MU suspends Nash indefinitely

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri starting tailback Damien Nash has been suspended indefinitely, football coach Gary Pinkel said Monday, without explaining the action.

Nash, a junior, has started all seven games this season and leads Missouri (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) with 128 carries, 610 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown.

Redshirt freshman Marcus Woods will start in Nash's place. Woods has played in all seven games, gaining 254 yards on 66 carries. Freshman Tony Temple will back up Woods.

Though Pinkel would not say why Nash was suspended, the action follows Nash's comments that appeared in Jason Whitlock's column in The Kansas City Star on Sunday, a day after Missouri lost 20-17 to Oklahoma State in Columbia.

Nash, who carried the ball only seven times in the second half, made some unfavorable remarks about the offense.

"I wish I had the headphones on to hear what's going on," Nash said. "I wish I could call the offense. I didn't understand a lot of the plays."

Pinkel would not say if Nash would travel with the Tigers to their game at Nebraska (4-3, 2-2) on Saturday. He said the decision on how many carries each player will receive against the Cornhuskers will be made later this week.

Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen said losing Nash would not affect the look of the Missouri offense. "It won't change it at all," he said. "We'll run the same offense."

Temple missed a week of training camp after he was temporarily ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA. One of the top running backs in the 2003 recruiting class, Temple will shed his redshirt status and play Saturday.

"I gave Tony the option of what he wanted to do," Pinkel said. "Tony hasn't been really ready -- he's physically ready to run the football and catch -- but as far as all the blocking and all the detail, because he missed two-a-days, it takes time to get ready. I asked Tony and his quote to me was 'I want to do it for the team and I'm dying to play.' So, we will play Tony Temple."

The Tigers are fifth in the Big 12 and 23rd nationally in rushing, averaging 189 yards per game. Nebraska is second in the league and 13th nationally against the run, allowing 99.3 yards per game. The two teams are tied atop the Big 12's North division.