By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, December 3, 2011

TAMPA — D Mattias Ohlund, who has not played a regular-season game this season, is no longer skating and said Saturday that he does not know when he will.

Said coach Guy Boucher of Ohlund's recovery from Oct. 11 arthroscopic surgeries on both knees, "I don't know where we are."

That is quite a difference from two weeks ago, when there was optimism Ohlund was close to returning. Now, Ohlund said, "I don't even have a timetable."

"He's having some discomfort," GM Steve Yzerman said," so we're going to back off a little bit and re-evaluate and look at other ways that he can get back to training."

Yzerman said he would not characterize the episode as a re-injury but simple "irritation." Ohlund said nothing specific happened. He theorized he might have been too quick to get on skates after the procedures the team said cleaned out "loose bodies" and Ohlund called "pretty extensive."

Ohlund began skating by himself in mid November and participated in a couple of morning skates. Now, Ohlund said, the plan is to "stay off skates, rehab and see how it goes."

"It's hard," he said. "You want to be part of everything. It's not going to help coming in and complaining every day. I try to be as positive as I can, but clearly it's hard."

SITTING: In a surprise, RW Adam Hall was scratched against the Rangers in favor of Ryan Shannon, a scratch in Wednesday's 4-2 loss in Detroit.

Boucher said he wanted more offense in the lineup, specifically for secondary scoring.

"Not that Adam can't (provide that)," Boucher said, "but he's not known to be an offensive player."

True, Hall has one goal and two points in 24 games. But he is a ferocious defender and entered Saturday with a 62.7 faceoff winning percentage, tops in the league among players with more than 100 draws. He couldn't recall the last time he was scratched.

Shannon has one goal and five points in 18 games. He had 11 goals last season for Ottawa and has speed.

"That's what the coach has to do, is make tough decisions," Hall said. "It's going to be fun pushing to get back (in the lineup)."

Of Tampa Bay's 64 goals entering Saturday, 47 were from Steven Stamkos (16), Vinny Lecavalier (10), Marty St. Louis (7), Ryan Malone (5), Teddy Purcell (5) and Brett Connolly (4).

RISING: Matt Gilroy, perhaps Tampa Bay's most improved player, was added to the No. 1 power-play unit.

The defenseman hasn't played much with the extra man. He entered Saturday with 3:48 of power-play time, though that is more than the 2:34 he played the past two seasons combined for the Rangers.

But Gilroy has six assists and is plus-6, and his diagonal pass that set up Stamkos' goal against Detroit was textbook.

"He's someone who earned that spot on the power play. It wasn't just given to him," Stamkos said. "He's a smart player, and he's earned it."

ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning had just one power play in the game, the Rangers two. Neither scored. ... AHL Norfolk D Richard Petiot is out for the season with a knee injury. … Lightning D Bruno Gervais also was scratched. … Linesman Pierre Champoux left the game because of illness.

Times wires
Saturday, December 3, 2011

BOCA RATON — Howard Schnellenberger walked off the field as a coach for the final time, talked to his team, met well-wishers, changed clothes, then offered the simplest assessment of his career.

"It's been a joy," he said.

He spoke of half a century of coaching. A dismal finale surely could not ruin that.

Jyruss Edwards ran for two touchdowns and Kolton Browning threw for two as Louisiana-Monroe spoiled Schnellenberger's coaching finale Saturday, beating Florida Atlantic 26-0.

It was the third time the Owls (1-11, 0-8 Sun Belt) were shut out this year, a less-than-fitting end for Schnellenberger.

He'll move out of his football office today, and into a new administration job at FAU by Monday.

"I'm turning this problem over to someone else," the 77-year-old said.

Schnellenberger was a coach for three national championship teams under Bear Bryant at Alabama in the 1960s, an offensive coach for the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins, then the head coach for the 1983 Miami Hurricanes, the club that won the first of five national titles at the school.

Some Miami fans showed up Saturday with banners to thank Schnellenberger, who reflected on his decision to leave Miami for the USFL — a career blunder — after that 1983 season.

"If you look at it objectively, that's the dumbest thing a human being could do," Schnellenberger said.

FAU is expected to introduce Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini on Monday as Schnellenberger's replacement.

Times wires
Saturday, December 3, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — Montee Ball ran for three touchdowns, including the decisive 7-yard score with 3:45 to go, leading No. 15 Wisconsin past No. 11 Michigan State 42-39 Saturday night in the inaugural Big Ten championship game.

Wisconsin (11-2) is now headed to its second straight Rose Bowl.

Ball ran 27 times for 137 yards and caught a touchdown pass, giving him 38 TDs this season. That's one short of Barry Sanders' single-season record.

Russell Wilson was 17-of-24 for 187 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. He set an NCAA record with a TD pass in his 37th straight game. Texas Tech's Graham Harrell had the mark of 36.

The Big Ten's first championship game made the idea of a conference title tilt seem like a good one.

Michigan State (10-3) rallied from a 21-7 first-quarter deficit to take a 29-21 halftime lead and still led 39-34 after Dan Conroy's 25-yard field midway through the fourth quarter.

