Miami’s Gore to Make a Run at NFL

Miami running back Frank Gore will forgo his final season of eligibility and make himself available for April’s NFL draft.

“I think it’s time to move on,” Gore said Friday.

Gore’s decision came a day after Roscoe Parrish, Miami’s leading receiver, announced his intention to leave early.

Gore had two major knee injuries in college and was occasionally slowed because of knee trouble. He had a team-best 945 yards, capping a career in which he ran for 1,975 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Gore has a 2-year-old son and a mother who is seriously ill with kidney disease, and said he wants to begin providing for them.

“Me and my mom talked [Thursday] night, and then I just sat down and made my decision,” said Gore, who acknowledged that his mother’s wish for him to leave school early played a huge role in his choice.

Gore becomes the 10th Miami player to leave school early for the draft in the last four seasons.

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Auburn officials have determined that team chaplain Chette Williams did not violate any major NCAA rules after the New York Times raised questions about the role he plays in the athletic department.

Although Williams is not a salaried university employee, he has an office within the athletic department. University officials said Williams is employed by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, but the paper detailed links to other benefactors, including trustee Bobby Lowder, who donated $90,000 to Williams’ foundation over the last three years.

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Missouri junior running back Damien Nash, who left the team in November after his relationship with Coach Gary Pinkel soured, said he will make himself available for the NFL draft.... New Illinois Coach Ron Zook has lost two assistants. Offensive coaches Larry Fedora and Joe Wickline will take jobs at Oklahoma State under new Coach Mike Gundy.