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Sports Briefs: Tampa Bay promotes Morris to defensive coordinator post
By The Associated Press
Friday, December 26, 2008 | No comments posted.
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t look far for a replacement for Monte Kiffin, replacing the departed defensive coordinator with secondary coach Raheem Morris.
Morris will take over as defensive coordinator in 2009, ensuring continuity next season with Kiffin leaving the NFL to join his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee.
If the Bucs (9-6) don’t make the playoffs, Sunday will be the 68-year-old Kiffin’s last game in Tampa Bay.
Morris is in his sixth season as a Bucs assistant, second as defensive backs coach. He initially joined Gruden’s staff as a defensive quality assistant in 2002, was a defensive assistant in 2003 and assistant defensive backs coach for the next two seasons before spending one year as defensive coordinator at Kansas State.
The Bucs ranked in the top five in total defense each of Morris’ first five seasons, including No. 1 in 2002, when Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl. They’re ranked ninth heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale.
Rams president steps down
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams president John Shaw resigned after 29 years with the franchise and Billy Devaney was promoted to general manager.
The two moves in a front office overhaul by a franchise that’s been among the NFL’s worst the last few seasons followed the resignation Monday of Jay Zygmunt as president of football operations. The Rams are 2-13 heading into Sunday’s finale at Atlanta, and are 5-26 the last two seasons.
Devaney, who has 23 years of NFL scouting experience, will be responsible for all player personnel decisions, including the draft, free agent acquisitions, trades and other transactions. He’ll also head the search for a new head coach after the season.
Jim Haslett, 2-9 after replacing Scott Linehan following an 0-4 start, is among the candidates.
Miami suspends punt snapper
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami punt snapper Chris Ivory will not play in Saturday’s Emerald Bowl because he violated an unspecified team rule. He is the fifth Hurricane suspended for the final game of the season.
Ivory did not accompany the Hurricanes to San Francisco, where Miami (7-5) will face California (8-4) on Saturday.
Tight ends Richard Gordon and Tervaris Johnson, along with linebacker Jordan Futch, were also suspended last week for the bowl game because of team rule violations.
BASKETBALL
Center transfers to Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jeff Withey, a 7-foot freshman who spent one semester at Arizona but did not play for the Wildcats, will transfer to Kansas next semester.
Kansas coach Bill Self confirmed Withey’s decision Wednesday night via text message.
Arizona’s top 2008 freshman, Withey requested a release from his scholarship before the season began after coach Lute Olson suddenly retired in October.
Withey chose Kansas over Texas, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Indiana, San Diego, San Diego State and Boston College.
At Kansas, Withey will enroll in classes for the spring semester and will be able to practice immediately. He’ll red-shirt this season and be eligible to play as a freshman in December 2009.
SOCCER
Subotic to play for Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia — Defender Neven Subotic has chosen to play soccer for Serbia instead of the United States.
Subotic, who was born in Bosnia and holds an American passport, has played for the U.S. under-17 and under-20 teams. He now plays for Borussia Dortmund in the German league.
Subotic wrote to U.S. soccer officials, informing them of his decision to play for Serbia.
Subotic had until next Dec. 10, his 21st birthday, to chose his senior national team under rules by soccer’s governing body. He could have picked the U.S., Bosnia or Serbia.
The Serbian soccer federation said on its Web site that Subotic, a Bosnian Serb, made the decision “to return to his roots.” He is expected to debut for Serbia during a tournament in Cyprus in February.
Serbian coach Radomir Antic has said he plans to pair Subotic with Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic in the center of Serbia’s defense in next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Subotic has scored five goals for Dortmund this season in the Bundesliga.
He has been linked with a move to Napoli of the Italian league during the January transfer window.
Morris will take over as defensive coordinator in 2009, ensuring continuity next season with Kiffin leaving the NFL to join his son, Lane, at the University of Tennessee.
If the Bucs (9-6) don’t make the playoffs, Sunday will be the 68-year-old Kiffin’s last game in Tampa Bay.
Morris is in his sixth season as a Bucs assistant, second as defensive backs coach. He initially joined Gruden’s staff as a defensive quality assistant in 2002, was a defensive assistant in 2003 and assistant defensive backs coach for the next two seasons before spending one year as defensive coordinator at Kansas State.
The Bucs ranked in the top five in total defense each of Morris’ first five seasons, including No. 1 in 2002, when Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl. They’re ranked ninth heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale.
Rams president steps down
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Rams president John Shaw resigned after 29 years with the franchise and Billy Devaney was promoted to general manager.
The two moves in a front office overhaul by a franchise that’s been among the NFL’s worst the last few seasons followed the resignation Monday of Jay Zygmunt as president of football operations. The Rams are 2-13 heading into Sunday’s finale at Atlanta, and are 5-26 the last two seasons.
Devaney, who has 23 years of NFL scouting experience, will be responsible for all player personnel decisions, including the draft, free agent acquisitions, trades and other transactions. He’ll also head the search for a new head coach after the season.
Jim Haslett, 2-9 after replacing Scott Linehan following an 0-4 start, is among the candidates.
Miami suspends punt snapper
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami punt snapper Chris Ivory will not play in Saturday’s Emerald Bowl because he violated an unspecified team rule. He is the fifth Hurricane suspended for the final game of the season.
Ivory did not accompany the Hurricanes to San Francisco, where Miami (7-5) will face California (8-4) on Saturday.
Tight ends Richard Gordon and Tervaris Johnson, along with linebacker Jordan Futch, were also suspended last week for the bowl game because of team rule violations.
BASKETBALL
Center transfers to Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jeff Withey, a 7-foot freshman who spent one semester at Arizona but did not play for the Wildcats, will transfer to Kansas next semester.
Kansas coach Bill Self confirmed Withey’s decision Wednesday night via text message.
Arizona’s top 2008 freshman, Withey requested a release from his scholarship before the season began after coach Lute Olson suddenly retired in October.
Withey chose Kansas over Texas, Gonzaga, Cincinnati, Indiana, San Diego, San Diego State and Boston College.
At Kansas, Withey will enroll in classes for the spring semester and will be able to practice immediately. He’ll red-shirt this season and be eligible to play as a freshman in December 2009.
SOCCER
Subotic to play for Serbia
BELGRADE, Serbia — Defender Neven Subotic has chosen to play soccer for Serbia instead of the United States.
Subotic, who was born in Bosnia and holds an American passport, has played for the U.S. under-17 and under-20 teams. He now plays for Borussia Dortmund in the German league.
Subotic wrote to U.S. soccer officials, informing them of his decision to play for Serbia.
Subotic had until next Dec. 10, his 21st birthday, to chose his senior national team under rules by soccer’s governing body. He could have picked the U.S., Bosnia or Serbia.
The Serbian soccer federation said on its Web site that Subotic, a Bosnian Serb, made the decision “to return to his roots.” He is expected to debut for Serbia during a tournament in Cyprus in February.
Serbian coach Radomir Antic has said he plans to pair Subotic with Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic in the center of Serbia’s defense in next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Subotic has scored five goals for Dortmund this season in the Bundesliga.
He has been linked with a move to Napoli of the Italian league during the January transfer window.
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