Florida Atlantic gets a bowl win

Rusty Smith threw for 307 yards and two second-half touchdowns to help Florida Atlantic defeat Central Michigan 24-21 on Friday night in the Motor City Bowl at Detroit.

The score was tied, 10-10, midway through the third quarter when Smith connected with Chris Bonner on a 52-yard scoring pass play. Smith found Cortez Gent with an 18-yard strike early in the fourth to give the Owls (7-6) a bit of a cushion.

Making their third straight Motor City Bowl appearance, the Chippewas (8-5) cut the lead to 24-21 with three minutes to play when Dan LeFevour connected with Antonio Brown on a touchdown pass and then Kito Poblah for a two-point conversion. Gent recovered the ensuing onside kick, however.

Most of the 41,399 fans at Ford Field cheered the in-state Chippewas, but they were quiet as Florida Atlantic ran out the clock. It was the smallest turnout in the game’s 12-year history, yet Motor City Bowl Chairman Ken Hoffman said the game will return to Ford Field in 2009 despite Detroit’s dismal economic forecast.

Smith, selected the game’s MVP, completed 20 of 35 passes. Gent caught seven passes for 98 yards. LeFevour completed 28 of 40 for 253 yards with two touchdowns.

Army hires Ellerson from Cal Poly SLO

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Rich Ellerson was hired as Army’s coach, joining a team that hasn’t had a winning record since 1996.

He replaces Stan Brock, who was fired Dec. 12 after a pair of 3-9 seasons. This season concluded with a 34-0 loss to Navy.

Under Ellerson, Cal Poly made it to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs four times and was ranked as high as No. 3 this season. He was 56-34 in his eight years at Cal Poly.

Ellerson was defensive coordinator at Arizona from 1997 to 2000. He has been coaching in college football for nearly 30 years, including a stint as head coach at Southern Utah.

“I will never receive, nor have I ever received a finer compliment professionally or personally than to be entrusted with the Army football program at this point in its history,” Ellerson said.

Ellerson grew up with Army football -- his father and two brothers were West Point graduates. His brother John was captain of the 1962 team that went 6-4.

“Rich has the experience we need,” West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Franklin Hagenbeck said. “An award and title-winning head coach who runs the option, Rich also has extensive ties to West Point and the Army.”

Michigan St. gives Dantonio a new deal

Michigan State Coach Mark Dantonio got a new contract that will pay him a $2-million bonus if he remains with the program into 2016.

The revised contract was announced in Florida, where the No. 19 Spartans (9-3) are preparing to play No. 16 Georgia (9-3) on New Year’s Day in the Capital One Bowl.

Dantonio’s contract remains a five-year rollover deal with a base salary of $618,000. His overall compensation will rise to $1.8 million a year, up from $1.13 million, because of supplemental income.

Dantonio, 52, will get $200,000 each year if he is still the coach through June 30 of that year. Dantonio also would get a $2-million bonus if he remains coach through Jan. 15, 2016.

Dantonio has a 16-9 record in two seasons with the Spartans.