Associated Press

The college notebook …

CLINTON, S.C. — Bobby Bentley’s already turned his hometown high school into a national football power. Now he hopes to bring the same success to his college alma mater.

Bentley was named Presbyterian’s new coach on Wednesday.

In 12 seasons under Bentley, Byrnes went from 1-11 in 1996 to four straight Class 4A championships from

2002-2005. Along the way, the Rebels became one of the state’s highest profile programs, playing on national TV and cracking national rankings.

Bentley sees the same soaring success for his college team.

“I didn’t resign from Byrnes, I retired,” Bentley said. “We built it. My name’s on it. A lot of people put a tremendous amount of work into that program. Now, let’s go accept another challenge.”

For Bentley, it could prove just as daunting as the challenge of improving the high school where he graduated.

Presbyterian is stepping up to NCAA Division I-AA from Division II, moving from the South Atlantic Conference into the Big South in time for the 2008 season.

Bentley hopes to increase scholarship levels from the program’s current 40 to 57 by 2012, when he envisions the Blue Hose competing for the I-AA title and taking on a Division I-A opponent.

He and college administrators have already begun scheduling plans.

Clemson seems to be a natural choice — Bentley was once considered for a Tigers’ assistant job on coach Tommy Bowden’s staff.

“That’s the dream. That would be pretty sweet,” Bentley said. “Walking in with the Blue Hose in Death Valley in 2012.”

CLEMSON

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Running back C.J. Spiller says he’s committed to staying at Clemson, despite the pull of his young daughter that had him thinking about transferring.

Spiller has arranged his classes so he can take more trips home to Lake Butler, Fla., and visit his 9-month-old daughter.

Spiller’s future was in doubt last week with some reports having him enrolled at Florida and attending classes on the day of the Gators’ national championship game win over Ohio State.

Spiller said his relationship with Clemson runner James Davis helped keep him with the Tigers.

“After I just sat back and looked at everything, I decided it would be best to stay here at Clemson instead of going home,” he said.

BRENNAN’S STAYING

HONOLULU — Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan withdrew from the NFL draft Wednesday and will return to school for his senior season.

Brennan on Monday filed the paperwork to make himself eligible for April’s draft but said he needed more time to make up his mind. He had 72 hours to decide and ended up choosing another year running the Warriors’ high-powered offense.

“I know what I’m passing up,” an emotional Brennan said at a news conference. “I know that plenty of people out there will think I’m crazy. But my heart lies here in Hawaii.”

Brennan set an NCAA record with 58 touchdown passes this season, and led the nation in passing yards (5,549), passing efficiency (186) and completion percentage (72.6).

SFU DEATH

TAMPA, Fla. — South Florida running back Keeley Dorsey died Wednesday after collapsing during a team conditioning workout at the school’s athletic facility.

The 19-year-old freshman died at University Community Hospital. He was given first aid before he was taken to the hospital.

WCU DEATH

SUMTER, S.C. — A former Western Carolina football player has been shot to death in his hometown here, police said.

Isaac Green, 21, died at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday at Tuomey Regional Medical Center shortly after he was taken there, said Sumter County Coroner Verna Moore.

Green was shot in the left buttocks area and an autopsy indicated the bullet pierced an artery, Moore said.

PSU STABBING

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — A former Penn State defensive lineman was arraigned on charges of first- and third-degree murder in the killing of a student who was stabbed 93 times last spring.

LaVon Chisley, 23, of Waldorf, Md., was arrested Tuesday after arriving at the Centre County courthouse for a hearing related to the murder investigation.

Chisley was booted off the Penn State football team before the 2005 season because of poor grades. After starting nine games in 2003, Chisley was mainly a reserve in 2004.