Villanova C Yarou cleared to play
December 31, 2009
VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP)—Villanova forward Mouphtaou Yarou is ready to play afterbeing sidelined for several weeks with hepatitis B.
The 6-foot-10 freshman practiced Thursday after he was cleared by doctors.Yarou started the first two games but was sidelined before a November tournamentin Puerto Rico.
Coach Jay Wright says he will evaluate Yarou in practice before deciding ifhe can play in games. Villanova opens its Big East schedule Jan. 2 at Marquette.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through exposure to infected blood and can causeserious liver damage.
No. 13 Georgetown holds off St. John’s
December 31, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP)—Chris Wright scored 21 points, Greg Monroe and Austin Freemaneach had 15 points, and No. 13 Georgetown beat St. John’s 66-59 on Thursdaynight in the Big East opener for both teams.
Georgetown (10-1, 1-0 Big East) was playing just its third game since Dec.12, and looked rusty at times. They built a 12-point first-half lead, butrepeatedly allowed pesky St. John’s (10-3, 0-1) back in the game.
The Red Storm took a 51-50 lead on Dwight Hardy’s 3-pointer with 9:31 toplay. Wright converted on a three-point play to give Georgetown a 53-51 lead,but Hardy hit another 3-pointer to make it 54-53.
Julian Vaughn hit a dunk, Greg Monroe made one of two free throws and alayup and Jason Clark a layup to make it 60-54 with 5:12 left.
The Red Storm had a chance to tie in the final minutes. D.J. Kennedy hit a3-pointer with 4:29 to play, but Hardy missed a 3-pointer with 3:20 to go andSean Evans was called for an offensive foul with 2:42 left.
Freeman sealed the game with two free throws with 16.6 seconds remaining tomake it 66-59.
It looked as if Georgetown would have an easy time when Wright scored 12points in a burst that lasted just over three minutes in the first half. TheHoyas’ 18-4 run gave them a 21-10 lead with 11:36 to play in the first half.
Wright, who had a career-best 34 points in Georgetown’s previous game, a16-point win over Harvard on Dec. 23, had 14 points at halftime.
It’s the second straight year that Georgetown has won 10 of its first 11games. Last season, the Hoyas stumbled badly in Big East play to a 16-15 finish.
St. John’s, which shot just 39 percent, was led by Hardy’s 14 points.Kennedy had 11 and Justin Brownlee had 10. The Red Storm, which has just onewinning season in Norm Roberts’ first five years as coach, had lost just twicein its first 12 games—a nine-point loss to Duke on Dec. 5 and a five-pointsetback to Cornell on Dec. 21.
It was just the Hoyas’ third game since Dec. 12, following their only lossto Old Dominion, at their on-campus arena on Dec. 19, and their win overHarvard.
Air Force gets 6 INTs in win vs. Houston
December 31, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)—Asher Clark and Jared Tew each ran for more than 100yards with two touchdowns and Air Force’s top-ranked pass defense had sixinterceptions against Case Keenum, leading the Falcons to a 47-20 victory overHouston in the Armed Forces Bowl on Thursday.
Air Force’s plan to limit Keenum and the nation’s most explosive offenseworked almost flawlessly. The Falcons (8-5) ran for 402 yards to go with TimJefferson’s effective passing (10 of 14 for 161 yards), holding the ball for 41minutes and then coming up with the big defensive plays.
Anthony Wright had three interceptions, and Chris Thomas had two picks to gowith his 12 tackles.
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Keenum, who leads the nation in yards passing, was 24 of 41 with aseason-low 222 yards and a touchdown for the Cougras (10-4). The six picks werea career high. In his other 13 games this season, he had only nine interceptionswhile throwing for 5,449 yards and 43 touchdowns.
After Air Force went ahead on Clark’s 36-yard TD to cap the opening drive ofthe game, Keenum’s first pass attempt deflected off his falling receiver and wasintercepted by Wright. That set up Tew’s 6-yard TD run for a 14-0 lead.
Tew finished with 26 carries for 173 yards, He had a 71-yard TD with 3:32left in the game after Keenum tossed his fifth interception.
