The Times from Shreveport, Louisiana • Page 24

4C THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2005 THE TIMES shreveporttimes.com NFL HOCKEY DO MOD Sports Indianapolis QB easily wins his first Offensive Player award. By Barry Wilner The Associated Press NEW YORK Peyton Manning was a runaway winner of The Associated Press 2004 NFL Offensive Player of the Year as if there were any doubt. The Indianapolis Colts' star quarterback had perhaps the greatest passing season in league history. He broke Dan Marino's 20-year-ofd record with 49 touchdown passes and had a passer rating of an almost unfathomable 121.1, shattering i i -i V- tx 1 jit Steve Young mark of 112.8 set in 1994. Manning threw only 10 interceptions and led the Colts to the AFC South title with a 12-4 record.

Manning earned 35 votes from a Manning AP Former St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars player Scott Young (left) will make his CHL debut tonight with the Memphis RiverKings. Mudbugs to face another NHler nationwide panel of 48 writers and broadcasters who cover pro football. He easily outdistanced Eagles receiver Terrell Owens and Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who each got four votes. He also turned two of his previously unaccomplished receivers, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley, into threats almost on a par with Manning's favorite target, perennial Pro Bowler Marvin Harrison.

All caught at least 10 touchdown passes and went over 1,000 yards in receiving an unprecedented combination for three teammates. "I feel more comfortable than I did last year," said Manning, who was co-i1VP in 2003 along with Steve McNair of Tennessee. "My goal every year has been to be a better player every year than the year before, and I really fell I've done that. I feel I am a better player this year than last year." Bossier-Shreveport begins three-game road swing tonight at Memphis. By Roy Lang III rflanggannett.com Three NHL players have made the move to the Central Hockey League this season.

Tonight for the third time the player will make his league debut against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Wednesday, the Memphis River-Kings signed 16-year NHL veteran Scott Young. He will play tonight against the Mudbugs, who travel AP Colts star Peyton Manning was 336-for497 for 4,557 yards and hit on 67.6 percent of his throws this season. Roethlisberger named top offensive rookie the fire," Roethlisberger said, using a slightly twisted analogy, following the Steelers' 12-3 victory on Sept. 26.

"Playing in a hurricane and against that (Dolphins) to the DeSoto Chic Center looking to continue their dominance of their Northeast Division rivals. Bossier Shreve-port swept a home-and-home last weekend and Mudbugs assistant captain and leading scorer Dan Wildfong said Wednesday. "He's definitely going to help their club." Young, who replaced veteran Alexandre Mathieu on the roster, came to Memphis as a result of a friendship with Ted Crowley a Memphis defenseman and current NHL player. They struck up a friendship while trying out for die 1992 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team and belong to the same country club in New England.

Young was chosen by the Hartford Whalers with the 1 1th overall pick in the 19S6 NHL Entry Draft and has played for seven different NHL teams. Besides Crowley. Young doesn't know much about his new job. "I don't know what to expect," said Young, who practiced with Memphis as the Mudbugs looked on Wednesday. "I don't know a lot about the team or the league.

I am just hoping to come in and help the team win hockey games." According to Memphis coach Mark Richards, Young win stay the course unlike Brad Luko-wich (Fort Worth) and Brendcn Morrow (Oklahoma City), who left their clubs before Cliristmas. "We are thrilled that he wanted to play for us and serious about playing out Hie season" Richards said. "This definitely upgrades our team. He brings proven goal scoring ability from the highest level of hockey. He should make everyone on our team better." Tonight's game begins a three-games-in-three-nights swing.

The Bugs travel to Northeast foe Oklahoma City (1.0-15-5) on Friday, then Northern Conference-leading Wichita (23-7-1) on Saturday. The way our conference is set up, every game is important," Ob'ver said. "You're going to have five or six teams battling for those four spots. You let up and it may cost you come March." Oliver Wednesday with his unanimous selection as The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by a national panel of writers and broadcasters. Though liis entire season has been a whirlwind of success, Roethlisberger wasn't ready to celebrate despite being the first quarterback chosen since the award was initially presented in 1957.

The list of those who didn't win Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Brett Favre makes up a mini-Hall of Fame of its own. "It's one of those awards that is nice to accept today and we can look back on it and reflect on it after the season, but, right now, it's. Thank and let's move on," Roethlisberger said. Translation: Despite being 13-0, Roetljhsberger won't be satisfied unless he goes 16-0. That means winning the Super Bowl, something no rookie QB has done.

