SPORTS N STUFF

The results of a three-month review of the USA Today coaches college football poll will be presented next week during the annual spring meeting of the American Football Coaches Associations board of trustees.

AFCA trustees requested the outside review during the coaches convention last year.

Grant Teaff, the groups executive director, says Gallup was asked to conduct a thorough study and make recommendations that would enhance the credibility and accuracy of the rankings. The coaches poll, which started in 1950, is one of two that helps determine which teams go to the Bowl Championship Series.

After getting the results at the meeting in Phoenix next week, the AFCA will consult with its media partner, USA Today, and BCS officials before making public any changes to the voting process.

Former Michigan quarterback Steven Threet plans to transfer to Arizona State, according to a person familiar with Threets decision who requested anonymity because the details are still being worked out.

The 6-foot-6 Threet would sit out the 2009 season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Threet started his college career at Georgia Tech before transferring to Michigan. A pocket passer who was recruited by former Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr, Threet seemed a poor fit with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguezs offense, which favors mobile quarterbacks.

Still, Threet started eight games as a redshirt freshman last year, passing for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns with seven interceptions. ESPN.com first reported Threets decision.

Arizona State has three quarterbacks on scholarship – senior Danny Sullivan, sophomore Samson Szakacsy and freshman Brock Osweiler. Jack Elway, son of NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, has quit football and Chasen Stangel is leaving the program.

Former Michigan quarterback Steven Threet plans to transfer to Arizona State, according to a person familiar with Threets decision who requested anonymity because the details are still being worked out.

The 6-foot-6 Threet would sit out the 2009 season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

Threet started his college career at Georgia Tech before transferring to Michigan. A pocket passer who was recruited by former Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr, Threet seemed a poor fit with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguezs offense, which favors mobile quarterbacks.

Still, Threet started eight games as a redshirt freshman last year, passing for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns with seven interceptions. ESPN.com first reported Threets decision.

Arizona State has three quarterbacks on scholarship – senior Danny Sullivan, sophomore Samson Szakacsy and freshman Brock Osweiler. Jack Elway, son of NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, has quit football and Chasen Stangel is leaving the program.

BOSTON 4, NY YANKEES 1

BOSTON Jacoby Ellsbury stole home and the Boston Red Sox ran off with a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.

Bostons speedster surprised left-hander Andy Pettitte with his dash in a three-run fifth inning that gave the Red Sox their 10th straight win, 4-1.

They came from behind in all three games and trailed Sunday on Brett Gardners sacrifice fly in the third. But the Red Sox tied it on a sacrifice fly by David Ortiz in the bottom of the inning.

In the fifth, Ortiz doubled in the go-ahead run before Kevin Youkilis was walked intentionally to load the bases. As Pettittebegan his windup with J.D. Drew at bat, Ellsbury raced home and slid in headfirst ahead of Jorge Posadas tag.

TORONTO 4, CHI WHITE SOX 3

CHICAGO Scott Rolen hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, helping the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox, 4-3, Sunday to secure their sixth straight series win this season.

Rod Barajas had three hits for the Blue Jays, who have won eight of 11 games.

Vernon Wells led off the eighth with a double off White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink (0-1). Adam Lind walked then Rolen drove in Wells.

After a shaky start, Toronto ace Roy Halladay (4-1) settled down and retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced.

He allowed three runs and scattered eight in seven innings. Halladay had six strikeouts and walked his first batter in two starts.

BALTIMORE 8, TEXAS 5

BALTIMORE Adam Jones hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Baltimore rallied for a victory.

With one out, Cesar Izturis was hit on his left foot and Brian Roberts singled to left before Jones hit an 0-1 slider from reliever Jason Jennings (0-1) into the seats in left-center to give Baltimore a 7-5 lead. Jones third homer completed the Orioles comeback from a 5-1 deficit.

Chris Davis, David Murphy and Hank Blalock connected for the Rangers, who lead the major leagues with 38 home runs and have hit two or more in a game 14 times this season, also most in the majors.

Danys Baez (1-1) got the victory with three hitless innings. George Sherrill worked the ninth for his fourth save.

CLEVELAND 4, MINNESOTA 2

CLEVELAND Aaron Laffey pitched into the seventh inning and rookie Tony Sipp came up with two big strikeouts, helping Cleveland avoid a three-game sweep.

