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Colorado is put on probation

BOULDER, Colo. -- Colorado was put on two years' probation by the NCAA on Tuesday for recruiting violations under former coach Rick Neuheisel.

The NCAA cut the school's football scholarships and accepted Colorado's self-imposed recruiting limits, including reducing the number of visits by recruits.

Neuheisel, now coaching at Washington, was barred from off-campus recruiting for the Huskies until May 31.

Colorado was not banned from TV or bowl appearances but must reduce the number of new scholarships it offers from 25 to 20 in either the 2003-04 or 2004-05 academic year.

NCAA institutions are allowed 56 expense-paid campus visits by recruits each academic year, but Colorado voluntarily reduced its number to 51 this year and will be limited to 51 next year.

In addition, the number of coaches who can recruit off campus at any one time must be reduced from seven to six through July 31.

The football program was accused of 53 violations, 51 of them when Neuheisel was Colorado's coach (1995-98). Many involved improper contacts with recruits.

"I want to stress that at no time did I intend to break NCAA regulations, and I never suggested to my staff we operate outside those rules," Neuheisel said in a statement. "I never deceived anyone, nor was I dishonest.

"While being creative in approach, I felt that I was operating within the letter of those rules. It was my mistake to make those judgments without consulting the proper sources at my disposal as a head coach."

The NCAA's infractions committee ruled Colorado didn't properly monitor its football staff.

LOUISVILLE 38, MEMPHIS 32: Dave Ragone led the visiting Cardinals to three touchdowns in the third quarter.

Memphis led 13-10 at halftime. Ragone wasted no time in getting the lead for the Cardinals as he took them 74 yards on the opening drive that was capped by a 6-yard run by Henry Miller.

The Cardinals added two touchdowns following Memphis turnovers, a fumble by DeAngelo Williams and an interception thrown by Danny Wimprine.

Ragone tossed a 3-yard touchdown pass to Richard Owens, and Miller scored on a 1-yard run as Louisville built its 18-point lead.

Ragone threw a 4-yard scoring pass to Tiger Jones in the fourth quarter.

Memphis recovered a fumble by Louisville's Ronnie Ghent with just under two minutes to play at the Cardinals' 25. But the Tigers ran out of downs and Louisville took possession.

Ragone was 9-of-17 for 61 yards in the first half and was sacked three times. He finished with 177 yards and two touchdowns.

BCS BANTER: It's too early to begin shouting over the Bowl Championship Series standings, but an early glance at one of the BCS formula's seven computers no doubt will cause consternation in Coral Gables.

Miami, which is a near-unanimous No. 1 in the media and coaches' polls, is ranked ninth in this week's Sagarin Football Ratings -- at least the version used by the BCS. Sagarin publishes two sets of rankings. The Hurricanes are ranked first in the version that includes victory margin, but the BCS doesn't use that version. The BCS doesn't allow victory margins to be considered, and in that Sagarin ranking, Miami slipped all the way to ninth.

The No. 1 team in Sagarin's BCS rankings? Ohio State, followed by Georgia, North Carolina State, Air Force and Notre Dame.

MIAMI: David Wilfork asked for his son's national championship ring many times, but defensive tackle Vince Wilfork never wanted to give it up.

Not until one of their last nights together.

Vince Wilfork was at his father's hospital bedside in June, trying to understand all the machines and medications, when David looked up and asked for the gold and green ring. With tears in his eyes, Vince took it off and slipped it onto his father's finger.

Even though it wasn't the right size, it was a perfect fit.

"It made him smile, and that made me smile," Vince Wilfork said.

David Wilfork died three days later, at age 48, leaving Vince with a huge void to fill and prompting him to dedicate this season -- which is shaping up to be a breakout one -- to his father.

HOLY CROSS: Coach Dan Allen took a medical leave of absence. University officials would not disclose Allen's condition, but said he would return this month.

LSU: The Tigers' No.-1 ranking in the nation in total defense (202 yards allowed per game) and passing defense (115.6 per game), does not impress coach Nick Saban.

The numbers are dazzling to most people, however. The Tigers have not allowed a touchdown pass in their past 10 quarters and have given up only one in 20 quarters of play this season. LSU has not allowed a touchdown of any kind in the last six quarters and only one over the last eight.

NOTRE DAME: Those waiting to see the emotional side of Tyrone Willingham caught a glimpse along the sideline Saturday after some costly penalties. In the locker room at halftime, players saw Willingham even more unrestrained and unedited.

Players say the usually soft spoken and succinct coach was emotional, fiery and mad, letting the No. 8 Irish (5-0) know they were not playing well enough against Stanford, Willingham's former team.

"If I had to tell you about the halftime speech, it would have a lot of swear words in it," defensive tackle Darrell Campbell said. "Coach Willingham just got us going. He just basically told us what we needed to know. That was we can be good now. We can go out and dominate."

OHIO STATE: Running backs coach Tim Spencer and freshman tailback Maurice Clarett have cleared the air after their nationally televised shouting match during Saturday night's 27-16 victory at Northwestern. Coach Jim Tressel attributed the harsh words to the heat of the moment and said he will not discipline Clarett.

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE: Running back Derek Watson will find himself again explaining his behavior to a Greenville, S.C., municipal judge.

Assistant Greenville attorney Debra Gammons filed a motion last week asking Judge Matt Hawley to find Watson in contempt of court for violating part of his sentence on a drug conviction.

Watson was charged last month in Richland County with driving left of the center line and driving with a suspended license. It was his second charge of driving with a suspended license.

Watson was given a 30-day suspended sentence and required to perform community service after being convicted in March of marijuana possession. He also was required to stay out of trouble for the duration of his sentence.

UTAH: Sophomore quarterback Brett Elliott will lead the Utes against San Diego on Saturday, replacing benched starter Lance Rice. Coach Ron McBride replaced Rice following a 30-26 loss to Air Force on Oct. 3.

VANDERBILT: A court date has been set for quarterback Jay Cutler, suspended last week for a previously unknown "team rules violation." The Tennessean reports that he faces at least three misdemeanor charges stemming from a campus incident that occurred about 2 a.m. Sept. 20: underage consumption of alcohol, vandalism and resisting arrest. Freshman receiver Grant Brigham apparently was involved in the same incident. Both players were suspended indefinitely by coach Bobby Johnson.

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