ASU boots starting tailback off team

Tailback Hakim Hill’s troubled football career at Arizona State ended on Monday when he was sent home from Texas and dismissed from the team by coach Dirk Koetter.

Hill, the team’s leading rusher, was booted from the squad for violating a team rule, assistant athletic director for media relations Mark Brand said. The exact infraction was not revealed.

Hill, a junior, will not be allowed back on the team next season, Brand said.

The No. 21 Sun Devils (8-3) had arrived Sunday in El Paso, Texas, where they will face Purdue in the Sun Bowl on Friday.

Hill, son of former Arizona State and NFL star wide receiver J.D. Hill, had been in and out of trouble since his high school days in Iowa City, Iowa.

Hill was suspended the entire 2001 season at Arizona State for violating a team rule, played sparingly in 2002 and started four games in 2003.

This season, he rushed for 566 yards in 122 carries in 10 games for the Sun Devils and scored five of the team’s six rushing touchdowns.

Brown eyes extension

With Texas preparing for its first Rose Bowl, coach Mack Brown is in line for a raise.

Brown already is one of college football’s highest-paid coaches with a salary of slightly more than $2 million a year. Athletic director DeLoss Dodds told the Associated Press on Monday that details of the new contract will be announced during the week.

Tuberville gets new deal

Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has agreed in principle to a new seven-year contract worth $16 million.

Tuberville, the AP Coach of the Year this year, led the third-ranked Tigers to a 12-0 regular season and their first Southeastern Conference championship in 15 years.

The Tigers are playing Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 3

Vols’ freshmen QBs ailing

Both of Tennessee’s freshmen quarterbacks may be out for the Cotton Bowl.

Junior Rick Clausen will start as planned in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M (7-4).

The Vols (9-3) had hoped freshman Brent Schaeffer would be able to play some after returning for the first time since breaking his collarbone Oct. 30. But Schaeffer has been unable to practice in Texas because he’s suffering from flu-like symptoms.

The Vols’ other freshman QB – Erik Ainge – hasn’t played since separating his shoulder against Notre Dame on Nov. 6.