By The Associated Press
Second-year Missouri Southern coach John Ware died Tuesday of an apparent heart attack after collapsing at his desk in Joplin, Mo.
Ware, 46, was discovered in his office after 10 a.m. Attempts to revive Ware by members of the coaching and training staff, as well as medical personnel, failed and he was rushed to Freeman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Ware died of an apparent heart attack, the school said in a statement Tuesday.
An autopsy was scheduled for today.
Assistant coach Keeth Matheny, who will take over as head coach, said Ware had experienced heart problems in the past.
“There are five games remaining – five opportunities – to make a great man proud,” Matheny said.
On Saturday, the Division II Lions (2-3) are scheduled to host Truman State, the school Ware coached nine years before going to Missouri Southern.
Fresno State: Paul Williams caught a touchdown pass and returned a blocked punt for a score, and Tyrone Culver returned a fumble for another touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 44-14 victory over visiting Toledo (3-1).
Bryson Sumlin ran for 106 yards and a score and also caught a TD pass as the Bulldogs (2-1) rebounded from a 37-34 loss at Oregon 10 days ago that knocked them out of the top 25.
Kansas State: Running back Thomas Clayton was charged with misdemeanor batter for almost hitting a university official with his car while driving away to avoid having a boot put on the vehicle for parking violations.
Clayton, a junior, was arrested Sept. 16.
Coach Bill Snyder said disciplinary steps have been taken. He said Clayton would play Saturday against Oklahoma, but did not say whether he would start.
Missouri: Senior Sean Coffey, the team’s leading receiver from a year ago, is expected to start Saturday’s game against No. 2 Texas after missing two games with a shoulder injury.
Conference USA: The conference champion will face a Southeastern Conference team in the Liberty Bowl under a four-year agreement that will start in 2006. Conference USA also agreed to deals with the GMAC, Hawaii, New Orleans and Fort Worth bowls.
