Penn State’s Casey Cleared of Charge

Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey was cleared of a charge he beat an off-duty police officer unconscious outside a New Jersey bar.

Casey and Desmond Miller were charged in May with aggravated assault on Patrick Fitzsimmons as the officer left a bar in Hoboken, N.J.

Ed DeFazio, deputy first assistant prosecutor for Hudson County, N.J., said the grand jury did not find probable cause to return an indictment against Casey, but returned an assault charge against Miller.

Casey’s attorney, Dennis McAlevy, said they will fight a lawsuit against Casey by Fitzsimmons, who seeks an unspecified amount of money as compensation for “severe and painful injuries.”

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Alabama Coach Mike DuBose was told that he will not be retained after the season, CNN/Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday night.

The report, quoting an unidentified school official, said the university hopes DuBose will coach the Crimson Tide through its final three games and added that an announcement will be made today.

DuBose has an unlisted phone number and could not be reached for comment. Athletic Director Mal Moore declined comment.

Alabama, which started the season ranked No. 3, is 3-5.

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Alabama fullback Dustin McClintock was suspended by the Southeastern Conference for the first half of Saturday’s game against Louisiana State for punching a Central Florida player last Saturday.

SEC Commissioner Roy Kramer announced the suspension.

McClintock blocked Central Florida freshman Commer Rucker to the ground and punched him in the face several times on the final play of the game, a wild kickoff return by Alabama. The Crimson Tide lost, 40-38.

The suspension was based on an NCAA rule stating that a player involved in a fight during the second half of a game must sit out the rest of that game and the first half of the next.

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An injured ankle is expected to keep star quarterback Michael Vick on the sideline for the start of second-ranked Virginia Tech’s showdown with No. 3 Miami on Saturday.

Coach Frank Beamer said that Dave Meyer, a fifth-year senior, will start but he didn’t rule out the possibility that Vick might play too.

Vick suffered a sprained right ankle against Pittsburgh last Saturday and did not practice Tuesday. Meyer replaced Vick late in the second half and completed seven of 13 passes to lead the Hokies to a 37-34 comeback victory over the Panthers.

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Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops was rewarded with a five-year contract with a guaranteed $1.4 million salary, three days after his Sooners knocked off Nebraska to move into the top spot in the college football polls for the first time since 1987.

Stoops’ old salary was $675,000. University President David Boren said the salary puts Stoops in the top five nationally among college coaches.

Boren said it was important to reward Stoops’ success and ensure that he stays at Oklahoma. Stoops is in his second year with the Sooners.