Michigan’s Carr says he’ll retire

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr will retire today after 13 seasons, ending an era marked by highs of winning a national championship and five Big Ten titles and lows of losing to Ohio State and Appalachian State.

Carr told The Associated Press of his decision Sunday by phone, saying he wouldn’t comment further until a Monday morning news conference at the school.

The 62-year-old coach informed his players and staff of his retirement Sunday during a team meeting at Schembechler Hall.

“It’s a hard thing to deal with,” safety Jamar Adams said. “We’re like a family, and when the head of your family is leaving, it’s hard.”

The news comes a day after Michigan lost to Ohio State for the fourth straight year, ending a trying season for Carr and the Wolverines that started with an embarrassing loss to second-tier Appalachian State.

It was a move many expected last winter when he altered his contract, paving the way for this to be his last season on the sideline, and later made sure the school gave all of his assistants unprecedented, two-year deals.

Carr is 121-40 with a .752 winning percentage, ranking him seventh among active coaches just behind Florida State’s Bobby Bowden and ahead of South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier before he retired.

LSU, Kansas top BCS

All that stands between a Kansas-LSU matchup in the BCS national championship game are some tough opponents.

LSU was first and unbeaten Kansas was second in the Bowl Championship Series standings and the chances of another team catching either without the Tigers and Jayhawks losing seems remote.

The Tigers are No. 1 in the polls and the computers ratings and have BCS average of .990. The Jayhawks are No. 2 with a BCS average of .949.

LSU faces Arkansas at home on Friday before playing in the Southeastern Conference championship game against either Georgia or Tennessee on Dec. 1 in Atlanta.

Kansas and Missouri meet Saturday in Kansas City for the 116th time, and never has it been more important. The winner goes to the Big 12 title game with national championship hopes intact. If Kansas gets by Missouri, either Oklahoma or Texas awaits in the Big 12 title game.

Rebels put on probation

Mississippi put 20 players on probation after they twice stole items from hotels.

A news release said the players have paid for the items, which included radios and pillows. Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said in the release that the players will be on probation indefinitely.

Officials said the items stolen cost between $15 and $40.

“Any actions similar to this will result in more severe penalties which may include dismissal from the team,” Orgeron said in the release.

The action comes a day after the Rebels lost 41-24 to No. 1 LSU in Oxford. It appears the players will be allowed to play Friday at Mississippi State in the final game of the season.

A spokesman said a list of disciplined players was not available.

Baylor fires Morriss

Baylor coach Guy Morriss was fired after the Bears finished their 12th consecutive losing season with their 12th straight Big 12 loss.

The leading candidate to replace Morriss is Baylor icon Mike Singletary