Fast Break
College football
Ohio State heads for title game
Troy Smith and Ohio State did it all, overwhelming Michigan with offense, winning the Big Ten title and streaking into the national title game.
The Wolverines may have another shot at the Buckeyes though – they, too, can still make it to the BCS title game in Arizona.
Smith and the top-ranked Buckeyes put their dazzling speed on display with a barrage of big plays, and they needed every one of them to beat an inspired Michigan team, 42-39 on Saturday at Columbus, Ohio.
The Game of the Century, the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in this storied rivalry, was played a day after Michigan lost one of its legends – former coach Bo Schembechler.
College football
School decides not to face music
A booster’s ultimatum has placed the University of North Texas in an awkward position: Rename its new athletic facility after the just-fired football coach or allow the donor’s $1 million gift to be redirected to the music department.
To keep the peace, and perhaps keep open the big-money pipeline, school officials say they will honor the odd request from Houston furniture magnate Jim McIngvale – known locally as “Mattress Mack”.
Thus, the McIngvale Practice Facility will get renamed for Darrell Dickey, fired last week.
“Right’s right and wrong’s wrong. It’s the right thing to do,” McIngvale said.
“I don’t think firing a guy three weeks after he had a heart attack was the right thing to do, either. Even Wall Street is not that callous.”
Dickey suffered a heart attack Oct. 12.
NFL
Bronco more than a little upset
Toward the end of his career, Floyd Little’s name routinely was prefaced with the words “future Hall of Famer.” The former Denver running back is still waiting for an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But Little says he doesn’t care anymore.
“Forget about Floyd Little, the (Hall) has already forgotten about me,” he said. “But how do you go to six Super Bowls and only have one representative? That’s disrespectful.”
The only Broncos player in the Hall is QB John Elway.