But Wilson and Ball answered with a score and a two-point conversion.

With 2:57 left, Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins ran to his left on third and 8 and found Keshawn Martin downfield on the left sideline for what would have been a first down in Wisconsin territory. Martin appeared to come down inbounds with one foot and it was originally called a catch. After a review, Martin's foot was ruled to be out of bounds and the Spartans punted on fourth down.

Isaiah Lewis ran into the Wisconsin punter, negating a punt return by Keshawn Martin that would have set up a potential winning touchdown at the Wisconsin 3. Wisconsin instead got a first down and ran out the clock.

Conroy kicked a 25-yard field goal with 8:28 left in the game to give Michigan State a 39-34 lead.

The Spartans had taken a 36-28 lead with 1:41 left in the third on a 44-yard touchdown catch by fifth-year senior wide receiver B.J. Cunningham.

It was Cunningham's third touchdown catch of the game, a single-game high. Cunningham also broke the school's career receiving record on the catch. He came into the game needing 88 yards to pass Andre Rison.

Ball scored his third touchdown of the game on a 5-yard shovel pass to pull within two points with 13:25 left in the fourth quarter and the Badgers went for the tie. Michigan State junior defensive tackle Jerel Worthy tipped Wilson's pass and it fell incomplete.

Wisconsin cut Michigan State's lead to 29-28 with 9:13 left on Wilson's 42-yard touchdown pass to Jared Abbrederis. Johnny Adams took a face mask penalty on the play, which was assessed on the ensuing kickoff.

The Spartans scored 22 straight points and led 29-21 at halftime after trailing, 21-7.

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Saturday, December 3, 2011

OLDSMAR — When she was pregnant with her first child and 50 pounds heavier, Rosemary Homeister Jr. thought her riding career was in jeopardy.

That weight is no longer on her shoulders.

Homeister, 39 — North America's second all-time leading female jockey, behind Julie Krone — won her first stakes as a mother Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. As the track kicked off its 86th season, Homeister reached the milestone with her 2,439th career win, aboard Jenny's So Great in the $75,000 Lightning City.

The win came 105 days after daughter Victoria Rose was born, and it was her first victory at the Downs since leaving the track in February. "Now it's not Jockey Rose, it's Mama Rose," Homeister said, laughing.

Five-time leading trainer Jamie Ness was perfect on the picture-perfect-weather day, winning with all three starters (Phil's Tango, Race 4; Mindy Michelle, Race 6, and Rich Hero, Race 9). Jockey Leandro Goncalves visited the winner's circle four times (Why Pretend, Race 2, Heiko, Race 5; Mindy Michelle; and Rich Hero).

"It's always good to get off to a good start," said Ness, 37, second behind Steve Asmussen this year nationally in wins. "(The Downs) is my home track. I've got a great owner (Midwest Thoroughbreds) and a great staff."

Homeister followed trainer Jason Servis' instructions perfectly in the Lightning City, a 5-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares.

Told to keep Jenny's So Great ($7.80) behind early, Homeister had the 4-year-old Greatness filly ninth among 11 sprinters through 3 furlongs. But the Canadian-bred made a middle move around the turn and surged to the front between rivals.

Jenny's So Great, a Grade III winner, finished one length in front of Supreme in 56.02 seconds. Defending champion Suzzona and Bounding Bi wound up in a dead heat for third. A winner from 23 career starts, Jenny's So Great raised her earnings to $606,875 with the $45,000 paycheck for owners Vicki and Bill Poston.

"I was 162 pounds when I had (Victoria Rose)," said Homeister, who also won with Vanquisher in Race 10. "It was very frustrating when you're a rider. You're used to maintaining a certain weight. But the last 2 1/2 months, I was up in Kentucky. Eric Reed and his wife, Kay, got me fit and ready to ride. I'm just so happy to be back at Tampa Bay Downs, and to win the opening-day stakes is awesome."

All-source handle for the 11-race card was $4,393,255. Attendance was 4,869.

The meet began with Noah's Expense breaking her maiden in Race 1 under Irwin Rosendo. With owner-trainer Lloyd Lockhart in Massachusetts, his grandson Alan Lockhart, 24, represented the family.

"I can't put (winning the first race of a meet) into words," Alan said. "I've never been interviewed before, so I'm a little nervous."

Times wires
Saturday, December 3, 2011

STILLWATER, Okla. — A dominating performance made Oklahoma State a conference champion for the first time in decades. Now, the Cowboys want a shot at an even bigger title.

Joseph Randle ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, Richetti Jones returned a fumble for a score and No. 3 Oklahoma State throttled No. 13 Oklahoma 44-10 Saturday to win the Big 12 championship and make its case to play for the BCS national title.

The Cowboys snapped an eight-game losing streak in the Bedlam rivalry and won their first outright conference title since 1948 in the three-team Missouri Valley.

Oklahoma State, which led the nation in takeaways, forced five turnovers — four by Sooners quarterback Landry Jones.

