Quick kicks

ACC’s top rusher Choice goes down with injury

Atlantic Coast Conference rushing leader Tashard Choice’s status for the rest of the season was uncertain after he left Georgia Tech’s game Saturday with a knee injury.

The senior was hurt on a 7-yard run in the first quarter of the Yellow Jackets’ 34-10 win over Army. He did not return to the game after being helped off the field and taken to the locker room on a stretcher.

Coach Chan Gailey said Choice’s availability for a Nov. 1 game against Virginia Tech might not be known until Monday or Tuesday. He said the initial report from Tech’s medical staff left room for hope and the senior will have more tests today.

“It’s not severe but it’s not minor,” he said. “It’s somewhere between those two.”

Choice left the game with 9 carries for 24 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.

He began the day with 840 yards rushing, an average of 120 per game, to lead the ACC and rank 12th in the nation. His injury came one week after he set career highs with 37 carries for 204 yards against Miami.

“He is our voice and he’s the one who fires us up and gets us going,” Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett said. “He’s not going to stop doing that. I don’t know the extent of his injury. He was in high spirits when I saw him.”

Alabama suspends five

Five Alabama players, including starting linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis and tailback Glen Coffee, were suspended for Saturday’s 41-17 victory over Tennessee for a violation of school policy involving the receipt of textbooks.

The university discovered the infractions Thursday but did not elaborate. Also suspended were reserve defensive backs Marquis Johnson and Chris Rogers.

Coach Nick Saban said he didn’t learn about the suspensions until Friday night and didn’t know how long the players would be out.

“Obviously some players did not use good judgment in what they did,” he said. “I don’t know all the circumstances around it.”

Division II record set

Grand Valley State won its 35th straight game to set the Division II record for longest winning streak, beating Northwood 51-20 Saturday in Midland, Mich.

Hillsdale, an in-state rival to Grand Valley State, set the previous record from 1954-57.

Brad Iciek completed 17 of 24 passes for 403 yards for Grand Valley State and the Lakers (7-0, 6-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate) had 641 total yards.

Associated Press