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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Meyer shuts up about BCS

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Urban Meyer has been going on and on about the Bowl Championship Series, calling it an imperfect system that should be replaced with a playoff.

Then, when the Florida coach had one last chance to lobby for his team, he decided it was time to clam up.

The fourth-ranked Gators still have hopes of facing No. 1 Ohio State in the national championship game, but it doesn’t look good.

Southern California would have to lose today to two-touchdown underdog UCLA, while Florida (11-1) would have to win impressively enough against Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference championship game today in Atlanta to leapfrog third-place Michigan in the BCS standings.

So, coach Meyer, any thoughts on your team’s chances?

“No thoughts,” Meyer said Friday with a coy smile.

Well, that’s a change. Just a day earlier, Meyer was fretting that he passed up an invitation to go before Congress with his thoughts on the BCS, while reiterating his belief that a playoff would be a much better format for determining a national champion.

In fact, Meyer has been quite candid about the BCS for several weeks now, insisting that Michigan didn’t deserve another chance at Ohio State after losing to the Buckeyes in their regular-season finale.

It may be a moot point, because USC cleared a major hurdle last week with a persuasive win over Notre Dame. All the Trojans have to do is beat their crosstown rival, which they have done seven years in a row, including a 66-19 rout last season.

Meyer hasn’t gone so far as to say that Florida should get the nod over USC for a spot in the title game, but he follows the standard SEC line that anyone who wins this conference – even with a loss – deserves consideration for No. 1.

“I truly have great respect for the SEC,” said Meyer, in his second season with the Gators. “If you play 11 or 12 games in this conference, good things should happen to the team that wins it.”

Texas QB will transfer

Texas backup quarterback Jevan Snead will transfer, school officials announced, leaving the Longhorns with no experienced quarterback behind the injured Colt McCoy for their bowl game.

McCoy, who severely pinched a nerve in the final seconds of a 12-7 loss to Texas A&M, has not yet been cleared by team doctors for whichever bowl game selects Texas, although team trainer Kenny Boyd said he is “progressing extremely well.”

The statement did not say where Snead, a freshman, planned to attend.

Texas is likely headed to either the Gator or Alamo bowl. McCoy’s backup for the bowl game would be senior walk-on Matt McCoy, no relation, who has never thrown a pass in a game.

Franchione apologizes

Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione apologized this week to Texas coach Mack Brown and quarterback Colt McCoy for a late hit by one of his players in the Aggies’ 12-7 victory.

Franchione posted a note on his Web site saying an apology from coaches and players, including freshman defensive lineman Kellen Heard, was faxed to Brown earlier this week. The head coaches also spoke on the phone.

Heard was ejected for his hit on McCoy after the quarterback had just thrown his third interception late in the game.

The blow knocked McCoy to the ground.

Sullivan signs deal

Pat Sullivan, a Heisman Trophy winner for Auburn, has signed a five-year deal to coach at I-AA Samford.

An assistant coach at Division I-A UAB since 1999, Sullivan will replace Bill Gray, who was fired last month after the Bulldogs finished the season 3-8.

Weis will accept fate

Sugar or Rose? Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis doesn’t care which bowl gets the Fighting Irish.

“Wherever they put us, we’re going to be happy to go and that’s where I stand on that,” Weis said. “Whoever picks us, we’re going to be happy.”

Weis isn’t spending any time worrying about where the 12th-ranked Fighting Irish (10-2) are headed.

They are No. 10 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and two teams ranked ahead of them can’t go because conferences are limited to two participants in the select group of bowls.

That makes the Irish all but ticketed for the BCS, and a $4.5 million payday.

It’s also been a while since Notre Dame has been to the Rose or Sugar.

The Irish made their first bowl appearance in the 1925 Rose Bowl – a 27-10 victory over Stanford that was their only bowl game until 1970.

The Irish have played in the Sugar Bowl three times.

Around the country

Michigan wide receiver Adrian Arrington has been cleared of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge. … Wisconsin suspended sophomore defensive back Jack Ikegwuonu, who is facing burglary and trespassing charges along with his twin brother.