Former SMU, NFL coach Meyer dies
Ron Meyer, who coached SMU to the 1981 Southwest Conference football championship, died Tuesday at age 76.
Meyer went 34-32-1 in six seasons with the Mustangs, who, led by running backs Eric Dickerson and Craig James, went 10-1 in 1981 (7-1 in the SWC), outscoring their opponents 365-137. Because the school was on probation for recruiting violations, SMU was ineligible for a bowl and finished fifth in the Associated Press poll.
Meyer had gone 27-8 over three seasons at UNLV before being hired by SMU. He left the Mustangs to become the New England Patriots’ coach in 1982 and went 18-15 before being fired during the 1984 season.
Meyer got his final coaching job with the Indianapolis Colts in 1986 and was 36-35 in five-plus seasons. The Colts made only one playoff appearance, losing to the Cleveland Browns in a 1987 divisional round game.
Nguyen, McKay inducted into Hall
Former Texas A&M linebacker Dat Nguyen, a consensus All-American in 1998, and Bob McKay, an offensive tackle at Texas who was a 1969 AllAmerican, were among Tuesday night’s inductees into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Quarterback Peyton Manning and coach Steve Spurrier, rivals during their days at Tennessee and Florida, respectively, also were inducted during the New York ceremony.
Rounding out the players in the Class of 2017 were Marshall Faulk of San Diego State; Matt Leinart of Southern Cal; Bob Crable of Notre Dame; Kirk Gibson, the National League MVP in 1988 and former Michigan State receiver; Mike Ruth of Boston College; Brian Urlacher of New Mexico; and Adrian Peterson of Georgia Southern.
Other coaches inducted into the Hall were Larry Kehres, who led Division III Mount Union to 11 national titles and a .930 winning percentage in 27 seasons, and Danny Ford, who coached Clemson to its first national championship at the age of 33.
OU’s Anderson denies allegation
A woman who filed a petition for a protective order against Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson is accusing him of sexually assaulting her in her apartment and says she fears for her safety.
The petition filed against Anderson in Cleveland County Court alleges the Sooners’ rushing leader, a former star at Katy High School, forced himself on the woman last month and that she remembers “feeling like (she) couldn’t get away.”
Anderson’s attorney, Derek Chance of Oklahoma City, said in a statement Tuesday that the allegations are “patently false” and that Anderson is “shocked and disturbed” by them.
A hearing on the protective order is scheduled for Dec. 18.
Odds and ends
Memphis coach Mike Norvell signed a contract extension with the Tigers. The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported it to be a five-year deal worth $13 million. … Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott won the Frank Broyles Award, given to college football’s top assistant coach.