By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays crossed off the first of six potential arbitration cases, agreeing Tuesday to a one-year deal with reliever Joel Peralta for $2.175 million.

Peralta, 35, more than doubled his $925,000 salary after an impressive first season with the Rays, going 3-4 with six saves and a 2.93 ERA over 672/3 mostly high-leverage innings in 71 games. The right-hander posted a major-league best .072 average against the first batters he faced (5-for-69), and his .155 average vs. lefties ranked second among relievers.

Agent Mark Gilling said Peralta was "very pleased" to have his contract settled. "Joel felt really comfortable there last year, he really appreciated the manager and the team and he had a relationship with Andrew (Friedman, executive VP)," Gilling said. "He wanted to get this done."

The five Rays remaining in arbitration are relievers Burke Badenhop and J.P. Howell, starters Jeff Niemann and David Price and centerfielder B.J. Upton.

Ex-Ray Hall retires

Catcher Toby Hall, who spent parts of seven seasons with the Rays, has decided to retire. Hall, 36, last played in the majors in 2008, with the White Sox. He battled shoulder problems in 2009-10 and played last season in the independent Atlantic League.

Hall, whose 586 games played are fifth most in Rays history and tops among catchers, will focus on family and his charitable foundation for now but eventually would like to get into coaching.

"It's been a great journey," said Hall, who still lives in the Tampa Bay area. "It's time to close this door and open a new one."

Around the majors

METS: The cash-strapped club is cutting its Gulf Coast League team in Port St. Lucie, trimming its farm clubs to eight.

PHILLIES: Former general manager Ed Wade was hired as a special consultant.

ROCKIES: Third baseman Casey Blake agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

ROYALS: Free-agent shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, a former Kansas City starter, agreed to a one-year deal to be a backup.

Information from Times wires was used in this report. Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@tampabay.com.

Associated Press
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State players broke the rules and got to play in the Sugar Bowl anyway. Jim Tressel knew about infractions and let it all happen.

Now the Buckeyes and new coach Urban Meyer will pay for it next year.

The NCAA hit Ohio State with a one-year bowl ban and additional penalties Tuesday for violations that started with eight players taking a total of $14,000 in cash and tattoos in exchange for jerseys, rings and other Buckeyes memorabilia.

Tressel was tipped off about the violations in April 2010 but didn't tell anyone — even after the athletes got caught last December but were allowed to play in the Sugar Bowl if they served suspensions to start the 2011 season. Among those in the group: starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor and leading rusher Daniel "Boom" Herron.

Tressel's silence damaged OSU in the eyes of the NCAA and the result is that the Buckeyes — now under Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida — will watch next year's bowl games on TV.

"Had we known what (Tressel) knew, we would not have played those young men in that bowl game," said an emotional Gene Smith, Ohio State's athletic director.

Forced out in May and now on the staff of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, Tressel was called out by the NCAA for unethical conduct.

The university had previously offered to vacate the 2010 season, return bowl money, go on two years of NCAA probation and use five fewer scholarships over three years.

The NCAA imposed the postseason ban, more limits on scholarships and an extra year of probation.

"It is still my goal to hire excellent coaches, recruit great student-athletes who want to be a part of this program and to win on and off the field," Meyer said in a statement. "The NCAA penalties will serve as a reminder that the college experience does not include the behavior that led to these penalties."

Ohio State's original violations — which grew out of players' relationship with a Columbus tattoo parlor owner who was under federal investigation in a drug-trafficking case — were exacerbated because the school and the NCAA discovered two more problems — after OSU faced the committee on infractions in August.

Three players were suspended just before the season for taking $200 from booster Bobby DiGeronimo. Then it was revealed that several players got too much money for too little work on summer jobs supplied by the same booster. He has been disassociated from the program.

The NCAA found Ohio State failed to monitor its athletic programs.

Smith had said throughout that there was no way the Buckeyes would be banned from a bowl in the 2012 season. He also had refused to surrender a bowl invitation this season — the Jan. 2 Gator Bowl against Florida — in order to save next year's.

"I never went there because we were confident we would not get a bowl-game ban," Smith said. "We were wrong."

Tressel was pressured to resign this summer after 10 years, and Luke Fickell was interim coach until Meyer was tabbed last month.

NCAA punishment hits Ohio State

In a ruling Tuesday by the NCAA's Division I Committee on Infractions, Ohio State was cited for failure to monitor, preferential treatment and extra benefit violations in football. Former coach Jim Tressel, left, was found to have engaged in unethical conduct. Here are the penalties:

. One-year bowl ban for the 2012 postseason.

. Reduction of football scholarships from 85 to 82 over each of the next three seasons. Total scholarship reduction of nine.

. Three years of probation from Tuesday through Dec. 19, 2014.

. Five-year show cause order for Tressel, making it tough for him to coach in college during this period.

. Vacating of all wins for the 2010 football regular season, including the Big Ten co-championship and Sugar Bowl victory.

. Forfeiture of $338,811 the university received through the Big Ten for appearing in the Sugar Bowl.

. Disassociation with a booster for 10 years.

. Disassociation with a former player, believed to be Terrelle Pryor, for five years.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

What is happening right now with the Lightning's goaltending is simply part of the "normal" ebb and flow of a season, Mathieu Garon said.

Garon, these days, is getting a lot more work than struggling No. 1 Dwayne Roloson.

"But in the next few weeks, it might be Roli," Garon said. "So I don't want to focus on that too much."

Still, the shift is difficult to ignore.

Garon has played in six straight games (five starts and one in relief) and is expected to start tonight against the Sharks at HP Pavilion in San Jose.

He has played in 10 of Tampa Bay's past 12 games, going 5-5-0 with a 2.67 goals-against average and .902 save percentage. Roloson has lost his past five starts with a 5.25 goals-against average and .829 save percentage.

In other words — and considering the Lightning with Garon in net has won two straight for the first time since Nov. 25-26 — naming a starter seems obvious.

"Mathieu has been very good for us," goaltenders coach Frantz Jean said. "He's done everything we've asked him to do. He shows up every day for work and is a very positive influence in the room. We're very happy with what he's done up to now."