Fans started chanting "L-S-U!" midway through the fourth quarter, then stormed the field and tore down the goal posts at the end.

While the top-ranked Tigers won the SEC championship Saturday to lock up a spot in the BCS title game, No. 2 Alabama sat at home idle. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, proved itself the best team in its state and its conference. But it's up to the voters, who had the Cowboys fifth in the coaches' poll and Harris poll, to decide now.

Cowboys coach Mike Gundy said last week that the Crimson Tide was the second-best team in the nation "right now" — maybe because that's what he thought his team needed to hear.

"Last week, I said Alabama should be there," Gundy said after the game. "There's no question Oklahoma State should be No. 2 right now. No question."

Baylor's Griffin caps Heisman hopeful bid

WACO, Texas — Robert Griffin III lifted Baylor to its best football in a generation.

In what might be his last home game in college, the Bears quarterback put on the kind of performance that could convince Heisman Trophy voters he's the best player in the country.

Griffin ran for two touchdowns, passed for two more and led the No. 19 Bears to a 48-24 win over Texas in a statement game on national television. He passed for 320 yards with touchdown strikes of 59 and 39 yards.

"We thought if we came out with a victory, we could win the Heisman. It's not just about me, it's about all of Baylor Nation," Griffin said. "I don't know if you can say we deserve it, but would definitely be warranted."

That Griffin is even being mentioned as a Heisman candidate is a testament to how far this once moribund program has come behind him and coach Art Briles over the past four years.

Baylor has its first nine-win season since 1986 and will have consecutive bowl berths for the first time since the early 1990s.

Griffin has accounted for 45 touchdowns passing and running this season to go with 3,998 yards passing.

"He's the most dynamic player in the NCAA," said Baylor running back Terrance Ganaway, who rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns and became Baylor's single-season rushing leader with 1,347 yards.

A fourth-year junior, Griffin has graduated and must decide if he will leave for the NFL.

Baylor squandered a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, though it forced six turnovers and allowed just three points after halftime.

TCU makes BCS case

FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU had a perfect ending in the Mountain West Conference that could get even sweeter.

The No. 18 Horned Frogs could bust into the Bowl Championship Series again after their third straight outright — and unblemished — Mountain West title, which they clinched with a 56-9 victory over UNLV. It was their last game in the league; they head for the Big 12 next year.

"We're probably going to celebrate more on winning the conference championship than we are going to be waiting on the BCS," senior linebacker Kris Gardner said. "But definitely fingers crossed."

If the Horned Frogs move into the top 16 of the final BCS standings tonight, they will be virtually guaranteed their third consecutive BCS game. The BCS grants automatic bids to teams from non-automatic qualifying conferences who finish ahead of a BCS league champion.

In this case TCU, No. 18 in the BCS going in, would have to rise at least two spots and finish ahead of near-certain Big East winner West Virginia, which was No. 23 going into the weekend.

The Frogs are leaving the Mountain West with a record 24 consecutive conference victories.

NO. 16 KANSAS ST. 30, IOWA ST. 23: John Hubert ran for 120 yards and the go-ahead touchdown, helping the host Wildcats sew up a 10-win season.

Picked to finish eighth in the Big 12, Kansas State instead put together one of the best seasons in school history with 10 wins.

"We've had a lot of ups and downs, but … we've been able to make improvements so we're a better team," said Wildcats quarterback Collin Klein, who ran for a touchdown and threw for one.

NO. 9 BOISE ST. 45, N.M. 0: Kellen Moore threw three touchdowns in the final home game of his career and Doug Martin ran for two more against New Mexico. Moore holds the NCAA record for victories by a quarterback. This was Moore's 49th career win as a starting quarterback, the best in Division I-A. He has 137 career touchdown passes, second best behind Houston's Case Keenum.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Both Florida State and Florida advanced to the third round of the NCAA women's volleyball tournament with victories on Saturday.

Visnja Djurdjevic had 12 kills as host FSU outlasted Cincinnati 25-23, 16-25, 25-20, 20-25, 15-13.

FSU (26-6), the No. 12 seed, advances to play fifth-seeded Purdue (29-4) at 6 p.m. Friday in Minneapolis.

The unseeded Gators (25-5) beat No. 6 seed Northern Iowa 16-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-22 at Cedar Falls, Iowa, to reach the region semifinals for the 20th time in the last 21 years. Florida will host the late Michigan-Stanford winner Friday.

USF men's soccer postponed by snow

USF's NCAA tournament Elite Eight men's soccer match Saturday against host and No. 2 seed Creighton was postponed until 1 p.m. today due to heavy snow in Omaha, Neb.

USF, playing in the program's third Elite Eight, will try to reach the College Cup national semifinals for the first time today, when the game-time temperature is expected to be around 22 degrees and partly cloudy. The USF-Creighton winner will play today's UConn-Charlotte winner Dec. 11 at Hoover, Ala.

A facilities staff of about 20 with shovels and three snow removal machines could not keep up with the accumulation of snow on the artificial surface at Morrison Stadium. Fans can follow today's game live at GoCreighton.com.

