Smith sits with knee injury

TUSCALOOSA - Alabama junior Andre Smith had started 27 consecutive college football games before Saturday's home-opener against Tulane.

The All-SEC left tackle suffered what Alabama coach Nick Saban called a sprained right knee in the season-opening win against Clemson. Smith wore a jersey, jogging pants and no pads as he watched from the sideline Saturday against the Green Wave.

Saban initially described the injury as not serious, but Smith was listed as day-to-day all week.

Junior Mike Johnson slid over from left guard to take Smith's spot at left tackle. Sophomore David Ross, typically a backup at right guard, got the first start of his collegiate career, stepping in at left guard.

Rushing mainly off the right side, the Green Wave racked up four first-half sacks against Alabama's offensive line.

With starts against the Green Wave, senior quarterback John Parker Wilson and junior punter P.J. Fitzgerald overtook Smith, extending their team-high streak of games-started to 28.

Tiffin leaves game

Alabama sorely missed kicker Leigh Tiffin after the Muscle Shoals native was knocked out of Saturday's game in the first quarter.

Tiffin was blindsided and leveled by a Tulane blocker on the Green Wave's first kickoff return of the game, with 10:45 to play in the opening quarter. Tiffin watched from the bench before being taken to the locker room with 42 seconds left in the first quarter.

True freshman Corey Smith stepped in for Tiffin, missing a point-after try and booting a subsequent kickoff out of bounds to set up Tulane's second-quarter field goal drive.

Smith also missed a 37-yard field goal attempt with 6:59 to play in the first half.

Tiffin returned to the field to stretch during halftime.

Tiffin was one of three kickers nationally honored by the Lou Groza Award committee last week as "Stars of the Week." In the season-opener against Clemson, Tiffin made 4-of-5 field goals, including a career-long 54-yarder, the third-longest in Alabama history.

Senior right guard Marlon Davis went out with an injury early in the first quarter. Normal starting receiver Earl Alexander did not start after suffering a sprained ankle last week against Clemson. Senior Nikita Stover started in Alexander's place.

Rushing woes

Alabama's power running game in the season-opener against Clemson seemed like an apparition in the first half against Tulane.

After outrushing Clemson's "Thunder and Lightning" running back tandem of James Davis and C.J. Spiller by 239 yards, the second greatest differential nationally that week, the Crimson Tide finished the first half Saturday with zero rushing yards on 12 attempts. That included Wilson total of -29 yards, the product of four first-half sacks.

John Mark remembered

Alabama paid tribute to John Mark Stallings, the late son of former Alabama coach Gene Stallings, by showing commentary by the national championship-winning coach at Saturday's home-opener.

John Mark Stallings was born with Down syndrome and suffered other health problems related to a heart defect before dying last month at the age of 46

In the video tribute, coach Stallings recalled his son talking about his all-time favorite Alabama coach, Nick Saban.

"You know your daddy coached at Alabama?" Gene recalled asking his son.

"He said, 'Yeah, but you don't coach there now.' "

Saban reaches 100

With Alabama's win against Tulane, Saban got the 100th win of his collegiate head coaching career. Saban boasts a 100-48-1 record in his 13th season as a college coach.

Holy Toledo

Tulane coach Bob Toledo suffered his first career loss against Alabama on Saturday. Toledo led UCLA to a 35-24 season-opening win against No. 3 Alabama at the Rose Bowl in 2000. The Toledo-led Bruins also handed the Tide a 20-17 season-opening loss at Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2001. Toledo is 3-7 against the SEC, with his other win coming against South Carolina in 1981.

Bryan App can be reached at 740-5730 or bryan.app@timesdaily.com.