Garon could do without the hubbub.

Asked how he played the past two games, he said, "It's not like they were my best games," and he went on to discuss how rebounds were a problem and that he was disappointed in Columbus' second goal Saturday in the Lightning's 3-2 victory because he was slow to react to a wraparound.

That honesty, Jean said, makes Garon, 33, in his 11th season and a member of the 2008-09 Stanley Cup Penguins, "a fun guy to work with.

"His analysis of himself is true," Jean added. "So, when you approach him with something you see as a coach, he's very open and he's already noticed it."

Such as the circumstances of Rick Nash's wraparound goal.

"I didn't push (to the opposite goal post) right away," Garon said. "I expected him to come for a pass on the other side so I was a little too patient."

"He's right," Jean said. "A lot of goalies in the league try to anticipate the play. When you do you kind of put your eggs in one basket. The best play for him was to get back up and get to the post on his skates. He would have been in control of the play."

What Garon has control of are his emotions.

"The only pressure I see is our team has to win games," he said.

And when Philadelphia's Danny Briere said the scouting report on Garon is to shoot high, Garon said, "Every player and goalie in the league has a scouting report, so it's not something I pay attention to."

It is true, though, Garon's strength is stopping low shots around the net. He also is a "contortionist," Jean said.

"So even when he seems out of the play, he's so flexible he's able to get that pad out and get loose pucks."

But at 8-8-1 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .905 save percentage, Garon is a realist.

"There's still a lot of work to do," he said. "I want to take this one game at a time."

Or until Roloson gets hot.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@tampabay.com.

By Will Hobson and Diane Steinle, Times Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

LARGO — Longtime Philadelphia sports columnist, ESPN commentator and Largo resident Bill Conlin declined to comment Tuesday about a Philadelphia Inquirer story reporting that four people have accused him of sexually abusing them during the 1970s when they were children.

According to the Inquirer, the three women and one man say Conlin groped and fondled them, and that people who knew about it, including family members, never called police and kept the abuse secret.

According to the newspaper, Conlin, 77, retired Tuesday from his job at the Inquirer's sister paper, the Philadelphia Daily News, where he had worked for more than 40 years.

As sports radio and TV buzzed with the news, Conlin came to the door of his Shipwatch condominium near Largo Tuesday afternoon and said he had nothing to say. He gave a reporter the phone number of his attorney.

Philadelphia attorney George Bochetto told the St. Petersburg Times, "Mr. Conlin is obviously floored by these accusations. They supposedly happened more than 40 years ago."

Bochetto said Conlin "has engaged me to do everything possible to bring the facts forward to vindicate his name."

Conlin is well known in Pinellas County, where he has lived off and on for years while covering Philadelphia Phillies spring training games in Clearwater. A Hall of Fame baseball writer, Conlin was the primary Phillies writer for the Philadelphia paper for many years before becoming a columnist.

One of Conlin's neighbors in the Shipwatch condos, Michael Hannin, 73, said his neighbor is an intelligent man and did a great job of taking care of his wife after she had a stroke a few years ago.

"I would be shocked if any of that was true," Hannin said of the allegations.

One of Conlin's accusers is reportedly his niece. She and the other accusers told the Inquirer that the reports of alleged sexual assaults and a cover-up at Penn State prompted them to tell their story publicly. The lengthy Inquirer story contains graphic descriptions of the alleged abuse.

The accusers told the newspaper they also wanted to demonstrate the problems with the statute of limitations for sexual assaults. The Inquirer reported that local prosecutors cannot charge Conlin because the statute of limitations ran out.

Conlin won this year's J.G. Taylor Spink Award for "meritorious contributions to baseball writing," voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The BBWAA said the accusations would not affect his award.

Information from Times wires was used in this report. Will Hobson can be reached at whobson@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4167.

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Top Contenders Gymnastics of Spring Hill attended the USA Gymnastics Florida State Championships in Palmetto on Nov. 19 and 20 and was one of the best academies in the Level 2 and 3 competition.

Top Contenders placed fifth overall in Level 2 with 146.95 points. In Level 3, the Spring Hill team also came in fifth overall with 187.75 points.

Chloe Krug (Level 2) was a standout in every event. While winning the individual overall title with 37.50 points, Krug placed in the top five in everything she entered. She won the vault (9.20) and bars (9.65), took third in the beam (9.35) and fourth in floor (9.30).

Teammates Alexandria McCann, Aurora McBeth and Abigail Stallings also did well in their various divisions. McCann won the beam with a score of 8.80. McBeth won the vault (9.15), and Stallings was another vault winner (9.20).

Natalie Torraco led all Top Contenders Level 3 gymnasts. Torraco won every event except the bars (9.175), where she placed second. She took home gold in the vault (9.50), beam (9.525) and floor (9.50) before winning the overall title (37.70).

Sofia Palma also won an overall gold at Level 3 with 37.825 points. She also won the bars (9.575). Other Level 3 winners for the local school in various divisions included Gabrielle Healis (beam, second overall), Kayden Clift (second overall) and Mackenzie Bell (third overall).

LOCAL KARATE INSTRUCTOR HONORED: Jason Chase Sr., owner of J.C. Karate at the Brooksville Academy of the Arts in Ridge Manor, was recently named the 2011 National Instructor of the Year by the Independent Karate Schools of America.

Chase was chosen from hundreds of instructors throughout the United States. Legendary martial artist Bill Wallace remarked how he enjoyed Chase's assistance in his own classes.

WOMEN'S SOCCER LEAGUE: The Hernando County Women's Soccer League is holding registration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily through Friday at Rookies Sports Bar & Grill in Spring Hill.

The league is trying to get all players registered before its charity tournament in January. Credit card, check and cash payments are all accepted..

Also, the league will host the Women's 30-and-over Mother's Day Ball Tournament from May 10 to 13. The format is 11-versus-11. Teams with 22-player rosters play at Ernie Wever Park in Brooksville.

For information, call Alyson Kraft at (352) at 442-4540.

PHCC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: The Pasco-Hernando Community College men's basketball team will host the New Year's Shootout tournament from Jan. 2 to 5 in the Physical Fitness Center on the West Campus in New Port Richey, 10230 Ridge Road.

