Cottrell received the one-game suspension for helping Buchanan with a speeding ticket, coach Mike DuBose said.

Cottrell said the favor he requested and got for Buchanan was "a minor NCAA violation."

The university announced the suspension following a review of the dismissed ticket, which an Alabama official said Buchanan has paid, and after consulting with the Southeastern Conference.

DuBose told The Birmingham News in Thursday's editions that Cottrell "made a mistake and made a phone call" on Buchanan's behalf.

The ticket was issued Jan. 6 in Calhoun County by a state trooper, law enforcement officers who are under the Department of Public Safety. The acting director of the agency, Mike Sullivan, resigned under pressure Oct. 1 after the governor was questioned about ticket-fixing favors in Sullivan's office.

Sullivan is also a longtime security escort for the Alabama football coach at games.

"In the scheme of things, with all the things I deal with on the NCAA Infractions Committee, this is not a major issue," said Gene Marsh, the university's faculty athletic representative, told the News.

Buchanan was held out of No. 11 Alabama's game against Florida while university officials investigated whether the ticket dismissal was an extra benefit in violation of NCAA rules.

Marsh said the university sent the NCAA proof that Buchanan paid the ticket. He said the dollar cost was "in the 90s."

Cottrell's suspension was only for Saturday. He was to continue coaching in practice and return to his regular duties immediately following the game, the university said.

Cottrell said he did not know when he requested the favor for Buchanan. He declined to discuss the request but said: "The NCAA has a rule that says no one can do anything as far as a legal matter for a player. I guess what I did constitutes that."

Buchanan, a reserve receiver from Atlanta, was charged with traveling 87 mph in a 70 mph zone. The charge was dropped April 19, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.

Alabama associate athletics director Mal Moore and linebackers coach Jeff Rouzie earlier told the Birmingham News they had tickets fixed.