College Football Capsules: Georgia's Richt gets defensive for Texas A&M

ATHENS, Ga. — Offensive-minded Mark Richt has had to spend more time than usual on Georgia’s defense.

Richt dismissed three defensive coaches, including defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, at the end of the regular season. So Richt has been overseeing the defense as the Bulldogs (7-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) prepare to face Texas A&M (6-6. 3-5 Big 12) on Dec. 28 at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.

"I’ve enjoyed it," Rich said Wednesday of his expanded duties. "I’m not trying to reinvent anything. My role is to set the parameters and make sure everything is being covered and to make sure we have a plan schematically and a plant to implement that strategy."

Richt has spent most of his career on the other side of the ball.

Prior to his arrival at Georgia in 2001, he spent 10 years as quarterbacks coach and six years as offensive coordinator at Florida State. Before that he spent a year as offensive coordinator at East Carolina.

Rodney Garner, the team’s lone holdover on the defensive coaching staff, is working with graduate assistants Mitch Doolittle and Todd Hartley in getting the Bulldogs defense ready for the Aggies, who averaged 34 points and a conference-leading 465.3 offensive yards per game this season.

"I’ll also keep a very close eye on how the defensive players are responding to coaching and those kinds of things," Richt said. "That’s the biggest part of my role, which isn’t altogether different than what I normally do but is a little more intense."

Although the Bulldogs have only had a few practices since the regular season ended, there’s definitely a different feeling on the field.

"It’s been really strange not to have those extra voice behind you, pushing you and telling you what you need to work on," said junior linebacker Rennie Curran, who led Georgia with 122 tackles this fall. "You’ve got to be really responsible and really conscious of where you’re at because you don’t have coaches there where you used to It’s kind of an awkward time because we’ve got our GAs here who are young guys, but we believe in them."

"We’ve only had one practice and it wasn’t that long," added senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens. "I don’t see that much of a big difference. We’ve got guys out there coaching and we’ve still got a game plan. We’ve just got to go out there and play. We’re mature enough and old enough to know what’s expected and what we’ve got to go out and do."

With or without experienced coaches, the Bulldogs defense, which gave up an average of 26.4 points and 328 offensive yards per game, figure to have quite a challenge corralling the Aggies. They are led by quarterback Jerrod Johnson (3,217 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions), running backs Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray (who combined have rushed for 1,519 yards and 14 touchdowns) and receivers Uzoma Nwachukwu (37 catches, 670 yards, six touchdowns) and Ryan Tannehill (44 catches, 574 yards, four touchdowns).

Johnson "is the catalyst of the offense," Richt said. "They’ll look to spread it out and go fast-paced. They’ll run out of every formation known to mankind, and our challenge will be to recognize those formations. They throw the ball around a lot and spread it to try to get you thinned out for their running game."

Richt, who in addition to readying Georgia for the bowl game is recruiting both players and a potential defensive coordinator, said even though he’s been quite busy, there is no timetable on bringing in a new coach to run the defense.

"I’d hate to think it would go past the first week of January," Richt said of when he’d like to have a new coordinator in place. "But I’m not 100 percent sure when it will happen I’ll know when the time is right."

Richt added that he’ll hire a coordinator before seeking candidates for the other two openings on his staff.

The new defensive coordinator "will have a say and will make suggestions, but it will all be through my blessings," he said. "We’ll get a defensive coordinator fire and then let him give his input."

Curran, who may bolt the Bulldogs for the NFL after the season, is nonetheless anxious about who the team’s new defensive coordinator will be.

"I’m very curious," he said. "It will mean a lot to see how we fit into a new scheme and what feel we’ll get from the new coaches. We’re obviously missing our coaches, but we know Coach Richt will bring in the best guy for the job."

Former coach Mangino getting $3 million from KU

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Former Kansas football coach Mark Mangino will be paid $3 million as part of a settlement both sides signed last week.

The university announced the payout on Wednesday and said the settlement will be paid by Dec. 24 through private funds raised by the athletics department, with no taxpayer money involved.

