Heisman Trophy winner Ingram to miss season opener
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will miss No. 1 Alabama's season opener against San Jose State after injuring his left knee during practice.
He was hurt Monday and coach Nick Saban said in a statement the star tailback had an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday. The coach says Ingram should make a full recovery in a "relatively short time."
"Mark will definitely be out for this week's game against San Jose State and we will manage this on a week to week basis beyond this week," Saban said.
San Jose State went 2-10 last season, but the Crimson Tide face a much stiffer test in the second week of the season. No. 19 Penn State visits Tuscaloosa on Sept. 11.
Alabama does have a talented backup in sophomore Trent Richardson, who ran for 751 yards and scored eight touchdowns last season, including 109 yards and a 49-yard touchdown against Texas in the national title game.
He and Ingram were picked as the preseason first-team all-Southeastern Conference tailbacks.
Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman winner as a sophomore after rushing for a school-record 1,658 yards and catching 32 passes. He's the first running back since Pittsburgh's Tony Dorsett in 1976 to win both a Heisman and a national title in the same season.
He was the third consecutive sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy and missing games would be a setback toward becoming the second player to win two Heismans. Archie Griffin of Ohio State is the only player to win the Heisman twice.
There's not much experience behind Richardson while Ingram is out. Redshirt freshman Eddie Lacy is listed as the third-teamer.
"Eddie's a little bit taller than all the other running backs," Ingram said Monday. "He's a physical runner. He can make you miss. He can catch good out of the backfield. He's another great back. He'll be real special here as well."
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