Gay slur costs CSU assistant

College football: Colorado State defensive line coach Greg Lupfer (above) has been suspended without pay for two weeks for using a gay slur when yelling at Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday.

Athletic director Jack Graham also ordered Lupfer to undergo anger management and diversity training at his own expense.

Lupfer issued a statement saying he was grateful to keep his job on Jim McElwain’s staff and said “I am deeply sorry for my behavior, which does not represent who I am or my values.”

Lupfer got into a verbal altercation with the Cougars’ QB after Halliday’s first TD throw. Lupfer’s slur was caught on ESPN cameras and marred the Rams’ comeback from a 22-point deficit for a last-second 48-45 win to kick off the bowl season.

Associated Press

Arizona No. 1; Gonzaga slips

College basketball: Arizona is No. 1 in the Associated Press men’s poll for the third straight week and Gonzaga dropped a few more spots to 24th after its loss to Kansas State on Saturday.

The Wildcats (12-0) are again a runaway choice, receiving 63 No. 1 votes from the 65-member national media panel Monday.

No. 2 Syracuse drew the other No. 1 votes as the top eight teams are unchanged.

Gonzaga fell from 15th to No. 21 in the USA Today coaches poll.

• The Gonzaga women improved one spot in the AP Top 25 to No. 24.

Auburn’s Malzahn Coach of the Year

College football: Gus Malzahn inherited a demoralized Auburn team that had just gone through the program’s worst season in decades with a stagnant offense and pliant defense.

As is his way, the coach known for fast play on offense went to work in a hurry. He led the 12-1, second-ranked Tigers’ transformation into Southeastern Conference champions and has them in the national championship game on Jan. 6 against No. 1 Florida State.

For his quick work, Malzahn was named the Associated Press National Coach of the Year on Monday.

Malzahn received 33 votes to beat out David Cutcliffe, who received 17 votes after leading Duke (10-3) to its first 10-win season. Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher and Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio each received three votes.

Associated Press