Mangino resigned earlier this month amid allegations that he mistreated his players. He had four years left on his contract, worth $2.3 million per year, or a total of $9.2 million.

After Mangino went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl in 2007, he was given a big raise and contract extension through 2012 and honored as national coach of the year.

"We appreciate the eight years that Mark has given to rebuilding our football program," Kansas Athletics Director Lew Perkins said in a statement. "He and the university have reached a mutually satisfactory agreement that reflects the appreciation we have for his efforts on behalf of Kansas football."

Mangino will continue to receive health insurance through March 30 and life insurance through June 30.

The settlement says it nullifies an investigation into physical and mental abuse of Kansas players by Mangino. It also negates a termination letter the university had given him on Dec. 3, before he decided to resign.

Mangino was replaced this week by former Buffalo coach Turner Gill, a former quarterback at Nebraska.

Mangino had been defiant to the end, insisting after a last-second loss to Missouri in the season finale that he had done nothing wrong and intended to serve out his contract. He finished with a record of 50-48, two victories shy of A.R. Kennedy’s school record set in the early 1900s.

After winning their first five games this season and rising to No. 16 in the rankings, the Jayhawks were favored by many to win the Big 12 North.

Instead, Kansas failed to win another game, finishing the 5-7 season with a 41-39 loss to Missouri. That defeat kept the Jayhawks from becoming bowl eligible for what would have been a school-record third straight year.

Football Bowl Subdivision

Cincinnati hires Central Michigan’s Jones

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati went right back to Central Michigan for its next coach.

Butch Jones was hired on Wednesday to replace Brian Kelly, who came from Central Michigan three years ago and built the Bearcats program into national prominence before leaving for Notre Dame last week. Now, it’s up to one of his former assistants to keep it there.

The fourth-ranked Bearcats (12-0) won their second straight Big East title, finished third in the BCS rankings and earned a chance to play Florida in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

"It’s very rare to have the opportunity to come in and take over a two-time defending champion and the No. 3 team in the country," said Davis, who was introduced at an evening news conference after agreeing to a five-year deal.

The chance came along because Kelly left for Notre Dame last Thursday. Jeff Quinn, who was his offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, was named interim coach and will direct the team in its first Sugar Bowl appearance while Jones settles in.

"I’m going to be around," Jones said. "But I’m going to be in the background. I think it’s all about them finishing what they started."

No. 25 Central Michigan plays Troy in the GMAC Bowl on Jan. 6. Associate head coach Steve Stripling was named interim coach on Wednesday for the Chippewas’ bowl game.

Jones’ familiarity with the Big East and his penchant for wide-open offense were major factors in getting him to Cincinnati.

He worked under Kelly for one year at Central Michigan before going to West Virginia as offensive coordinator for two years under Rich Rodriguez. The Mountaineers had one of the nation’s top offenses while he was there in 2005-06. When Kelly left for Cincinnati, Jones went back to Central Michigan, got his job and bought his home.

The two coaches stayed in touch over the years. Jones said he spoke with Kelly after accepting the job on Wednesday and was reminded about their house-sharing history.

"I bought his house in Mt. Pleasant," Jones said. "That’s the first thing he said: ‘Want to buy my house?"’

Considering that Kelly’s house in suburban Cincinnati got egged after he took the Notre Dame job, Jones may want to reconsider.

Kelly said in a phone interview with the AP on Wednesday night that their offensive philosophies are similar.

"He was on my staff, so he knows the system that we used and his system obviously mirrors a lot of things," Kelly said. "Some of the things he has tweaked toward his personnel. They’re not very far apart. It’s going to be spread, fast-paced, exciting."

Kelly said they talked a few times a year, and traded ideas this past season that both found useful.

"We actually shared some things that showed up in both of our game plans," Kelly said.

Jones met with Bearcats players on Wednesday, the day before they hold their first practice for the Sugar Bowl. His offensive philosophy was a major selling point. Like Kelly, the new coach likes a fast-paced offense that throws the ball a lot.