All games are free and open to the public. In addition to PHCC, teams will be competing from: Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y.; Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, N.C.; Wytheville Community College in Wytheville, Va., and Indian River State College in Fort Pierce.

PHCC will play the opening game against Onondaga at 2 p.m. Jan. 2. On Jan. 3, Onondaga will play Guilford Tech at 2 p.m., and PHCC will take on Wytheville at 4 p.m. On Jan. 4, Guilford Tech will play Indian River at 2 p.m., followed by a match-up between Onondaga and Wytheville at 4 p.m. The tournament will conclude Jan. 5, with PHCC taking on Guilford Tech at 2 p.m. and Indian River playing Wytheville at 4 p.m.

For information, call Conquistadors coach James Johnson at (727) 816-3340 or send e-mail to johnsoj@phcc.edu.

UMPIRE CLINICS: The Hernando-Sumter Umpires Association has scheduled a set of baseball/softball umpiring clinics.

The clinics are designed to train anyone who wants to become an umpire, and the sessions also can help seasoned umpires improve. Local clinics will take place Jan. 8 and 22 at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex in Spring Hill and Jan. 29 at Ridge Manor Park in Ridge Manor.

The sessions are open to men and women age 16 and older. Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m., with the clinics starting at noon. There is a $20 charge for each participant, and everyone will receive a Major League Baseball rule book, along with other handouts.

Visit hernandosumterumpire.com to register. For information, call (352) 593-6998 or send e-mail to clinics@hernandosumterumpire.com.

HERNANDO HURRICANES BASEBALL: The Hernando Hurricanes will have an open tryout Jan. 15 for its 13-and-younger travel baseball team. The tryout will be from noon to 2 p.m. at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.

The Hurricanes are a select travel baseball organization with their own training facility. The team competes in the West Coast Florida League in the spring and in tournaments around the state sanctioned by United States Special Sports Association and Nations Baseball.

For information, call Jeff Lewis at (352) 442-2370 or send e-mail to lewis104315@yahoo.com.

FIRST TEE GOLF: The Brooksville Parks and Recreation Department is holding its First Tee golf program starting Jan. 17 and running for six weeks at the Quarry Golf Course, Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks and Silverthorn Country Club.

First Tee's golf and life skills instruction differentiates it from other junior golf programs. The program strives to instill in participants the program's nine core values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.

The cost is $60 per child, with ages 5 to 17 eligible. Preregistration is required. The program is accepting up to 10 participants per class.

Volunteers are also needed. Donations are welcome, including youth golf clubs, bags and balls.

For information, call Miles Groff at (352) 540-3835 or send e-mail to mgroff@cityofbrooksville.us.

Contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com.

By Seth Leto, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

What's hot: The shallow water grouper bite has been fantastic in depths starting at 10 feet. Each passing cold front puts grouper on the move, so a structure that had few fish one week may be loaded the following week. Fishing shallow for grouper enables you to bounce from spot to spot, as if inshore. Spend half a day fishing for grouper on nearshore structure and half the day stalking redfish and trout on shallow flats.

Tactics: Grouper require a variety of natural and artificial baits. If trolling in shallow water, have different trolling plugs that dive to different depths, to fish the structure at all depths. A large jig trolled behind a planer is also effective. Troll a spot in a figure eight pattern to avoid fouling lines and offer the most productive presentation. Another tactic is to anchor up current of the structure and chum the grouper into a feeding frenzy. This can be exciting, as the grouper sometimes become so aggressive they crash baits on the surface.

Tackle: Stout tackle is necessary, though large spinning outfits can be used when chumming grouper away from their homes. Pinfish, squid, and frozen sardines are producing good bites, and big grouper have come on purple and gold plugs.

Seth Leto charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at capt.seth@yahoo.com and (727) 385-0382.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

TAMPA — Aqib Talib has a trial looming in March on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon, and injuries that have cut each of his past two seasons short by about five games. But there is no reason to think the shutdown cornerback will be shut out of One Buc Place in 2012.

At least not according to Bucs coach Raheem Morris, whose future also is in doubt following eight straight losses.

Talib, 25, who has one season remaining on a five-year deal that will pay $2,152,500 in 2012, was placed on injured reserve Monday after aggravating a hamstring strain in the first quarter of a 31-15 loss to Dallas on Saturday.

"Aqib is a really good football player," Morris said Tuesday. "If we can get Aqib back healthy and get him going, get him stronger, get him faster, get him better — all those things he'll do this off-season, we can't wait to … get him back."

Talib spent the final five games of 2010 on IR with a hip problem. This year he played four snaps Dec. 4 against Carolina, was inactive Dec. 11 at Jacksonville and lasted a few series Saturday.

Talib is scheduled to stand trial in Dallas County in March. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon stemming from his involvement in a shooting in Garland, Texas, in the spring. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with Talib in August, and cleared him to play this season but will monitor his case. A guilty verdict would likely result in a suspension.

"Obviously, that's going to come up in time," Morris said of Talib's legal problems. "The league has put their part into that and did their due diligence as well as us and we know we have to let that play out a little bit and be ready to deal."

How big of a loss is Talib to the Bucs?

When healthy, Talib has routinely been asked to blanket the best receiver man-to-man. This year he had a career-low two interceptions, returning both for touchdowns.

"Obviously, it's huge," Morris said. "Aqib gives you the luxury of letting him track the best wideout and he does a nice job of doing that throughout the season.

"He scored two touchdowns this year. … He actually dropped a few he got upset about. He probably had his best tackling season. He was more physical than he had been throughout his career, was really starting to develop on that side of the ball and really getting those guys going with this new man-to-man mentality they developed over there and was really the driving force for that."

E.J. Biggers, who has filled in for Aqib the past two seasons and is the third cornerback, will start Saturday at Carolina. The Bucs also will use rookie Anthony Gaitor and Myron Lewis, a former third-round pick from Vanderbilt who was inactive last week.

Biggers indicated Tuesday he's just keeping Talib's seat warm.

