The Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame is preparing to face North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl without its two starting offensive tackles because of what Fighting Irish coach Tyrone Willingham described Friday as "university concerns."

Jordan Black sat out practice for the first time Thursday, joining Brennan Curtin, who has missed practice since Sunday.

Willingham, whose 11th-ranked team is 10-2, said he couldn't elaborate on why Black and Curtin weren't practicing.

"I'm saying it is a university issue and the university will have comments regarding that situation," Willingham said.

The university cannot comment because of federal privacy laws, Notre Dame spokesman Michael Garvey said. Black has an unlisted telephone number and couldn't be located for comment. A message seeking comment was left at Curtin's dorm room.

Willingham said he couldn't even comment on whether the two would miss the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1.

When asked, though, who the starters would be against the No. 17 Wolfpack (10-3), Willingham said it probably would be Jim Molinaro, Mark LeVoir or Dan Stevenson.

"We expect the next guy in the lineup to step up and perform at a high level," Willingham said.

Irish offensive coordinator Bill Diedrick said Molinaro, who started ahead of Curtin in Notre Dame's regular-season finale, will start at one tackle spot. Stevenson, listed in the depth chart as the backup right guard, might be the other starter.

"I think (Stevenson) offers us a very physical player that can play outside," Diedrick said.

Stevenson will practice at both sides and probably will start wherever he feels more comfortable, since Molinaro already has played both sides, Diedrick said.

Molinaro, who also started against Rutgers in place of Black because of some unpaid parking tickets, said he felt he was ready.

"I think it's definitely positive for me that I've had two starts because I'm not just getting thrown into the mix of things," Molinaro said. "I know what it is to start in a game now. I feel like I'm really prepared."

The 11th-ranked Irish (10-2) might have to make some adjustments to help Stevenson, such as playing a tight end on his side or having a running back help him in some blocking situations., Notre Dame coaches said.

"There are certain adjustments that you have to make. We'll make those as we progress," Willingham said.

Notre Dame's line has struggled at times this season, allowing 36 sacks on 297 pass attempts. That is about once for each eight pass attempts, compared to the team's goal of one for every 25 attempts.

The Irish finished the regular season with the 107th-ranked offense out of 117 teams, averaging about 316 yards a game.

Center Jeff Faine said he was confident in whoever fills in for Black and Curtin.

"We've got some guys they're going to plug into those positions that have some decent playing time. I think they're going to do a great job," Faine said. "I think there are going to be some young guys that really step up and do great things for us."

CALIFORNIA: Golden Bears coach Jeff Tedford received a new five-year contract that runs through the 2007 season.

Tedford, who helped turn around California's program in his first season, originally signed a four-year contract when he was hired in December 2001 after four seasons as Oregon's offensive coordinator. That contract has been voided and replaced with the new deal, Golden Bears athletic director Stephen Gladstone said.

Tedford took over a team that went 1-10 in 2001 - the school's worst record in 104 years - and led it to a 7-5 record and a fourth-place tie in the Pacific-10 Conference this season. It was Cal's first winning season since 1993.

EAST CAROLINA: Florida defensive coordinator John Thompson was introduced as the Pirates' new coach, replacing Steve Logan, who left the program Dec.7.

"I am humbled, honored and thrilled with this opportunity," Thompson said. "It is great to be at a place with such tradition and high expectations. I look forward to building upon that tradition through recruiting, through relationships and through winning championships."

MONTANA: Washington defensive assistant Bobby Hauck is back in Montana, this time as a coach. The 38-year-old Hauck was born in Missoula, competed in track and field at Montana and began his football coaching career with the Grizzlies in 1988.

SOUTHERN MISS: Golden Eagles running back Derrick Nix's kidney ailment is growing worse.

"I guess you can say he's fighting for his life, and all we can do is support him," Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower said. "We'll do that every way we can, say our prayers for him and hope for the best."

Nix will miss the Houston Bowl on Dec.27 when the Golden Eagles take on Oklahoma State. Nix sat out most of the 2000 season and all of 2001 with the kidney condition. He rushed for 1,194 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and is 12 yards shy of becoming Southern Miss' career rushing leader.

DIVISION III: Mount Union (13-0) heads into today's Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl with one loss in its last 96 games, six NCAA Division III football national championships in the last nine years and an NCAA-best 41-game winning streak.

The challenge facing the Purple Raiders' foe, Trinity (14-0), got much bigger Wednesday when the San Antonio school suspended quarterback Roy Hampton after his public-intoxication arrest a few days earlier. Hampton threw for 43 touchdowns in 14 games but will turn the job over to Dan Desplaines (333 yards, three TDs).

Kickoff is set for noon at Salem (Va.) Stadium.

NAIA: Carroll (Mont.) is making its first appearance in the NAIA championship game, but it's facing a familiar foe.

The Saints (11-2) will take on two-time defending champion Georgetown (Ky.) at 1 p.m. today. The Tigers beat Carroll in the NAIA semifinals the past two seasons.

A title-game appearance is nothing new for Georgetown (12-1), which is playing in the championship for an NAIA-record fourth straight season.