Associated Press
The college football notebook …
EAST LANSING, Mich. ó Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio says his suspension-plagued Spartans have plenty of resolve to win their Alamo Bowl matchup with Texas Tech.
Now they just need a way to solve the Red Raiders’ high-powered passing game, ranked second in the nation with 380.7 yards per game.
“It’s a great challenge, probably the biggest we’ve had yet,” Dantonio said Friday of his third bowl appearance in three years at Michigan State. “With the circumstances we have and the team we’re playing, we’ll be very motivated.”
But possibly undermanned: The Spartans will be without their No. 2 and No. 3 wide receivers, B.J. Cunningham and Mark Dell, and their No. 1 cornerback, Chris L. Rucker. All were charged with assault or assault and battery, one-year misdemeanors, for a Nov. 22 dormitory fight.
In all, Michigan State has suspended 11 players and dismissed two others in the wake of the fight.
“When you have a problem, it involves one of two things ó a lack of discipline or a lack of maturity,” Dantonio said. “You’ve got to be held accountable. But something good will come out of this, I promise you. Every experience you have will change you.”
SENIOR BOWL
MOBILE, Ala. ó Top-ranked Alabama will have four All-Americans playing in the Senior Bowl.
Cornerback Javier Arenas, offensive guard Mike Johnson, nose guard Terrence Cody and placekicker Leigh Tiffin have accepted invitations to play in the NFL audition for top senior prospects, Senior Bowl officials announced Saturday.
All four were first-team AP All-Americans.
This is the first time four All-Americans from the same team have played in the game.
The group led the Tide into the BCS national title game on Jan. 7 against No. 2 Texas in Pasadena, Calif.
MIAMICORAL GABLES, Fla. ó After playing in pain most of the season, Miami left tackle Jason Fox finally succumbed to the inevitable.
The 14th-ranked Hurricanes’ MVP for 2009 will miss the Champs Sports Bowl against No. 24 Wisconsin on Dec. 29 after having surgery on his left knee.
Projected as a second- or third-round pick on many draft boards, Fox is planning to resume workouts in a few weeks and does not believe the operation will affect his NFL status.
FLORIDAGAINESVILLE, Fla. ó No. 5 Florida has reinstated defensive end Carlos Dunlap, and coach Urban Meyer says he will play in the Sugar Bowl.
Dunlap was arrested Dec. 1 and charged with driving under the influence, a huge distraction days before the SEC championship game.
Dunlap has a court appearance Jan. 10. Nonetheless, Meyer says he talked with school president Bernie Machen and athletic director Jeremy Foley, and they agreed to let Dunlap back on the team. He will play against No. 4 Cincinnati on New Year’s Day.
Dunlap has 35 tackles and seven sacks this season.
NOTRE DAME
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ó New Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has named his first assistant, announcing Friday that he will keep Irish running backs coach Tony Alford on his staff.
“I got to know Tony during our days in the Big East when he was at Louisville and I was at Cincinnati,” Kelly said. “He is a tremendous teacher and a great recruiter and I’m thrilled to keep him.”