Fast Break

College football

Illini’s Zook captures award

Illinois coach Ron Zook won the Liberty Mutual coach of the year award Saturday for leading one of the best turnarounds this season.

The Illini went 9-3 and earned a trip to the Rose Bowl a year after going 2-10. Zook, in his third season with Illinois, took over a program that hadn’t had a winning season since 2001.

“It’s very satisfying because we accomplished some of our goals and got the program going in the right direction,” Zook said as he prepared for the Rose Bowl against Southern California on Tuesday.

Jerry Kill, who led Southern Illinois to the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals, was honored as the top coach in FBS.

College football

McFadden receives apology

Arkansas star Darren McFadden said he fully expects to play in the Cotton Bowl after a television report raised questions about his eligibility. Arkansas television station KARK has since backed off the report, apologizing to McFadden and his family.

“It’s something that’s uncalled for – people not getting their facts straight,” said McFadden, the Heisman Trophy runner-up. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

On Thursday, McFadden and agent Mike Conley were linked by KARK to the purchase of a Cadillac Escalade. After strong denials by Conley and McFadden’s parents, the station said Friday its report was flawed.

“We want to publicly apologize to Mr. Conley for any distress he has experienced,” said a posting on the station’s Web site.

NHL

Outdoor teams will change ends

The NHL has made an adjustment to its Winter Classic to equalize any edge weather might provide during the outdoor game at Orchard Park, N.Y., on New Year’s Day. (Story, Page C2.)

The league decided that the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins will switch ends midway through the third period. If the game should go into overtime, the teams will switch ends again at the 2 1/2 -minute mark.