Alabama Player Suspended

The best offensive lineman in the country, Alabama's Andre Smith, was suspended for the Sugar Bowl. Coach Nick Saban didn't go into a lot of detail on which rules where broken.

“The University of Alabama, the team and the football program are more important than any individual player,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said in a statement Monday. “Everyone on our team depends on each other to be responsible, to make good choices and decisions relative to their actions.”

Smith is a junior and is expected to forgo his senior year. He is expected to be a high draft choice for an NFL team.

With Smith's suspension though, Alabama's chances in the Sugar Bowl have been hampered. While they are still expected to beat Utah, without Smith this could be a difficult. Alabama already averages less than a sack and a half per game, but without Smith John Parker Wilson's backside will be UN-protected.

This will be an interesting sub plot in this year's Sugar Bowl.