Illinois Wesleyan Lineman Dies

Illinois Wesleyan offensive lineman Doug Schmied died following heatstroke during practice last week.

The 21-year-old died Wednesday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

“Doug Schmied’s death is an unspeakable tragedy and leaves all of us at Illinois Wesleyan shocked and saddened,” university President Richard Wilson said on the school’s website.

Schmied, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound senior, became ill Friday when it was about 90 degrees during practice, said Dennie Bridges, athletic director of the Bloomington school.

Schmied was first taken to BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal, then transferred to Saint Francis on Sunday and placed on a ventilator in the intensive care unit. Wilson said there would be a review of events leading to the player’s hospitalization.

Students gathered in front of the campus chapel Wednesday, some placing candles near the steps.

Titan Coach Norm Eash said Schmied had been looking forward to the season, which begins for the team on Sept. 3.

“He loved the camaraderie and the relationships he developed,” he told the (Bloomington) Pantagraph. “This is a tremendous blow to our team.”

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The Harris Interactive College Football Poll, which will be used to help determine standings in the bowl championship series, lost another voter.

Sam Smith, who does play-by-play for ESPN’s regional coverage of Sun Belt Conference games, was asked by the network to give up his spot on the Harris poll and agreed, according to ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz.

ESPN pulled out of the BCS in June, citing conflict of interest. Three others who work for ESPN -- Lou Holtz, Gerry DiNardo and John Congemi -- gave up their votes on Wednesday.

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Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long has an ankle injury that could keep him out for “a significant amount of time,” Coach Lloyd Carr said. Long, a sophomore, started Michigan’s final 10 games last season.

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Missouri and Illinois have agreed to a four-year deal to play each other at the Edwards Jones Dome in St. Louis starting in 2007.

All four games will serve as season openers for both teams.

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Experienced backup Paul Thompson beat out touted newcomer Rhett Bomar for the starting quarterback spot for Oklahoma.

Thompson was the backup as Nate Hybl guided the Sooners to the 2003 Rose Bowl, and played in 10 games during Jason White’s 2003 Heisman Trophy season. He redshirted last season as White returned for a sixth year with the Sooners.

Oklahoma will play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 17.

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The NCAA agreed with Florida International’s own internal investigation and levied no additional punishment on its program after a former assistant coach was fired over the summer for off-season workout violations.

The team was placed on three years’ probation in May after offensive line coach Steve Smith was fired for attending off-season player workouts.