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Heisman to be handed out Saturday

By Alyson Brodsy and Josh Dubow · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:48 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Jason White appeared to be a lock to win the Heisman Trophy until he flamed out in the Big 12 title game. Luckily for Oklahoma's quarterback, he was not alone. Three of the four finalists for college football's most prestigious award had their worst games of the season with conference championships on the line. In a sport where late losses often count much more than early ones in the rankings, White, Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning hope the same doesn't hold true when the Heisman is awarded Saturday night.

Cowboys look to rebound against 'Skins

By Alyson Brodsy and Joseph White · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:46 a.m.

LANDOVER, Md. -- How does 8-5 feel? Not good at all when the last two games were lost by a combined 45 points. And when the coach is Bill Parcells, it feels downright miserable. "It makes for a loooooooong week," safety Darren Woodson said. "You can't wait until they blow that whistle for the Washington game. That's the kind of week this is ... a lot of yelling, a lot of screaming. Nothing's going to be right no matter what it is. He's a sore loser, and I think that's what he wants us all to be, sore losers.

Team comes home after 19 days away from IU

By Ryan Cost and Ryan J. Cost · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:45 a.m.

The IU women's basketball team (4-2) will finally get to see some action on its home hardwood when it faces Maine (4-2) at 7 p.m. tonight in Assembly Hall. The game will end a 19-day absence for the Hoosiers from their home court. "It feels good," junior guard Jenny DeMuth said. "We have been on the road for a long time, and the traveling just gets to you. We're just happy to be back home."

Hoosiers ready for tough foe

By Natalie A. Trout · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:45 a.m.

Two very different teams with the same 3-3 record will fight for their fourth win of the season Saturday at Assembly Hall. IU will host Butler in a contest that historically shows IU as the favorite. The Hoosiers lead the series 34-12. Sophomore guard Marshall Strickland said the team's confidence is high after their 66-63 road win at Notre Dame on Wednesday night but adds they aren't taking the Butler game lightly. "We went into Notre Dame thinking we could win it," Strickland said.

on the SIDELINES

By Alyson Brodsy · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:41 a.m.

LSU's Nick Saban wins AP Coach of the Year award NEW YORK -- This is one honor LSU coach Nick Saban won't have to share. Saban's steady leadership helped earn him The Associated Press Coach of the Year award Thursday, beating Pete Carroll of Southern California. "Even though I'm accepting the honor, it's for all of the players and coaches and support staff, also," Saban said. "They all had as big a part in it as I did. I'm very flattered and honored."

Ohio authorities caution fans

By Dan Cohen and Daniel Cohen · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 1:02 a.m.

IU fans traveling to Columbus, Ohio, for this weekend's College Cup are advised to proceed with caution due to recent shootings off Interstate 270. A total of 15 cases, including one fatality, have been reported, and all are believed to be related, according to Columbus authorities. The NCAA and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department are working together to ensure safety for the teams and their fans. "Basically, we had a conference call with all four teams where we had a person from the County Sheriff's Department to fill everybody in on what has been going on and to answer any questions the schools would have," said Mark Bedics, media coordinator for the Division I Soccer Championship.

Title quest starts tonight

By Dan Cohen and Daniel Cohen · Friday, Dec. 12,2003 12:54 a.m.

In 1976, IU coach Jerry Yeagley led the Hoosiers to the College Cup for the first time in school history. Tonight, 27 seasons later, Yeagley will lead his Hoosiers to the College Cup for his 16th and final time as IU faces Santa Clara in Columbus, Ohio.

Dive team heads to Florida for training

By Chris Hopper · Thursday, Dec. 11,2003 2:05 a.m.

The first half of the season is over for the women's swimming and diving team. Now, preparations begin to travel to Florida for its annual training trip.

Players want to win for Yeagley

By Zack Eldridge · Thursday, Dec. 11,2003 1:50 a.m.

What an emotional week it has been for the IU men's soccer team. First, it was announced early last week that IU coach Jerry Yeagley had the most wins in Division I soccer history, due to a recently discovered records error. Then Saturday, the No. 8 seed Hoosiers traveled to UCLA and toppled the No. 1 seed and defending National Champion Bruins, 2-1. As a result, IU will play in the College Cup this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. It will meet Santa Clara (16-3-4) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Columbus Crew Stadium.

Tapak and Kline have career night as IU beats Notre Dame

By Tyler Hoeppner and Tyler V. Hoeppner · Thursday, Dec. 11,2003 1:50 a.m.

SOUTH BEND -- Entering the game Wednesday night, IU junior guard Ryan Tapak had only seen five minutes of action all season. Against Notre Dame, Tapak had a career night to help lead the Hoosiers (3-3) to a 66-63 win over the Irish (2-3).

