Four Invited to Heisman Presentation

The Heisman Trophy is down to the final four. Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning, Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, Michigan cornerback/receiver/punt returner Charles Woodson and Marshall’s Moss were formally invited to attend next Saturday’s Heisman Trophy presentation at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York.

Washington State Coach Mike Price said the Cougars would practice today through Tuesday in Pullman, Wash., before he and Leaf will leave to attend several awards programs, including the Heisman presentation. The Cougars will have three more practices the week of Dec. 15 before heading for Southern California on Dec. 20.

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Mack Brown was introduced as the new Texas coach, but his status for coaching North Carolina for a bowl game is still undetermined. Brown said, “What I have to do is decide whether or not I will be a distraction by coming back to North Carolina. The only thing that matters is that they [the Tar Heels] get 11 wins and finish in the top five.” North Carolina Athletic Director Dick Baddour will make the decision but there is no timetable.

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Utah State officials have called a press conference for tonight in Salt Lake City to announce the hiring of a new coach. The mostly likely candidate is Eastern Washington’s Mike Kramer. Utah State’s John L. Smith has accepted a coaching job at Louisville and his final game with the Aggies will be the Dec. 29 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise. . . . Citrus Bowl officials said a decision on who will play in their New Year’s Day bowl won’t be made until Sunday even though the Reading (Pa.) Eagle and Times reported that Penn State and Florida would be the teams.