Times wires
Saturday, December 3, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USF fell behind early for the second straight game but rallied this time, overcoming a 13-point second-half deficit to beat Air Force 73-70 Saturday night in the Air Force Classic.

Jasmine Wynne had 18 points, her sixth straight game in double figures, and Andrell Smith had 12 despite fouling out midway through the second half for the Bulls (6-4).

"It was good to see some fight and resolve from our team," USF coach Jose Fernandez said.

A day after falling behind 17-0 in a loss to Idaho State, the Bulls trailed for nearly the entire first half and were down 53-40 with 15:50 left in the game.

USF then went into a full-court press, creating turnovers that triggered the comeback. Wynne's free throw with 5:01 left gave the Bulls a 63-62 lead. The Falcons tied it twice after that, the last time at 65 before Kaneisha Saunders' jump shot with 3:11 left gave USF the lead for good.

LYNN 55, TAMPA 54: Marquis Lee hit a layup with 1.7 left as the host Knights rallied past the Spartans (3-5, 0-2 Sunshine State).

ECKERD 73, FLA. TECH 62: Kati Rausberg had 20 points and hit 6 of 6 3-pointers as the visiting Tritons (4-1) won their SSC opener.

SAINT LEO 54, SOUTHEASTERN 40: Chelsea Connelly had 20 points and eight rebounds for the host Lions (6-0), who tied the 2008-09 team for the best start in school history.

Top 25

NO. 19 TEXAS TECH 70, NO. 16 PENN ST. 66: Kierra Mallard had 18 points and 15 rebounds and Jordan Barncastle hit a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass with two seconds left to seal the win for the host Raiders (7-0), who held off two late surges by the Nittany Lions (6-2).

Times wires
Saturday, December 3, 2011

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tajh Boyd threw three touchdown passes and ran for another as No. 21 Clemson routed No. 5 Virginia Tech 38-10 Saturday night to win its first ACC championship in 20 years.

The Tigers (10-3) clinched their first Orange Bowl berth since 1981, the year they won their only national championship. Clemson won't be playing for a national title this season, but the victory was still sweet considering they'd lost three of four games to close the regular season.

"We knocked down a lot of walls tonight," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

Clemson became the only team to beat Virginia Tech (11-2) twice in the same season. The Tigers beat the Hokies 23-3 in Blacksburg, Va., on Oct. 1.

Clemson scored three touchdowns on five plays in a span of 4:24 in the third quarter to break open a 10-10 tie at halftime.

After Virginia Tech went three-and-out on its first second-half possession, Boyd capped a 10-play, 87-yard touchdown drive with his second touchdown pass of the game to tight end Dwayne Allen for a 17-10 lead.

On Clemson's next play from scrimmage, receiver Sammy Watkins hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Boyd — his 31st of the season, extending his own school record. Boyd completed 20 of 29 passes for 240 yards and was named the game's most valuable player.

Andre Ellington, who ran for 125 yards, raced 29 yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 31-10 lead. Boyd put the game away early in the fourth quarter on a quarterback sneak.

"Our team, I could sense the confidence growing," Swinney said. "I told them if you just put it together on offense, defense and special teams, it won't be close, I don't care who we play."

Similar to the first matchup, the Hokies could get nothing going against a stingy Tigers defense, which knocked away nine passes.

Virginia Tech running back David Wilson, the ACC's player of the year, was a nonfactor, held to 36 yards on 11 carries.

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas had a rough night, fumbling on the first play from scrimmage leading to Boyd's first touchdown pass to Allen and a 7-0 lead for Clemson.

Late in the game, down 28 points, Thomas threw into the end zone and was picked off by Bashaun Breeland, who returned it 64 yards to set off a celebration. Clemson fans, sitting behind the team's bench, began bombarding the field with oranges.

It was one of those nights for the Hokies, who failed in their bid to win their fourth ACC title in five years. "It was one of those games where things didn't happen right," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said.

Watkins set a school record for receiving yards in a season during the first half. He surpassed Aaron Kelly's 2007 mark of 1,081 on a 13-yard reception in the second quarter. Watkins finished with 80 yards in the game for 1,153 yards for the year.

Clemson reserve running back Mike Bellamy, the team's second-leading rusher, was suspended and sent home earlier in the day for violating team rules.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, December 3, 2011

TAMPA — Guy Boucher can understand losing a game. It's going to happen. What the Lightning coach cannot abide is giving one away.

That is what happened Satur­day night in Tampa Bay's 4-2 loss to the Rangers at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"We wasted a game," Boucher said. "It's a question of urgency, reliability, sticking with the game, and it's not there."

The Lightning (11-12-2) lost its third straight by allowing three third-period goals — one by former Lightning Brad Richards was an empty-netter — that overcame a 2-1 lead provided by goals from Steve Downie and Tom Pyatt.

This was a game the Lightning needed; Monday the team begins a stretch of seven games in nine on the road, where it is 4-8-2.

But defensive mistakes led to New York's tying and winning goals, and a general lack of urgency on offense in the final two periods — in which Tampa Bay was outshot 27-16 on its way to 36-26 in the game — didn't help.

