Mattson Picks Off Award

Eastern Washington and Idaho have traveled different paths this football season, but they came to a common junction Monday. Both had league players of the week.

Steve Mattson, EWU’s junior end, is the Big Sky Conference defensive player of the week. He ignited the Eagles’ 27-21 upset of Big West Conference and NCAA Division I-A foe Boise State by intercepting a pass with just 1:23 gone and rumbling 40 yards for the first score of the game.

Idaho, which left the Big Sky this season with Boise, saw quarterback Ryan Fien earn his second Big West offensive honor of the season.

Fien was 25 of 32 for 354 yards and four TDs in a 52-17 win over Saint Mary’s.

Fien is the nation’s total offense leader at 418 yards per game and Idaho is No. 1 in passing at 440 yards. Vandals receiver David Griffin ranks fifth with eight catches per game.

Northern Arizona’s Archie Amerson, who rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns in a 43-13 win over Southern Utah, is the Big Sky offensive player of the week. And Clemente Sainten of Weber State won the special teams award after returning a kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown in a 36-3 win over Western State.

Spartans take a hit

Michigan State’s football program was placed on four years’ probation by the NCAA, but it does not include bans from bowl games or television appearances.

The NCAA said the school violated rules on recruiting, benefits, academic eligibility, ethical conduct and institutional control.

In addition to the four years’ probation, which began with a self-imposed penalty Dec. 1, 1995, the NCAA also reduced by seven the number of initial scholarships Michigan State can make to football players during the 1997-98 academic year. And it cut by one the number of coaches who can recruit off campus during December 1996 and January 1997.

The sanctions are in addition to penalties the school imposed on itself after investigations turned up the violations.

Michigan State fired its athletics student adviser and reassigned others connected to the program during the time of the violations.

School president Peter McPherson said, “The NCAA findings were fair and generally consistent with our investigation. We accept their conclusions and we will not appeal the penalties.”

Husky honored

Washington linebacker Jason Chorak, who had three of the Huskies’ eight sacks in a 29-17 victory against Brigham Young, is the Pacific-10 Conference defensive player of the week.

Oregon quarterback Ryan Perry-Smith, who started in place of injured Tony Graziani and led the Ducks to a 35-28 victory over Colorado State, is the offensive player of the week.

California kicker Ryan Longwell, who converted two field goals and averaged 51.4 yards on nine punts in the Bears’ 42-37 win against San Diego State, won the special teams award.

Holtz: Solid as Rock

Lou Holtz broke Knute Rockne’s Notre Dame record by coaching his 123rd game at the school.

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