Louisiana Tech suffered a few injuries during its 37-13 loss at Auburn, but nothing serious, head coach Derek Dooley said Monday.Tech lost one of its best players early in the game when defensive tackle D?Anthony Smith was stepped on and had trouble breathing.
He was taken to the locker room in the first quarter, and didn?t return until the second half.
When he did return, he ?wasn?t the same,? Dooley said, adding that, ?hopefully he?ll be fine.?
Smith, a preseason All-WAC selection, finished the game with three total tackles.
Defensive tackle Ramon Randle was also injured in the game. He was helped off the field in the third quarter, unable to put any weight on his left leg.
?Ramone Randle hurt his ankle so we?ll see,? Dooley said. ?He?s a day-to-day guy.?
Both Smith and Randle remain in their usual spots on the depth chart ? Smith as a starter, Randle as a backup.
Though the injuries may not be significant, the Bulldogs have another problem.
They seem to have caught the flu bug. Starting strong safety Deon Young was quarantined from the team for two days last week and didn?t arrive in Auburn until the day of the game. Now a fever is spreading.
?We had about three other guys start catching a fever on Friday,? Dooley said. ?We got about three more today (Monday). So we?re concerned about this thing not turning into an outbreak.
?And it?s not just here, it?s everywhere. ... I?m a little worried about this flu stuff.?
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
Dooley said he was ?real upset? after the game, and is still upset, but saw a lot of effort and playmaking when watching film from the game?s first half.
Tech?s Matt Nelson kicked a 20-yard field goal that tied the score at 10-10 with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Tigers then drove for a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the half that put them ahead 13-10.
?When you look at the first half, it wasn?t just the score,? Dooley said. ?You look at our offense -- I think we were 50 percent on third down. We were averaging eight yards an attempt throwing the football, which is very good. We had an 18-play, 90-yard drive to end the half, which is just outstanding.?
He was taken to the locker room in the first quarter, and didn?t return until the second half.
When he did return, he ?wasn?t the same,? Dooley said, adding that, ?hopefully he?ll be fine.?
Smith, a preseason All-WAC selection, finished the game with three total tackles.
Defensive tackle Ramon Randle was also injured in the game. He was helped off the field in the third quarter, unable to put any weight on his left leg.
?Ramone Randle hurt his ankle so we?ll see,? Dooley said. ?He?s a day-to-day guy.?
Both Smith and Randle remain in their usual spots on the depth chart ? Smith as a starter, Randle as a backup.
Though the injuries may not be significant, the Bulldogs have another problem.
They seem to have caught the flu bug. Starting strong safety Deon Young was quarantined from the team for two days last week and didn?t arrive in Auburn until the day of the game. Now a fever is spreading.
?We had about three other guys start catching a fever on Friday,? Dooley said. ?We got about three more today (Monday). So we?re concerned about this thing not turning into an outbreak.
?And it?s not just here, it?s everywhere. ... I?m a little worried about this flu stuff.?
LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE
Dooley said he was ?real upset? after the game, and is still upset, but saw a lot of effort and playmaking when watching film from the game?s first half.
Tech?s Matt Nelson kicked a 20-yard field goal that tied the score at 10-10 with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Tigers then drove for a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the half that put them ahead 13-10.
?When you look at the first half, it wasn?t just the score,? Dooley said. ?You look at our offense -- I think we were 50 percent on third down. We were averaging eight yards an attempt throwing the football, which is very good. We had an 18-play, 90-yard drive to end the half, which is just outstanding.?
