Sports in brief: Stanford, Harbaugh make it official

Football: Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh’s long-awaited three-year contract extension is finally official.

The school announced a deal Sunday that keeps Harbaugh under contract through 2014. The two sides were close to announcing the extension last year but put it on hold because of the troubled economy.

Athletic director Bob Bowlsby confirmed the deal was completed Saturday, but the official announcement was put on hold until after Saturday’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. Cardinal running back Toby Gerhart finished second to Alabama’s Mark Ingram.

Harbaugh is finishing his third season at Stanford. He guided the 19th-ranked Cardinal (8-4) to their first bowl bid in eight years. They will face Oklahoma (7-5) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

“I am proud and thankful that Stanford and Bob Bowlsby have entrusted me with the opportunity to represent this great university as its football coach,” Harbaugh said. “These past three years have convinced me that Stanford will win on the football field and continue to graduate young men who will be leaders in their chosen fields.”

Associated Press

Accenture cuts ties with Woods

Golf: Global consulting firm Accenture PLC has ended its relationship with Tiger Woods, marking the first major sponsor to cut ties altogether with the golfer since his alleged infidelities surfaced and he announced an indefinite leave from the sport to work on his marriage.

In its first statement since the Woods’ scandal erupted, Accenture said Sunday the golfer is “no longer the right representative” after the “circumstances of the last two weeks.” The move ends a six-year relationship during which the firm credited its “Go on, be a Tiger” campaign with boosting its image significantly.

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