|
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- West Virginia All-American tailback
Steve Slaton is expected to be limited in the Toyota Gator Bowl -- if he
plays at all against Georgia Tech on Monday -- because of a bruised
left thigh. "He made some progress yesterday," West Virginia coach Rich
Rodriguez said Sunday. "We're going to see how he feels to run
around a little bit [Sunday]. If he makes as much progress [Sunday]
as he did [Saturday], we're optimistic he can play some. I don't
know how much -- he probably wouldn't be able to play, you know, 70
or 80 snaps." Slaton, a sophomore, ran for 1,733 yards and an average of 7.1 a carry this
season for the Mountaineers, who ranked third in the nation in
rushing at 302 yards per game. Backup tailback Jeremy Bruce is out with a hamstring injury,
which could move senior Jason Colson into a prominent role. West
Virginia can also rely more on quarterback Pat White, who ran for
1,074 yards and 17 TDs, out of the spread-option attack and
fullback Owen Schmitt. "[Colson] may be listed as a third-string guy, but there's no
question we've got complete confidence that he can do everything we
want out of our tailback," Rodriguez said. Georgia Tech said it wasn't taking anything for granted. "I think even with a bruised thigh or whatever's going on with
his leg, he's still very dangerous," Georgia Tech defensive tackle
Joe Anoai said of Slaton. "He's got tremendous speed. Even with a
small injury he can still break away. We feel that they have a
backup, he could be just as good, so we're going to prepare for
Slaton." The Yellow Jackets are also playing with a backup in the
starting lineup. Four-year starting quarterback Reggie Ball was ruled
academically ineligible a week and a half before the game, so
sophomore Taylor Bennett will get his second career start in his
place. Tech (9-4) has struggled at times under Ball, and coach Chan
Gailey has said he was thinking of playing Bennett anyway. West Virginia is vying for its first Gator Bowl win, despite
appearing in the game three of the past four years. Tech is playing
its ninth bowl game in the last 10 years.
|