It all led to an agitated Boucher alternately threatening to bench players and "build them up."

"There's always a team that decides to lose before one that decides to win," Boucher said. "What I mean by that is there is always a team that changes the way of playing either because they're soft or they cheat or whatever."

"It just shows you the focus is on and it's off."

In the third period, defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron coughed up the puck in the defensive zone after a Ryan Callahan check. Artem Anisimov scored, and the score was 2-2 6:16 in.

"We got a puck around our blue line with full pressure, and we don't put the puck forward, and we're soft," Boucher said. "There's no excuse for that."

"I tried to make a play. It wasn't there," Bergeron said. "I turned around and got stripped of the puck, and they scored, and that was it."

Not quite. Derek Stepan scored with 3:19 left — giving the Rangers 12 wins in their past 14 games — after he was left alone in front of the net.

Both goals came on rebounds after terrific stops by goalie Mathieu Garon.

"It's a game of errors, but those ones, you can't excuse," Boucher said.

There was no excuse, either, for the disappearance of Steven Stamkos (zero shots), Marty St. Louis (zero) and Vinny Lecavalier (two).

Boucher said the whole team "stopped shooting" and "played the perimeter."

"It's frustrating," Pyatt said, speaking generally. "We have to figure this out, and we have to figure it out soon."

The road awaits.

First Period—1, Tampa Bay, Downie 3 (Stamkos, Purcell), 1:24. Penalties—None.

Second Period—2, N.Y. Rangers, Fedotenko 4 (Richards, Callahan), 6:38. 3, Tampa Bay, Pyatt 2 (Tyrell, Thompson), 17:42. Penalties—None.

Third Period—4, N.Y. Rangers, Anisimov 3 (Stepan), 6:16. 5, N.Y. Rangers, Stepan 5 (Anisimov, McDonagh), 16:41. 6, N.Y. Rangers, Richards 10 (McDonagh), 19:34 (en). Penalties—Kubina, TB (elbowing), 12:25; Callahan, NYR (hooking), 16:58; Downie, TB (hooking), 19:49. Shots on Goal—N.Y. Rangers 9-13-14—36. Tampa Bay 10-7-9—26. Power-play opportunities—N.Y. Rangers 0 of 2; Tampa Bay 0 of 1. Goalies—N.Y. Rangers, Lundqvist 11-4-3 (26 shots-24 saves). Tampa Bay, Garon 5-5-1 (35-32).

By Andy Warrener, Times Correspondent
Saturday, December 3, 2011

LARGO — The best high school senior volleyball players in Pinellas County squared off Saturday night in an exhibition of skill and tenacity.

The Blue team, coached by Lakewood's Sean O'Flannery, won 3-1, taking the Game 4 clincher 31-29.

East Lake teammates Jackie Wegner (Blue) and Brittnay Estes (Red) were named match MVPs after the Blue's 25-14, 14-25, 25-14, 31-29 victory.

In Game 1, Lakewood's Berkley Whaley pounded a kill shot to put the Blue up 6-1. East Lake's Brianna McComeskey and Palm Harbor University's Sammy Eichelberger were dominant at the net. Together with Indian Rocks Christian's Kindall Edwards, they formed a wall that not even Estes could penetrate in Game 1.

"It was weird blocking against Brittnay," McComeskey said. "We've been playing together for four years, so I guess I have a little advantage trying to block her because I know her so well."

In Game 2, O'Flannery rotated in a new group, which proved ill-prepared for the firepower Estes unloaded. Estes served eight straight points, three of them aces, and the Red team took Game 2.

In Game 4, Estes was effective whenever McComeskey and company were not at the net.

"It's fun going up against her," Estes said. "It's a like in practice but with more emotion; I love to play with her."

There were 10 ties in Game 4 before the Blue prevailed.

"It's so easy to coach a team of senior all-stars," Red team coach Alex Sevillano said. "There's so much talent this year, it's incredible; you can just sit back and watch them play."

By Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, December 3, 2011

EAST LAKE — Dixie Hollins was not consumed with the notion of winning the team title at the East Lake Invitational.

Instead, the Rebels were making sure potential was consummated. After all, this was Dixie Hollins' first tournament of the season and many wrestlers just started working out the past two weeks.

But the Rebels came together in rapid fashion, scoring 196 to beat Longwood Lyman by 19.5.

"Honestly, we were not thinking about winning it," Dixie Hollins coach Nick Spataro said. "We just got a lot of guys back from football and we were coming to be a part of it."

The Rebels had two champions: Dana Harrington at 132 pounds and Brandon Bell at 182.

Harrington, a state place-winner last season, returned two weeks ago after quarterbacking the football team. He pinned his way through the preliminaries and quarterfinals before recording decisions in the semifinals and finals.

"These were the first matches of the season for me, so I was a little rusty," Harrington said. "I gave it my all. Basically we were all just looking at trying to make it to the next day and keep going from there."

Though Dixie Hollins had as many individual champions as three other teams, it was able to show off its depth with nine wrestlers who placed among the top six, the most from any team.

