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Miami starters might lose jobs

CORAL GABLES -- For the first time this season it appears Miami coaches are prepared to take disciplinary measures that might cost some players their starting spots.

Two starters for the top-ranked Hurricanes -- sophomore tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and junior receiver Kevin Beard -- did not work with the first team during Tuesday's practice and might not start Saturday's home game against Connecticut. When asked about the demotions, coach Larry Coker said some changes could be made to the depth chart because of recently committed violations of team policies.

Coker would not go into specifics about the players or the extent of the violations, but Winslow, who leads the team in catches and ranks 11th in the nation among all Division I-A tight ends after pulling in 14 passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns, was identified as one of the guilty parties.

"We have some issues with a few of our players that we need to get straightened out," Coker said. "It's a team policy issue. That's with me.

"It's not only Kellen. There are some other issues involved with other players, and I'll make the decisions as the week goes on about who starts."

Beard has seven catches for 71 yards and one touchdown this season.

CENTRAL FLORIDA: The team returned to practice without leading rusher Alex Haynes, who sustained a sprained right ankle in the team's 48-17 win over Liberty on Saturday. Haynes had X-rays and an MRI on Monday and the extent of the injury will be known today. Also injured against Liberty were backup tailback Keith Williams (sprained left ankle) and former Durant and Hillborough High fullback Sean Gaudion (hip pointer). Their injuries will be evaluated today as well. To compensate, Andreal Curry took most of the snaps at fullback and Dee Brown was moved to starting tailback from fullback.

ARKANSAS: Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt said the status of tailback Fred Talley was uncertain for Saturday's game at Tennessee. Nutt said Talley, who did not practice, had a severe sprained left wrist, but X-rays showed no problem.

GEORGIA: It didn't take long for former Auburn coach Pat Dye's comments to reach Georgia's football team.

In a radio interview in Birmingham on Monday, Dye said he didn't think Georgia was "man enough to beat Alabama" in Saturday's game at Tuscaloosa. Tuesday, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt had a transcript of the interview and was asking how to get audio of Dye's comments to play to his team.

"Yeah, I'll use that," Richt said. "We might be able to do something with that. I don't know if he's trying to help us or hurt us."

Dye, who retired as Auburn's coach in 1992, played football at Georgia from 1958 to 1960.

"Wow, that hurts," Bulldogs offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb said. "That's a bold statement. It's definitely bulletin-board material. It stings a little bit when you hear your team isn't man enough. I guess we'll find out Saturday."

Said Georgia cornerback Decory Bryant: "We're definitely man enough. We've got a lot of heart and spirited players who want to win."

MARYLAND: Running back Bruce Perry is doubtful for Saturday's game against West Virginia, and the Terrapins are considering the possibility of seeking a medical redshirt for the season. Perry rushed for 1,242 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season.

NEBRASKA: Running back Thunder Collins had his eligibility restored by an NCAA committee and could play Saturday against McNeese State. Collins, a senior from Los Angeles, was suspended for the last four games for failing to comply with NCAA regulations. He last played in Nebraska's season opener on Aug. 24, a 48-10 victory over Arizona State.

NOTRE DAME: Quarterback Carlyle Holiday can pass despite an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Now the question is: Can he play against Stanford?

Coach Tyrone Willingham wasn't ready to provide an answer and Holiday wasn't available to give an answer because he had a doctor's appointment after practice. Willingham was encouraged to see Holiday no longer needed a sling and was doing some drills.

"That means he's a step closer," Willingham said. "That's a good feeling."

Holiday was injured when he landed awkwardly on the shoulder Sept. 21 against Michigan State. Backup Pat Dillingham, a former walk-on, replaced Holiday and guided the ninth-ranked Irish to the victory.

Willingham said he won't make a decision until he has to.

"So if it's two minutes before the ballgame, if that's how much time we need to make the right decision, then we'll take it to that time," he said.

OHIO STATE: Former linebacker Marco Cooper pleaded guilty to felony charges of drug possession and carrying a concealed weapon. Cooper was arrested hours after the Buckeyes' intrasquad scrimmage in April. Police found a handgun, ammunition and Ecstasy pills hidden in his sport utility vehicle when he was stopped for a traffic violation. The 20-year-old from Detroit was barred from campus and kicked off the team. He faces two years in prison and $5,000 in fines when sentenced.

OBIT: Len Casanova, former Oregon coach and athletic director, died late Monday following a long illness. He was 97. Casanova coached the Ducks from 1951-1966, compiling an 82-73-8 record, second most wins in school history.

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