West Virginia hired Clemson offensive coordinator Rich...

West Virginia hired Clemson offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, a former Mountaineer player, as coach to succeed the retiring Don Nehlen.

Rodriguez helped Clemson to a 9-2 record and Gator Bowl bid this season. He served two years at Clemson after coming with Coach Tommy Bowden from Tulane.

Rodriguez was given a five-year contract at $402,600 annually. He can earn an additional $100,000 in incentives.

Nehlen, who is retiring at the end of the season, would coach the Mountaineers if they earn a bowl trip.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to come home and coach at my alma mater,” Rodriguez said. “West Virginia is home to me and very dear to my heart.”

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Wake Forest Coach Jim Caldwell was fired after only one winning season in eight years.

Wake Forest started this season with seven consecutive losses and finished 2-9 overall and 1-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

In Caldwell’s final game Saturday, Wake Forest led North Carolina State by 11 points early in the second half before losing, 32-14.

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Michael Bennett rushed for 218 yards in 36 carries and scored a touchdown to lead Wisconsin to a 34-18 victory over Hawaii on Saturday night in Honolulu.

Wisconsin (8-4) turned the ball over three times and was penalized for 116 yards, but dominated with its ground game.

It was Bennett’s eighth game this season with more than 100 yards.

Bennett’s effective running, facilitated by the huge offensive line, helped the Badgers open up their passing game.

Brooks Bollinger completed 11 of 19 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns for Wisconsin.

He also threw one interception.

Chris Chambers caught both of the touchdown passes and finished with eight receptions for 169 yards.

The Badgers, who are expected to play UCLA in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29, set the tone on their first possession, driving 80 yards in nine plays and scoring on a 27-yard pass from Bollinger to Chambers. Bennett ran for 43 yards in the drive.

Hawaii (3-8) managed a brief 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter when a bad snap sailed over punter Kevin Stemke’s head, giving Hawaii the ball at the Wisconsin one-yard line. James Fenderson scored two plays later.

Hawaii’s Timmy Chang passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions in the second half. The first interception led to a Wisconsin score.

But it was Bennett and Chambers who dominated the game as a spirited, red-clad group of 4,000 Wisconsin fans made their presence felt among the crowd of 37,699.