Colleges

Gators lose junior DE Harvey to NFL

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
Published January 4, 2008

Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, 21, played in all 13 games this season, finishing with 49 tackles , 17 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 sacks.
	[Willie J. Allen, Jr. | Times]

GAINESVILLE - Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

The redshirt junior from Upper Marlboro, Md., had been pondering the decision for weeks, and made his decision known Thursday to the Florida coaching staff.

"Derrick has informed the coaching staff of his decision to enter the NFL draft," coach Urban Meyer said. "We appreciate his effort and dedication to the Gator program and we wish him the best of luck."

Harvey, 21, played in all 13 games this season, finishing with 49 tackles (31 solo), 17 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 sacks.

Last season, he had a career-high three sacks, recovered a fumble and was named the game's defensive MVP in the 41-14 win over Ohio State in the BCS national title game.

Harvey's mother, Kim Harvey-Gaston told the Times on Tuesday that if Harvey had a good performance against Michigan in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day, he most likely would leave. He had eight tackles (four solo), two sacks for 22 yards and three tackles for loss.

"We'll support whatever decision he makes," Harvey-Gaston said. "We've always supported him. We drive to every game from Maryland, so we're always behind him."

WEST VA. NAMES STEWART COACH: Bill Stewart was promoted to head coach, hours after leading the Mountaineers to a victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Stewart, 55, was appointed interim coach in mid December after Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan. His five-year contract will pay him $800,000 a year with incentives.

"We saw all the characteristics of a head football coach - leadership, loyalty, courage," athletic director Ed Pastilong said.

Stewart has not signed a contract but agreed to terms with a handshake.

"I don't have a lot of experience in these negotiations and things. That's my agent right down there," he said, pointing to his wife, Karen.

Stewart had the backing of the team, including quarterback Pat White.

"He deserves it," White said. "A great man. A great coach. All the players respect him and all the players love him."

Central Michigan: Coach Butch Jones agreed to a two-year extension, keeping him under contract for the next five seasons. He was a candidate for the West Virginia opening.

LOUISVILLE: Ted Roof was hired as an assistant, more than five weeks after he was fired as Duke's coach. He will work with linebackers. Louisville also announced the hiring of former Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English. English said he had accepted the same position with the Cardinals after the Wolverines beat Florida in the Capital One Bowl. He was not retained by new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez.

MIAMI: Confirming what had been expected for weeks, defensive end Calais Campbell said he's skipping his senior season and entering the NFL draft. He is a likely first-round pick. Campbell graduated from last month with a degree in sociology. "It was a hard decision," he said. "But it's time for me to take the next step in my football career, and I look forward to the challenges of the next level."

OHIO STATE: Buckeyes fans are taking a more conservative approach to buying T-shirts, hats and sweat shirts that commemorate the team's second consecutive trip to the BCS national championship game, this time against LSU. A year ago, the Buckeyes lost 41-14 to Florida and fans were stuck with merchandise that did nothing but bring back images of the lopsided loss. "You don't want to buy stuff and be stuck with those bad memories," Ohio State grad Steven Seeberg said. Retailers around Ohio report that orders for silk-screened championship T-shirts are down. The loss to Florida, coupled with the program's third run to the Bowl Championship Series title game in the past six years, has cut into sales.

ALABAMA VS. CLEMSON: Plans for Clemson and Alabama to open the 2008 season in the Georgia Dome are expected to be announced today. Atlanta Sports Council officials have been in negotiations with the schools for months to play the neutral-site game in Atlanta on Aug. 30, with tickets distributed evenly between the schools.

NAIA: The 2008 and 2009 championship games will be played in Rome, Ga. The 2008 game will be Dec. 20 and the 2009 game will be Dec. 19, both at Barron Stadium, home of Shorter College.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

[Last modified January 4, 2008, 00:15:07]