The Chippewas had some of the best offenses in their history under Jones, who led them to the Mid-American Conference title this season and their first national ranking.

"His innovative mind and energy make him a knockout choice," athletic director Mike Thomas said.

Cincinnati returns quarterback Zach Collaros, a sophomore who started and won four games this season when senior Tony Pike was hurt, and the core of an offense that is among the best in the country in passing and scoring.

He quickly got to his offensive philosophy, which was a concern for returning players recruited to fit Kelly’s no-huddle system.

"I know you’re all waiting for this: A wide-open, spread offense," Jones said.

-- Joe Kay

Steve Stripling named interim head coach at CMU

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Central Michigan has named associate head coach Steve Stripling as interim head football coach.

Stripling will lead the No. 25 Chippewas (11-2) at least through the GMAC Bowl against Troy (9-3), the Sun Belt Conference champion, on Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.

Stripling joined the Chippewas coaching staff in 2009 as associate head coach-defense and defensive ends coach. He was defensive line coach at Michigan from 2005-07 and coached previously at Michigan State (2003-04), Louisville (2001-2002), Minnesota (1997-2000) and Indiana (1984-96).

Stripling succeeds Butch Jones, who was hired Wednesday as head coach at Cincinnati. Under Jones, the Chippewas defeated Ohio in the Mid-American Conference title game on Dec. 4. The win lifted Central to its first appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Stanford QB Pritchard excited for bowl game start

STANFORD, Calif. — Tavita Pritchard made a memorable first start at quarterback at Stanford, leading the shocking upset two years ago against USC that started the Cardinal on their remarkable turnaround.

Even though the greatest success for Stanford has come after Andrew Luck took over at quarterback this season, Pritchard will get to end his career by starting for the Cardinal in their first bowl appearance in eight years.

With Luck nursing an injured finger on his throwing hand, Pritchard is expected to get the start for the 19th-ranked Cardinal (8-4) when they face Oklahoma (7-5) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

"It’s bittersweet," Pritchard said Wednesday. "You never want to see him get hurt. But again it’s football. Luckily enough it wasn’t a career kind of injury for Andrew. It’s something he’ll be back from. So from that point I was excited, very excited to play and to run out on the field one more time with my teammates."

Pritchard’s first career start also came as a result of an injury. After T.C. Ostrander suffered a seizure, Pritchard was thrown right in against No. 2 Southern California in a game that was expected to be a decided mismatch.

The 41-point underdog Cardinal hung in the game that day before finally rallying to the shocking 24-23 victory on Pritchard’s 10-yard pass to Mark Bradford with 49 seconds remaining.

Pritchard led Stanford to 17 points in the fourth quarter, needing a fourth-and-20 conversion to Richard Sherman to keep the final drive alive.

That started Stanford’s resurgence under coach Jim Harbaugh, going from a team that won one game in 2006 under Walt Harris to one that was in contention for a Pac-10 title until late in this season.

"It made it very apparent to everyone in the public that we were on the rise and we were returning," center Chase Beeler said. "The turnout on campus afterward I don’t think can be underestimated. Having probably half the student body coming out to meet the bus afterward was the jolt that really put that spark back."

But things didn’t go quite that well for Pritchard after that. He won only two of his final seven starts that season, only twice completing more than half his passes.

Pritchard was challenged for the starting job the following season before beating out Alex Loukas and Jason Forcier. But he threw 13 interceptions and just 10 touchdowns as Stanford went 5-7 in 2008, forcing Harbaugh to consider playing Luck as a true freshman.

Harbaugh eventually decided to redshirt Luck. Once spring practice started this season, it quickly became clear that Pritchard would be a backup his senior year.

"I think it’s been difficult," Harbaugh said. "Every quarterback worth their salt wants to play. Tavita certainly is that kind of quarterback. But there’s only one ball and that’s just life and that’s just football life. That’s the way it works."

