BCS Creator Kramer to Quit

Roy Kramer, who changed the way college football decides its national champion, is expected to retire as early as today as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference.

Two sources with knowledge of Kramer’s plans and speaking on condition of anonymity said he will step down after 12 years on the job. The SEC called a news conference for today at its headquarters in Birmingham, Ala.

Kramer, 72, will attend, along with SEC President Robert Khayat and Arkansas Chancellor John White, the SEC said. It did not release details about the nature of the news conference.

Kramer, former athletic director at Vanderbilt, put millions of dollars in the coffers of the 12 member schools in the SEC. But it was his bowl championship series formula that made him a national--and largely unpopular--figure.

In 1995, Kramer became head of the committee that was charged with figuring out the best system for determining a national Division I-A football champion.

Over the years, Kramer got the four major bowls--Sugar, Fiesta, Orange and Rose--and the major conferences to agree to the BCS.

The BCS uses a complex formula, combining the Associated Press and coaches’ polls, strength of schedule, computer rankings and number of losses, to come up with the top two teams to play for the BCS title.

Almost every year, there has been some dispute over who belonged in the game.

Critics of the BCS called for a playoff to crown a champion, but Kramer never wavered.

He reveled in the fact that the disputed system created debate and that the entire bowl system remained intact, keeping dozens of schools and all those lesser bowl games alive and making money.

Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley has been widely mentioned as a possible successor to Kramer. But a source close to Foley, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday he had no interest in the job.

Another possible candidate is Mark Whitworth, the league’s executive associate commissioner.

“If it’s true, the SEC would lose a tremendous leader,” Foley said. “He’s done outstanding things in this league, and every school has benefited from his leadership.”

Boxing

It would take a surprise to keep Mike Tyson from getting a boxing license in Washington. The judges’ scorecards are already well in his favor going into today’s public hearing.

The three-member D.C. Boxing and Wrestling Commission bypassed protocol with an unofficial 3-0 vote in Tyson’s favor last month, and they’ve given every indication that the actual vote, which is expected immediately after the hearing, will go the same way.

“I think I’ve given the impression that we’ve been favorable,” commission vice chairman Michael Brown said. “I haven’t said it’s a done deal.”

Brown said he would need tangible medical or psychological reasons to vote against Tyson.

Pro Football

The Jacksonville Jaguars restructured the contract of defensive end Tony Brackens, allowing them to match an offer sheet given to cornerback Jason Craft.

The Jaguars also signed defensive end Stalin Colinet, a six-year veteran. Terms of Brackens’ restructuring weren’t available.

Greg Olson resigned as the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback coach to return to the coaching staff at Purdue.... The Miami Dolphins signed guard Leon Searcy to a one-year, $750,000 contract and wide receiver Dedric Ward to a two-year contract extension.... George Dyer, in his eighth season as a Denver Bronco assistant, was made assistant head coach.... Tight end Dave Moore, who played nine seasons for Tampa Bay, was signed by the Buffalo Bills.... Wide receiver Corey Bradford signed a three-year, $5.25-million deal with the Houston Texans.

Miscellany

Race officials reported the first dog death in this year’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The dead dog was a 5-year-old male, Goro, belonging to musher Jim Oehlschlaeger. Race marshal Mark Nordman said the dog died Sunday night. The cause of death was not determined.

John Daly, Matt Kuchar and Rory Sabbatini received Masters Invitations to play in next month’s tournament, increasing the number of players in the field to 98. There is one spot left, for a player not otherwise qualified for the Masters, awarded to the winner of the Players Championship. The Masters is April 11-14.