Colleges

BCS expands bids to all 1-A leagues

By wire services
Published April 28, 2005

PHOENIX - The Bowl Championship Series is opening its automatic bids to all Division I-A conferences starting with the 2007 season, part of a new plan under which the leagues will be judged from top to bottom.

Currently, only the six conferences that comprise the BCS can earn automatic entry into college football's four major bowl games, including the national title game. The previous standard for holding on to that qualification was based on the average BCS standings finish of a conference's top team over a four-year period.

That will still be a factor, but not the only one.

"In addition, we will look at a conference's overall strength," BCS coordinator Kevin Weiberg said Wednesday, the final day of meetings with officials from 11 major college football conferences and Notre Dame's athletic director.

The BCS will also take into account the number of teams in a conference that finish in the BCS top 25 over a four-year period.

FOOTBALL: Florida defensive end Tranell Morant has left the team and will transfer. A standout at Miami Braddock High, the 6-foot-5, 276-pound Morant was rated the No. 9 strongside defensive end prospect in the South and No. 23 in the nation by rivals.com but didn't live up to those expectations in two years with the Gators.

EAST-WEST GOES EAST: The Shrine Game, played since 1923, is moving from San Francisco to San Antonio's Alamodome beginning next year. The 2006 game is scheduled for Jan. 21.

BAN ASKED ON ALCOHOL ADS: The American Medical Association has asked the NCAA to stop allowing alcohol companies to advertise their products during sporting events. Beer companies spent an estimated $58-million on commercials during college sporting events in 2004, including $28-million during the NCAA men's basketball tournament, according to the Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV.

BASEBALL: Coach Eddie Cardiero got his 700th career victory for the University of South Florida, which defeated Stetson 6-5 in Tampa. USF (25-21) freshman starter Ty Pryor allowed eight hits in six innings. Stetson is 25-17,

SOFTBALL: No. 16 Florida (36-16, 15-9 SEC) was swept in its first SEC series of the year, falling 6-4 and 6-5 Wednesday to Auburn (45-13, 19-7 SEC).

MEN'S BASKETBALL: UConn's Antonio Kellogg has been expelled and granted a special form of probation on charges stemming from two recent arrests.

TRACK & FIELD: Florida senior Liz Wanlesshas been named SEC Field Athlete Athlete of the Week. On April 23 at the Olympic training center in Clermont, Wanless became the 12th American woman to throw 60 feet in the shot put.

GOLF: Eckerd College golf coach Bill Buttner was named Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year on Wednesday after elevating the Tritons to a third place finish at the SSC Tournament last week. ... University of Tampa's Brian Ward, formerly of Sarasota Riverview, was named the Sunshine State Conference men's golfer of the year.

Times staff writer Antonya English contributed to this report.

[Last modified April 28, 2005, 01:19:11]