HOUSTON — Houston quarterback Case Keenum has decided to play for the Cougars his senior year, skipping the NFL draft.
“I feel this is a very special group of guys, and we have a lot of chemistry and history together and played a lot of games over the years,” Keenum said Wednesday. “When you have a team like this, it’s your family, and you want to stay together as long as you can.”
Keenum, one of two players in major-college history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in two seasons, led the Cougars to a Conference USA West Division title before they lost to East Carolina in the conference championship game and to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Also announcing their intentions to return to their respective colleges were Texas A&M pass-rushing specialist Von Miller and Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones.
• Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville hired Troy’s Neal Brown to be his offensive coordinator and keep the spread offense running for the Red Raiders.
• Ohio State’s 2010 season opener against Marshall, originally scheduled for Sept. 4, has been moved up two days to Thursday night.
Beltran to miss start of season
NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran had surgery on his right knee and the New York Mets center fielder will miss the start of the season.
The Mets said Beltran is expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks, a timetable that likely would keep him out for most of April — maybe longer.
• Expanded instant replay is on the agenda for the first meeting of Major League Baseball’s newly formed committee of managers and longtime executives today in Paradise Valley, Ariz.
The 14-man committee also will discuss expanding the first round of the playoffs to best of seven.
• Reliever Joel Zumaya and the Detroit Tigers avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $915,000, one-year contract.
Woods loses ticket to free rides
NEW YORK — General Motors Co. said an agreement with Tiger Woods that allowed the fallen golf star to have free access to its vehicles ended Dec. 31, a spokesman said. Woods’ endorsement contract with GM’s Buick brand ended in 2008, but an arrangement remained in place that allowed him to keep several GM loaner vehicles.
Footnotes.
Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is scheduled to have surgery today to repair a herniated disc in his back and is expected to be out 12 weeks.
• Vancouver Canucks left winger Alex Burrows was fined $2,500 by the NHL two days after accusing referee Stephane Auger of targeting him in a loss to the Nashville Predators.
• UCLA center J’mison Morgan will be out for at least two weeks after partially tearing his right quadriceps during practice.
• Caster Semenya‘s lawyers said they are still working with international track officials to settle the future of the 800-meter world champion, contradicting comments made by her coach that suggested the runner could compete internationally despite a gender-test controversy.
