Bowden will stick with Rix at QB
Chris Rix will remain Florida State’s starting quarterback despite a dreadful performance in last week’s loss at Miami.
Coach Bobby Bowden announced his decision at a booster luncheon Monday.
Rix, who is Bowden’s first-ever four-year starter, became Division I-A’s only quarterback to go 0-5 against the same school after failing to lead the offense to a touchdown in Friday night’s loss at the Orange Bowl.
“People want to give up on Chris,” Bowden said. “I’m hoping that’s his bad one for the year.”
Rix completed 12 of 28 passes for 108 yards, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, including a critical one in overtime in the 16-10 loss. He ranks 10th in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s passing statistics with a 61.0 efficiency ranking.
“It’s way too early to panic,” added Bowden. “It’s not time.”
Stanford apologizes to BYU
Stanford athletic director Ted Leland apologized to Brigham Young University and its fans for a halftime show Saturday at Stanford Stadium by the Cardinal band that poked fun at polygamy with five dancers wearing wedding veils.
Leland said he would meet with the band to discuss possible sanctions.
Hixon remains in coma
Tennessee Tech wide receiver Drew Hixon remained in a medically induced coma following a helmet-to-helmet collision that knocked his helmet off his head, university officials said.
Hixon, son of Washington Redskins assistant coach Stan Hixon, remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital, according to a statement from Tennessee Tech.
He has not regained consciousness since being leveled after catching a pass in the second quarter of Saturday’s 21-7 loss to South Florida.
Hixon was strapped to a backboard and immediately taken to a hospital where doctors used drugs to induce a coma. Tests later indicated a brain injury.
Mountain West TV in 2006
College Sports Television and the Mountain West Conference announced the launch of Mountain West TV, the first regional sports network dedicated to a single conference.
Dave Checketts, former president of Madison Square Garden, and George Soros, a billionaire who runs a hedge-fund management company, will invest $25 million in CSTV, with Mountain West TV coverage set to begin in 2006.
Suspended Hokies QB avoids jail
Suspended Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick avoided jail by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a night of drinking with underage girls.
Vick, the younger brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, settled on the plea agreement rather than pursuing an appeal of a juvenile court conviction and 30-day jail sentence on three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
As part of the agreement, Vick received a suspended 30-day jail sentence, was fined $100 and ordered to perform 24 hours of community service. The judge also prohibited Vick from contacting the teenage girls who were at the party.
Cal-Southern Miss game ppd
The uncertainty of approaching Hurricane Ivan forced postponement of Thursday night’s game between No. 10 California and Southern Mississippi.
Cal athletic director Steve Gladstone issued a statement saying the game had been postponed and would probably be rescheduled in December.