Freshman Rix to Start at Florida St.

Chris Rix, a 20-year-old redshirt freshman from Rancho Santa Margarita, will start at quarterback for No. 6 Florida State when the Seminoles open the season Sept. 1 at Duke, Coach Bobby Bowden said.

Rix, who played at La Puente Bishop Amat and Santa Margarita high schools, becomes the successor to Heisman Trophy-winner Chris Weinke.

Bowden ran out of options after backup Jared Jones was dismissed from school in January, top recruit Joe Mauer passed up football to sign with the Minnesota Twins and Anquan Boldin, a converted wide receiver who was pushing Rix in practice, was moved back to his old position this week when Robert Morgan was injured.

Rix, 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds, struggled as a senior at Santa Margarita after transferring from Bishop Amat, getting moved to wide receiver near the end of the 1999 season.

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Nevada Las Vegas Coach John Robinson was confirmed as the school’s athletic director when the the Board of Regents, meeting in Reno, unanimously approved his new dual role, effective Jan. 1.

The regents cleared the way for the 66-year-old former Ram and USC coach by waiving a rule prohibiting a coach from also holding a position as an athletic administrator.

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Third-ranked Oklahoma, the defending national champion, will start junior Nate Hybl at quarterback, Coach Bob Stoops said. . . . Robert Cromartie, a starting cornerback for top-ranked Florida, probably will miss the season after tearing a pectoral muscle in a scrimmage Wednesday. . . . Rice’s projected starting quarterback, sophomore Jeremy Hurd, is out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during practice Tuesday. . . . Tennessee starting defensive back Willie Miles was hospitalized after suffering head and back injuries during practice.