Pritchard said a win in a bowl game would be a perfect bookend to his career. Pritchard is regarded so highly by his teammates that he received a standing ovation at the team banquet earlier this month because of the selfless way he handled his demotion.

Pritchard has played only sparingly this season behind Luck, appearing in four games and throwing only three passes. But he has enjoyed his time as a mentor this season and watching the team’s success.

"You always want to be the guy out on the field but when the team is winning and things are going the right way that’s fun too," Pritchard said. "It’s fun to win ballgames."

Luck has had a stellar freshman season, giving the Cardinal a legitimate passing threat to pair with the running of Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart. With defenses needing to respect Luck’s ability to get the ball downfield, Gerhart has led the nation with 1,736 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns on the ground.

Luck completed 56.3 percent of his passes this season, with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. His 15.9 yards per completion is the second-best mark in the nation, taking pressure off Gerhart.

With Pritchard at quarterback, the Cardinal are expected to throw more shorter passes, allowing the Sooners defense to crowd the line of scrimmage in an attempt to shut down Gerhart.

"I expect him to be very effective," Harbaugh said. "He has a lot of experience. He has prepared himself every week like he was going to play and be the starter. So he’s been ready and he’s practicing very well. We’ll put him in a position to make plays."

While Pritchard will start against the Sooners, Luck could see some playing time as well. He is scheduled to get the pin taken out of his finger next week and should be ready to practice before the game. Harbaugh said there is a chance he could play as well.

-- Josh Dubow

Cosby watches Temple football get serious

PHILADELPHIA — No joke, Bill Cosby’s Temple Owls are no longer college football’s laughingstock.

Cosby’s favorite team is worth watching.

Temple’s most famous funny man, who played on the football team in the 1960s, already has a game plan to help the Owls beat UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C. — on what’s likely to be a chilly Dec. 29.

Make the sun-spoiled Bruins freeze like a box of pudding pops.

"We will take them on open boat rides across the Delaware in horizontal snow without top coats and hats," Cosby said this week. "They will have a George Washington-crossing-the-Delaware experience.

"This is the hospitality we will have for the UCLA Bruins."

Cosby, a Philadelphia native, has long supported the Owls even as they struggled through 30 years without a bowl game and 19 seasons since their last winning record. If the Owls’ success was measured like a TV show, they would have been canceled years ago. This season’s 9-3 record under coach Al Golden has finally given Cosby a reason to smile for his Owls.

"Our players catch balls now, the defense holds people now, and we are ready to go even higher and that makes me feel very, very good," the 72-year-old Cosby said.

Cosby thought this season might just be another bad rerun after he attended Temple’s season-opening 27-24 loss to Villanova. The Owls dropped the next week’s game to Penn State, then reeled off a nine-game winning streak to prove they were a team on the rise. And that Villanova loss wasn’t so bad: The Wildcats are 13-1 and playing Montana on Friday in the championship game of the Football Championship Subdivision.

Golden has become a hot coaching prospect. When Charlie Weis was fired at Notre Dame and replaced by Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly, Cosby feared Golden would bolt the Owls before he could finish his rebuilding project.

"I became very, very nervous when Charlie was let go at Notre Dame because I still feel that, the Cincinnati coach is a great coach, but somehow those guys were looking over at Temple and saying, ‘If this guy can do this for Temple, I know he can do those things and build, build, build,"’ Cosby said. "Now it’s like, be careful what you wish for. Headhunters will be coming now."

Cosby makes the occasional visit to Temple to root on the Owls. He wore a throwback jersey and a leather helmet in 2007 when the Owls unveiled their new uniforms. He’s also had witty and inspirational taped messages played before games.

Cosby was a halfback who earned his only varsity letter for the Owls in 1961 when they went 2-5-2 under coach George Markis.

His most memorable moment? A game against Muhlenberg when he was nearly knocked out making a tackle on a kickoff.

"I remember being afraid to move my legs because I didn’t want to be paralyzed. I felt if I didn’t move, it would prove I wasn’t really paralyzed yet. So I just laid out there," he said.

