In brief: Cheating scandal could leave FSU without 25
An academic cheating scandal could leave Florida State without as many as 25 players for its Music City Bowl game against Kentucky on New Year’s Eve, coach Bobby Bowden said Tuesday at Tallahassee, Fla.
It was the latest off-field blow to a once-proud program trying to regain its footing as a national power.
“We have some players not traveling for one reason and some for another, including those who are ineligible for the bowl because of academic issues,” Bowden said.
Many of the players who won’t be going to Nashville, Tenn., could also be ruled ineligible for some games next season for their connection to a cheating scandal earlier this year.
Federal privacy laws prohibit the school from releasing names.
“Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won AP Player of the Year, receiving 31 of a possible 58 votes. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden received 19 votes, and Hawaii’s Colt Brennan received four.
“Central Florida All-American running back Kevin Smith said he would return for his senior season.
“Star New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson won’t play in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday after being declared academically ineligible.
College basketball
Wildcats pick successor
Kevin O’Neill, who has been serving as interim coach at Arizona since Lute Olson, 73, went on a personal leave of absence in November, was designated as Olson’s successor when the Hall of Famer retires.
O’Neill, 50, is a former Wildcats assistant who rejoined Olson’s staff last spring.
“Dick Vitale, the voice of college basketball for almost three decades, had vocal cord surgery and is expected to be off the air until at least February.
“Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior forward Torre Johnson, 22, was dismissed from the team after being arrested early Saturday morning on the suspicion of battery.
Miscellany
Romario suspended
Veteran striker Romario was suspended 120 days for failing a doping test in a Brazilian league soccer match two months ago.
Members of Brazil’s sports tribunal at Sao Paulo voted 3-2 to suspend Romario after he tested positive for the banned substance finasteride.
“Olympic snowboarder Shaun White was cited for allegedly setting off a fire extinguisher at a ski resort in Breckenridge, Colo., and was questioned about a stolen car the same day, but authorities say he is not suspected of stealing the vehicle.
“Lindsay Davenport’s tennis comeback will include representing the United States in the Fed Cup on Feb. 2-3 at La Jolla, Calif.
“Russian tennis star Anna Chakvetadze was tied up by masked robbers who broke into her home at Moscow and stole money and goods, her father said.
“A security guard filed suit against Kasey Kahne seeking damages for “severe physical injuries” when the NASCAR driver allegedly shoved him to the ground at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 16.
“The governing body of world motorsports at Paris called off its spy scandal hearing with Formula One team McLaren.