Iowa dismisses leading rusher Adam Robinson from team

Running back Adam Robinson’s promising career at Iowa is over.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz announced Monday that Robinson had been dismissed from the Hawkeyes one week after he was arrested for marijuana possession. The coach said he would have no further comment.

Robinson, 21, was charged with possession of marijuana on Dec. 27 in his hometown of Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol said Robinson was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for not having a front license plate. A trooper detected a marijuana odor from the vehicle, then found marijuana after a search.

Robinson was suspended for Iowa’s win over Missouri in the Insight Bowl for failing to comply with team policies. His arrest came the night before the bowl game, leaving the Hawkeyes (8-5) with an unwanted distraction they overcame in beating the Tigers, 27-24.

Robinson rushed for a team-high 941 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010 as the Hawkeyes’ featured back. He rushed for an Iowa freshman-record 834 yards and five TDs in 2009

Florida confirms Weis hiring

Florida confirmed that former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis will be Will Muschamp’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Muschamp also hired Seattle Seahawks defensive line coach Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator and line coach. Quinn spent the last 10 years in the NFL and has seven years of college experience.

Weis and Quinn will remain with their NFL teams through the postseason.

Source: LSU’s Ridley cleared to play

A person familiar with Louisiana State running back Stevan Ridley’s eligibility status says the Tigers’ leading rusher has been cleared to play against Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

The university has been notified of the ruling, the person told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because LSU and the NCAA had not publicly announced the decision.

LSU (10-2) meets the Aggies (9-3) in Cowboys Stadium on Friday night.

Ridley’s eligibility had been in doubt since Coach Les Miles said on Dec. 22 that the running back could miss the game because of an unspecified “one-time” academic violation.

Miles also said LSU was appealing to have Ridley reinstated.

Ridley rushed for 1,042 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season.

ESPN announcer pulled from broadcast

ESPN pulled announcer Ron Franklin from its radio coverage of the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday after he reportedly berated a female colleague.

Sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards wrote in an e-mail to USA Today in response to Internet reports that Franklin called her “sweet baby” in a condescending tone Friday. When she objected, he used a derogatory term. Edwards said a colleague reported the incident to ESPN officials.

Franklin said in a statement released by the network: “I said some things I shouldn’t have and am sorry. I deserved to be taken off the Fiesta Bowl.”

ESPN said in a statement that “adhering to our personal conduct policies and showing respect for colleagues are of the utmost importance to our company.”

Future of Georgia player unclear

Georgia Coach Mark Richt has not yet decided whether to suspend a player after learning he was charged with assault last year.

Athletics spokesman Claude Felton said Monday that Richt is on a recruiting trip and hasn’t had time to look at the case against 21-year-old Marcus Dowtin. Police records show Dowtin, a backup linebacker, was charged with second-degree assault in Ocean City, Md., in May.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that it was over a bar fight where Dowtin knocked a man unconscious. Online court records show the case was resolved on Dec. 21 but no further details were available.

Dowtin didn’t play in the Liberty Bowl, but Felton said that was not related to the charge. Richt didn’t learn of the incident until Monday.

Etc.

Dave Wannstedt, ousted as Pittsburgh’s coach last month, has decided not to coach the Panthers in the Compass Bowl against Kentucky on Saturday. Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will serve as the interim coach. … Missouri junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert, a two-year starter, will enter the NFL draft. … Connecticut selected Hank Hughes as its interim head coach while it seeks a replacement for Randy Edsall, who took the job at Maryland. Hughes has been the Huskies’ assistant head coach for defense the last six seasons. … Indiana receiver Tandon Doss, a two-time All- Big Ten Conference performance, will give up his senior season to enter the NFL draft. … Pittsburgh assistant Frank Cignetti was hired as Rutgers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. … Oklahoma athletic department officials say linebacker Ronnell Lewis has been released from a Phoenix-area hospital and is returning home. Lewis suffered a mild concussion on Saturday during the third quarter of the Fiesta Bowl.

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