Clark had 17 carries for 129 yards for the Falcons, who had lost in theArmed Forces Bowl the past two seasons, including 34-28 to Houston a year ago.Air Force had lost three postseason games since winning in the 2000 SiliconValley Bowl.
The Cougars, who got a return trip to Fort Worth after losing to EastCarolina in the C-USA championship game when Keenum threw five TDs and threeinterceptions, missed their first 11-win season since 1979.
Houston’s bowl win last year capped coach Kevin Sumlin’s debut season andsnapped an eight-game postseason losing streak that had spanned 28 years.
After Houston was held without a touchdown before halftime, Tyron Carrierreturned the opening kickoff of the second half 79 yards for his fourth TD thisseason. He took the ball near the left sideline, then ran to the middle of thefield before shooting through a gap and running untouched to get the Cougarswithin 24-13.
Air Force immediately responded with its first kickoff return for atouchdown since 1985. Jonathan Warzeka fielded the ball and stepped back intothe end zone before running 100 yards. Five Houston players got their hands onhim, but couldn’t get him down.
According to STATS LLC, which has such data only since 1996, it was only thesixth game in that span involving FBS teams when there were kickoff returns fortouchdowns on consecutive plays. None of them had been in a bowl game.
After the kickoff returns, Keenum threw a 10-yard TD to Patrick Edwards tomake it 31-20, but that was all the Cougars got.
That gave Keenum a TD pass in 30 consecutive games , but this was the firsttime in that streak that he had more picks than scores.
The junior quarterback who played his 40th career game has already said heplans to be back next season, when the Cougars return nine of 11 offensivestarters, including three 1,000-yard receivers.
The Cougars entered the Fort Worth Bowl leading the nation in total yards(581) while averaging 44 points. They managed only 331 total yards against theFalcons.
Air Force had allowed only 149 yards passing a game this season, even aftergiving up 377 in its regular-season finale at BYU.
Clark’s 22-yard TD midway through the second quarter, when he took a pitchto the right and ran untouched to the end zone, made it 21-3. The only pass onthat 11-play drive was a 13-yard completion by Jefferson, who by then was 5 of 5for 71 yards, 10 more than Keenum.
When Jefferson slipped down trying to run on third-and-goal from the 2 with17 seconds and no timeouts left just before halftime, he quickly got the offenseoff the field and the kicking team got out in time for Erik Soderberg’s 27-yardfield goal that made it 24-6.
Arkansas suspends 3 before Liberty Bowl
December 31, 2009
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Arkansas has suspended three players—including twodefensive starters—for unspecified violations of team rules. The Razorbacksface East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday.
Linebacker Wendel Davis, safety Matt Harris and wide receiver Marques Wadeare not expected to play. Davis is the team’s second-leading tackler. Harris isthird.
An athletic department spokesman confirmed the suspensions shortly after theRazorbacks finished addressing the media Thursday. Coach Bobby Petrino was notexpected to be available to reporters until Friday.
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Penn State pits size vs. LSU’s speed
December 31, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—The stereotypes emerge every time a Big Ten school meets anSEC program in the postseason: the plodding behemoths from up North can’t keepup with the speedsters from down South.
Joe Paterno will take his chances Friday when No. 11 Penn State (10-2) meetsNo. 13 LSU (9-3) in the Capital One Bowl.
Sure, he’s worried about LSU’s speed. But old-school Paterno is focusingmore on taking care of the little things that can turn a game.
“I’ve never been a guy for generalizations, and that’s a mediageneralization,” Paterno said about perceptions of the style of play in the BigTen and SEC. “It’s a football game. Who puts the ball on the ground, who getspenalties in key situations, things like that” matter more.
JoePa should know—he is the all-time leader in bowl wins with 23. He’salso major college football’s winningest coach with 393 victories, including twonational titles.
LSU coach Les Miles is no slouch either. He led the Tigers to the 2007national title after speeding past Ohio State, Penn State’s Big Ten nemesis,38-24, for one of four straight bowl victories for the Tigers under Miles.
