Newsmakers

Awarded Auburn quarterback Cam Newton had already raked in the Heisman Trophy Award as well as the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell awards for his spectacular season with No. 1-ranked Tigers. He added AP Player of the Year to his collection Wednesday. Newton received 51 votes from the 60-member AP football poll panel. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore received three, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck got two and four ballots went unreturned.

Appealed LSU running back Stevan Ridley may be forced to miss the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M because of an academic violation. Coach Les Miles said LSU is appealing to the NCAA in hopes that Ridley, who is ineligible, can be reinstated before LSU (10-2) meets the Aggies (9-3) in Cowboys Stadium on Jan. 7.

Suspended Syracuse suspended defensive tackle Andrew Lewis and linebacker Brice Hawkes for the Pinstripe Bowl for violating team rules. Coach Doug Marrone announced the suspensions but declined to elaborate. Syracuse has lost six players in the last two weeks as the Orange prepare to play Kansas State on Dec. 30.

Hired After losing Al Golden to Miami, Temple turned to the Sunshine State to find his replacement. The Owls hired Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio to replace Golden, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Banned A frustrated Toronto Maple Leafs fan who threw waffles on the ice at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto will have to admire his team from afar. Joseph Robb was charged with criminal mischief and barred from the arena for throwing waffles on the ice at a Maple Leafs game to protest the team’s performance (12-17-4 record) this season.

Signed The Los Angeles Clippers signed forward Ike Diogu to bolster their injury- depleted frontcourt. Chris Kaman, Craig Smith and Brian Cook all are out of the Clippers’ lineup with injuries.