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News Nuggets, 12.23.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Spectacular performance punctuates Rivers' career

ORLANDO — Philip Rivers made sure North Carolina State's disappointing season — and his record-setting career — ended on a winning note.

The Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year threw for Tangerine Bowl records of 475 yards and five touchdowns Monday night, leading the Wolfpack to a 56-26 rout of Kansas.

Rebounding from a two-game losing streak that cost them a trip to a bigger bowl, the Wolfpack (8-5) marched 64, 68 and 97 yards on their first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead.

Rivers led an 88-yard drive in the third quarter, then broke the game open by taking advantage of a blocked punt to put the Wolfpack up 42-17 less than nine minutes into the second half.

Richard Washington scored on receptions of 45 and 14 yards, and Jerricho Cotchery had 13 catches for 171 yards and one TD. T.A. McLendon got into the end zone three times, scoring on a 3-yard reception and runs of 1 and 26 yards.

Rivers, the ACC's career passing and total offense leader, was 21-of-24 for 268 yards and three TDs in the first half alone. He finished 37-of-45 for his fifth 400-yard game this season, and seventh overall.

The 6-foot-5, 236-pound senior has been the starting quarterback for every game the Wolfpack have played under coach Chuck Amato, who has taken his team to a bowl game in each of his four seasons.

Amato removed Rivers midway through the fourth quarter after his final completion gave him the Tangerine Bowl yardage record.

Kansas (6-7) fell short in its bid to finish with its first winning record since 1995, the last time the Jayhawks appeared in a bowl game.

Suspensions rock TCU on eve of bowl game

FORT WORTH — Starting center Chase Johnson is among five Texas Christian players that have been suspended and won't play in the inaugural Fort Worth Bowl against No. 18 Boise State on Tuesday night.

Johnson, a junior, missed curfew at the team hotel Saturday night. Four freshmen players were suspended for violating unspecified team rules that same night, TCU spokesman Steve Fink said Monday.

The five join teammate Terrence James in the disciplinary doghouse. The 19th-ranked Frogs suspended James last week for violating unspecified team rules. James, a defensive tackle, played in all 12 of TCU's regular season games.

None of the four freshmen, fullbacks Marcus Draper and Reggie La'Mothe, and cornerbacks Gerrad Wilson and Derek Ferry, had extended playing time this season.

On Sunday, six Boise State players were ruled academically ineligible, knocking them out of the game. The only starter was offensive left tackle Tyrone Tutogi.

ACC refs botched FSU-Florida football game

GAINESVILLE — The Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner told Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley on Monday that some officiating mistakes were made in the disputed Florida-Florida State game.

Foley said ACC commissioner John Swofford told him a review conducted by the league turned up errors among the disputed calls made by referee Jack Childress and his crew in Florida's 38-34 loss last month, and they were being dealt with internally.

``I'm confident there was a thorough review,'' Foley said. ``Hopefully this will make us all better in the future.''

No fewer than six questionable calls went against the Gators. They began with the opening kickoff, when Florida State's Antonio Cromartie lost a fumble, but was ruled down, allowing the Seminoles to keep the ball. Irate fans at The Swamp rained down debris on the refs as they left the field.

Foley said he would continue to discuss the possibility of getting neutral officiating crews for future games between the in-state rivals. The current contract, which expires after next season, calls for officials from the visiting team's conference to call the game.

Bowl results/TV schedule for C-USA teams

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16
New Orleans Bowl
Memphis 27, North Texas (Sun Belt) 17
(ESPN 2) 7:00 pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
GMAC Bowl
(14) Miami (OH) (MAC) 49, Louisville 28

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl
(19) Texas Christian vs. (16) Boise State (WAC)
(ESPN) 7:30 pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Houston vs. Hawaii (WAC)
(ESPN) 8:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31
AXA Liberty Bowl
Southern Miss vs. (25) Utah (MWC)
(ESPN) 3:30 pm

All times Eastern.

Associated Press basketball poll

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press' men's college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Dec. 21, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:

[Conference USA and Carolinas teams in bold.]

Rank/Team/Record/Points/Previous
 1. Connecticut (21) 8-1 1,636 1
 2. Kentucky (25) 6-0 1,614 2
 3. Duke (2) 8-1 1,539 3
 4. Georgia Tech (16) 10-0 1,479 5
 5. Arizona (2) 5-1 1,364 7
 6. Stanford (2) 7-0 1,292 9
 7. Oklahoma 8-0 1,275 8
 8. Wake Forest (1) 7-0 1,264 14
 9. North Carolina 6-1 1,162 4
10. Saint Joseph's 8-0 1,084 11
11. Missouri 4-1 1,044 10
12. Kansas 6-2 962 6
13. Florida 6-2 788 15
14. Cincinnati 6-0 771 16
15. Gonzaga 7-2 726 13
16. Pittsburgh 10-0 634 18
17. Syracuse 5-1 620 19
18. Texas 5-2 573 11
19. Wisconsin 7-1 530 22
20. Louisville 5-1 513 20
21. Illinois 6-2 342 21
22. Purdue 8-2 284 17
23. Dayton 9-0 224 24
24. Maryland 6-2 203 25
25. Vanderbilt 8-0 130

Others Receiving Votes:

Others receiving votes: Marquette 100, Mississippi St. 61, Providence 34, BYU 27, Florida St. 23, Iowa 17, LSU 16, Virginia 15, South Carolina 12, Michigan St. 11, Texas Tech 11, Creighton 9, Colorado 7, Oklahoma St. 5, Utah 5, Boston College 4, N.C. State 4, Rhode Island 3, Boise St. 2, Lafayette 2, SMU 2, Detroit 1, UCLA 1.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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