"Finally, the coach comes out and bent over me. I said to myself, ‘If one of these idiots asks me my name, I’m going to say Rumpelstiltskin.’ Sure enough, someone bending over looking at me says, ‘What’s your name?’ I said, ‘Rumpelstiltskin.’ He said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with him."’

No wonder Cosby soon called it quits for a shot at comedy.

Cosby had to choose between a career in entertainment or football in 1962. He played only one game before deciding to perform at a Philadelphia show that included Peter, Paul and Mary, according to information provided by Temple.

A standup comedy, TV and movie career proved Cosby made the right call.

"Some of the plays I’ve been running back and forth in my mind are not too pretty," Cosby said. "I wasn’t good. I think the most disappointing thing is, I wasn’t that fast.

One-time Hillman track star Heathcliff Huxtable might not agree with that scouting report.

Cosby will not attend the bowl game, but he’ll watch on TV.

"We have always celebrated these days from the 15th of December to the 4th of January in our home," Cosby said. "My wife found some duct tape and she has duct taped me to the sofa for 45 years."

-- Dan Gelston

Illinois’ Benn to skip senior year for NFL

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn will skip his senior season and enter April’s NFL draft after a disappointing junior year.

The Washington, D.C., native said at a news conference Wednesday he thinks he is ready for the National Football League and wants to take care of his family.

"I know this is the right time to challenge myself at the next level," Benn said while standing with his mother, Denise Benn. He is one of five sons she raised on her own, he said.

"I feel like I’m ready," Benn added, "and I’ve proven a lot on the collegiate level."

Benn is considered a top prospect and high-round pick even after a disappointing junior season at Illinois, which finished 3-9.

He struggled much of this season with an ankle injury, saw starting quarterback Juice Williams benched while the offense struggled and caught just 38 passes for 490 yards and two touchdowns.

But Benn had already made his mark at Illinois.

He caught 67 balls for 1,055 yards and three touchdowns his sophomore year. And a year earlier, during the surprise 9-3 season that landed the Illini in the Rose Bowl, Benn was named Big Ten freshman of the year after catching 54 passes for 676 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Benn finishes fifth on the school’s all-time receptions list with 159 and sixth in receiving yards with 2,221.

Draft expert and former Dallas Cowboys general manager Gil Brandt believes Benn will be a second-round pick. Brandt said Benn faces a tough adjustment to pro-level coverage, and said that this season he didn’t look like the same receiver who rolled up more than 1,700 yards in his first two years in college.

"I think if what you know about him (is from) before this year, he has first-round potential," Brandt said. "But people draft on what they see, not on what they think they’re going to see."

Illinois coach Ron Zook praised Benn for his character and representing the university well.

"He will be greatly missed, not just because of his abilities on the field but because of what he brought to the team in work ethic and leadership," Zook, who was out of town, said in a printed statement.

-- David Mercer

Illinois adds 2 offensive coaches

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has hired Jeff Brohm from Florida Atlantic as its new quarterbacks coach and Greg Nord from Louisville to coach tight ends.

Both worked at Louisville with Paul Petrino, who was hired Monday as the Illini’s new offensive coordinator. He replaces Mike Schultz, who was fired after the Illini’s 3-9 season.

Brohm and Nord were hired Wednesday to replace recently fired coaches Kurt Beathard and Jim Pry.

Brohm was a quarterback for five NFL teams between 1994 and 2000. He coached at Louisville from 2004 through 2008 after playing for the Cardinals in the early 1990s.

Nord began coaching at Louisville in 1995.

San Jose State to hire MacIntyre as football coach

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State has hired Duke defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre to replace Dick Tomey as football coach.

MacIntyre will be formally introduced at a news conference Thursday. The 44-year-old MacIntyre spent the past two seasons at Duke. He has also worked as a secondary coach in the NFL with Dallas and the New York Jets and spent five seasons as an assistant at Mississippi.

San Jose State went 2-10 this season under Tomey, who announced his retirement last month. Tomey spent five seasons with the Spartans, going 25-35 and leading them to a bowl game in 2006.