Other county champions were Countryside's Matt Collora (106), Dunedin's Clarence Arrington (120) and Kyle Goodnow (170), Northside Christian's Dryden Dennis (145), Seminole's Mitch Larivee (152), Osceola's Jordan Harriott (160), Largo's Derrick Doss (195) and David Vogeney (220) and Northeast's Christopher Roane (285).

By Steve Lee, Times Correspondent
Saturday, December 3, 2011

TAMPA — Brandon wrestling coach Russ Cozart was gearing his team to peak at a late December tournament in Minnesota.

The Eagles may be a bit ahead of schedule already though.

Brandon defended its Cougar Invitational title, a 32-team tournament at the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday night. With their depth, the Eagles tallied 245 points, well ahead of runnerup Camden County, Ga. (192).

Springstead finished sixth (131.5) and host Durant eighth (92) to give the Tampa Bay area three teams in the top 10. Palm Harbor University (84) just missed being included in that mix by taking 11th, just four points behind Lake Highland Prep.

"We're on a little different timetable," Cozart said, alluding to the Minnesota trip. "This is a good, tough tournament to get some good matches in."

Durant coach Dennis Kitko was pleased with his team's effort, noting that it placed ninth in each of the past two invitationals.

"This is the best of the best," he said.

As has been the case in most tournaments, Brandon, which has won 11 straight state championships, had the most individual winners, with four. Four-time state champion Rossi Bruno and three-time state champ Kevin Norstrem won the 126-pound and 132-pound finals, respectively.

Newcomer Jacob Haydock, a state champ from Oklahoma, won at 170 and 182-pounder Kyle Koziel had the other title for the Eagles.

Clark Glass, another four-time state champ, nearly made it five individual winners for Brandon, but he lost 6-4 in overtime to Pine Castle's Geordan Speiler at 160 pounds.

That match was one of five that went to overtime. Springstead's Cody Ross (152) and Thomas Gupton (195), along with Palm Harbor's Jarred Prince (113) had overtime losses.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 4, 2011

TAMPA — After falling into the dark and dank cellar of the NFC South, it's awfully hard for the Bucs to see any of the goals they visualized for this season.

The chance to win a division championship has vanished. Hope of reaching the playoffs has faded from view. A winning record? Disappeared.

So after the Bucs' 38-19 loss to rookie quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers on Sunday — their sixth straight defeat to drop to 4-8 — Bucs players said there was still something to play for:

Save the jobs of coach Raheem Morris and his staff.

"We've got to turn it around," linebacker Geno Hayes said. "It's not only our jobs. They've got a family to feed as well. Our play dictates their stability. We love our coaches. We've got to find a way to get everything back on track."

Safety Tanard Jackson said, "This is a business. We're in the business where if you don't win, a lot of changes will be made."

And center Jeff Faine, a nine-year veteran, added, "I've been in this business long enough where if we continue to slide, something is going to change, unfortunately. So personally, there's a lot to play for."

Playing without starting quarterback Josh Freeman, who was inactive due to a right shoulder injury, the Bucs traded touchdowns for field goals with Newton and the Panthers.

Newton added another record to his historic rookie season, running for three touchdowns and throwing for another. He now has 13 rushing touchdowns, the most by a quarterback in a season in NFL history, surpassing Steve Grogan's 12 in 1976 with New England.

Bucs backup Josh Johnson, making his first start since 2009, passed for 229 yards with one touchdown and an interception and led the Bucs with 45 rushing yards. But the offense produced only four field goals by Connor Barth until Johnson hit Dezmon Briscoe for a 23-yard touchdown with 6:35 remaining in the game.

Johnson's biggest mistake came during the first drive of the second half.

Trailing 24-12 and facing third and 8 at the Carolina 30, he attempted to call an audible. But Faine misinterpreted the signal as part of the cadence and snapped the ball before Johnson was ready. The error was compounded when Johnson tried to throw the ball under pressure.

It was tipped and intercepted by defensive end Thomas Keiser.

The Bucs drove inside the Panthers 35 seven times but came away with four field goals, one interception, one touchdown and one fourth-down failure.

"The grade is simple. It's not good enough," Johnson said of his performance. "As an offense, we're disappointed. We got in the red zone … repeatedly, and we came away with field goals, field goals, field goals."

The Panthers weren't interested in field goals, and the Bucs defense was equally bad against the run and the pass. Jonathan Stewart (14 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown), DeAngelo Williams (11 carries for 29 yards) and Newton (14 rushes for 54 yards and three touchdowns) combined for 163 yards on the ground. Newton was 12-for-21 passing for 204 yards and even had a 27-yard catch.

The Bucs also had nine penalties for 73 yards.

It got so bad that Morris ejected defensive tackle Brian Price from the game after his personal foul penalty in the third quarter. Morris also used an expletive during his postgame news conference describing why he did it.

"Yes, I sent him to the locker room," Morris said. "I told him go home. (Expletive) yeah. Because it's foolish. It's selfish to your teammates, to everybody in your organization, to your fans. That's terrible. That's just selfish behavior to get a 15-yard penalty in that situation when that's all we talk about, when that's all we discuss.