Laffey (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The Indians were held to one run in each of the first two games of the series, but Ryan Garkos two-run single off Glen Perkins (1-2) in the third gave them a 4-0 lead.

It was the shortest outing of the year for Perkins, who allowed four runs in five innings.

DETROIT 3, KANSAS CITY 2

KANSAS CITY, Missouri Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer and Armando Galarraga pitched six solid innings for Detroit.

Inge connected in the second, driving a 1-1 pitch from Sidney Ponson (0-3) out to left with Jeff Larish aboard after a single. It was his seventh of the year.

Galarraga (3-0) allowed one run and three hits, struck out seven and walked five.

Jose Guillen singled in Coco Crisp in the third but the Royals left the bases loaded when Alberto Callaspo grounded out. Kansas City is 2-for-17 with the bases loaded this season.

LA ANGELS 8, SEATTLE 0

ANAHEIM, California Howie Kendrick homered and had a career-high four RBIs, Jered Weaver combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 8-0.

Weaver (2-1) allowed three hits over seven innings to help the two-time defending AL West champions avoid a three-game sweep by the current division leaders. The Mariners failed to get an extra-base hit against the right-hander, who gave up two home runs in each of his previous two starts.

Kendrick had a pair of RBI singles in addition to his two-run homer in the second inning against former Angels left-hander Jarrod Washburn (3-1). He hit fifth in the batting order for the first time since Aug. 3, 2008, at New York. It was his fourth different spot since manager Mike Scioscia took him out of the two hole last Wednesday.

Juan Rivera hit his first home run of the season. Torii Hunter had three hits, including an RBI single, to raise his average to .338.

OAKLAND 7, TAMPA BAY 1

OAKLAND, California Kurt Suzuki drove in three runs, Dana Eveland pitched into the sixth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-1.

Every Oakland starter got at least one hit and seven different players scored for the As, who won their second straight after a season-high five-game skid.

Suzuki hit a two-run double in the second and drew a bases-loaded walk off Andy Sonnanstine in the fifth to force in another run.

After failing to make it out of the fourth in each of his previous two starts, Eveland (1-1) allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Michael Wuertz, Santiago Casilla and Russ Springer combined to finish the four-hitter.

CINCINNATI 8, ATLANTA 2

CINCINNATI Jay Bruce homered twice and drove in four runs, Micah Owings earned his first win in nearly a year with seven strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Atlanta Braves, 8-2.

Joey Votto had two doubles and three RBIs to help the Reds salvage the finale of the three-game series after losing the first two.

Owings (1-2), acquired in the trade that sent Adam Dunn to Arizona, also had two hits while earning his first win in 15 appearances, including 11 starts, since a 9-3 win at Atlanta for

Arizona May 25. The righthander, who was 0-9 with an 8.53 ERA in that span, limited the Braves to six hits and one run with three walks and six strikeouts Sunday.

COLORADO 10, LA DODGERS 4

DENVER Ryan Spilborghs homered and drove in three runs and Clint Barmes added a two-run shot as the Colorado Rockies avoided being swept with a 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jeff Baker had a bases-loaded triple for the Rockies, who dropped the first five meetings between the two teams this year.

Jason Marquis (3-1) worked 7 1-3 innings and gave up three runs and six hits.

Clayton Kershaw (0-2) lasted only 4 2-3 innings, allowing nine runs on eight hits. In his last start, he gave up six runs and eight hits to Houston in 4 1-3 innings.

Orlando Hudson had his 11-game hitting streak snapped, going 0-for-4 with a walk. James Loney was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs.

The Dodgers had won three straight and 11 of 13.

PHILADELPHIA 13, FLORIDA 2

MIAMI Shane Victorino drove in four runs, Jamie Moyer pitched six solid innings and the Philadelphia Phillies extended the Florida Marlins skid to six with a 13-2 victory.

Florida, which began the season 11-1, is mired in its longest losing streak since an eight-game slide from August 15-22, 2007.

Moyer (3-1) allowed one run and seven hits to improve to 7-0 at Dolphin Stadium and 12-1 against the Marlins overall.

Pedro Feliz had three hits, two RBIs and scored two runs for Philadelphia.

HOUSTON 3, MILWAUKEE 2

HOUSTON Ivan Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer in the fourth inning, and the Houston Astros snapped the Milwaukee Brewers four-game winning streak with a 3-2 victory.