Tapak seals 66-63 win with 3 pointer

By Natalie A. Trout · Thursday, Dec. 11,2003 1:14 a.m.

SOUTH BEND -- It was a team effort for IU (3-3) in its 66-63 victory over Notre Dame (2-3) at the Joyce Center, Wednesday night. Nine players from the IU roster scored in the contest, and the team had a total of 15 assists. IU coach Mike Davis tried yet another new starting lineup consisting of sophomore guards Bracey Wright, and Marshall Strickland, junior guard Donald Perry, sophomore forward Sean Kline and junior forward Mike Roberts -- who saw his first collegiate start. "I told Roberts that it was time for him to have confidence and step up," Davis said. "He played well." Wright was IU's top scorer with 19 points as he also improved his consecutive free throw streak to 15. He said the team was focused in the game, and it was obvious the players are finally buying into the team concept.

Bobby Ross to coach Army football

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 12:47 a.m.

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Army is counting on Bobby Ross and his record of success to turn around college football's worst team. Ross was hired to lead Army on Tuesday, returning to football after resigning as the Detroit Lions' coach three years ago. His football experience is vast: Ross coached the San Diego Chargers to the Super Bowl in 1995 and won a national title at Georgia Tech in 1990. Army, meanwhile, is in disarray. It became the first team in NCAA history to finish 0-13 after losing to Navy 34-6 on Saturday. The academy fired coach Todd Berry in October with the team 5-35 in his four seasons. John Mumford acted as interim coach, going 0-7 after replacing Berry.

Freshman named All-American

By Will Meyers · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 12:46 a.m.

IU freshman safety Will Meyers was selected as a First Team Freshman All-American by Sporting News Monday. He was named Big Ten freshman of the year by Sporting News last week. "I would have never thought they would have chosen me for something like this," Meyers said in a statement. "This is a great honor. Our defensive scheme was one that really put me in positions to be involved in the action, and even though I'd much rather be going to a bowl game with this team, it is nice to be recognized like this. Hopefully this helps as a springboard as we work in the offseason."

Red Sox begin negotiations

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 12:44 a.m.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Boston Red Sox owner John Henry lashed out at Nomar Garciaparra's agent on Tuesday, saying it was the "the height of hypocrisy" to accuse the team of betrayal even though the star shortstop rejected the team's lucrative, long-term offer last spring. "He says we're being disingenuous. I take great umbrage at that statement," Henry said at the opening of the team's academy in the Dominican Republic, according to two Boston newspapers that covered the event. "That is the height of hypocrisy."

Lessons learned from the game

By -Val Tsoutsouris · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 12:42 a.m.

This is the last column of mine to appear in the IDS. Beginning in January 2002 and including summers, I have written a weekly column for the bigger part for almost two years. It's time for someone else to have a turn. In case you haven't been here for all of them or in case you decided to read something more scintillating, like an astrophysics textbook or the side of a cereal box, here is a brief summation of my columns.

Wrestlers balance matches, finals week

By Colin Burns · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 12:37 a.m.

Finals are right around the corner for IU. Pulling all-nighters and fretting about grades are two of the main concerns for students. Hoosier wrestlers do not have this luxury. Not only must they worry about finals, but keeping their focus on upcoming matches is paramount for team success. "They are putting in a lot of work academically now, but there is enough time in the day for them to both study and wrestle," IU coach Duane Goldman said. "To be honest, practice for them is a good release when they are putting in a lot of study time."

IU to battle ND after year apart

By Natalie A. Trout · Wednesday, Dec. 10,2003 12:34 a.m.

IU and Notre Dame are both looking to end two-game losing streaks tonight at the Joyce Center in South Bend. Notre Dame (2-2) was ranked the last time IU (2-3) made the trip to South Bend, and it was also IU coach Mike Davis' first season as head coach. IU was 3-3 at the time and upset the then-No. 10 Notre Dame, 86-78. IU hasn't lost to the Fighting Irish since a trip to South Bend in 1994.

Arbitration deadline comes with moves

By Alyson Brodsy and Ronald Blum · Tuesday, Dec. 9,2003 12:38 a.m.

NEW YORK -- Greg Maddux and Ivan Rodriguez will have new teams next season, and so will Vladimir Guerrero, Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez. On a busy Sunday night, Kazuo Matsui accepted a contract with the Mets and headed to New York to finalize the deal.

Game times set for College Cup

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, Dec. 9,2003 12:37 a.m.

IU's College Cup match versus Santa Clara has been set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Columbus Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Two former Hoosiers drafted