"Him and Ronde (Barber) are my big brothers in the locker room," Biggers said. "Those are the guys I look up to and I'm just going out there to do the things he does each and every week and that's to play hard and try to be one of the best corners in the league.

"That's the main goal, as an NFL player, you just want to get better each and every day. Ronde, Aqib and Tanard (Jackson), watching how they practice, playing games, there's nothing left to do but get better. The confidence those guys play with an intelligence and aggressiveness, it just trickles down to everybody in our secondary, everybody on the team."

Despite his off-field problems — he was suspended the first game of 2010 for assaulting a cab driver — Talib's biggest challenge has been staying healthy.

"To lose him, for the team and his guys, is tough," Morris said. "I know it hurts him more than anything. He's one of those guys who tried to fight through this hamstring and go out there and finish the season because he has no quit in him, and unfortunately, wasn't able to do it."

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Plant Panthers (14-1)

Road to the championship

Sept. 2 Plant 34 20Jesuit

Sept. 9 Plant 36 6 Hillsborough

Sept. 16 Plant 12 7 Bergen (N.J.) Catholic

Sept. 30 Plant 36 0 Tampa Bay Tech

Oct. 6 Plant 37 19 Wharton

Oct. 14 Plant 59 21 Brandon

Oct. 20 Plant 48 6 Alonso

Oct. 28 Plant021Armwood

Nov. 4 Plant 53 7Bloomingdale

Nov. 10 Plant 51 9Robinson

Playoffs

Nov. 18 Plant 54 21 Orlando Boone

Nov. 25 Plant 49 13 Orlando Dr. Phillips

Dec. 2 Plant 28 21 East Lake (OT)

Dec. 9 Plant 26 7Neptune Bch Fletcher

Dec. 17 Plant 31 20 Miramar

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Lightning star right wing Marty St. Louis practiced with the team Tuesday for the first time since sustaining facial fractures when hit by a puck during a Dec. 8 morning skate. St. Louis, who has missed five games, skated with a full cage mask. Coach Guy Boucher reiterated that he does not expect St. Louis back before Christmas. The team has a two-game road trip tonight at San Jose and Friday at Colorado. "I feel encouraged," St. Louis said.

By Stephen F. Holder And Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writers
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

TAMPA — Things change quickly in the NFL, and a vivid example of that was provided Tuesday, courtesy of a familiar face at One Buc Place.

DT Jovan Haye, taking the roster spot vacated by CB Aqib Talib (injured reserve), settled into the Bucs locker room on Tuesday, preparing for his first practice with the club. But he wasn't in unfamiliar territory, having played for the Bucs from 2006 to 2008, starting 45 of the 46 games he appeared in.

A lot has changed since Haye moved on. For one, the Bucs are a different team, with only a handful of recognizable faces remaining from Haye's first stint.

And Haye's status has changed dramatically, too.

When he left the Bucs before the 2009 season, he had earned a $16 million contract from the Titans, acquired as a replacement for Albert Haynesworth who was on his way to Washington to sign the richest defensive contract.

Yet, just more than two years later, both are in Tampa on second-chance deals, hoping to revive their careers.

"You want to hear the funniest thing about that?" Haye said Tuesday. "The day I traveled to Tennessee, I'm at the airport (in Nashville). I'm going out, getting ready to go to baggage claim. Albert walks right past me. He gives me that look, and I was like, 'That's funny, you're leaving and I'm coming.'

"It's just the way it is. No one wants to get cut, no one wants to leave the place they feel comfortable. But it's a business, it's always going to be a business. It's bigger than any of us. It's just the NFL."

This has been frequently reinforced to Haye this year. He was released by the Titans at final cuts before the season, then found it difficult to land a job until the Lions signed him as a fill-in during Ndamukong Suh's two-game suspension.

Haye knew that would be temporary. Even this opportunity in Tampa could be short lived. But he has a legitimate shot at playing, coach Raheem Morris said, because of his knowledge of the system.

There are many similarities from Haye's first stint with the Bucs.

"He should be able to hop right back into the system," Morris said. "He's lost a lot of weight to jump back into the Tampa 2 (style). He's looking good out there. I look forward to him being able to go out there and contribute as soon as he's able to go out there and play. It could be this week."

DEION RILES BUCS: The Bucs' uninspired first half against the Cowboys on Saturday night prompted NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders to make harsh statements about players' effort, and the Bucs took exception.

"Basically, he doesn't play for us," RT Jeremy Trueblood said Tuesday. "He's an outsider looking in. Great player, but that doesn't mean he knows exactly what's happening in our locker room and on our field. You know, you respect what people have to say, but you don't always have to agree with them.

"We wouldn't have done better as the game went on (if that was true), so I don't really find any merit in that at all. The offense started playing better toward the end, if we had quit, that wouldn't have happened."

At halftime, Sanders, a Hall of Fame cornerback, said, "I respect Raheem Morris with the utmost respect. But a lot of these guys have quit, man. They've shut this thing down. I know quit when I see quit. And quit is not disguised tonight."

NOTHING TO SEE: Some fans thought it odd when GM Mark Dominik was captured by NFL Network cameras wearing a coaches' headset in the coaches' box during Saturday's game.

Could Dominik be taking a more assertive role with Morris now on the hot seat?

That's not the case.

Dominik has always watched games from the box and wears a headset because he assists Morris with determining when to make replay challenges and provides updates on injured players.

Times wires
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Brian White expects to be at Florida next season, regardless of his job title.

White, the running backs coach and interim offensive coordinator, said Tuesday he won't have harsh feelings if coach Will Muschamp decides to hire someone else to replace Charlie Weis.

Weis left the Gators this month to be head coach at Kansas, and Muschamp tabbed White to call plays against Ohio State in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.

So the next two weeks and the bowl game are his audition.

"Every day is an audition for the job that you have," White said, speaking for the first time since the staff changes. "I learned a long time ago: Do a great job with the job that you have."

White has kept Florida's offense, which ranks 102nd in total yards, mostly the same.

"It's pretty much status quo," White said. "This is what our players know. This is what we've coached all year."

Muschamp interviewed Jacksonville University coach Kerwin Bell for the offensive coordinator position last week, but has said repeatedly that White will be considered for the job.

