When Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller first was hurt in last Saturday’s game against Purdue, he didn’t know what to think.
He’d never before been thrown down on his head and neck.
“I didn’t know what it was,” he said of the injury. “I was just a little bit dizzy … whiplash. So they sent me to the hospital to see what it was.”
Tests determined that Miller, a sophomore who ranks among the top rushers in the nation, did not have a concussion or any other serious injury. He was cleared to return to practice immediately. The only lingering problem has been a slightly sore neck.
“No. 5 is doing good,” coach Urban Meyer said after Ohio State’s Wednesday practice. “Full-speed practices really yesterday and today. Sore neck, but today’s much better. He lifted (weights) and he’s good to go.”
Miller was tackled from behind by Purdue defensive back Josh Johnson late in the third quarter of No. 9 Ohio State’s 29-22 overtime win. He was thrown hard to the turf, had difficulty getting up, and then had to be carted off the field.
Meyer said Miller is not under any limitations for Saturday’s big showdown against Penn State (5-2, 3-0). He is listed as the starter.
“I’d say I’m full go,” Miller added.
EMMERT TALKS PENN ST.
NCAA president Mark Emmert says the sanctions levied on Penn State for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal dealt with the behavior of university leaders and whether the school handled the allegations appropriately.
Emmert said the “fact that there was criminal activity is not the NCAA’s issue.”
The landmark penalties handed down in July included a four-year bowl ban and strict scholarship cuts.
A former assistant football coach, Sandusky was sentenced this month to at least 30 years in prison after being convicted on dozens of criminal counts.
“What we were interested in, and what we focused on, was the behavior of those people around that situation,” Emmert said, “and whether or not the university handled the allegations and the information that it received appropriately.”
EXTRA POINTS
Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint was ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, pay fines and undergo random drug and alcohol tests in sentencing from a drunken driving case stemming from a July arrest. He pleaded guilty in August to operating a vehicle while visibly impaired after facing the more serious charge of operating while intoxicated. … Kansas coach Charlie Weis said the Jayhawks are sticking with freshman quarterback Michael Cummings over senior Dayne Crist for Saturday’s game against Texas. … Columbus, Ohio, sports talk-show host Scott Torgenson was fired after tweeting he wished TV analyst and former Michigan receiver Desmond Howard would get fired or die so he could again watch ESPN’s College GameDay.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.