” Wright said. “He missed a game earlier this year and they didn’t miss a beat offensively.”

Actually, Alabama missed several beats when Smith was sidelined for the Tulane game with a sprained knee.

That was the only game Alabama failed to rush for 100 yards this season. Tulane held the Tide to a 172 yards on 49 offensive plays — both season lows.

That night, Mike Johnson moved from left guard and started at left tackle. David Ross was at left guard. When right guard Marlon Davis got injured during the game, Ross moved to right guard and Brian Motley stepped in at left guard.

Center Antoine Caldwell said Alabama learned several lessons in the Tulane game.

“Since that game, a lot of guys have become more aware that they’re one play away from coming into a football game,” Caldwell said. “We’ve got guys like
David Ross, Brian Motley, guys who can step in and make plays for us. ... We have several options, really. We had people going all over the place today. You never know what it’s going to be on Friday. The good thing is we’ve got depth and guys who can play multiple positions.”

Still, Caldwell said it is a blow to lose the Outland Trophy winner.

“No doubt about it, you can’t replace anybody like Andre,” he said. “In that (respect), that kind of sets us back a little bit. ... Knowing now that Andre’s not going to be able to play, that opens another window of opportunity for somebody else to step in. We’ve just got to be ready to play.”

Alabama practiced two hours in full pads on Monday in the Superdome.

Bowl roll: Utah is No. 6 in the nation after a 12-0 season. But the Utes are even more impressive with their postseason run.

Utah has won seven bowl games in a row, including the past five seasons.

Tight end Nick Walker of Brundidge said that tells him to be ready.

“They’re going to come out to play. They’re 12-0. I think they’ve won their last seven bowl games. They’re used to winning. You’ve got a bunch of guys with that type of attitude, they’re going to come out to play ball,” Walker said.

The Utes’ seven-bowl win streak is the second-longest current streak behind Boston College, which has won eight straight.

Sweet return: Alabama is making its 13th appearance in the Sugar Bowl, dating back to its first appearance in 1945.

The Tide is 8-4 in the Big Easy. Alabama’s most recent Sugar Bowl trip came in 1993, when the second-ranked Crimson Tide finished off an undefeated season with a rout of Miami to win the school’s 12th national championship.