Fast Break

College football

It was Coker’s time to go

Larry Coker won nearly 80 percent of his games at Miami, got players to graduate, was revered for his classy manner and led the Hurricanes to a national championship.

Despite all that, even he admitted Miami needed to make a change. He was fired Friday after six seasons.

“There’s such a negative groundswell around the program,” Coker said. “If I’m here, unless we just win all the games, I don’t see that changing in the next few months. I really don’t.”

He may coach one more game – if Miami (6-6) goes to a bowl.

Coker is 59-15 at Miami, but was doomed by 12 losses in the last three seasons and no conference crowns or Bowl Championship Series bids since 2003. He had three seasons left on a contract that paid him about $2 million annually. There is a buyout provision in his deal, believed to be worth about $3 million.

Baseball

Lee bigs’ newest $100 million man

The Houston Astros, the National League’s worst-hitting team, signed outfielder Carlos Lee and right-hander Woody Williams, bolstering its offense and a pitching staff that could be without Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte.

Lee, a two-time All-Star left fielder who played with Texas and Milwaukee last season, signed a six-year, $100 million deal, the largest contract in Astros history. Last season was Lee’s fifth straight with at least 30 homers and 99 RBIs.

Williams is a 14-year veteran who was 12-5 with a 3.65 ERA last season with San Diego. He signed a two-year deal worth $12.5 million.

College football

A big day in Big Sky Country

Montana football fans have a smorgasbord of action to choose from today, with three national playoff games being played in the state.

No. 15 Montana State (7-4) plays host to No. 7 Furman (8-3) and Montana (10-1) is host to McNeese State in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) playoffs.And in Helena, four-time NAIA national champion and fourth-ranked Carroll College (11-1) plays host to No. 9 St. Xavier (9-2).