Auburn hires Chizik to succeed Tuberville

Auburn has hired Iowa State’s Gene Chizik as its football coach.

Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said that Chizik told him Saturday he was accepting the Auburn job.

Pollard called the timing of the situation and how it transpired “hurtful and disappointing.”

Chizik was 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State after stints running the defenses at Auburn and Texas. He coached the nation’s top scoring defense in his third and final season with the Tigers.

Chizik will succeed Tommy Tuberville, who resigned after 10 seasons with an 85-40 record.

Nate Kmic gained 310 yards and scored three touchdowns to become college football’s career rushing leader and lift Mount Union (Ohio) to a 45-24 win over Wheaton (Ill.) in the NCAA Division III semifinals at Alliance, Ohio.

Kmic broke the record on a 42-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He has 7,986 yards, 24 more than the record set by Danny Woodhead of Chadron State in 2004-07.

The Purple Raiders will be seeking their 10th national title in a rematch in Salem, Va., on Dec. 20 against Wisconsin Whitewater (13-1), which defeated Mary-Hardin Baylor, 39-13, in Saturday’s other semifinal.

Greg Dillon threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another as Grambling State defeated Jackson State, 41-9, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham, Ala. . . . Ted Schlafke threw for two touchdowns to lead Minnesota Duluth to its first NCAA Division II championship with a 21-14 win over Northwest Missouri State at Florence, Ala. . . . Eric Ward threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Joe Stewart with 14 seconds left to give Richmond a 21-20 victory over Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls, Iowa, sending the Spiders to the Football Championship Subdivision title game. Richmond will play Montana in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Friday night.

GOLF

Sorenstam struggles to a 75 in third round

Annika Sorenstam shot a three-over 75, hurting her chances of ending a stellar career by winning the Dubai Ladies Masters for a third straight time at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Sorenstam held a one-shot lead going into the third round but had four bogeys and one birdie to fall four shots behind leader Anja Monke of Germany.

New Zealander David Smail took a one-shot lead after the third round of the Australian Open at Sydney, while John Daly (78-72) missed the cut. . . . Kenny Perry had eight birdies and an eagle, and he and partner Scott Hoch finished with a 12-under 60 in the better-ball format in the second round of the Merrill Lynch Shootout at Naples, Fla. They hold a four-shot lead over J.B. Holmes and Boo Weekley.

WINTER SPORTS

Vonn is disqualified in giant slalom

Lindsey Vonn was disqualified for running off the course and Tanja Poutiainen of Finland won the giant slalom at La Molina, Spain, overtaking the American in the standings. Julia Mancuso of the U.S. finished 18th.

Carlo Janka of Switzerland won a World Cup giant slalom race at Val D’Isere, France. Ted Ligety was 12th and Bode Miller was 24th.

ETC.

Bush’s knee injury requires more tests

Reggie Bush’s left knee needs further examination before he’ll be allowed back on the field for either of the New Orleans Saints’ final two games. Orthopedic surgeon James Andrews will look at images from Bush’s latest MRI test. . . . Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi scored in the final 10 minutes to give Barcelona a 2-0 win over Real Madrid, spoiling the Spanish league return of the defending champion’s new coach, Juande Ramos, in front of more than 96,000 at Madrid . . . . Jordan Hasay of Arroyo Grande won her second Foot Locker Cross-Country Championship at San Diego.