Sept. 5, 2000
By TOM COYNE
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) – Notre Dame quarterback Arnaz Battle’s sprained right ankle didn’t appear to bother him in practice Monday as the Irish began preparations for top-ranked Nebraska.
“He’ll be 100 percent,” coach Bob Davie said. “The swelling went down.”
Battle was several minutes late for the practice and rode a stationary bike while the team stretched and did some sprints. He then joined the team for the rest of practice.
“There’s no problem with my preparation. I may not be 100 percent as of today, but Tuesday I’m looking forward to going through the practice at 100 percent,” he said.
Battle had a plastic brace on his ankle during a news conference earlier Monday and limped slightly. He sprained his ankle Saturday during the second quarter of No. 23 Notre Dame’s 24-10 victory over Texas A&M. Battle said his ankle rolled while he was scrambling.
The ankle was retaped at halftime and was sore in the second half. Despite the injury, Battle was more effective in the second half, completing 4 of 5 passes for 79 yards, including a 46-yard TD pass to Javin Hunter that gave the Irish the lead.
Battle was 10-of-16 for 133 yards overall with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He had 12 carries for 50 yards.
Battle also needed several stitches in his left shin and had the wind knocked out of him a bit when he ran hard into the wall surrounding the field after being chased out of bounds on the third play of the game. Battle joked that he was going to review game films to see which teammates failed to help him slow down.
“I thought someone would grab me but they kind of parted like the Red Sea,” he said. “They say you take your first lick and the jitters go away. My first lick just happened to be against a concrete wall.”