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The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz., Asu Notebook Column: Sun Devils? Berg, Caldwell to Go Under the Knife

Posted on: Thursday, 29 December 2005, 15:00 CST

By Dan Zeiger, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz., The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Dec. 29--At least two Arizona State football players, offensive guard Stephen Berg and defensive end Kyle Caldwell, are bound for surgery as the Sun Devils head into an offseason of healing.

Berg will have an operation next week to clean out his shoulder, but it might turn into something more, based on what happened in the Insight Bowl on Tuesday. The junior aggravated the shoulder when he fell on his elbow in the first half and did not return.

"They don't know if the new injury is related or not," coach Dirk Koetter said on Wednesday. "When they go in there next week, if they find a new thing they have to address, they'll do it then." Caldwell hurt his groin in the first half of ASU's 45-40 win over Rutgers and did not return, putting a fitting cap on a frustrating junior year in which he suffered from knee, quadriceps and shoulder injuries. Caldwell is having arthroscopic surgery on his knee, and possibly his shoulder.

Middle linebacker Dale Robinson left Tuesday's game against Rutgers because he could not continue due to a thigh injury he suffered in practice last week. Safety Maurice London (concussion) and running back Cornell Canidate (knee) did not return.

Starting linebacker Robert James missed the Insight Bowl because he was in Mississippi caring for his father, Robert Sr., who has pneumonia.

NO CONTROVERSY Rudy Carpenter's Insight Bowl performance was superb -- he threw for 467 yards and four touchdowns despite separating his left (nonthrowing) shoulder is the first quarter -- but Koetter said that it does not change the depth chart at quarterback.

Sam Keller, who played eight contests before undergoing thumb surgery, remains at the top heading into spring practice.

"Sam was playing great when he went out, and Rudy came in and has done an awesome job," Koetter said. "But who's to say that Sam wouldn't have done even better? I don't know that." STAFF STUFF Koetter said that he is in the interview process in his hunt for a new quarterbacks coach and is "in no big hurry" to make a hire.

Both graduate assistants have gotten full-time jobs elsewhere. Scott Huff will join the Boise State staff as offensive line or tight ends coach, and Rob Snelling is the new offensive coordinator at Butte (Calif.) College. Koetter filled one of the GA spots with 29-yearold Charlie Ragle, who had been defensive coordinator at Chaparral High School.

Craig Juntunen resigned as the director of player development to pursue other interests.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

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Source: The Tribune

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