COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT WEEKDAY UPDATE : AZTECS : Arey Doesn’t Stay Out for Long

Just as Coach Al Luginbill predicted, Tuesday’s back injury to receiver Dennis Arey was much ado about nothing. Although he was wearing extra padding on his bruised back and still in some pain, Arey was back at practice Wednesday running full speed after receiving four sessions of therapy.

“He’s been hurt every Tuesday for the last four weeks,” Luginbill said. “Whatever it is, it always seems to get straightened out by Wednesday.”

Arey was hurt when he was sandwiched between two defenders during a passing drill.

“It was one of those things where I got hit where there wasn’t any padding,” Arey said. “It doesn’t hurt when I run, just when I stop.”

Was he unlucky or just prone to injuries in practice?

“I think I’ve proved myself,” he said. “(Tuesday) was the first practice I’ve missed all year.”

With the exception of running back Tommy Booker, everyone is healthy enough to play in Saturday’s game against Wyoming. Even Booker, who has missed the past two games with a sprained ankle, might be ready to play. . . . Linebacker Jamal Duff, who has been out with a deep thigh bruise, won’t play because he hasn’t had enough work in practice. Luginbill said he is considering redshirting Duff, a freshman, but he won’t make a decision until after next week’s UCLA game. . . . Luginbill said his team will not mind playing in the altitude of Wyoming. “They just want to play. We get more of a college atmosphere on the road anyway.”