“We do some good things … but I don’t think there’s any magic,” Milessaid about LSU’s success.
Paterno vs. Miles. Big Ten powerhouse vs. SEC powerhouse. It’s one of themost attractive matchups on the postseason schedule outside of the BCS.
The Capital One Bowl also pits two schools that fell short of the highexpectations that come from their large and rabid fan bases. It can bedisappointing for die-hard followers on both sides if their teams aren’t in thenational title hunt.
After rising to as high as No. 5 in the Top 25, Penn State fell out of thetitle chase in late September after a loss to Iowa at home. A second home lossto Ohio State in November effectively sealed Penn State’s fate of getting shutout of a second straight Bowl Championship Series berth.
A victory Friday could silence detractors who say the Nittany Lions haven’twon a big game all year.
“I don’t think this is a must-win for us,” Paterno said. “I don’t thinkwe have to prove anything. Our kids have to go out and play well and have somefun, and walk off the field and say, ‘We gave it our best shot.’ Good or bad.”
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup of the afternoon pits LSU’s offense—which ranks 108th out of 120 FBS teams (309 yards per game)—against PennState’s defense, which is eighth in the country (277 yards per game) and staunchagainst the run (93 yards).
Injuries in the backfield have forced one-time fourth-stringer Stevan Ridleyinto LSU’s starting lineup.
Trindon Holliday—the 5-foot-5 speedster who is the reigning NCAA 100-meterchampion with a time of 10.0 seconds—should also get carries and be a threatin the return game.
“We don’t have anyone with a jet pack on their back to get going as fast as(Holliday) goes,” Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said.
Miles vowed Thursday that LSU would use its running game even though PennState hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 15 straight contests.
If Linebacker U. standouts Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee shut down holes, itwill be up to improving quarterback Jordan Jefferson to make plays and get theball to top receiver Brandon LaFell (10 TDs) to dent Penn State’s bend-but-don’tbreak defense.
Jefferson, a 19-year-old sophomore, is drawing comparisons to Penn Statestandout QB Daryll Clark (23 TDs, 10 INTs) as a less polished and lessexperienced passer with mobility.
“This is really his first year, and I feel like he has been thrown in thefire on some very tough situations and I think he has been growing from thosesituations,” LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said of Jefferson.
The Tigers might be more tested than Penn State, having lost to Alabama, butbeating Georgia on the road. LSU got to as high as No. 4 in the poll before alsolosing to then-top ranked Florida, 13-3, in October.
But LSU left tackle Ciron Black isn’t about to give the Nittany Lions anybulletin-board material about their speed.
“I watched the linebackers on film and they run sideline to sideline. Thedefensive line is just as dominant as anybody in the SEC,” Black said. “Thewhole thing about the SEC being more dominant … I just don’t see it.”
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Bills promote national scout Nix to GM
December 31, 2009
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP)—Buffalo Bills national scout Buddy Nix has beenpromoted to general manager in team owner Ralph Wilson’s first move to revamphis front office.
Nix was introduced at a news conference Thursday as the Bills (5-10) prepareto close their season hosting Indianapolis (14-1) on Sunday. Nix fills a voidafter Marv Levy stepped down as general manager following the 2007 season.
Chief operating officer Russ Brandon, who had been filling the GM’s role,was promoted to chief executive officer, reporting to Wilson.
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In introducing Nix, Wilson said it was important to him to hire someone withan extensive football background. That’s a switch from Brandon, whose backgroundis in marketing.
“I’m here to introduce somebody that we’ve needed for a long time,something the fans and everybody in the area and myself have wanted, and that’sa general manager of football,” Wilson said, adding that his decision came downto two in-house candidates. “We really needed somebody who knew all aspects offootball.”
Wilson didn’t say who the other person was he considered.
At 70, Nix had been out of football after retiring in 2008 followingfive-year stint as the San Diego Chargers assistant GM/director of playerpersonnel, where he worked under A.J. Smith.
He came out of retirement to return to Buffalo this past year after servingas the team’s area scout from 1993-2000.