Jahvid Best to miss bowl game for Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. — California star tailback Jahvid Best will not play in the Poinsettia Bowl as he continues his recovery from a frightening fall and concussion that sidelined him last month.

Coach Jeff Tedford said Wednesday that Best is feeling better since the injury against Oregon State that knocked him out and left him with a sore back on Nov. 7. But Tedford says there’s not enough time to get him back into "game-ready form" before the game next Wednesday against Utah.

Best missed the final three games of the regular season and has not practiced since the injury.

Best is one of the most dynamic running backs in the country. He finished the season with 16 touchdowns and 867 yards rushing. He has not decided whether to return to Cal for his senior season.

Suspect in UConn stabbing pleads not guilty

HARTFORD, Conn. — A man accused of stabbing a University of Connecticut football player to death in October has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Defense attorney Deron Freeman says his client, John Lomax III, entered the not guilty plea Wednesday in Rockville Superior Court and waived his right to a probable cause hearing that had been scheduled for Thursday.

Lomax is charged with stabbing UConn cornerback Jasper Howard during an Oct. 18 fight outside a school-sanctioned dance.

Freeman says he doesn’t believe the state has the evidence to show Lomax stabbed anyone. But he says the threshold to bring the charges is so low that this week’s hearing would have amounted to a "rubber stamp."

Freeman says he is not involved in any plea negotiations with the state and expects the case to go to trial.

-- Pat Eaton-Robb

La.-Monroe hires Berry as new coach

MONROE, La. — Louisiana-Monroe has hired Todd Berry as its new head football coach.

Berry is a former head coach at Army and was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator in 2004 and 2005 under former head coach Charlie Weatherbie, whose contract was not renewed beyond this past season.

In Berry’s two seasons with Louisiana-Monroe, the offense, led by quarterback Steven Jyles, was in the top three in the Sun Belt Conference in passing.

Berry spent the past three seasons at UNLV working under coach Mike Sanford, whose entire staff was let go last month.

As a Rebels assistant, Berry worked with quarterbacks Omar Clayton and Mike Clausen, who combined to throw for 2,693 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

Elsewhere

Edwards leads AP FCS All-America team

NEW YORK — Armanti Edwards, Terrell Hudgins and Deji Karim, the finalists for the FCS version of the Heisman Trophy, highlight The Associated Press All-America team for Division I’s second tier.

The team was announced Wednesday.

Edwards, the Appalachian State quarterback, Hudgins, a receiver from Elon, and Karim, a running back from Southern Illinois, are up for the Walter Payton Award, which will be handed out Thursday night in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Edwards was an All-American last season, and could become the first two-time winner of the Payton award and end his career as one of the most celebrated players in the history of what used to be known as I-AA football.

Limited to nine games this season because of injuries, Edwards passed for 2,504 yards, ran for 575 yards and accounted for 26 touchdowns. The senior led the Mountaineers to the national semifinals, where they lost last week 24-17 at Montana.

"He’s really special," Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore told reporters after the game. "I’ve been doing this a long time, and he’s probably the most competitive athlete I’ve ever seen or been around."

Edwards guided the Mountaineers to consecutive national titles in his freshman and sophomore seasons and led Appalachian State to a historic victory at Michigan in 2007. It was the first time a ranked major college team had lost to a I-AA team.

"You can’t ask for much more than what we have," Edwards told reporters in Missoula, Mont. "Appalachian has three national championships. I personally have two. We won the conference every year. Of course, you want to try and win the national championship every year, but when you look back on everything you can’t ask for too much more."

Hudgins led the nation in receptions (111) and yards receiving (1,466) while breaking Jerry Rice’s Division I record for most career 100-yard receiving games (26).

Karim ran for 1,512 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

Edwards and Karim both have teammates on the first team: Appalachian State defensive back Mark Legree and Southern Illinois linebacker Brandin Jordan.

