TCU ends Boise State’s shot at a perfect season

After getting a pregame pep talk from LaDainian Tomlinson, the Texas Christian Horned Frogs went out and promptly fell behind Boise State by 10 points midway through the first quarter.

No big deal. L.T. had told them to do what Frogs do, and in this case TCU kept it close before wrecking Boise State’s shot at an undefeated season.

Joseph Turner scored on a 17-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to give the No. 11 Horned Frogs their first lead of the night, which they preserved for a 17-16 victory Tuesday over No. 9 Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.

“We just wore them down. They can’t last forever,” Turner said.

Boise State (12-1) was trying to finish 13-0 for the second time in three seasons.

“It’s OK -- you’ve not going to win every time,” Coach Chris Petersen said. “As long as you learn from it and become better for it down the road, we can live with that.”

It was the second time in five years Boise State lost a chance at a perfect season by losing its bowl game. In 2004, it lost to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl to finish 11-1.

The Broncos took a 10-0 lead on Ian Johnson’s 20-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter, but their high-scoring offense bogged down against TCU’s fast, aggressive defense.

TCU (11-2) piled up yards if not points until finally wearing down the Broncos’ defense in the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs moved 80 yards in 10 plays on the winning drive, with Turner finishing it off by shedding a tackle inside the five-yard line and diving into the end zone for a 17-13 lead.

Tomlinson, the former TCU standout who’s in his eighth season with the San Diego Chargers, jumped in celebration and pumped his fist near the TCU bench.

“Two top defenses, two top offenses in the nation, we just wanted it more,” TCU running back Aaron Brown said.

Extension for Arizona’s Stoops

Fresh off its first bowl win in 10 years, Arizona plans to extend Coach Mike Stoops’ contract by three years, through 2013. Details of the deal have yet to be worked out. It is subject to the approval of the Arizona Board of Regents.

“We’re very pleased with the progress of Arizona football under Mike’s direction,” Athletic Director Jim Livengood said. “His personal growth as a coach has been outstanding and we’re glad to continue moving forward with him as the steward for Arizona football.”

Stoops, who inherited a 2-10 team in 2003, is coming off his best season at Arizona. The Wildcats went 8-5 and defeated No. 17 Brigham Young, 31-21, in the Las Vegas Bowl. Stoops is 25-34 and has seven wins over Top 25 teams.

Miami of Ohio hires Notre Dame coach

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood was hired as the coach at Miami of Ohio, which went 2-10 this season. He replaces Shane Montgomery, who resigned last month. The RedHawks went 17-31 during his four seasons.

Haywood becomes the sixth black coach among the 119 Bowl Subdivision schools. He has been Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator the last four seasons.

Alabama’s Saban is coach of year

Alabama’s Nick Saban is the Associated Press college football coach of the year. This is the second time Saban has won the award. He also was coach of the year with Louisiana State in 2003.

Saban, who led the Crimson Tide to a 12-1 record, easily outdistanced Texas Tech’s Mike Leach, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson in balloting by an AP media panel that votes in the weekly poll. He received 32 votes, while Leach was second with nine. Whittingham received six votes and Johnson five.

Extra year for Texas’ Shipley

Texas wide receiver Jordan Shipley has been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Shipley missed the 2004 and 2005 seasons because of knee and hamstring injuries. He is the top receiver for the No. 3 Longhorns with 79 catches for 982 yards and 11 touchdowns.