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Samuels still questionable Alabama Outland winner running but still in pain
Posted: Monday December 27, 1999 12:44 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- Alabama still isn't sure if Outland Trophy winner Chris Samuels will be able to play against Michigan in the Orange Bowl because of recurring soreness in the left tackle's knee. Samuels has fluid on his right knee, and possibly arthritis. He twisted his knee Oct. 16 against Mississippi, but continued to play through the season. Samuels, who has started 41 straight games, did some light running Sunday. It was his first activity since Dec. 4, when Alabama (10-2) beat Florida in the SEC Championship game. The senior lineman said he was encouraged after the run, but still didn't know if he could play Jan. 1 against Michigan (9-2). "At this point, it's still paining me pretty much the same," said Samuels, who also worked on coming out of his stance. "I don't know if I can play or not. Hopefully I can because I really want to play in my last game." Alabama coach Mike DuBose said he had hoped to see more improvement in Samuels' knee. "Some of the swelling is down, but not all of it," he said. "But we're still not to the point where we can say he is going to play or not going to play." He is the primary blocker for tailback Shaun Alexander and the protector of the blind side of Alabama's quarterbacks. He didn't allow a single sack from the left side this season and had 89 knockdown blocks. Samuels finally expressed concern before the SEC Championship, saying the pain had been constant, but went out and played almost the entire game on the artificial turf in the Georgia Dome. "After the Ole Miss game, it's just pretty much been going down from there," he said. "It's been swelling a lot more than usual." Samuels said he expected his knee to feel better each week, but it has instead felt worse. "I just couldn't take it anymore," he said. Samuels visited Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., but was told a further examination would be needed after the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1. Alexander said when Samuels sat out the last three weeks of practice, he realized how much pain the tackle was in. "I know how Big Sam is, he's a warrior," Alexander said. "If he's not practicing, he's hurt."
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