Peek could see action against LSU on Saturday

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama's Colin Peek attempted to practice Monday with a brace on his left knee, a sign that the starting tight end intends to be available for Saturday's game against LSU.

Peek missed most of the Oct. 24 victory over Tennessee with a sprained MCL suffered during pregame warm-ups. He was held out of three workouts during Alabama's bye week.

"It will be day-to-day to see how he can do," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. "Hopefully, he will be able to do some functional things on Tuesday and if everything goes well, we're hopeful he will be able to play in the game and contribute in the game."

Two other reserve players — cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and tailback Terry Grant — were limited during Monday's practice with what Saban said were pulled muscles. Kirkpatrick was out of practice while Grant was restricted from contact work.

-- FREE WEEKEND: Most members of Alabama's team ventured out of town during a rare free weekend. That included Saban, who noted that he watched tape on his computer and sports on television Saturday.

"I really sort of enjoyed seeing what everybody in the world goes through on Saturday rather than what I go through, which is to watch a whole bunch of games, flip back and forth on the channels, have three or four games going at the same time, and my wife yelling at me the whole time because we're not watching what she wants to watch," he said.

-- SABAN BOWL III: Saban was asked 12 questions during Monday's press conference, but none had to do with the fact he will face his former program again Saturday.

After two years of departing classes, only one LSU scholarship player — sixth-year senior defensive tackle Charles Alexander — played on Saban's 2004 Tigers team.

In Baton Rouge, LSU coach Les Miles was asked if he's glad this rivalry is no longer all about the coaches involved.

"It's truly always been about LSU versus Alabama in my mind," Miles said.

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