Rodriguez helped the Astros end a three-game skid with a full-count drive over the left-field wall off Manny Parra (0-4).

It was Rodriguezs second homer of the season.

Russ Ortiz (2-0) pitched five innings for the Astros and improved his record at Minute Maid Park to 6-0. He allowed four hits, two earned runs with four walks and three strikeouts.

Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his second save in four opportunities. He struck out Ryan Braun looking and got Prince Fielder to ground out for the final two outs.

WASHINGTON 8, NY METS 1

FLUSHING, New York Jordan Zimmermann showed off the sharp stuff that has Washington so excited about his future, and the Nationals routed the New York Mets 8-1 for their first road victory this season.

Jesus Flores homered and drove in three runs against his former club, Austin Kearns also teed off on an ineffective Oliver Perez and the Nationals improved the majors worst record to 4-13 by snapping a three-game skid.

One of baseballs top prospects, the 22-year-old Zimmermann (2-0) beat Atlanta 3-2 in his major league debut last Monday and stifled the inconsistent Mets, too. He struck out slumping David Wright three times and allowed one run with six hits in 5 1-3 innings.

PITTSBURGH 8, SAN DIEGO 3

SAN DIEGO Ross Ohlendorf pitched into the eighth inning and Adam LaRoche hit two home runs, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-3 win over the San Diego Padres.

Ohlendorf (2-2) gave up a long two-run homer to Adrian Gonzalez in the first inning before settling down. He allowed only two more hits over the next six innings before Edgar Gonzalez

knocked him out of the game with a pinch-hit homer leading off the eighth.

LaRoche hit a three-run shot off Jake Peavy (2-3) that broke a 2-all tie in the fifth. He later added a solo homer in the ninth off rookie Luis Perdomo for his fifth home run as the Pirates won for the fifth time in six games. LaRoche also walked twice and scored two runs.

Gonzalez put San Diego ahead 2-0 when he hit his seventh homer an estimated 458 feet to center field, the longest home run in Petco Parks six seasons.

Pirates rookie Robinson Diaz made his second major league start and had a two-run single that tied the score in the fourth inning. Brian Bixler, who was recalled earlier in the day from the minors, added a two-run double in the eighth.

CHI CUBS 10, ST LOUIS 3

ST. LOUIS Kosuke Fukudome hit a three-run homer and drove in five on his 32nd birthday, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 10-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fukudome went 3-for-4 to hike his average to .371 after hitting .257 last season. He hit his fourth homer in the eighth to finish the scoring.

Rich Harden (2-1) struck out nine in six innings for Chicago, which ended a four-game skid. He allowed four hits, including two solo homers.

St. Louis lost its nine-game home winning streak. The Cardinals have won 10 of their 13 home games this season and are 13-6 overall, good for first in the NL Central.

ARIZONA 5, SAN FRANCISCO 4 (12 INNINGS)

PHOENIX Conor Jackson hit a bases-loaded single in the 12th inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

The Diamondbacks tied it at 4 with a three-run ninth inning, capped by Justin Uptons two-run homer off Giants closer Brian Wilson.

The winning rally began when former Diamondbacks reliever Brandon Medders (0-1) walked leadoff man Miguel Montero. Montero moved up on Chris Youngs bunt, and then Medders walked Felipe Lopez intentionally and Augie Ojeda unintentionally to load the bases.

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy summoned Justin Miller, who gave up a line drive single to Jackson to deep left field.

Juan Gutierrez (1-1) pitched 12th for the Diamondbacks.

The BCS could decide to adopt parts of the playoff plan proposed by the Mountain West Conference, even as the group seems unlikely to scrap its current system of determining college footballs champion.

A buttoned-up BCS finished its last day of meetings Wednesday in the city that will host the championship game in early 2010. Only BCS coordinator John Swofford emerged briefly to speak to reporters a day after the group heard a case for changing to an eight-team playoff from the current single-game championship format.

Its unlikely that the MWCs proposal will bring about any major changes to the BCSs format, despite pressure from the major-college conferences largely left out of the big-money bowls, as well as legislators and government officials including President Barack Obama.

Of the MWC proposal that he termed a fundamental change, Swofford said he agreed with MWC commissioner Craig Thompsons assessment that the plan could be considered in one or two of its parts even if the playoff system is shot down by the college presidents.

