Trojan sees Texas' Rosy reminders
Associated PressPublished January 21, 2006
HONOLULU - Southern California safety Scott Ware was in no rush to see another Texas player flashing the "Hook 'em Horns" sign after the Trojans' loss to the Longhorns in the Rose Bowl.
Less than three weeks after the national championship game, Ware will share the same sideline with the Longhorns in today's Hula Bowl. Two Trojans and three Longhorns will end their college careers as teammates for the West in the all-star game.
"I said "Hi' and "Congratulations' to them, but the burnt orange, whenever I see it, still gets me hot," Ware said.
Longhorns defensive tackle Larry Dibbles said a trip to Hawaii caps an unforgettable season, but he's not considering it a vacation.
"We know this is an opportunity to get noticed by the NFL and try to get a job," he said. "Even though I'm a national champion, I still need a job."
South Florida's Andre Hall, a Dixie Hollins graduate, is a running back for the East team. Other state players are Miami's Javon Nanton and Marcus Maxey, Central Florida's Brandon Marshall and Florida's Jeremy Mincey. Iowa's Antwan Allen of Armwood High is playing for the West.
Also on deck today is the East-West Shrine Game in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio has a one-year deal to host the game, which moved after 80 years in California.
State players on the East roster are Florida State's Leon Washington and Matt Henshaw, UF's Vernell Brown and Randy Hand, and UM's Rocky McIntosh and Rashad Butler of Miami. Chamberlain High grad Oliver Hoyte of N.C. State is also playing.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Former defensive coordinator John Thompson settled his contract with a buyout of $101,000, the school announced. Thompson was among the first assistants hired by Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier after he took over in November 2004, and once worked with Spurrier as Florida's offensive coordinator before leaving to coach East Carolina.
Other sportsSOFTBALL: USF signed Hillary Wolf, a catcher and infielder from Gainesville Eastside.
TENNIS: The FSU women went 1-2 in doubles against both New Mexico and Iowa in the first day of the four-team Wildcat Invitational in Evanston, Ill.
SWIMMING: The Florida men defeated visiting Alabama 178-97 as Grant Johnson of Clearwater won the 500 freestyle in an NCAA provisional time of 4:26.44. The UF women defeated Alabama 79-60 and Arkansas 91-42 in a double dual meet.
WEBER ST.: The NCAA placed the school on two years' probation for violations involving athletes using scholarship money to buy non-textbook items at the campus bookstore. The football team also lost a scholarship for 2006-07. In an internal investigation, the school found 193 athletes, from all sports, in violation from 2001-04.