PHOENIX — Bruce Snyder, whose 20-year career as a college football coach included an unbeaten regular season at Arizona State, died Monday after a 10-month fight against cancer.
Snyder, who was 69, coached the Sun Devils from 1992-2000. His 1996 team went 11-0 in the regular season before a last-minute, 20-17 loss to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl.
Snyder also was the coach at Utah State from 1976-82 and California from 1987-91. His overall record was 126-105-5.
Snyder’s 1996 team, which upset two-time defending national champion and then-No. 1 Nebraska 19-0, had Jake Plummer at quarterback and Pat Tillman at linebacker.
“If all of a sudden I’m gone in a year,” Snyder said last fall, “it’s been a damn good life.”
• Nebraska receiver Niles Paul has been suspended for the rest of spring practice after being arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
Collins, Aldrich staying with Jayhawks
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Guard Sherron Collins and center Cole Aldrich are staying at Kansas, passing up a chance to play in the NBA for the opportunity to make the Jayhawks leading national title contenders in 2010.
• Memphis junior forward Shawn Taggart, who averaged 10.4 points and led the Tigers in rebounding (7.6) this season, submitted his name for the 2009 NBA draft, leaving open the possibility of returning for a final year at the university.
• Coach Travis Ford said he expects James Anderson to be back at Oklahoma State next season.
• Sophomore guard Jonathan Wills will transfer from New Mexico at the end of the spring semester.
• Isiah Thomas is on the verge of starting his coaching career over at Florida International.
The former New York Knicks coach is deliberating whether to replace Sergio Rouco, who was ousted after five consecutive losing seasons.
• Portland State has promoted Tyler Geving to replace Ken Bone, who left to become Washington State’s head coach last week.
Linebacker Thomas joins Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs signed linebacker Zach Thomas, who played with the Dallas Cowboys last season and has 182 starts during a 13-year career.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers and outside linebacker James Harrison reached terms on a $51.75 million, six-year contract that will make him the second-highest-paid player in franchise history behind quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed quarterback Byron Leftwich to a two-year deal. Leftwich was a backup with the Steelers last season.
• New York Giants cornerback Kevin Dockery signed a one-year, free-agent tender for $1.54 million.
Footnotes.
Television ratings for the final round of the Masters are down slightly from last year. CBS said its coverage drew a fast national rating of 8.3 and a 20 share. It earned an 8. 6/18 in 2008.
• Clemson men’s soccer coach Trevor Adair has been arrested after police say he attacked his two teenage daughters over the weekend.
The Associated Press