"You just can't do that to your team."

Why hasn't Morris been able to get his message across?

"They're not listening," Morris said. "They've got to listen, and we've got to do a better job of coaching.

"The thing I need to do right now is go back and make sure we continue to build the team for the future. We've got a lot of young players. I don't want things to get away from us."

It if does, Faine said, change is the only thing the Bucs can count on.

"I love the situation (with Morris)," Faine said. "I know my teammates love the situation we're in from an organizational standpoint, from the way our leadership is here, the way our coaching staff is here. We've got to finish on an incline if we want it to stay that way."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com.

Times staff
Sunday, December 4, 2011

.TONIGHT

Florida State vs. Charleston Southern

When/where: 7; Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee

TV/radio: ESPNU; 1040-AM

Records: CSU 5-2; FSU 5-3

Notable: The Seminoles play their first home game since Nov. 20. They've lost three in a row to drop out of the Associated Press poll. … FSU scored fewer than 50 in two of those losses and shot 38.9 percent, including 4-of-20 from 3-point range, in Wednesday's 65-49 loss to Michigan State. … The Buccaneers have won five in a row while averaging 89.4 points. On Saturday they beat VMI 114-81, their most points since 2008.

Times staff

By Dave Mistretta, Times Correspondent
Sunday, December 4, 2011

Busy weekend: This weekend was extremely windy. We caught kingfish about 15 miles from shore. They were around bait schools hovering along the bottom. The only rods that were getting hit were downriggers. They were positioned at the depths we saw the schools of baitfish. For the most part, the bait schools consisted of juvenile Spanish sardines and cigar minnows.

Busy bottom fishing: After catching kings, we anchored over rocky bottom in 50 feet of water. We hoped to catch a few keeper red grouper in this depth, but we didn't. Two weeks ago we caught 10 red groupers a day in depths of 80-plus feet. Last week forced us to stay closer to shore because of small-craft advisories. What we did find was an endless amount of large gag groupers eager to bite our hooks. We released at least 24 gag groupers in the 8- to 15-pound rage. My clients were quite frustrated with the new regulations on gag grouper. A quick photo and back to the gulf waters was our only option. Plenty of grunts were available, too, but we decided not to keep them because the icebox already had fresh kingfish. Expect the same action to be consistent until water temperatures drop further, forcing the bait schools to move out of the area.

Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call (727) 439-2628 or visit jawstoo.com.

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 4, 2011

Even with a lingering recession, the Outback Bowl marketing types likely won't have a tough sell for their Jan. 2 matchup at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

The 26th edition — Georgia vs. Michigan State — arrives with a built-in South Tampa story line.

Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray and tight end Orson Charles, who guided Plant High to the Class 4A state title in 2008, return home for a command performance of sorts before an ABC audience.

"Heading home for the Outback Bowl!!!!" Murray exclaimed Sunday evening via Twitter.

At the time of his departure, Murray held state records for touchdown passes in a season (51) and the county career TD pass mark (84). Both later were eclipsed by Jefferson's Quentin Williams.

Tickets are $75. To order, go to ticketmaster.com, or call the bowl at (813) 874-2695 for membership packages, which have an extra fee.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, December 4, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Forget the storyline of former Florida coach Urban Meyer's old team taking on his new team in a bowl game. According to Florida coach Will Muschamp and Ohio State acting coach Luke Fickell, the 2012 Gator Bowl is about two proud, storied programs that have fallen on hard times and desperately need this opportunity to end on a good note and move forward for next season.

Florida (6-6) will play Ohio State (6-6) in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.

"We've got the best fans in the country, and they are upset and frustrated and I don't blame them," Muschamp said. "But our guys are going to work hard to put on a good show for the fans in the bowl game."

Fickell, who will coach his final game at the Gator Bowl before Meyer takes over as head coach, said the fact that the Buckeyes were invited to a January bowl game is a reflection of the program's tradition.

"It's a great respect of the history and tradition, the great fans and the great support Ohio State has throughout the country," Fickell said. "Obviously we've had the kind of year we haven't had in a long time. But I think they've seen the growth and potential our team has. All those things added together makes for a very interesting and intriguing bowl game."

So does the added element of Meyer, who took a year off after leaving UF then was hired by the Buckeyes on Nov. 28. It took about 30 seconds on a national teleconference Sunday night before questions about Meyer began. Fickell said he's unsure if Meyer will attend, and to what degree he'll be involved in helping with preparations. He said Meyer won't be a distraction.

"I don't know that you could get any more distractions than what we've had," Fickell said. "I think our guys are just excited to play. I don't think this will be nearly as hard on them, this situation."

Muschamp said there will be no distraction for the Gators, either.

"We've moved on," he said. "Urban did a great job coaching the University of Florida, and we're very appreciative of what he did. But we've moved on."

Florida quarterback John Brantley (concussion) will play, Muschamp said, but starting defensive tackle Dominique Easley will miss the game. Muschamp said he suffered an ACL injury in a loss to FSU; surgery is scheduled Wednesday.

