Gainesville, Fla. – Florida coach Urban Meyer accidentally confirmed Monday that former Southern California running back Emmanuel Moody is transferring to the defending national champions.
“He’s not here yet,” Meyer said during his weekly news conference. Meyer quickly realized his error and said, “He’s not here.” Then, he paused and said, “Oops.”
Thus ends a week of speculation about where Moody would end up. A 6-foot-1, 205-pound sophomore from Texas, Moody decided to transfer after getting caught in a glut of highly touted tailbacks at USC. He has to sit out the 2007 season under the NCAA’s transfer rules and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Before missing the final four games because of a sprained ankle last season, Moody gained 458 yards on 79 carries and finished as USC’s second-leading rusher.
Meyer also said the Gators could be without starting cornerback Markihe Anderson (sprained MCL) in Saturday’s season opener against Western Kentucky.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sweed to play in Longhorns’ opener
Texas senior wide receiver Limas Sweed (sprained left wrist) said he feels fine and will play Saturday in the Longhorns’ opener against Arkansas State.
That’s good news for the No. 4 Longhorns, who have seen their deep and talented pool of receivers thinned by preseason injuries. Senior Billy Pittman is out for the first game with a shoulder injury and Jordan Shipley is doubtful with a tender hamstring. Sweed, Pittman and Shipley combined for 96 catches and 20 touchdowns last season.
USC coach Pete Carroll all but ruled starting tailback Chauncey Washington and backup quarterback Mark Sanchez out of Saturday’s opener against Idaho. Washington, who led the top-ranked Trojans in rushing last year with 744 yards, has a sprained right shoulder, and Sanchez has a cracked bone in his throwing thumb.
Alabama receiver Keith Brown and linebacker Prince Hall have been suspended for the season opener against Western Carolina for unspecified violations of team rules, coach Nick Saban said.
South Carolina’s athletic director has upheld the one-game suspension of Gamecocks quarterback Blake Mitchell, and he will miss the season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday. Mitchell was suspended for missing summer school classes.
TRACK AND FIELD
Jamaican beats Williams by a hair
It took 11.01 seconds to finish the race to decide the fastest woman at the world track and field championships in Osaka, Japan. For Veronica Campbell of Jamaica, it seemed an eternity before she was declared the winner in a photo finish over defending 100-meter world champion Lauryn Williams of the United States in one of the closest finishes in championship history. Carmelita Jeter of the United States took bronze, one hundredth of a second behind the leading duo.
Campbell made the difference when she lunged her left shoulder forward across the line while Williams dipped too early.
In a major surprise, Portugal’s 23-year-old Nelson Evora upset favorite Jadel Gregorio of Brazil to win the triple jump with his sixth national record in two years – 58 feet, 2 1/2 inches. Gregorio placed second with 57-8 1/2, and Walter Davis of the U.S. managed a bronze with a jump of 56-10 1/4. The three medals Monday boosted the U.S. total to seven – two gold, two silver and three bronze. FOOTNOTES
Fowler, Stanley added to Walker team
The United States finalized its 10-man team for the Walker Cup by adding Rickie Fowler and Kyle Stanley, leaving out British Amateur champion Drew Weaver and U.S. Amateur finalist Michael Thompson. The United States will try to retain the cup Sept. 8-9 at Royal Country Down in Northern Ireland against an amateur team from Great Britain and Ireland, which has not lost at home since 1991.
The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks have signed Chris Kunitz to a four-year, $14.9 million contract extension, putting the left wing under contract through the 2011-12 season. Kunitz had 25 goals and 35 assists in 81 games last season.
Tamika Catchings had 30 points and 13 rebounds, and the Indiana Fever made the biggest comeback in WNBA playoff history to defeat the Connecticut Sun 93-88 in overtime and advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The Fever overcame a 39-17, second-quarter deficit.
Vickie Johnson scored an easy layup with half a second remaining and the host San Antonio Silver Stars beat the Sacramento Monarchs 80-78 to win their Western Conference playoff series.
Nevada’s Lyndale Burleson, who had been the lead candidate to become the team’s starting point guard, has been declared academically ineligible for the fall semester.