Meanwhile, Weis had hip replacement surgery Monday as scheduled, Kansas said.

MILES HONORED: Les Miles, who is within one win of an unbeaten season and a national title, was voted Associated Press Coach of the Year, earning 30 of 56 votes cast. Bill Snyder of Kansas State was second with 16.

HAWAII: AP reported that Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow has accepted the job as Warriors head coach.

ILLINOIS: Starting fullback Jay Prosch has been hospitalized for a week after contracting a staph infection and will miss the Dec. 31 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA.

IOWA: Running back Marcus Coker was suspended from the Dec. 30 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma after violating the student-athlete code of conduct.

NEBRASKA: Coach Bo Pelini says defensive end Eric Martin will play in the Jan. 2 Capital One Bowl but will face disciplinary action for being ticketed for leaving the scene of an accident.

NORTH CAROLINA: The school declared top receiver Dwight Jones ineligible for Monday's Independence Bowl against Missouri after the senior let his name and photo to be used on a flyer promoting a party at a club in his hometown of Burlington, N.C.

SOUTHERN MISS: Veteran defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, 59, was named coach of the Golden Eagles He has spent the past four years as defensive coordinator at South Carolina, and had been a defensive coordinator at Mississippi State and Southern Miss.

Times wires
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Derrick Rose agreed to a five-year, roughly $94 million contract extension and the Bulls plan to make the formality official by today, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The extension is for roughly $10 million to $11 million more than Rose would have been eligible for under the previous collective bargaining agreement. However, a new rule, which has been nicknamed the "Derrick Rose rule," rewards players who outperform their rookie scale contract. Rose, 23, qualifies for one of the three stipulations by virtue of becoming the youngest most valuable player in NBA history last season.

The extension will begin in the 2012-13 season and is eligible to start near $16 million.

Viewers tune in to see newest Clipper Paul

Chris Paul's debut with the Clippers was the most-watched preseason game in NBA TV history.

The Clippers' 114-95 victory over the Lakers on Monday night drew 509,000 viewers, a network spokesman said Tuesday. The previous record of 501,000 viewers came in another celebrated debut, when the Heat beat Detroit on Oct. 10, 2010, in its first game with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Paul finished with 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds Monday night.

Paul was traded from the Hornets last week, joining All-Star forward Blake Griffin as the foundation of one of the league's most exciting teams.

Grizzlies: Forward Darrell Arthur will miss the season after an MRI exam confirmed a torn right Achilles' tendon. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Arthur was hurt in practice Sunday. He is scheduled for surgery within the next week but is expected to be ready for the start of next season.

Arthur, 23, averaged career highs with 9.1 points, 49.7 field-goal percentage, 0.79 blocks and 20.1 minutes last season.

Hawks: The team signed seven-year veteran Jannero Pargo. He most recently played for the Bulls in the 2009-10 season.

Times wires
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

BEREA, Ohio — The NFL will require teams to place certified athletic trainers in the press box to help monitor head injuries, a change prompted by the Browns' failure to test quarterback Colt McCoy for a concussion.

League spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that memos would be sent to all 32 clubs by today to explain the protocol, which is expected to begin this weekend.

Aiello said the trainer will monitor the entire game without distraction and inform medical personnel on the sideline of any potential head injuries.

The implementation of the added trainer was first reported by Charley Casserly of CBS.

McCoy is out with the concussion sustained Dec. 8 when he took an illegal helmet-to-face mask hit by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison. Though he was flattened by the hit, the second-year QB was not tested for a concussion and the Browns sent him back in the game after two plays.

McCoy hasn't been cleared to practice by Browns doctors. Coach Pat Shurmur said Seneca Wallace will likely make his second straight start Saturday in Baltimore.

Elway backs Tebow

Broncos chief of football operations John Elway told the Associated Press he believes Tim Tebow can morph from a scrambling quarterback into a pocket passer, which suggests Elway won't spend a high draft pick on another QB in April.

"Tim Tebow's not going anywhere," Elway said of the former Heisman Trophy winner at Florida. "I mean, he's going to be a Bronco and we're going to do everything we can and hopefully he's that guy."

Elway, who led Denver to five Super Bowls and two titles as a QB, reiterated his intention to work with Tebow during the offseason, something he couldn't do this year because of the lockout.

Last month Elway was asked in a radio interview if he was "any closer to feeling if you have your quarterback on this team?" Elway paused and answered, "No." He then pointed out that Tebow had to do better on third downs and improve as a passer.

"I think that comment was probably a little bit too blunt," Elway said Tuesday. "Because I think the big picture with Tim is we've got to see the whole body of work."

NO MANNING TIME: Peyton Manning will not participate in Colts practices the rest of the season. Two days after the four-time league MVP was ruled out of the final two games, coach Jim Caldwell said Manning won't practice, either. Caldwell said he also believes Manning will be better off recovering from his latest neck surgery through individual work.

MCCLUSTER ROBBED: A man on parole for burglary was charged with burglarizing the Kansas City apartment of Chiefs running back and former Largo High star Dexter McCluster, taking thousands of dollars' worth of electronics, watches and other property. The Jackson County (Mo.) prosecutor's office charged Daniel LaBlance, 31.

TECH: The Super Bowl will be streamed online and to phones in the U.S. for the first time, the league said NBC's broadcasts of wild card Saturday, the Pro Bowl and Super Bowl will be available on the league's and network's websites and through Verizon's NFL Mobile app.

GIANT SUSPECTED: Authorities are investigating a report that linebacker Michael Boley physically abused his 5-year-old son in Gadsden, Ala., his hometown. Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp said an investigation into the allegations made by the child's mother has just begun and that he had not spoken to Boley. The New York Times initially reported the accusations. Boley, 29, is in the third year of a five-year contract worth about $25 million.

BILLS: Tight end Lee Smith went on injured reserve; the rookie free agent hurt his left ankle last weekend.

COWBOYS: Running back Felix Jones missed practice with hamstring tightness.

DOLPHINS: Linebacker Koa Misi went on IR; the team signed quarterback Pat Devlin from its practice squad to fill the spot.

