Virginia Tech’s Jones to Go Pro

Virginia Tech running back Kevin Jones will forgo his final season of college eligibility and make himself available for the NFL draft.

Jones, a 6-foot, 221-pound junior, has rushed for a school-record 1,494 yards, averaging 5.6 yards in 265 carries.

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Oregon will play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31 in El Paso against a team from the Big Ten Conference.... Boise State accepted a conditional bid to play Texas Christian in the inaugural Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23. If the Big 12 gets two teams in the bowl championship series as expected, the league won’t have enough bowl-eligible teams to send a team to Fort Worth. That would create an at-large spot for No. 18 Boise State, the Western Athletic Conference champion that plays its regular-season finale Saturday at Hawaii.... Tulsa accepted a conditional bid to play Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl on Jan. 3 in Boise, Idaho. The bid also is based on the Big 12 getting two teams in the BCS.

Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden agreed to a three-year contract extension that runs until 2010.... Kent State Coach Dean Pees received a one-year contract extension through the 2006 season. Pees has a 17-51 record in six seasons at Kent State.... Former Georgia Tech and Maryland coach Bobby Ross was expected to interview for the opening at Duke.... Florida State Athletic Director Dave Hart said he is opposed to using an officiating crew from a neutral conference for the Florida-Florida State game. The Seminoles of the Atlantic Coast Conference benefited from several disputed calls in their 38-34 victory over the Gators in a game officiated by a crew from the ACC.

From Times Wire Services