Saban suspends Andre Smith for Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — Outland Trophy winner and first-team All-American left tackle Andre Smith has been suspended for the Sugar Bowl.

Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said the suspension was due to a violation of team rules and policies. The coach released a short statement announcing the suspension of the junior from Birmingham.

“Andre Smith has been suspended from participating in the Sugar Bowl due to a violation of team rules and policies,” Saban’s statement reads. “The University of Alabama, the team and the football program are more important than any individual player. Everyone one our team depends on each other to be responsible to make good choices and decisions relative to their actions.

“Andre Smith has done an outstanding job in our program as a person, student and a player and we will do all we can as an institution to support him in all future endeavors.

“Our priority and focus as a team is to play the best football game of the season in this Sugar Bowl and to support our players to overcome any adversity this unfortunate situation has created.”

Saban did not disclose the specifics of Smith’s infraction. Asked if it was a curfew violation or improper contact with an agent, Alabama sports information officials said they did not know.

Smith did make the trip to New Orleans and was at practice Saturday and Sunday. He was not at practice on Monday afternoon. It is not known if he was sent home.

Smith is generally considered the best player at his position on the team. The junior is being projected as a high draft choice should he enter the NFL Draft. He has submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Committee for feedback on his status.

He was the only finalist for both the Outland Trophy, which he won, and the Lombardi Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker or lineman.
Smith surrendered just one sack all season, and just seven in his 37-game Alabama career. He has failed to start at left tackle just once in his three years at Alabama. That came against Tulane this season. He sprained his knee in the season-opening victory over Clemson.

Smith was named a first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of American, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly.

He was part of an offensive front helped Alabama rank second in the SEC in rushing at 196.5 yards per game, and a 125.8 passing efficiency rating that ranked fourth in the league.