Colleges

Gators grant Fayson's wish for transfer

Former local star asks to leave UF.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published November 28, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Jarred Fayson had 19 rushes for 89 yards and 12 receptions for 148 yards, including a long of 30. He did not play in Saturday's win over Florida State.

GAINESVILLE - Florida sophomore running back/receiver Jarred Fayson has left the program and will transfer to another school, UF officials confirmed Tuesday.

Fayson, a former Hillsborough High star quarterback, asked for permission to transfer on Tuesday and coach Urban Meyer granted his request.

Fayson, who decided he wants to play quarterback, has acknowledged he thought of leaving after playing sparingly last season. One school he's considering is West Virginia.

Fayson played this season behind star receiver/running back Percy Harvin, and that's not likely to change. Fayson had 19 rushes for 89 yards and 12 receptions for 148 yards, including a long of 30. He did not play in Saturday's win over Florida State.

Redshirt freshman tight end Trent Pupello, a former Jefferson two-way standout, is also transferring.

TEBOW A CAMP AWARD FINALIST: Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is among five finalists for the Water Camp player of the year award. The others: Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon and Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. The winner will be announced Dec. 6.

NUTT TO COACH MISSISSIPPI: Less than four hours after resigning at Arkansas, Houston Nutt, 50, agreed to a contract with Mississippi on Monday night. He will be introduced as coach today. His four-year contract pays about $2-million a year, more than twice what fired Ed Orgeron made.

ACC AWARDS: Virginia's Al Groh was named the conference coach of the year, with 38 of 71 votes. Boston College's Jeff Jagodzinski (22) was second. Wake running back Josh Adams was named rookie of the year with 51 of 71 votes, with Miami's Graig Cooper the only state player receiving a vote.

MEINEKE BOWL: Connecticut accepted a bid to play in the Dec. 29 game in Charlotte, N.C., against an ACC team, likely Wake Forest or Maryland.

AUBURN: Security procedures will be reviewed after cornerback Jerraud Powers was bitten on the hand by a police dog Saturday.

COLORADO STATE: Sonny Lubick, 70, forced out as coach, hasn't decided whether to accept the school's offer to stay on as a fundraiser and goodwill ambassador: "I have no plans right now." Lubick's staff was let go with the exception of Tom Ehlers, the director of football operations.

New Mexico State: Defensive coordinator Woody Widenhofer, 64, will retire after Friday's season finale. Widenhofer also coached at Missouri (1985-88) and Vanderbilt (1997-2001) and won four Super Bowl rings as a Steelers assistant.

Oklahoma: Heading into the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday against Missouri, the Sooners are irritated that some Tigers said they should have won their regular-season meeting. "We let one slip away," Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel said. Sooners defensive coordinator Brent Venables responded: "Hopefully we can luck out again." And OU coach Bob Stoops: "You can spin it however you want. When we're kicking off with 2:20 left in the game, we're up three possessions. If that's giving it to us, then we'll take it every time."

Tulsa: The school filed a complaint with Conference USA regarding a halftime performance by the Rice marching band ridiculing coach Todd Graham, who left Rice to coach Tulsa. The band's theme was a search for Graham through nine circles of hell based on Dante's Divine Comedy.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

[Last modified November 28, 2007, 00:20:52]