Antonya English can be reached at aenglish@tampabay.com

Times staff
Sunday, December 4, 2011

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Sunday, December 4, 2011

TAMPA

Keith McCants played here. Twenty years ago, he lined up alongside Broderick Thomas and Dexter Manley as one of the most forgettable band of bumblers the Bucs have ever had.

And they were better than this.

Keith Browner slept here. Back in 1984, he played with Booker Reese and John Holt, and the Bucs didn't recover for years.

And those guys were better than this.

Sort through them all, all of the bad defenses and all of the bad players in all of the bad seasons. Sift through the tapes of Eric Curry and Toast Jones and Mike Stensrud and Sabby Piscitelli. And you know what you will find?

Well, this.

The bad is turning worse for what is purported to be the defense of the Tampa Bay Bucs, which spent another day chasing another team across the goal line Sunday.

It is approaching historic. It is approaching catastrophic.

This time, the Bucs were stampeded by a bad Carolina team 38-19. It didn't matter that the Bucs were playing at home, in a division game, against a rookie quarterback leading a team that won all of two games last year. You could have scattered five speed bumps and three flashing yellow lights and a yield sign, and you could have done a better job slowing down the three-win Panthers.

The Bucs defense is getting worse. Before your eyes, the defense is shrinking and slowing and withering away. The way it is going — and this may be crazy talk — even the Bucs offense might be able to score on it.

For a quarter of a century, it has not been this bad. Think about that for a minute. The Bucs are on pace to surrender more points per game (27.4) than any Bucs defense since Leeman Bennett left town.

Ray Perkins' teams never gave up this many. Richard Williamson's defense never gave up this much. Sam Wyche's teams never gave up this much. At this pace, the Bucs will give up 438 points this season. Only twice ('85 and '86) have they given up more.

Just wondering here, but shouldn't it have been Brian Price who sent Raheem Morris home?

This performance should be below any level of acceptance and beyond any attempt at rational. Three years into a coach's tenure, this should be intolerable. The Bucs cannot tackle, cannot cover and cannot remain disciplined. Yes, they are young. But five minutes ago, wasn't that a good thing? Weren't they young when they jumped to a 3-1 start?

Why, yes. Yes, they were.

And yet the Panthers turned Sunday afternoon's game into a track meet. Yeah, yeah, you can talk all you want about Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman missing Sunday's game. But unless Freeman could play linebacker, it wasn't going to help. Not when the Panthers had 11 plays of 19 yards or more. Not when they drove 80 yards or more for a touchdown three times. Not when they rushed for 163 yards.

Now that you mention it, yeah, this was the team that the Bucs beat twice last season.

Remember then?

"This is a different team," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "We are being reminded of how young we are."

Still, shouldn't the Bucs be better than this? When you add up Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers and Mason Foster and the rest, shouldn't the Bucs be at least mediocre?

Put it this way: The last time the Bucs were this bad this late into a season was, well, 2009. After 10 games that year, the Bucs were giving up 29.4 points per game … and then they fired Jim Bates as coordinator.

Two years later, perhaps it is time to think about another defensive coordinator other than Morris. Because frankly, it isn't working. Even Morris suggested his team "isn't listening."

Now this assumes that Morris is back as coach, a conversation getting livelier with each loss. Morris says he liked what he is doing, but as bad as the results have been, should it be his choice? Think of it like this: Most head coaches have a defensive coordinator, and most of them are above the Bucs' rating of 30th in the NFL.

To be fair, the defense did respond to Morris down the stretch in 2009, and it had its moments last year. But this isn't working. The tackling isn't getting better. The focus isn't getting better. Ah, let's face it, the defense isn't getting better.

Given the circumstances, it's hard to blame Morris for getting exasperated with Price. It's time for exasperation. And frankly, for explanation.

This defense should not be this bad.

Once, back in 1986, a Bucs defensive coordinator named Jim Stanley probably said that, too.

Then he got fired.

Times wires
Sunday, December 4, 2011

Chiefs QB out, then in, then earns win

CHICAGO — Tyler Palko got yanked from the game — and maybe saved his job. But he was not making bold proclamations.

Palko shook off two awful starts and threw for 157 yards and a touchdown, though he was briefly lifted for Kyle Orton, and the Chiefs beat Chicago on a day when the Bears lost running back Matt Forte to a sprained right knee.

"No one likes to get taken out, but … it's the coach's decision, and you've got to roll with the punches," Palko said. "(Coach Todd Haley) indicated earlier in the week by any means necessary, we need to get a win."

As for their quarterback debate, now Palko can at least say he made a strong case. He might get more time thanks to injury.

Orton took just one snap at the start of the second quarter and left the game after injuring his right index finger.

Palko hit former Largo High star Dexter McCluster on a 38-yard Hail Mary pass to end the first half on a ball that got deflected by the Bears' Brian Urlacher and Chris Conte, giving the Chiefs a 7-3 lead.

In the first quarter, Forte left after taking a hit to his right knee.