Georgia’s Richt Gets New Contract

Moving quickly to reward its championship coach, Georgia gave Mark Richt a new $1.5 million-a-year contract that will keep him with the Bulldogs through at least 2010.

The eight-year deal was announced Thursday before the third-ranked Bulldogs arrived in New Orleans for their Sugar Bowl game against Florida State.

Richt, 42, a former offensive coordinator at Florida State, guided the Bulldogs (12-1) to their first Southeastern Conference title in two decades.

Richt initially signed a five-year, $3.75-million contract with the Bulldogs. After going 8-4 in his first season, he received a one-year extension and a $50,000 raise that brought his annual compensation package to $800,000.

The new deal nearly doubles his salary and places Richt among the country’s highest-paid coaches. Bob Stoops reportedly makes $2 million a year, while Dennis Franchione recently left Alabama for a six-year deal worth $1.5 million to $2 million annually at Texas A&M.;

The deal includes a buyout clause of at least $3 million.

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There is a conspicuous lack of Nebraska fans in Shreveport, La., for today’s Independence Bowl game against Mississippi (6-6).

While Mississippi nearly sold its entire 12,000-ticket allotment, Nebraska officials estimated they’d sell no more than 6,000 tickets to the 50,000-seat Independence Stadium.

The Cornhuskers finished the regular season 7-6, their worst record since they went 3-6-1 in 1961.

“The game’s only a couple days after Christmas, it’s pretty far from home and it’s pretty tough to get flights in here,” Nebraska split end Ross Pilkington said. “A lot of people will watch it on TV. We know people will still be supporting us.”

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Southern Mississippi (7-5), already without running back Derrick Nix, who is sidelined because of a flare-up of a chronic kidney disease, might have to do without quarterback Micky D’Angelo today in the Houston Bowl against Oklahoma State (7-5).

D’Angelo sprained his left knee in the regular-season finale against East Carolina and still is hobbled.

Oklahoma State (7-5) averaged 52 points over its final three games, all victories. More than 30,000 Cowboys fans are expected to be in attendance at Reliant Stadium, compared with about 7,000 Southern Miss fans.

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Ohio State had a memorable send-off for its Fiesta Bowl battle against No. 1 Miami.

Coach Jim Tressel got a call asking if the team buses could make a detour through the city’s business district on the way to the airport.

“It was probably 25 [degrees] or colder, and it was amazing how many people came out of their office buildings and so forth and were lined along the streets,” Tressel said. “That was exciting. You know, it’s a reminder that we don’t just represent ourselves.”

Tressel said 75 to 80 players were aboard the team’s flight, while another 25 were traveling to Phoenix from various points after spending Christmas Day with their families.