Colleges

Spurrier changes tune at Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. - So much for South Carolina's Cock-n-fire offense.

The Gamecocks might resemble the run-first teams under previous coach Lou Holtz when redshirt freshman quarterback Antonio Heffner, known more for his running ability than his arm, starts at Auburn on Saturday.

Heffner will replace pocket passer Blake Mitchell, who suffered a high ankle sprain when he was sacked in the third quarter against Troy last week.

This is unfamiliar territory for Spurrier, the former Florida coach who was more comfortable with true passers Danny Wuerffel and Rex Grossman in the Gators' Fun-n-Gun offense.

Asked who the best running quarterback he ever coached was, Spurrier responded: "It may be Antonio Heffner. We haven't had many real runners."

COACH DIES: Second-year Missouri Southern coach John Ware, 46, died of an apparent heart attack after collapsing at his desk. On Saturday, the Division II Lions are scheduled to host Truman State, where Mr. Ware coached for nine years.

C-USA BOWLS: Conference USA renewed five bowl deals, with the champion to face an SEC team in the Liberty Bowl under a four-year contract that starts in 2006. C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky also renwed deals with the GMAC, Hawaii, New Orleans and Fort Worth bowls.

KANSAS STATE: Running back Thomas Clayton, who transferred from Florida State after his freshman year, was charged with almost hitting a university official with his car while driving away to avoid a parking violation. The junior was charged with misdemeanor battery.

Other sports

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Othello Hunter, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound sophomore power forward at Hillsborough Community College, orally committed to Ohio State. Hunter, who averaged 11 points and seven rebounds as a freshman, also had offers from USF, Oklahoma, Southern Cal and Kansas State. "I'm real excited, and I like the coach there a lot," said Hunter, who made an official visit to OSU three weeks ago and joins a recruiting class that includes three of the top 25 prospects in the nation, according to Scout.com rankings.

GOLF: The Florida men (874) finished seventh, Florida State (878) eighth and UCF (892) tied for 12th at the Shoal Creek Invitational in Birmingham, Ala. LSU (863) beat Tennessee by a shot.

SOCCER: Casie Poyssick had two assists to help the Saint Leo women beat visiting Florida Southern 3-0 in a Sunshine State Conference match.

--Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.

[Last modified September 28, 2005, 02:30:38]