Josh Betts passed for 359 yards and three touchdowns, leading Miami (Ohio) to a 44-16 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday night in Oxford, Ohio.
Betts, a senior who missed the game’s first series for violating an unspecified team rule, completed 22-of-35 passes with one interception against a freshman-laden defense.
Martin Nance had eight receptions for 119 yards and two TDs, and Ryne Robinson caught six passes for 127 yards and another score for the RedHawks (2-2).
Brandon Murphy rushed 27 times for 120 yards and scored on an 11-yard run for the RedHawks, who totaled 539 yards on offense.
The win enabled Miami to reclaim the Victory Bell, the prize that goes to the winner of the annual series the schools bill as the oldest Division I-A rivalry west of the Allegheny Mountains.
The series began in 1888 and Miami holds a 59-44-7 lead.
The Bearcats (2-2) were held to 66 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Missouri Southern: Coach John Ware died of a heart attack, an autopsy confirmed.
Ware, 46, was found slumped over his office desk Tuesday morning and was pronounced dead at Freeman Hospital.
Jasper County (Mo.) coroner Jerry Neil said Ware had a massive heart attack. Neil said Ware’s wife indicated he had a history of heart problems.
Polls: The Master Coaches Survey released its first poll, and USC received all 16 first-place votes from the group that includes former Colorado coach Bill Mallory, Vince Dooley (Georgia) and Bo Schembechler (Michigan).
The top three selections in the MCS mirrored The Associated Press media poll, the USA Today Coaches poll, and the Harris Interactive poll, which also debuted this week. Texas was No. 2 after receiving 15 second-place votes, while Virginia Tech was No. 3.
Each of the 16 coaches in the MCS receives as many as 20 game films on DVD by overnight mail Monday. They study the games and begin to formulate their polls. On Wednesday they have a conference call to discuss the rankings.
“I like the opportunity to get together with these coaches I’ve known over the years and exchange ideas,” Dooley said. “I think the process lends itself to sound judgments and a thorough evaluation of the teams.”
Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, Miami, Tennessee and California round out the top 10, with Michigan State, Arizona State, Notre Dame, UCLA, LSU, Alabama, Texas Tech, Virginia, Wisconsin, Boston College, Minnesota, Purdue, Louisville, West Virginia and Auburn completing the rankings.
Georgia: Offensive guard Josh Brock suffered a possible concussion in practice and might give up on his injury-plagued career. Brock was hurt in a scrimmage Tuesday and didn’t practice Wednesday.
“I don’t know if it’s a concussion, but he got dinged enough that he didn’t practice,” coach Mark Richt said.
North Dakota: The Fighting Sioux will remain on the list of college nicknames the NCAA doesn’t want used in postseason play. The university’s appeal was rejected by an NCAA review committee because it did not have the support of the three federally recognized Sioux tribes of North Dakota, the association said.
“Although the University of North Dakota maintained that its logo and nickname are used with consummate respect, the position of the namesake tribes and those affected by the hostile or abusive environment that the nickname and logo create take precedence,” NCAA vice president Bernard Franklin said.
North Dakota president Charles Kupchella said he would appeal the decision to the NCAA’s executive committee.
“We do understand there are people who would prefer we not use this nickname. There may be even some who say they’re not honored by it,” Kupchella said. “But that certainly doesn’t constitute a test for what is hostile and abusive.”
The school also is considering a lawsuit against the NCAA, Kupchella said.
North Dakota was among 18 schools barred last month from using Native American mascots, logos and nicknames in postseason tournaments. Florida State, Central Michigan and Utah were later exempted because of their support by local tribes.
“It is not at all obvious to us why the NCAA finds the nicknames Chippewas, Seminoles and Utes worthy of exceptions, but somehow Sioux is deemed hostile and abusive,” Kupchella said. “We must press our case.”
Basketball
UCLA sophomore forward Josh Shipp, one of four returning starters for the Bruins, had arthroscopic right hip surgery and is expected to need up to three months for recovery and rehabilitation.