Nix has 14 years of NFL experience, mostly in scouting, and previously spent26 years coaching in the college ranks. That included a nine-year term as headcoach at Tennessee-Chattanooga, where he coached Bills receiver Terrell Owens(notes)during his freshman year.
“It’s not what I had in mind when I came back here in February,” Nix said.“The longer I’ve had time to think about it, the more excited I am about it.… I believe very strongly that we can get this done. And I’m totally committedto do it.”
He takes over what’s been a dysfunctional franchise that will miss theplayoffs for a 10th straight year, and closes this decade with one winningseason—a 9-7 finish in 2004. Buffalo is also in the midst of its fourthcoaching search since 2001 after Dick Jauron was fired in November and replacedby defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, who has a 2-4 record as interim headcoach.
Nix acknowledged that he might not have been the most high-profilecandidate, something many Bills fans wanted.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of splash we make today. What matters is twoyears and three years down the road, if we have this thing turned around in theright direction and we’re winning,” Nix said. “I know before I’m asked this,you’re going to think I’m crazy, but we’re not that far away.”
Nix’s first task will be hiring a head coach. Without providing a timetable,Nix said the team has a list of candidates.
Though he didn’t rule out Fewell, a first-time head coach, Nix noted he’smore interested in considering a candidate with previous head-coachingexperience.
Two-time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan interviewed for the job, but hasreportedly turned down the Bills.
With Nix in place, it’s uncertain whether the Bills will retain chief scoutTom Modrak, pro personnel director John Guy or Jim Overdorf, the team’s seniorvice president of football operation.
Nix said he wants to meet with Modrak and Guy following the season.
Bills hall of famers Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas attended the newsconference. Both are familiar with Nix, whose stint in Buffalo overlapped theircareers. And both said they are willing to assist Nix in whatever capacity, withThomas saying he has been asked to serve in some type of scouting role.
Broncos WR Marshall misses practice
December 31, 2009
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP)—Brandon Marshall(notes) is sitting out the Denver Broncos’practice with a strained right hamstring that he suffered running a route oneday earlier.
Coach Josh McDaniels said he wasn’t sure how serious the injury was or ifMarshall would be able to return to practice on Friday.
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Marshall just earned his second straight Pro Bowl honor and has caught atleast 100 passes for three straight seasons.
Wide receiver Eddie Royal(notes) (head, neck) and tight end Daniel Graham(notes) (knee)both returned to practice.
FSU’s Bowden set for emotional farewell
December 31, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—Bobby Bowden’s final game at Florida State hasarrived.
After 34 years at Florida State and his 44 years as a head coach, Bowdenwill lead his team onto the field for the final time Friday when the Seminoles(6-6) face No. 18 West Virginia (9-3) in the Gator Bowl.
Could there be a better tribute for a history buff like Bowden? His pathbegan at West Virginia when he became the head coach there in 1970. Bill Stewartwas a walk-on at West Virginia that year; he’s the coach of the Mountaineerstoday. And hundreds of Bowden’s other former players will be in the stands forhis farewell.
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Meyer wanted to keep chest pain private
December 31, 2009
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—Wanting to protect his children and football team, Floridacoach Urban Meyer was “very careful” about releasing information regarding hishospital stay following the Southeastern Conference championship game.
He hoped to keep private his chest pain, ambulance ride and diagnostic tests— at least until he had a chance to tell those closest to him.
“I have three children that mean more to me than anything. I have afootball team that means more to me than anything. I didn’t want it to get outat all,” Meyer said at a Sugar Bowl news conference Thursday. “We were verycareful. I didn’t want anyone alarmed.”
“And I think at some point, whether you’re a football coach, whether you’rea lawyer or whatever, you think at some point there would be a lot of respectfor families involved and children and 11-year-old boys and 16-year-old girlsand 19-year-old girls,” he added.
“Do what you have to do to protect them. If that means not coming cleanwith full details about something very personal, if you can’t understand that,then first of all, I think you’ve got to recheck yourself. And then second ofall, I think at some point you certainly will understand that.”
