In brief: Ash is Big Sky coach of year

Football: Montana State’s Rob Ash has been chosen the Big Sky Conference football coach of the year in a vote of league coaches.

In his fourth season at MSU, Ash guided the Bobcats to a 7-1 conference record, a share of the league title with Eastern Washington and the Big Sky’s automatic bid in the FCS playoffs.

Associated Press

Boise president fires back

Football: Boise State’s president said his counterpart at Ohio State’s claim that Big Ten and Southeastern Conference teams play a “murderer’s row” schedule “is the greatest exaggeration I think we’ve heard this year in college football.”

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Bob Kustra angrily responded to Ohio State President Gordon Gee’s statement that TCU and Boise State don’t deserve to be in the Bowl Championship Series title game even if they run the table.

Gee said of the power conferences’ schedules: “We do not play the Little Sisters of the Poor.”

Kustra had Ohio State’s last two schedules in front of him – the Buckeyes have played Southern California and Miami, in addition to several mid-majors and directional schools – and said, “If they’re not playing the Little Sisters of the Poor, they’re playing the Little Brothers.”

The controversy began when Gee defended the BCS and the current bowl system earlier in the day in an interview with The AP.

Associated Press

Lawmen take to ice for charity

Hockey: Local sheriff and police officers will take to the ice at Eagles-Ice-A-Rena Sunday to play a benefit hockey game to support Washington based charity, “Behind The Badge,” which assists injured officers as well as the families of officers killed in the line of duty. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

The Spokane Chiefs have donated items for a silent auction to be held during the game.

Suggested donations for admission are $5 for adults and $2 for children. Tickets may be purchased at the door.