PACKERS: Offensive tackle Derek Sherrod went on IR with a broken right leg; the team signed tackle Herb Taylor.

PATRIOTS: Defensive end Andre Carter, who leads the team in sacks with 10, went on IR with a left quadriceps injury.

SEAHAWKS: Receiver and former Plant High standout Mike Williams (broken left ankle) is out for the season.

STEELERS: Coach Mike Tomlin defended leaving hobbled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the entire game in Monday's loss at San Francisco, but would not commit to playing the veteran in Saturday's game against the Rams. Roethlisberger, dealing with a high left ankle sprain, was intercepted three times and sacked three times in the 20-3 loss to the 49ers.

Times wires
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

soccer

wambach named athlete of year

Abby Wambach, whose thunderous header in the final seconds of the World Cup quarterfinal led the United States to an improbable victory and sparked a nationwide frenzy, was voted the 2011 Female Athlete of the Year.

Wambach, a 31-year-old forward, received 65 of the 214 votes cast by members of the Associated Press. Teammate Hope Solo (38 votes) was second and UConn basketball player Maya Moore (35) third.

Wambach, a former Gator, is the first individual soccer player — man or woman — to win one of the AP's annual athlete awards, which began in 1931. The U.S. women's team won in 1999.

"We, as a team, did something that no team since Mia Hamm was able to do," Wambach said. "Even the team that won the (Olympic) gold medal in 2008 wasn't able to inspire and get people excited about women's soccer. It goes to show you the impact drama can bring."

troubled player banned for racial slur: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's troubled disciplinary history hit a new low when he was given an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during a Premier League match.

The English Football Association punishment, which included a fine of $62,000, came less than a year after Suarez left Ajax while serving a seven-match ban in the Netherlands for biting an opponent.

et cetera

Tennis: The BNP Paribas Open will become the first joint ATP/WTA tournament to award both the men's and women's singles champions $1 million in prize money. The total purse for the 2012 tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., will increase to more than $11 million. The singles finalists, semifinalists and quarterfinalists will earn $500,000, $200,000 and $100,000, respectively — and prize money has been increased for all rounds of the tournament.

Autos: A.J. Foyt has hired IndyCar veteran Mike Conway to drive the No. 14 car in 2012. He will replace Brazil's Vitor Meira. Conway made his IndyCar debut in 2009, finishing a season-best third at Infineon. He missed most of 2010 because of leg and back injuries sustained in a crash on the last lap of that year's Indianapolis 500.

Times wires

Times wires
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jared Sullinger felt he needed to play, even if he wasn't 100 percent.

Whatever that percentage was, it was still pretty good.

Sullinger bounced back from his latest injury to put up 18 points and 11 rebounds, leading No. 2 Ohio State past Lamar 70-50 on Tuesday night.

"It's life. You don't go through a career in basketball injury-free," the 6-foot-9 sophomore said. "Fortunately, it's now instead of life."

The most important stat was that he played 30 minutes.

"I missed too much," he said of his recent minutes lost due to physical ailments. "The back spasms and now the foot, I've got to get back into the routine. I can't really sit here and wait for it to heal up. By that time, I won't have my timing down on plays, defensively or offensively. So I had to get back as soon as possible."

Coach Thad Matta said it was essential for Sullinger to get back on the court. He said any absence, but particularly that of your best player, adds to the trials of being a coach.

"It does because you're not in full force. It's the unknown — is this guy going to play, is he going to practice, how good is he if he does," Matta said. "Without question those are some of the things that play into it. Hopefully now we're getting him back and we can continue to see the improvement on a daily basis."

Deshaun Thomas, chosen Big Ten player of the week on Monday, added 16 points for the Buckeyes (11-1). His streak of making 17 2-point field-goal attempts ended on his first shot.

NO. 1 SYRACUSE 80, BUCKNELL 61: Kris Joseph had 17 points, Scoop Jardine added 14 and the Orange (12-0), in its second straight week at No. 1, won its 30th straight nonconference home game.

NO. 3 KENTUCKY 82, SAMFORD 50: Doron Lamb scored 26 for the Wildcats (10-1), who won their 41st straight home game despite missing star forward Terrence Jones, out with a dislocated left pinky finger. Before the game, Kentucky announced that walk-on guard Sam Malone tore a ligament in his left knee Saturday night. There is no timetable for his return.

NO. 4 LOUISVILLE 69, CHARLESTON 62: Kyle Kuric had 17 points and eight rebounds for the host Cardinals (11-0), who trailed 57-55 with 5:06 to play but went on a 9-2 run over the next three minutes.

NO. 15 PITT 71, ST. FRANCIS (PA.) 47: J.J. Moore had 15 points for the host Panthers (11-1), who won their ninth straight by holding the Red Flash to 35 percent shooting.

GATORS AILING: Coach Billy Donovan said guard Mike Rosario and forward Cody Larson are doubtful to play for No. 11 Florida on Thursday against FSU. Rosario missed practice because of a strained back, and Larson is slowly working his way back from strep throat.

BLOW TO 'NOLES: Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said forward Terrance Shannon will have surgery on his left shoulder and miss the rest of the season. Shannon was third on the Seminoles in scoring (8.6 points) and was averaging 4.4 rebounds.

MIAMI: Senior guard DeQuan Jones received approval to return to competition after he sat out the first 10 games because of an NCAA investigation into recruiting allegations.

Women

UF 83, CHARLESTON SO. 59: Jordan Jones had 20 points and Jennifer George 19 points and 10 rebounds for Florida (8-3) in the Gator Holiday Classic. UF will play Duquesne in the championship game at 7 tonight.

NO. 3 NOTRE DAME 90, UCF 38: Skylar Diggins had 14 points to lead six players in double figures for the host Fighting Irish (11-1), who shot 52 percent from the field and had a 46-28 rebounding advantage.

NO. 4 STANFORD 97, NO. 6 TENN. 80: Senior Nnemkadi Ogwumike scored a career-high 42 for the Cardinal (8-1), which pulled away from the Vols (7-3) to extend its school-record home winning streak to 68 games at Maples Pavilion.

