Kansas State Lineman Expected to Play Today Despite Arrest

Matt Martin, a Kansas State offensive lineman from Huntington Beach Edison High, was released on bail after he allegedly drove his car at a parking attendant Wednesday afternoon on the campus in Manhattan, Kan.

Martin, 21, was was arrested by campus police for aggravated assault and driving with a suspended license.

According to police captain Robert Mellgren, the incident started when parking services attempted to impound Martin’s vehicle because of parking violations.

“Apparently, they were in the process of impounding his vehicle when he tried to drive off with the parking attendant in his way, causing the attendant to dodge his vehicle,” Mellgren told the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury.

Martin was successful in driving off before campus police stopped and arrested the junior. The attendant was not injured. Martin was released on $5,000 bond and is expected to play today against Texas A&M.;

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The future of “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” is in question.

Georgia Athletic Director Vince Dooley, citing travel concerns, says the Bulldogs may push for the annual game against Florida to be moved out of Jacksonville’s Alltell Stadium and onto the campuses.

While the Gators take a 75-minute bus ride to Jacksonville, Georgia must bus to Atlanta, then fly to Jacksonville.

Mike Sullivan of the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Board has suggested the board might pay to extend a runway at the Athens, Ga., airport, if that would allow Georgia to take off from home and cut down on travel time.

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Finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award are Oklahoma’s Josh Heupel, Florida State’s Chris Weinke, Washington’s Marques Tuiasosopo, Purdue’s Drew Brees and Boise State’s Bart Hendricks. The winner will be announced Nov. 21. . . . Running back R.J. Bowers of Division III Grove City (Pa.) needs only 88 yards to break the NCAA’s all-division rushing record. Bowers has 6,871 yards rushing for the Wolverines, who play Bethany (W.Va.) College today. The record was set by Brian Shay of Emporia State (Kan.) in 1998. Bowers can become the first college football player to rush for 7,000 yards if he nets 129. . . . Ohio State linebacker and captain Joe Cooper issued some fighting words to Purdue’s Brees. “I don’t think he likes getting hit as hard as we hit people,” Cooper said. “This week we’re going to really challenge him. He’s going to challenge us mentally and we’re going to challenge him physically. It’s going to be a war.”