Alabama Suspends Top Lineman

Alabama has suspended star defensive lineman Michael Myers while the school investigates his possible contact with a sports agent.

Coach Mike DuBose said he hoped the situation would be ironed out before Alabama’s next game, Thursday at Vanderbilt, although he said it was still possible Myers wouldn’t play.

Alabama officials said they became aware of an unspecified “agent-related” problem with Myers last Thursday after a call from the NCAA.

Marie Robbins, associate athletic director of compliance, said after talks with the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA, Myers was allowed to play in last Saturday’s opener, a 42-17 victory over Houston, because “not enough information had been developed to withhold Michael.”

The conference told the university Tuesday that more information had been uncovered, which led the university to suspend Myers from competition until further investigation.

Both Robbins and DuBose stressed that Myers had not been declared ineligible by the conference or the NCAA. The suspension was strictly a university decision.