Of course, no rookie quarterback has ever led his team to a 15-1 record, either even though Roethlisberger got plenty of help from the NFL's No. 2 rushing offense and a defense that allowed the fewest points and yards in the league. "It's one of many accolades that he's going to get, and it couldn't happen to a greater guy," Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward said. By Alan Robinson The Associated Press PITTSBURGH Hours away from his first NFL start, Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethh's-berger was hunkered down in a powerless Miami hotel as Hurricane Jeanne swirled about, dumping an ocean's worth of rain and scaring players and coaches aUke. Roethlisberger knew he would be in the eye of a storm as a highly scrutinized first-round draft pick.

He never realized it would occur so literally, in a dark, scary setting more suited to a Stephen King novel than any depicted in an NFL playbook. 'Talking about getting thrown into defense." Roethlisberger showed the Steelers a lot that night while subbing for the injured Tommy Maddox: poise, patience, a commanding on- 1 Roethlisberger field presence and the qualities of a leader. He kept displaying them during the most successful season ever by a rookie quarterback, one that was rewarded Niners fire coach Erickson, Gfvl Donahue boasts a 6-0-2 record against the RiverKings this season. "You look at them as four-point games every time you play them," Mudbugs veteran David Oliver said. "It's definitely something you can't be lackadaisical about." Obviously, Memphis' talent level will be raised tonight.

Young, a 37 year-old native of Clinton, won Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche. In 1,102 career NHLgames, Young has 324 goals and 384 assists. He was an unrestricted free agent who played with the Dallas Stars last season. He was inactive and unsigned because of the NHL lockout. "Hell have an impact, but we've realized there has been NHL players in this league before and the team game beats an individual game," Donahue on Wednesday, just tliree 'We're going to use the extreme dis FIR days after the 49ers finished with the NFL's worst record.

York made a rare public appearance to announce the dramatic changes to his team, which went 2-14 to match the worst season in San appointment that we all have felt as our turning point. "We know how much passion 49ers fans have, and we understand that this is unacceptable to our fans. We need our fans to know By Greg Beacham The Associated Press SANTA CLARA. Calif. Coach Dennis Erickson and General Manager Terry Donahue presided over some of the darkest days in the proud history of the San Francisco 49ers, who lost games, good players and incalculable respect in recent years.

They insisted they had a plan to restore the franchise to glory, but owner John York decided it's time for a whole new plan. York fired Erickson and dismissed sons as Steve Mariucci's successor, never reaching the postseason. He won two national championships at the University of Miami during a successful college coaching career, but is 40-56 in six seasons as an NFL coach in San Francisco and Seattle. Erickson got the news in a meeting with York on Wednesday morning. There really wasn't much more than that, other than I thanked him for the opportunity," Erickson said.

"They wanted to go their direction, I've got to go my direction. It's a divorce. It's final now." Erickson Donahue Francisco history. "Sometimes, even when everyone that it is equally unacceptable to us. We take our works very hard, the formula for responsibibty as owners seriously.

winning just isn't there," York said. Erickson went 9-23 in two sea- COLLEGES Mudbugs statistics SCORING USC No. 1 from start to finish in AP poll GAME DAY AT MEMPHIS 7:05, DeSoto Civic Center, Radio: 1130 AM, TV: chltv.com Qutiook The Mudbugs must be licking their offensive chops tonight, as the team is averaging four goals per game in the eight meetings with Memphis this season. Five Mudbugs (Chris PLAYERS. POS GP A PTS 10 Dan Wildfong.

29 18 21 39 14 Chris Brassaid. 29 14 16 30 15 Fates Marflierson.F 28 10 15 25 41 Brett Smith. 25 8 17 25 16 Scott Sheppard. 29 15 9 24 29 Ryan Manitowich, F29 12 11 23 24 Jason Basile. 29 5 9 14 victory over Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, USC received all but three first-place votes early Wednesday to easily outdistance Auburn.

PIM 14 138 5 40 6 22 14 17 4 26 14 22 7 28 14 12 0 63 3 83 0 4 2 6 4 59 6 32 12 47 2 8 -1 4 22 655 other first-place votes and 1,559 points. The Sooners (12-1) finished third, ahead of unbeaten Utah (12-0) and Texas (11-1). Louisville was No. 6, followed by Georgia, Iowa, California and Virginia Tech. LSU finished at No.

16 after its 30-25 loss to Iowa in the Capital One Bowl. By Ralph D. Russo The Associated Press MIAMI Southern California joined some elite company with its latest AP national title. The Trojans became just the second team to go No. 1 wire-to-wire in The Associated Press Top 25, and the 10th team to repeat as national champs.

Following a resounding 55-19 "I know right now I'm in the middle of something special," USC coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday morning after receiving both the AP and Bowl Championship series national title trophies. "We are now unanimously No. 1," Orange Bowl MVP Matt Leinart said right after the game. Not quite, but good enough. USC received 62 first-place votes and 1,622 points.

Auburn got the 6 Wes Blevins. 0 29 0 11 11 18 Craig Soke. 29 6 4 10 5 David Oliver. 28 2 8 10 21 Joe Gertie. 16 1 7 8 22 Craig Mmard.