According to a 911 recording, Meyer complained of chest pain and said hisside was tingling before he was hospitalized Dec. 6.
Meyer’s wife told an Alachua County dispatcher that her 45-year-old husbandhad a pulse but wasn’t talking when she contacted emergency officials at 4:27a.m., hours after the Gators returned home from a 32-13 loss to Alabama.
“My husband’s having chest pains,” Shelley Meyer said. “He’s having chestpains, he just woke up in the middle of the night and said he’s having chestpains.”
Shelley Meyer said her husband had taken a sleeping pill that night and hadsuffered chest pains before. She repeatedly tried to rouse Meyer, who was lyingon his stomach on the floor.
“Urban, Urban, talk to me,” she says.
The 911 recording first was obtained by ESPN.
Initial reports indicated the Florida coach checked into a Gainesvillehospital, where he was treated for dehydration and released. Shelley Meyer tolddispatchers her husband was breathing and appeared to be grunting.
“He almost sounds like he’s kind of trying to cry,” she said.
Meyer abruptly resigned last Saturday, citing health problems, and thendecided he would instead take an indefinite leave of absence. He plans to coachthe fifth-ranked Gators in the Sugar Bowl against No. 4 Cincinnati on Fridaynight.
He declined to answer questions about his health Thursday as well as thetiming of his announcement.
“I think there will be an appropriate time to address some of thosesituations,” Meyer said. “Today would not be the day. This is about acelebration of a great football game with two really good teams, one undefeatedteam and one team that was undefeated until the SEC championship game.”
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Meyer didn’t want chest pains disclosed
December 31, 2009
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—Wanting to protect his children and football team, Floridacoach Urban Meyer was “very careful” about releasing information regarding hishospital stay following the Southeastern Conference championship game.
He hoped to keep private his chest pain, ambulance ride and diagnostic tests— at least until he had a chance to tell those closest to him.
“I have three children that mean more to me than anything. I have afootball team that means more to me than anything. I didn’t want it to get outat all,” Meyer said at a Sugar Bowl news conference Thursday. “We were verycareful. I didn’t want anyone alarmed.”
“And I think at some point, whether you’re a football coach, whether you’rea lawyer or whatever, you think at some point there would be a lot of respectfor families involved and children and 11-year-old boys and 16-year-old girlsand 19-year-old girls,” he added.
“Do what you have to do to protect them. If that means not coming cleanwith full details about something very personal, if you can’t understand that,then first of all, I think you’ve got to recheck yourself. And then second ofall, I think at some point you certainly will understand that.”
According to a 911 recording, Meyer complained of chest pain and said hisside was tingling before he was hospitalized Dec. 6.
Meyer’s wife told an Alachua County dispatcher that her 45-year-old husbandhad a pulse but wasn’t talking when she contacted emergency officials at 4:27a.m., hours after the Gators returned home from a 32-13 loss to Alabama.
“My husband’s having chest pains,” Shelley Meyer said. “He’s having chestpains, he just woke up in the middle of the night and said he’s having chestpains.”
Shelley Meyer said her husband had taken a sleeping pill that night and hadsuffered chest pains before. She repeatedly tried to rouse Meyer, who was lyingon his stomach on the floor.
“Urban, Urban, talk to me,” she says.
The 911 recording first was obtained by ESPN.
Initial reports indicated the Florida coach checked into a Gainesvillehospital, where he was treated for dehydration and released. Shelley Meyer tolddispatchers her husband was breathing and appeared to be grunting.
“He almost sounds like he’s kind of trying to cry,” she said.
Meyer abruptly resigned last Saturday, citing health problems, and thendecided he would instead take an indefinite leave of absence. He plans to coachthe fifth-ranked Gators in the Sugar Bowl against No. 4 Cincinnati on Fridaynight.
He declined to answer questions about his health Thursday as well as thetiming of his announcement.
“I think there will be an appropriate time to address some of thosesituations,” Meyer said. “Today would not be the day. This is about acelebration of a great football game with two really good teams, one undefeatedteam and one team that was undefeated until the SEC championship game.”
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