Cheating scandal rocks Florida State

An academic cheating scandal could leave Florida State without as many as 25 players when the Seminoles go against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl Dec. 31. "We have some players not traveling for one reason and some for another, including those who are ineligible for the bowl because of academic issues," coach Bobby Bowden said in a statement released by the university yesterday. Bowden put the number of players involved in the 25-player range. Many of the players could also be ruled ineligible for some games next season for their connection to the cheating scandal earlier this year. Federal privacy laws prohibit the school from releasing names. The university reported its findings in a letter to the NCAA in September after a six-month investigation by the school revealed at least 23 athletes in various sports were implicated for cheating on tests.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the first sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, was named the Associated Press Player of the Year. Tebow received 31 of 58 votes from AP poll voters. Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, the Heisman runner-up, received 19 votes, and Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was third with four votes . . . Miami defensive coordinator Tim Walton was fired by coach Randy Shannon after the Hurricanes allowed more than 300 points in a season for the first time since 1984 . . . Clemson offensive tackle Christian Capote, and linebackers Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie were declared ineligible for the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Auburn because of poor academic performances . . . All-America running back Kevin Smith, who is 180 yards shy of Barry Sanders's season rushing record (2,448), will return for his senior year at Central Florida. The Knights play Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl Dec. 28 . . . Darren Rizzi, an associate head coach at Rutgers, has been named head coach at Rhode Island. Rizzi, a 1992 URI graduate, was an All-America tight end for the Rams . . . Signs proclaiming tiny Grant Town, W. Va., as the hometown of former West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez have come down. Less than 24 hours after Rodriguez announced he was leaving WVU to become Michigan's football coach, Mayor Robert Riggs ordered the signs taken down.

New York Islanders forward Chris Simon met with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell in Toronto to discuss his latest penalty for attempting to injure an opponent. Simon took a paid leave from the Islanders Monday, saying he needed time away from hockey after he stomped on Pittsburgh forward Jarkko Ruutu during a 3-2 loss to the Penguins Saturday. Simon missed the first five games of this season while completing a 25-game ban - his sixth NHL suspension - handed out in March.

Russian tennis star Anna Chakvetadze was tied up by masked robbers who broke into her home and stole money and goods worth thousands of dollars, said her father, Dzhamal. Chakvetadze, ranked No. 6 and a 2007 US Open semifinalist, was bound for 30 minutes in her home outside Moscow but not seriously hurt . . . Lindsay Davenport, who took off nearly a year to have her first child, will play for the United States in the Fed Cup quarterfinals against Germany at La Jolla, Calif., Feb. 2-3.

Arizona assistant men's coach Kevin O'Neill, who has served as the 19th-ranked Wildcats' interim coach since 73-year-old Lute Olson went on a personal leave of absence Nov. 4, will succeed Olson when the Hall of Famer retires . . . Connecticut women's starting guard Kalana Greene suffered a significant tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of her right knee in Monday's win over South Carolina and will have surgery Friday . . . Part-owner Michael Jordan, in an attempt to boost morale among his slumping Charlotte Bobcats, practiced with the squad. The former Bulls great jumped into drills and gave tips to some young players. The workout came a day after Jordan sat in on team meetings and film sessions as the Bobcats try to end a stretch of 10 losses in 12 games . . . Nuggets forward Nene has been cleared by team doctors to participate in practices beginning Friday. Nene tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb in a game against the Celtics Nov. 7.

Three current and former Duke lacrosse players - but not the ones indicted in a discredited rape case - sued the university, disgraced prosecutor Mike Nifong, and dozens of others, claiming the prosecution damaged them, too. Ryan McFadyen, Matthew Wilson, and Breck Archer accuse the defendants of pursuing the case despite evidence the allegations were false. The 389-page lawsuit, filed in federal court in Greensboro, N.C., names 45 defendants who include Nifong - the former Durham, N.C., district attorney who was disbarred for misconduct in the case - police investigators, city officials, and nurses who examined the accuser . . . Former President George H.W. Bush has been chosen to receive the Bob Jones Award from the USGA, the organization's highest honor. The award is for distinguished sportsmanship in golf, and recognizes a person who emulates the golf attitude and spirit of amateur great Bobby Jones . . . Veteran striker Romario was suspended 120 days for failing a doping test in a Brazilian league match two months ago. Members of Brazil's top sports tribunal voted 3-2 to suspend Romario after he tested positive for the banned substance finasteride following Vasco's 2-2 draw against Palmeiras Oct. 28.