14 0 8 8 12 Matt Nicholson. 23 2 5 7 2 Travis Bell. 29 0 7 7 8 Quade Ligntbodv. 28 0 7 7 20 Shane Palahickv. Fll 14 5 17 Chad Kemp 10 0 0 0 Totals 29 96159255 GOALTENDING GOALIES OR SO The Trojans (13- Carroll 0) are the first back-to-back AP champs since Nebraska in 1994-95.

Brassard, 14 points; Brett Smith, 11; Dan Wildfong, 11; Forbes MacPherson, 10; Scott Sheppard, 10) are averaging more than a point a game against the RiverKings. Only GAA SV 2.22 .923 2.70.907 2.55.913 Coaches: Former LSU assistant wanted NFL job 34 Ken Carroll 12 4 1 1 39 Jeff Blair 6 4 2 1 Totals 18 8 3 2 RiverKings statistics SCORING PLAYERS. POS GP A PTS PIM 13 Don Parsons. RW 30 23 16 39 -15 24 23 Phil Aucom. LW 28 10 20 30 -3 52 55 Derek Landmesser.

0 30 5 24 29 -10 48 6 15 -6 16 39 Allan Carr. 28 9 3 Brad Mueller. RW 29 5 7 12 -19 42 14 Travis Banga.C 11 4 8 12 -6 10 42 Jeremy Goetzinger.D 30 2 9 11 -2 20 4 Jeff Cameron. 30 2 8 10 -11 26 two players from Memphis (Don Parsons, 10; Derek Landmesser, 9) accomplished the feat Don't be surprised to see Jeff Blair in net for Bossier-Shreveport tonight. Blair owns a 4-0-1 record against Memphis this season Three of Mudbugs rookie Scott Sheppard's six game-winning goals this season have come against Memphis, including Friday's shootout tally at the DCC Supposed tough guy Scott English won't be in uniform tonight as he will serve a one-game suspension from the CHL.

This will actually save him from the embarrassment of turtling for a fourth consecutive time from a Mudbug. Roy Lang III 24 Ted Crowley. 8 17 Muschamp did not miss what he would usually be doing at this time of year recruiting. "Amen, brother," he said. "But really recruiting's about done for the new staff anyway.

There's not a whole lot more to do here." Dooley, who coached special teams and running backs the last two seasons, was also not sure what position he would be coaching in Miami. Dooley was LSU's recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach from 2000 through 2002. Dooley and Fisher are the only members of Saban's staff who were with Saban from the beginning to the end at LSU. Fisher has been LSU's potential college head coach by first becoming a successful coordinator, then you go to the NFL. It opens up a lot of opportunities." Muschamp said he.

could have remained at LSU with the defensive coordinator title. Miles, who was introduced as LSU's head coach on Monday, has had an offensive background throughout his career. "I talked to coach (Les) Miles, and he offered me the opportunity to stay in the same capacity," Muschamp said. Muschamp packed up his office Tuesday and was enjoying a day off Wednesday with his family. He expected to go to Miami on Friday.

Continued from 1C "I'm not sure," Muschamp said. "It's not all totally there yet. I'm waiting for coach Saban to call me. He said he'd call (today). But I would think it would be linebackers or secondary.

Nothing's definite." Muschamp, who was a defensive back assistant at West Georgia and Eastern Kentucky and was Valdosta State's defensive coordinator before coming to LSU, made the move for his career. "I'm pretty excited about it," he said. "When you get to the NFL, it's all about ball. There's a trend in coaching now to prove yourself as a most celebrated assistant and was a candidate for the head coaching job at Mississippi State last year. Williams, a former Michigan State head coach who interviewed for the LSU job after Saban announced he was leaving on Dec.

25, has been at LSU only one year. He was a wide receivers coach with the DeU'oit Lions in 2003. Former SU assistant coach Jerry Sullivan (1984-90) finished the season as Miami's receivers coach. Most of Williams' assistant coaching career has been as a running backs coach. "We haven't made any kind of press release yet," Williams said.

"I think it's fair that that be done on the end where I'm going." 5 3 29 3 24 2 24 2 19 0 ia wayne Han. 47 Kenny Goetz. 8 Scott English. 5 Ryan Rome. -11- 13 6 136 -12 213 -13 40 4 0 -5 2 0 36 21 Stephen Margeson.

5 1 6 0 11 Jeremy Wrav. 4 0 Scon Young. RW 0 0 0 0 Totals 30 84 125209 -27 850 GOALTENDING GOALIES OTl SO GAA SV 40 David Lemanowicz 5 10 0 0 3.11.909 1 Daniel Boisclair 2 4 1 0 3.67 .904 Totals 11 18 1 0 3.70.898.