NO. 9 DUKE 107, UNC-WILM. 45: Allison Vernerey scored 18 of her 22 in the decisive first half for the host Blue Devils (8-2), who forced 40 turnovers, shot 57 percent and never trailed.

NO. 11 OHIO ST. 88, S. UTAH 50: Tayler Hill had 24 points to help the host Buckeyes (12-0) overcome a sluggish start in their third game in four days.

NO. 13 GEORGIA 63, MONTANA ST. 49: Khaalidah Miller and Jasmine Hassell had 13 points each as the Bulldogs (9-2) cruised in a Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic game.

NO. 18 GREEN BAY 80, BALL ST. 39: Julie Wojta had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the host Phoenix (9-0), who never trailed in coming off a 12-day layoff.

NO. 20 PURDUE 66, OAKLAND (MICH.) 47: Sam Ostarello had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the host Boilermakers (9-3), who won their second straight.

NO. 22 TEXAS 91, GRAMBLING ST. 38: Chassidy Fussell scored 19 and the host Longhorns (9-2) opened the game with 19 straight points and finished with their largest margin of victory this season.

NO. 23 UNC 65, ECU 61: Chey Shegog had 19 points for the visiting Tar Heels (8-2), who twice got rebounds after missing free throws in the final 23 seconds.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Marshall's top passing connection of QB Rakeem Cato and WR Aaron Dobson hadn't found any rhythm in the first half Tuesday night.

Then the two connected on a 31-yard touchdown — Dobson's 11th of the year — to tie the score with 23 seconds left before halftime. Up to that point, the two had hooked up on three short passes, totaling 6 yards.

When Marshall got the ball on its 45 with 1:38 left in the half, the Herd got a needed spark from WR Travon Van, who made a wild reverse cut through the FIU defense to set Marshall up at the 27 with 29 seconds left.

Dobson's 10 touchdown catches weren't enough to lead Conference USA — not with a prolific Houston offense that saw WRs Patrick Edwards and Justin Johnson catch 18 and 11 touchdowns, respectively.

PROUD ALUM: Among those cheering for Marshall on Tuesday night was former NFL QB Chad Pennington, who once threw passes to Randy Moss for the Thundering Herd.

The bowl is in just its fourth year, but Pennington isn't the most high-profile NFL QB to watch a game at Tropicana Field. In 2008, Chargers QB Philip Rivers watched USF win as a guest of assistant Mike Canales, his former coach at N.C. State.

FILLING IN: ESPN's broadcast crew was to include analyst Craig James, but he left the network this week to ponder a run for the U.S. Senate in Texas. Former Florida State QB Danny Kanell stepped in as a last-minute replacement, doing color for the game alongside play-by-play man Mike Patrick and sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards.

THIS AND THAT: Marshall punt returner Andre Booker, who played at Sarasota Riverview, had a 39-yard punt return in the second quarter, though it was spoiled by an interception thrown on the next play. … Former Eagles player Vince Papale, made famous by the Disney movie Invincible, took part in the pregame coin toss. … Both teams came in with momentum, with FIU winning its past three games and Marshall winning three of its last four after a 3-5 start.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@tampabay.com and at (813) 226-3346.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

TAMPA

How do you fix this mess?

It's a simple question. Not a lot of ambiguity. Ask it of any fan of a last-place team in the NFL, and I'm guessing you'll hear one answer far more than most.

Fire the coach.

As responses go, this one is fairly traditional and obviously appealing. By gosh, it sounds passionate. And it looks decisive. You might even describe it as bold.

The problem is that it's only half of a solution. Sort of like benching a quarterback. Getting rid of one guy may be satisfying, but finding his replacement is more difficult.

And I fear that has been lost in today's debate. It is true the Buccaneers have been a huge disappointment in 2011, and it seems much of Tampa Bay wants Raheem Morris to pay for that with his job, but what happens the morning after?

Because, if you're ready to fire one coach, you have to be prepared to hire another. And, given the available candidates, I'm not sure I see a perfect fit.

The Bucs need a coach who can work with younger players, instill discipline, energize a fan base and, along the way, win a playoff game or two.

He can't count on free agents for quick fixes, and may not have control over personnel, depending on what the Bucs do with GM Mark Dominik.

In other words, the perfect candidate is going to be hard to find.

Take a look at some of the names floating around, and decide for yourself:

Saviors or Retreads?

You should begin with Bill Cowher. And you should probably dismiss him immediately.

It's not that Cowher wouldn't be a good choice. He'd be terrific. Ten playoff appearances, two AFC championships and a .623 winning percentage in 15 seasons in Pittsburgh. And the whole grow-through-the-draft philosophy is a Pittsburgh knock-off.

The problem is everyone else wants Cowher, and he seems content to stay in television until he finds the perfect job. That means somebody will have to pay him a ton of money. And it means giving him whatever he wants in terms of payroll and budget, too.

Does that sound like Tampa Bay?

Jeff Fisher is much admired and has done good work, but his name recognition is still better than his resume. There are 19 coaches who have logged 250 or more games in the NFL, and Fisher's .542 winning percentage ranks 17th on that particular list. Steady? Yes. Dynamic? Not so much.

Every year in the NFL, 37.5 percent of the teams make the playoffs. So if you're reaching the postseason 50 percent of the time, you're doing great. If you make it 20 percent of the time, you're pretty bad. And if you make it 37.5 percent, you're an average team.

Fisher's playoff percentage after 16 full seasons? 37.5.

Which brings us to Brian Billick. He has a Super Bowl ring. He's got personality.

More than anything, he has a reputation as an offensive guru forged in Minnesota when he was a coordinator, which might be appealing for a team built around Josh Freeman.

The problem is Billick never actually developed an offense or a quarterback in Baltimore.

In his nine years as head coach, the Ravens had one top-10 offense. When that team won, it was because of the defense and you have to wonder how much former coordinators Marvin Lewis and Rex Ryan had to do with that.

Moving on, Dom Capers, Eric Mangini, Mike Mularkey and Wade Phillips would also fit in this group, but they're hardly exciting names.

