Friday, November 16, 2001
College football roundup
Ball State winning the West?
The Associated Press
This is the game Ball State coach Bill Lynch has been waiting for. And Northern Illinois coach Joe Novak. And Toledo coach Tom Amstutz.
Heading into Saturday, their teams remain alive for the Mid-American Conference West Division title.
Ball State wins the division with a victory over Northern Illinois. Toledo needs to beat Eastern Michigan and have Ball State lose. Northern Illinois needs a victory and a Toledo loss.
Making this possible is the MAC's somewhat complicated formula for determining champions based on division records first, head-to-head play second and overall MAC records third.
For example, despite having more conference wins and fewer conference losses than both Ball State (4-5 overall, 3-2 MAC, 3-0 West) and Northern Illinois (5-4, 3-3, 3-1), Toledo (7-1, 4-1, 3-1) can't clinch the West unless the Rockets, Cardinals and Huskies finish tied atop the division at 4-1.
The Rockets could have won the West without help if they hadn't lost 24-20 at Ball State on Oct. 20.
“This is the opportunity we were looking for” after losing to Ball State, Amstutz said. “And that's why you have to try to take care of your business and can't focus on what the other guys are doing.”
The West winner gets to be host to the conference title game Nov.30 against Marshall (8-1, 7-0, 5-0), which clinched the East last weekend.
WASHINGTON STATE:
Quarterback Jason Gesser has received medical clearance to play in Saturday's Apple Cup against Washington.
Gesser had a mild concussion in the third quarter last week against Arizona State and was replaced by backup Matt Kegel.
Doctors who examined the league-leading passer said he suffered no lasting effects.
The school's head-injury policy states that if a player is still suffering the effects of a concussion on the following Tuesday, the player can't compete on Saturday.
Gesser leads the Pacific 10 in passing and total offense. He has completed 162 of 301 passes for 2,502 yards with 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
MISSISSIPPI STATE:
Record-setting quarterback Wayne Madkin will have surgery today to repair a broken toe on his right foot, ending his college career.
“It shocked me,” Madkin said Thursday. “I thought it was just regular turf toe.”
Madkin was injured in the second quarter of a 24-17 loss Saturday against Alabama. The senior quarterback started 41 of State's past 42 games, finished with 462 completions and 6,336 yards — both school records.
He endured a frustrating 2001 season. The Bulldogs (2-6) rank second-to-last nationally in scoring offense.
“It's disappointing,” Madkin said. “I felt like I did everything possible. But I'm not regretting anything that's happened here. That's football.”
TEXAS:
Quarterback Chris Simms will play for the Longhorns next season and will not enter the NFL draft a year early, coach Mack Brown said Wednesday.
“I know Chris has no interest in going to the NFL,” before his senior season, Brown said.
Simms, a junior, created a stir Tuesday night when he said he was thinking about entering the draft. A few hours later, he told reporters he would stay at Texas.
TENNESSEE:
A drug charge against former Tennessee defensive lineman Lynn McGruder will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble for a year.
McGruder, of Las Vegas, was dismissed from Tennessee's football team in June after he was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell.
McGruder enrolled at Oklahoma in August. He is not a member of the football team.
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Dunn named to All-Rookie team
Larkin, Graves, Casey highlight Redsfest lineup
Clemens wins 6th Cy Young award
30,000 possible for Elder-St. X
Badin has battle on its hands
Brady on line for Beechwood
CovCath makes moves that pay off with wins
Friends have more than rivalry on minds
Near-instant replay at hand
Tribble trouble for foes
Badin's Malone teaches on field
Ohio playoff football previews
Kentucky playoff football previews
The Enquirer's Northern Kentucky Golf All-Stars
The Enquirer's Girl's Tennis All-Stars
The Enquirer's Ohio Girl's Golf All-Stars
The Enquirer's Ohio Boy's Golf All-Stars
Kreager rises from XU bench
Muskies hope to build upon defense
UC's chance to prove point
UC's Merrill center of attention
Louisville clinches share of C-USA title
College football roundup
