College Football
Saban remains at Alabama; Brown remains in question
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head coach Nick Saban is staying put.
The university announced on its Twitter account Friday night that the football coach has reached “a long-term agreement” to remain with the Crimson Tide.
Alabama didn’t release terms of the new deal, which must be approved by the board of trustees.
Saban received an eight-year deal in March 2012 worth about $5.6 million annually and seems likely to remain college football’s highest-paid coach.
The agreement quells speculation that Saban would take over at Texas if Mack Brown steps down. Saban, who turned 62 on Oct. 31, has led the Tide to three national championships in the last four years with no signs of fading from annual contention.
Brown didn’t address his future at Texas at Friday night’s annual team banquet, while acknowledging “distractions” for his team. The Longhorns (8-4) will face Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 30.
Brown met with school President Bill Powers and athletic director Steve Patterson before the banquet. Patterson declined to say what was discussed or if any conclusion had been reached.
Saban is 74-14 in seven seasons at Alabama, with at least 11 wins in five of the last six years.
Notre Dame readmits Golson after his fall suspension
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Quarterback Everett Golson was readmitted to Notre Dame after being suspended for the fall semester for what he termed “poor judgment on a test” after helping the Fighting Irish get to the national championship game a season ago.
Golson officially was readmitted Friday afternoon, said Paul Browne, Notre Dame vice president for public affairs and communications. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly previously had said he hoped Golson could practice with the Irish during bowl preparation but last week said there wasn’t enough time because Golson isn’t eligible until Dec. 21 and the team leaves for the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City on Dec. 23.
Kelly said Golson, who has two years of eligibility left, would not travel with the team to the bowl.
Golson helped the Irish go 12-0 during the regular season last year, regain the No. 1 ranking for the first time in nearly two decades and get to the title game against Alabama in January. He completed 59 percent of his passes last year for 2,405 yards with 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He also ran for 298 yards and team-high six touchdowns.
College Soccer
Notre Dame defeats UNM and former FLC coach
CHESTER, Pa. – Patrick Hodan led Notre Dame to its first NCAA men’s soccer final, scoring twice in the Fighting Irish’s 2-0 semifinal victory over New Mexico on Friday night at PPL Park.
Notre Dame (16-1-6) will face the Maryland (17-3-5) – which defeated Virginia 2-1 in Friday’s other semifinal – in Sunday’s championship game.
UNM (14-6-2) is coached by Jeremy Fishbein, who coached Fort Lewis College from 1992 to 1998 and led the Skyhawks to four regular-season conference championships and two Division II national tournaments.
Mixed Martial Arts
St. Pierre takes a break and vacates his UFC title
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre vacated his title, citing a desire for a lengthy break from mixed martial arts.
St. Pierre cited the relentless pressure of training and unspecified personal problems for his move away from the sport.
St. Pierre is considered one of the sport’s greatest athletes with 12 consecutive victories and nine consecutive 170-pound title defenses, including a split decision over Johny Hendricks last month. He has been the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view draw since the departure of heavyweight Brock Lesnar.
St. Pierre believes he’ll eventually return to the sport but doesn’t want to “jam up” the welterweight division during his absence.
Hendricks will fight Robbie Lawler on March 15 in Dallas for the vacant 170-pound belt.
Associated Press