A selection committee? Yes, Swofford said, of a performance-based group replacing the computers and polls of the current formula.

But the sweeping change of a playoff system, he said, couldnt be separated out.

Ultimately it will be in the presidents hands, Swofford said. In June, the BCS commissioners are scheduled to pass any changes on to the presidents group when it meets.

For those preferring a playoff, the BCS will always have some controversy, he said, indicating that part of the proposal was a likely non-starter, although the lack of playoff is the chief objection raised by opponents.

Asked if the BCS commissioners felt there was any significant legal issue, Swofford said, No, we dont.

Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff is investigating whether the BCS violates federal antitrust laws and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) asked for the BCS to be put on the agenda of the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights.

The University of Utah was undefeated last season, but denied a shot in the BCS title game between two teams with at least one loss.

Obama publicly endorsed a playoff system, but hasnt taken any action.

The MWCs proposed changes are significant, starting with the criteria for selecting eight teams for a playoff by a 12-person committee that would discard the polls and computers used to determine the BCS standings.

The BCS system, Swofford said, has been successful in a lot of ways, including here in Pasadena where you can see the connectedness of the Rose Bowl and the BCS.

Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson made his leagues case for sweeping changes to the Bowl Championship Series, including a move to an eight-team playoff, in a 90-minute presentation to other conference leaders Tuesday at the BCS meetings.

Also, the BCS coordinator John Swofford dismissed the looming antitrust lawsuit from the Utah Attorney General as having no impact on how the MWCs proposal will be considered.

Im not sure it does affect the process, Swofford said.

The MWCs proposal comes after a season in which Utah, an Mountain West champion, was the only undefeated team in major college football, but did not get a chance to play for the national title.

We want it performance-based, Thompson said of the BCS.

The 11 major college football conference commissioners will take the MWC proposal to their end-of-year league meetings and return June 15-19 in Colorado Springs, Colo., with their responses.

Its unlikely that the MWCs proposal will bring about any major changes to the BCS format.

Swofford downplayed the antitrust threat.

The antitrust aspects were addressed before the BCS went into affect, he said, and nothing has changed in the 12 years since then.

Asked if the BCS commissioners felt there was any significant legal issue, Swofford said, No, we dont.

Utah attorney general Mark Shurtleff isnt the only elected official who has taken aim at the BCS in recent months.

President Barack Obama has publicly endorsed a playoff system and Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch asked for the BCS to be put on the agenda of the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights.

Shurtleff, who is in the process of getting facts and assembling legal arguments, has said he plans to proceed with the lawsuit in June.

Thompson didnt see the lawsuit going anywhere, saying I would agree with Johns comments, that theres no antitrust issue for the BCS.

What is at issue, he said, and addressed in his conferences proposal would be a change in the system boosted by the decisive Sugar Bowl win in January by underdog Utah over Alabama, a Southeastern Conference team ranked No. 1 for much of the season.

The MWCs proposed changes are significant, starting with the criteria for selecting eight teams for a playoff by a 12-person committee that would discard the polls and computers used to determine the BCS standings.

Its totally different, Thompson said, from the current process with its six automatic qualifiers from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10 and Southeastern conferences that has some fundamental flaws.

Who you beat on the field, should be all that matters, Thompson said, citing one disturbing comment of a poll voter who admitted after the season that I never saw Utah play.

Swofford said the BCS, which rejected a plus-one format a year ago, said the MWC format would be taken into consideration, despite the BCS new $500 million contract with ESPN that goes into effect in 2010.

I dont think it would be appropriate to dismiss it out of hand, Swofford said.

That was good enough for Thompson, who said he could see the five-part proposal considered in whole – or in part.

Its an uphill challenge, Thompson said.

Former LSU receiver Demetrius Byrd was in critical but stable condition Monday after a car accident in Miami, and his agent said the NFL prospect was expected to fully recover.

Byrd had scrapes and bruises but was being held in intensive care for observation, said his junior college coach, Tim Hatten of Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. Hatten had talked with Byrds mom, who said her son was alert and talking at the hospital.

Agent David Dunn said in a statement that initial reports indicated Byrd will be OK. The statement did not give Byrds injuries or any details about the crash Sunday.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Demetrius, and with his mother Sharon and the entire Byrd family, Dunn said.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver had 37 catches for 513 yards and four TDs. He also played a key role in the Tigers BCS National Championship during the previous year.

