Cal-Southern Miss Game Is Postponed

The uncertainty of approaching Hurricane Ivan forced postponement of Thursday night’s game between No. 10 California and Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss.

“Our utmost concern at this point is the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, fans and community,” Southern Mississippi Athletic Director Richard Giannini said in a statement Monday. “We don’t know the exact path of the hurricane or the potential damage it may cause.”

Cal Athletic Director Steve Gladstone said earlier Monday the game had been postponed and probably would be rescheduled in December. Southern Mississippi officials said the makeup date would be announced by Wednesday.

Possibilities include Saturday or Dec. 4, the only remaining weekend neither team has a game scheduled, said David Hansen, Southern Mississippi senior associate athletic director.

Rescheduling the game, the Golden Eagles’ home opener, for this Saturday means Southern Mississippi would miss out on $140,000 in television revenue. ESPN, which was scheduled to broadcast the game Thursday, said it could not televise a makeup game Saturday, Hansen said.

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Chris Rix will remain Florida State’s starting quarterback despite a dreadful performance in last week’s loss at Miami. Coach Bobby Bowden announced his decision at a booster luncheon.

“People want to give up on Chris,” Bowden said. “I’m hoping that’s his bad one for the year.”

Rix completed 12 of 28 passes for 108 yards, threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles, including one in overtime in the 16-10 loss.

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Suspended Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick avoided jail by pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge stemming from a night of drinking with underage girls.

Vick settled on the plea agreement rather than pursuing an appeal of a juvenile court conviction and 30-day jail sentence on three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

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Tennessee Tech receiver Drew Hixon remained in a medically induced coma following a helmet-to-helmet collision that knocked his helmet off, university officials said.

Hixon, son of Washington Redskin assistant Stan Hixon, remained in critical condition in the intensive care unit of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla., according to a statement from the school. He has not regained consciousness since being leveled after catching a pass in the second quarter of Saturday’s 21-7 loss to South Florida.

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Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland apologized to Brigham Young University and its fans for a halftime show by the Cardinal band Saturday that poked fun at polygamy with five dancers wearing wedding veils.