VolQuest.com - Tackles hurt in Boilermaker loss

November 26, 2006

HONOLULU - Purdue's loss at Hawaii Saturday might have come with quite a price: 40 percent of its offensive line.

Each of the Boilermakers' starting tackles were injured, presumably throwing into question their status for the Champs Sports Bowl in late December.

Sophomore right tackle Sean Sester went down in the second quarter, injuring his left ankle on a running play.

After the game, Coach Joe Tiller said the injury might be a potentially troublesome high ankle sprain, an injury that can linger for weeks and weeks, if not longer.

That could be the hope, though, as he'll also be examined for ligament damage.

Sophomore Garret Miller played the rest of the game in his classmate's absence.

But as worrisome as Sester's status might be, Tiller said he's more concerned about senior left tackle Mike Otto, who the coach said "might" have a torn medial-collateral ligament in his knee, which might require surgery, which would be especially unfortunate not just for a player winding down his college career, but also for one with a chance to play football professionally next year and for years to come.

Otto's start in Aloha Stadium was his 49th consecutive, and injury could now jeopardize his chance to become the rare player to start 50.

Sophomore Dan Zaleski - a former walk-on with no substantive experience - was on the field in Otto's place on Purdue's last drive.

Before Saturday, Purdue had gone the whole season with the same five starting every game on the offensive line.

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2006. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.

Tennessee NEWS

[More]

Latest Headlines:

Resources:

Font Size:

FEATURED PRODUCT