Reserve Ohio State player suspended

Ohio State backup cornerback Eugene Clifford will not play in the Bowl Championship Series title game against Louisiana State on Jan. 7 after being suspended Thursday for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Clifford, a freshman, was a prized recruit from Cincinnati’s Colerain High. He was listed as Malcolm Jenkins’ backup at cornerback on the Buckeyes’ latest two-deep chart.

The top-ranked Buckeyes’ final workout before the holidays was Wednesday.

They will be off until Dec. 26, then practice for a week before flying to New Orleans on Jan. 2.

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Two women and a man have been charged with robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping of three North Carolina players in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Police said the players were attacked early Sunday at their off-campus apartment. Police said they were bound with tape before they were assaulted, and one of those charged threatened the players with a knife.

Authorities have charged Monique Jenice Taylor, Tnika Monta Washington and Michael Troy Lewis with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and one count of resisting arrest.

Taylor and Washington are also charged with one count of first-degree sexual offense.

Lewis is also charged with robbery, possession of stolen goods and assault on government officials.

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Gov. Joe Manchin doesn’t believe West Virginia University reneged on its promises to Rich Rodriguez, which is what supporters of the former coach say triggered his exit to Michigan.

“All I’ve seen is mammoth improvements, tremendous improvements,” Manchin said.

The governor cited the 70% boost to Rodriguez’s pay, increased salaries for his coaching staff and a $2-million academic center for athletes.

The governor earlier called on West Virginia to hold Rodriguez, a lifelong friend, to the $4-million buyout clause in its contract with him. Manchin said that he doesn’t care who pays.

“Whoever, I just want West Virginia to get the $4 million,” the governor said. “If someone is generous enough to pay it, that’s fine.”

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Rodriguez fired Michigan’s assistant coaches on his second day as an employee of the school.

Rodriguez met with the coaches one by one at Schembechler Hall, as retiring coach Lloyd Carr packed up his belongings in boxes, clearing space for his successor.

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Penn State Coach Joe Paterno said he has no special plans for his 81st birthday today. The 42-year head-coaching veteran is about to enter the last year of a four-year contract that expires after the 2008 season.