Alabama’s Mark Ingram Injured, Will Miss Crimson Tide Opener

That sound you just heard was Alabama fans swallowing their tongue.

Earlier Tuesday, the school made the following announcement regarding the Crimson Tide’s starting running back, last year’s Heisman Trophy, and a generally the biggest big man on campus college football has left. The news is not good:

”Mark Ingram sustained a left knee injury late in Monday’s practice. It was a situation where everyone involved thought it would be better to take care of now, so he would not have any issues with it later in the season.

”Mark had an arthroscopic procedure this morning with Dr. Cain and Dr. Andrews and it was successful. We have full confidence in our medical staff and we know the doctors and athletic trainers will do an outstanding job in taking care of Mark and assisting him in his rehab.

“Mark will definitely be out for this week’s game against San Jose State and we will manage this on a week to week basis beyond this week. We will make every decision in the future based on what’s best for Mark and his career as we consult with Dr. Cain and Dr. Andrews on his progress. This is not an injury that will affect Mark’s future ability to make a full recovery in a relatively short time frame.”

The presence of Albama’s superstar sophomore running back, Trent Richardson, should soften the blow in the short term, but for the long term, a meeting with Dr. James Andrews is never good. And losing your Heisman Trophy winner is not how any title-winner wants to start out a bid to repeat.

We’ll more as it emerges from Tuscaloosa.