Alabama attorney general investigates Smith situation

NEW ORLEANS — The suspension of Alabama junior left tackle Andre Smith carried aftershocks Tuesday.

The state attorney general’s office is reviewing reports of alleged contact between the Outland Trophy winner and a sports agent, according to the Associated Press.

That comes a day after the All-American from Birmingham was suspended by Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban for Friday’s Sugar Bowl against Utah.

“The attorney general’s office has been active in prosecuting sports agent violations,” office spokesman Chris Bence told the AP. “It’s a felony. That’s a serious law.”

Smith has been projected as a top 10 pick, if not higher, in the NFL Draft if he chooses to skip his senior season.

The Alabama Uniform Athlete Agents Act requires sports agents to register in Alabama and prohibits them from giving anything of value directly or indirectly to a student athlete. The law also requires sports agents to notify university officials if a contract has been made with an athlete.

The state has prosecuted 10 cases involving violation of the law and most of them have resulted in convictions, the AG’s office said.

Practice proceeds: A day after going in full pads, the Crimson Tide started to taper off with a two-hour workout in shells at the Louisiana Superdome on Tuesday.

Linebacker Rolando McClain said the team’s attitude is good despite Smith’s suspension.

“We’re just going on with our business,” McClain said Tuesday. “With a coach like Coach Saban, we don’t get off track really. He did a great job. We understand what happened. ... There’s no way to replace Andre Smith, but at the same time we’ve got something to do and that’s what we’re going to focus on.”

At a brief viewing period at the start of practice, Mike Johnson was lined up at left tackle and David Ross at left guard. That was the starting lineup during the only missed start of Smith’s career, which happened after he sprained his knee in the season opener.

Johnson slid from left guard to tackle, and Ross came off the bench at left guard.

Double duty: It’s nice to be wanted, but Utah’s two coordinators should be exhausted. Not only have they prepared for Alabama, but they’ve taken new jobs while doing so.

The Utes’ co-defensive coordinator Gary Andersen is the new head coach at Utah State.

Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will be in the same role at Kansas State after the Sugar Bowl.

“When I accepted the position, I told the team, ‘I’m no different right now than the senior class,’ ” Ludwig said. “We’ve got the biggest challenge of our Utah football careers, and when this game is over, we’re going on to different challenges.”

Andersen said he’s juggling responsibilities.

“It’s a little tough to do both jobs right now,” he admitted. “This morning and this afternoon has been all Utah and this evening and tonight, I will get back to Utah State and the recruiting trail. It’s a dead period now, so there isn’t much you can really do right now. We came down here to win this ball game — which will be great for both programs.”

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart said he couldn’t fathom having two jobs at once.

“No way. There ain’t no way. I’ll never believe you can fully put your entire effort in two jobs,” Smart said. “Now, you can focus on one for two weeks, then go to the other. But to do two at the same time, that’s tough. That’s tough duty. I don’t see how anybody could do it. I wouldn’t want to be in that situation.”

Spreading cheer: Alabama’s team visited Children’s Hospital in New Orleans after practice. The Tide players visited children and handed out Crimson Tide hats with the Sugar Bowl logo.

“It is always a humbling experience to see these amazing kids,” Alabama linebacker Cory Reamer said. “It is nice to spend a little time with these kids that are in a hospital room all the time. To see the smiles on their faces when we come in a room is something special. It is a great feeling and something we look forward to every year.”

Saban show tonight: The Crimson Tide Bowl Preview will be broadcast from the Armstrong Room on the eighth floor of the Sheraton Hotel in downtown New Orleans today from 6 to 8 p.m. Tyler Watts, Barry Krauss and Tom Roberts will be hosting the show and will be joined by Alabama head coach Nick Saban from 7-8 p.m.