LSU officials said that Byrds car hit a utility pole after a tire blew out. No other cars were involved.

This tragic accident puts in perspective just how fragile life can be, said LSU head coach Les Miles. Demetrius is an outstanding young man with a bright future ahead of him. He was a joy to coach and he brought a great smile and a wonderful attitude to our football team. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as we hope for a speedy recovery.

Byrd played at Miami Central High School before attending junior college.

The NFL draft begins Saturday. Byrd was considered among the top 15 wide receivers entering the draft.

At 6-foot-7, Ryan Mallett towers over some of his teammates on the practice field.

Thats just as well, because if theres one player Arkansas fans have been eager to see this spring, its the strong-armed transfer from Michigan who is the Razorbacks newest hope at quarterback.

Mallett is eligible to play this fall after sitting out the 2008 season, and hes a big reason why Arkansas could improve dramatically in coach Bobby Petrinos second year at the school. With three years of eligibility remaining, Mallett hopes to seize the reins of the Hogs offense and provide the type of passing threat the program has seldom had.

I couldnt wait to get out here and compete with these other guys. It was a long, long year, Mallett said. I was so glad spring got here.

Go through a list of Arkansas greatest players, and you wont find many passing stars. Clint Stoerner was impressive during the late 1990s, and Matt Jones produced weekly highlights at quarterback earlier this decade – but no Razorback has thrown for 400 yards in a game or 3,000 yards in a season.

Enter Mallett, who played in 11 games at Michigan in 2007. He threw for 892 yards with seven touchdown passes and five interceptions while filling in for Chad Henne, then left the Wolverines after coach Lloyd Carr retired and Rich Rodriguez was hired to replace him. Rodriguezs spread offense has featured mobile quarterbacks, and Mallett didnt appear to be much of a fit.

When coach Carr left, I was kind of upset. He was like another father figure, and I knew he wasnt going to be there, and I wasnt recruited by the other guy out of high school, Mallett said. I didnt think that it was best for me to stay there.

Mallett went to high school in Texarkana, Texas, while living on the other side of town, in Arkansas. He was a Razorbacks fan growing up, and Arkansas was an obvious option when he decided to transfer. Petrino, a coach with a reputation for helping quarterbacks thrive, had just been hired.

I would have loved to come here out of high school, but the situation wasnt right and so I thought I made a good decision, Mallett said. After a year, things changed around there and I decided it was best to leave.

Mallett hasnt been named Arkansas starter yet. He might have hurt his chances by getting arrested in March on a public intoxication charge. At the start of spring practice, he shared the top spot on the depth chart with Tyler Wilson, who played sparingly last year for the Razorbacks. The two quarterbacks are competing to take over for Casey Dick, who was a senior last season when Arkansas went 5-7.

The Arkansas spring game is Saturday, and perhaps after that, Petrino will shed more light on how his quarterbacks measure up. He did praise Mallett on Thursday.

As long as he gets his footwork right and his sets are correct, he can be a very accurate passer. Hes got a strong arm. I think hes learning how to control it and how to make the different throws, Petrino said.

Our ability to throw the ball down the field and do some of those things, I think, will be much better this year – because of Ryans arm and his ability to make those throws, and because of our experience and speed at receiver.

Malletts arm strength and height are obvious assets. Petrino has been a bit concerned about his psyche.

He needs to relax a little bit and not get down, Petrino said recently. I think hes his worst enemy. He expects so much from himself that when he makes a mistake or makes a bad throw, hes not able to put it behind him and move on.

Arkansas returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense, meaning anything less than a bowl will be a disappointment. Michael Smith, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2008, is back, and receivers Joe Adams and Jarius Wright showed promise as freshmen last year.

No wonder Mallett seemed to approach this spring with so much urgency.

Im my hardest critic, he admitted. I think you have to be like that as a quarterback.

Legal documents obtained by The Associated Press show University of Missouri officials failed to follow policies for medical emergencies when freshman linebacker Aaron ONeal collapsed and later died during a 2005 summer workout.

The university agreed in March to pay $2 million to ONeals parents to settle a lawsuit. But the sworn testimony of several key university employees who supervised the workout show a series of missteps.

Athletic department employees also showed an unfamiliarity with potential exercise-induced complications caused by sickle cell trait. ONeal carried the inherited blood disorder that affects an estimated 8 to 10 percent of African-Americans.