MANHATTAN, Kan. - Saying he wanted to spend more time with his family, Bill Snyder retired Tuesday from the Kansas State program he coached from college football's depths to a spot among the nation's elite.
Snyder, 66, Kansas State's coach since 1989, said health was not a factor.
"As far as I know, my doctor has not complained - well, he's complained about some of my habits," Snyder said. "But to my knowledge, I'm physically fine."
Athletic director Tim Weiser said no timetable had been set for choosing a successor. Snyder, who signed a six-year extension in 2001, will remain under contract until his successor is hired.
After that, he will stay on as a special assistant to Weiser.
With Kansas State failing to qualify for a bowl for a second straight year, Snyder's final game will be Saturday against Missouri. The stadium will be renamed Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
"Family" was a common theme during Snyder's news conference, with the coach repeatedly fighting back tears almost every time he said that word. He said his schedule took a toll.
"I've not been the kind of father that I should have been, and the kind of husband," said Snyder, who has five children and eight grandchildren.
Snyder is 135-68-1 in Manhattan, including 11 straight bowl games beginning with the 1993 season.
AKRON 27, OHIO 3: Brett Biggs carried 28 times for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and the host Zips (5-5, 4-3) stayed in the Mid-American Conference East Division race. The Bobcats (4-6, 3-4) totaled 110 yards, rushing for 11 on 27 carries.
AUBURN: Center Joe Cope is probable for Saturday's game against Alabama. He missed part of last week's victory over Georgia.
GEORGIA TECH: A Fulton County judge ordered the Yellow Jackets to reinstate defensive back Reuben Houston to the team even though Houston is facing felony drug charges and has been suspended all season. Houston might play Saturday at Miami. ... Coach Chan Gailey got a five-year, $5-million contract.
MINNESOTA: Running back Laurence Maroney will play in Saturday's regular-season finale at Iowa despite an injured right ankle.
CLEMSON-SOUTH CAROLINA: The game Saturday will be shown on ESPN2 for viewers in the state. The cable network picked up the 7p.m. game after both teams defeated top 20 opponents last week. State Rep. John Graham Altman, R-Charleston, had suggested deporting the TV executives who passed on the game to Guantanamo Bay. In other news, Clemson linebacker Cortney Vincent has been charged with simple assault.
LOMBARDI AWARD: Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil, Texas defensive tackle Rod Wright, Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk and Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny were selected as finalists for the nation's top lineman or linebacker. Dumervil leads the country with 20 sacks, and set an NCAA record with 10 forced fumbles. Wright has 38 tackles, 12 for a loss, and 13 pressures. Hawk has five games with 10 or more tackles. Posluszny has 106 tackles and is Penn State's first finalist since Lavar Arrington and Courtney Brown in 1999.
HARLON HILL TROPHY: Eight finalists were announced for Division II's equivalent of the Heisman: quarterbacks Jimmy Terwilliger of East Stroudsburg, Scott Eyster of Delta State, Wesley Beschorner of South Dakota and Dalton Bell of West Texas A&M; running backs Germaine Race of Pittsburg State and Jamar Brittingham of Bloomsburg; receiver/kick returner Anthony Merritt of North Alabama, and linebacker Digger Anderson of North Dakota.
CONFERENCE USA: C-USA is guaranteed to have a team in the Houston Bowl at least once in the four-year period between 2006-09, the league said.
Soccer
FSU's Sel Kuralay and Viola Odebrecht are among 15 finalists for Soccer Buzz's national player of the year, and teammate Katrin Schmidt is a finalist for freshman of the year.