Former Bucs assistant Herman Edwards has the personality and the pedigree to instill some of the discipline Tampa Bay needs but his tenure in Kansas City was not good.

So … Jon Gruden?

Hee hee hee.

Company Men

Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is considered a hot candidate in some circles. Arizona offensive line coach Russ Grimm has been interviewing for head coaching jobs for years. Rob Ryan has personality, but not a very good defense in Dallas. Chuck Pagano is having success in Baltimore but was 50 before getting his first coordinator's job this season.

It's just hard to see Bucs fans getting excited about guys who have been assistants for decades and have never been hired as head coaches.

The one exception might be Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements.

He has a fascinating background (former Notre Dame QB, Canadian Football League Hall of Famer at quarterback, spent five years as an attorney in Chicago) and is given much of the credit for developing Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Up-and-Comers

Rob Chudzinski has increased his stock dramatically this fall as the Carolina offensive coordinator who has turned Cam Newton into an instant sensation.

Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami when the 'Canes won their last national championship, and he was part of an impressive Chargers staff.

At 43, he's older than Morris but doesn't have the whiff of a lifer as an assistant.

Along the same lines is Bengals coordinator Jay Gruden. He worked quietly as a Bucs assistant for years, and had success as a head coach in the Arena Football League and the UFL before making a splash in Cincinnati this year with rookie QB Andy Dalton.

If his older brother is brash and dynamic, Jay is more low-key and easygoing. That might make him more likable, but probably not the right personality for Tampa Bay right now.

Bottom Line

The Glazers have been big-game hunters in the past. They chased Steve Spurrier and Jimmy Johnson before hiring Tony Dungy, and then went after Bill Parcells and Jon Gruden after firing Dungy. The caveat is those hires were pre-Manchester United days.

Maybe they throw money at Fisher or Cowher. Maybe they're waiting to see if an Andy Reid, a Tom Coughlin or a Norv Turner comes available.

Maybe they decide Morris deserves another shot.

The point, I suppose, is there is no perfect choice.

And that's a scary thought.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — Marshall made a habit of winning close games late this season, and Tuesday night was no different as the Thundering Herd blocked a punt in the fourth quarter and added a touchdown in the final minute for a 20-10 victory over Florida International in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl at Tropicana Field.

"It means so much. I've been in 27 bowls now, and the ones I remember are the ones I won," said Herd coach Doc Holliday, a former assistant at Florida. "We've done it all year. These guys have learned how to overcome adversity, to fight, play every snap and look up at the end of the game and see what happens."

Deadlocked at 10-10 most of the second half, the Herd's Zach Dunston blocked an FIU punt for what looked to be a go-ahead touchdown with 7:35 remaining, but a penalty for an illegal forward pass and ensuing personal foul negated the score and backed Marshall out to the 23-yard line. Kicker Tyler Warner gave Marshall the lead on a 39-yard field goal.

"When a game's tough like that, when it's real tight, special teams becomes a critical part of it," FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. "They made a play on special teams that changed the game."

Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato hooked up with receiver Aaron Dobson at the end of each half, starting with a 31-yard score with 23 seconds left in the first half to tie the game. Going for it on fourth down with 30 seconds left at the end of the game, the two hooked up for a 35-yard touchdown to put the game away.

Dobson was named team MVP, as was FIU receiver T.Y. Hilton, who scored the Golden Panthers' lone touchdown on a 2-yard run.

The three previous bowl games at the Trop had all featured at least 55 combined points, but the Herd (7-6) and Panthers (8-5) were deadlocked at 10-10 for much of the second half, with neither team moving beyond the opposing 47-yard line until the blocked punt.

FIU's best chance at a late score ended when Hilton lost a fumble near midfield with 4:24 remaining. Marshall converted a key third down on a screen to tight end C.J. Crawford to help salt away the final minutes. Rather than punt with 30 seconds left, Marshall went for it from the FIU 35, getting the touchdown pass to punctuate the win.

FIU's defense, which had held opponents to 12.6 points in its previous five games coming in, kept pressure on Marshall, which got surprisingly solid play from its defense.

The Herd had allowed 41 points per game in its six losses, but held the Panthers to 10 points, the fewest by a Marshall opponent this year and one more than FIU's season low.

The fourth installment of the St. Petersburg bowl game was its first without the draw of a Big East team — the conference's representatives had won each of the first three games against Conference USA opponents. With FIU filling in from the Sun Belt, the Panthers held their own against a Marshall team that wasn't bowl eligible until an overtime win in its last game of the season.

The attendance was slightly up from last season — announced as 20,072, barely up from 20,017 for Louisville and Southern Miss last season.

Still, it was the largest crowd FIU had played in front of since an Oct. 1 home game against Duke.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3346. View his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/usf. Follow him on Twitter at @GregAuman.

Times staff
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

TODAY

NFL

Texans at Colts, 8:20 p.m., NFL; 1010-AM

College basketball

Loyola (Md.) at Kentucky, 1 p.m., Sun Sports

Texas-El Paso vs. Clemson, 2:30 p.m., ESPNU

Kansas State vs. Southern Illinois, 4:30 p.m., ESPNU

Bradley at Michigan, 6:30 p.m., Big Ten

Memphis at Georgetown, 7 p.m.,ESPN2

Florida State at Florida, 7 p.m., ESPNU; 620-AM, 1040-AM

Fairfield at Connecticut, 7 p.m., BHSN

USF at Southern Mississippi, 8 p.m., 1250-AM

Miami (Ohio) at Ohio State, 8:30 p.m., Big Ten

Lehigh at Michigan State, 9 p.m., ESPNU

Illinois vs. Missouri, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Butler at Stanford, 9 p.m., Sun Sports

Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Marquette, 9 p.m., BHSN

Long Beach State vs. Xavier, 11 p.m., ESPNU

Kansas at Southern California, 11 p.m., FSN

Auburn vs. Hawaii, 1 a.m., ESPNU

College football

Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona State vs. Boise State, 8 p.m., ESPN

Soccer

EPL: Chelsea at Tottenham, 2:50 p.m., ESPN2

TV: FSN: Fox Sports Net; BHSN: Bright House Sports Network; FSC: Fox Soccer Channel