Montana State and Weber State from the Big Sky Conference also have two players on the first team. The Bobcats are represented by offensive lineman Jeff Hansen and defensive lineman Dane Fletcher, and the Wildcats by defensive back Josh Morris and offensive lineman Kyle Mutcher.

Completing the backfield on the first team with Edwards and Karim is North Dakota State’s Pat Paschall, who led the division in rushing at 140 yards per game.

Marc Mariani of Montana is the other receiver, while Villanova’s versatile receiver Matt Szczur made the first team as an all-purpose player. The Grizzlies play the Wildcats in the FCS championship game on Friday night in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The other offensive linemen are Derek Hardman of Eastern Kentucky, Matt McCraken of Richmond and Vladimir Ducasse of Massachusetts.

Clay Harbor of Missouri State is the tight end and Matt Bevins of Liberty is the kicker.

The rest of the defensive line includes James Ruffin of Northern Iowa; Arthur Moats of James Madison; and Austen Lane of Murray State. All are up for the Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the division.

J.C. Sherritt of Eastern Washington, another Buchanan Award finalist, and Mike Morales of UC Davis are the other linebackers.

Terrell Whitehead of Norfolk State and Charles Graves of Delaware round out the defensive backfield and the punter is Jonathan Plisco from Old Dominion, which restarted its football program this season.

-- Ralph D. Russo

NAIA powerhouse Sioux Falls looking for repeat

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The preparations and distractions are easier to manage when its your fourth straight trip to the NAIA championship. Sioux Falls coach Kalen DeBoer says that doesn’t make the winning any easier for the defending champions.

The top-ranked Cougars (14-0), national champions two of the past three years and currently on a 28-game winning streak, will face Lindenwood (13-0) on Saturday in Rome, Ga.

"There is quite a bit of pressure, especially playing a team that’s never been there before," said DeBoer. "Everyone expects you to kind of walk away with it, and that’s not going to be the case."

Lindenwood, the No. 3 team in the final rankings, topped No. 2 Carroll College in the semifinals on a touchdown with 55 seconds to play.

"This is a chance for us to try to join the elite teams in the country," said Lindenwood coach Patrick Ross, who is 57-15 in six years at the college in St. Charles, Mo.

"Year in and year out you keep hearing about Sioux Falls, Carroll and St. Francis," Ross said, referring to the only teams to have played in the championship game the past five years. "So it’s great to at least be in the same conversations as those schools. But we certainly have a lot more to prove."

Both teams average more than 50 points a game and are the NAIA’s top two leaders in scoring offense. Defensively, Sioux Falls has the NAIA’s stingiest defense, too, allowing only 9.7 points per game.

"They only give up 8 points a game or something ridiculous like that, so hopefully we can get over that mark," Ross said. "On paper, we’re pretty big underdogs, which is good. We haven’t been an underdog in a long time."

Lindenwood quarterback Philip Staback has thrown 34 touchdowns and averages 249 yards passing per game. Sioux Falls quarterback Lorenzo Brown has rushed for 16 touchdowns, thrown for 40 TDs and averages 216 yards passing per game.

"It will come down to the defense that can really make the plays for you and get the stops," said DeBoer, who is 66-3 in five years at Sioux Falls. "The pressure is really on both sides of the ball because you’re expecting the other team to score."

DeBoer was a wide receiver on the 1996 Sioux Falls team that won the school’s first national championship. Later, with DeBoer as an assistant coach or head coach, there were titles in 2006 and 2008 and runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2007.

Sioux Falls has a 119-12 record the past 10 seasons and is moving up to Division II in a three-year transition that will make it ineligible for NAIA postseason play beginning in 2011.

In the semifinals last year, Lindenwood lost 38-37 to Carroll College on a failed 2-point conversion try with 38 seconds to play. Ross said his team can’t be satisfied just with getting past Carroll this year.

"If we have a letdown now we’ll probably get beat by 40 points, so we can’t afford to or we’ll get embarrassed," he said. "We told our guys, ‘You can’t be happy to be there. You have to go in there and execute and do the best you can to compete with this football team."’

-- Wayne Ortman