Fast Break
College football
It’s official: Jones to SMU
Saying he is looking forward to the “next challenge,” June Jones, the University of Hawaii’s winningest football coach, accepted an offer Monday to become new head coach at Southern Methodist University.
Jones said it was an opportunity he could not refuse. He will receive a five-year contract worth $2 million annually and replace Phil Bennett, who was fired Oct. 28 by the private school.
Hawaii’s 2007 season was capped by the school’s first invitation to a Bowl Championship Series bowl, the Sugar Bowl, where it lost 41-10 to Georgia.
NFL
Linehan, Rams to replace Olson
The St. Louis Rams removed Greg Olson as offensive coordinator and fired offensive line coach Paul Boudreau.
Rams spokesman Rick Smith said Olson could be reassigned, but was free to look for another job. Smith declined comment on reports that Cam Cameron, fired as coach of the Miami Dolphins, was among candidates being considered to replace Olson.
Olson, a Richland native, attended Spokane Falls Community College, played quarterback at Central Washington, got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at Washington State and was the QB coach at Idaho.
NFL
Vick moved to Leavenworth
Michael Vick left Virginia and was transferred to a Kansas prison to serve the rest of his 23-month sentence on a federal dogfighting charge.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback is at the federal prison in Leavenworth, said Traci Billingsley, a spokeswoman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Vick plans to enter a drug treatment program at Leavenworth, and a successful completion of the program may allow him to be released after 12 months.
NFL
Sanders named best defender
Bob Sanders’ impact on the vastly improved Indianapolis defense, not to mention his impact on opposing ball carriers, earned the Colts safety the Associated Press’ 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Sanders earned 31 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. That was particularly impressive because it was a strong season for individual defensive performances.
Closest in the balloting were Seattle end Patrick Kerney and Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth with four votes each.