COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : AROUND THE NATION : Bad Back May Sideline Buckeye Coach

A ruptured disk could take Ohio State Coach John Cooper away from his team for as long as a week.

Cooper, whose Buckeyes are 2-2-1 and play at Purdue Saturday, said he first noticed pain in his lower back in August but didn’t go in for tests until Monday.

“I didn’t think it was all that serious at first, but it’s gotten to the point where I can hardly stand it,” he said.

He could have surgery as soon as Sunday. Doctors have told him he will be sidelined about a week, but he disagrees.

“That’s what they say, but I’m thinking no more than three or four days,” he said. “Hey, it’s football season.”

A three-game losing streak is taking its toll at Arizona State, which plays at Oregon Saturday.

Reserve wide receiver Micky Reeves, citing “personal reasons,” quit the football team, and backup fullback Jeff Simoneau missed another practice and his playing status is questionable.

Reeves, a redshirt freshman considered one of the nation’s best high school players, didn’t play a down this season, and Coach Larry Marmie said Reeves returned home to Roswell, N.M.