Struggling Giants fire McAdoo

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Believing the team was spiraling out of control, the New York Giants went out of character by making two major in-season moves, firing coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese.

With the team reeling at 2-10 in a season where most felt it was capable of challenging for a Super Bowl, co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch reached the decision Monday morning. It came less than a day after the Giants lost in Oakland, with quarterback Eli Manning benched and the offensively inept team performing poorly again.

“We agreed that wholesale changes to this organization needed to be made to get us back to the team we expect it to be,” Mara said at a hastily called news conference. “We also agreed it was pointless to wait any longer to make these changes.”

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will take over as interim coach for the final four games. He coached the St. Louis Rams from 2009-11.

Coltie Young ended the first quarter for the Starkville High School 9th grade team with a successful 3-point field goal at the buzzer.

With that, he was just getting warmed up.

Young finished the game against the West Point Green Wave on Monday night with four 3-pointers and led the Yellowjackets with 16 points in a 70-33 victory.

"Coltie is going to be one of those special kids for the future of the high school," Starkville coach Tony Minor said. "Right now we just need to groom him up and make sure he stays sound, do a good job and continue to work hard."

The Jackets scored the first 16 points against West Point and took control of the game early. Jamarvious Phillips scored all 11 of his points in the first quarter.

Young's successful 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter gave Starkville a 23-7 advantage.

At halftime, the Jackets were on top 31-18. Starkville had seven 3-pointers as a team and Minor said the team has been together long enough to develop some chemistry.

"Those guys we've had as a part of the program since 6th grade and the know everybody on the court," Minor said. "We just want to continue to do the same things we've been doing during the course of the season."

It was a sweep for the Jackets over the Green Wave as the Armstrong 7th grade team won 36-19 behind the eight points of Chipper Hornburger and the Armstrong 8th grade squad defeated West Point 53-22 as Jarius Jordan had 15 points and Senavion Roby added 11 points.

Others receiving votes: North Carolina State 54; San Diego State 50; Florida Atlantic 24; Toledo 21; Michigan 11; Troy 11; Fresno State 5; Louisville 4; South Carolina 4.

CFP Rankings

1. Clemson (12-1)

2. Oklahoma (12-1)

3. Georgia (12-1)

4. Alabama (11-1)

5. Ohio State (11-2)

6. Wisconsin (12-1)

7. Auburn (10-3)

8. Southern Cal (11-2)

9. Penn State (10-2)

10. Miami (10-2)

11. Washington (10-2)

12. Central Florida (12-0)

13. Stanford (9-4)

14. Notre Dame (9-3)

15. TCU (10-3)

16. Michigan State (9-3)

17. LSU (9-3)

18. Washington State (9-3)

19. Oklahoma State (9-3)

20. Memphis (10-2)

21. Northwestern (9-3)

22. Virginia Tech (9-3)

23. Mississippi State (8-4)

24. North Carolina State (8-4)

25. Boise State (10-3)

Bowl Glance

Saturday, Dec. 16 Celebration Bowl At Atlanta

NC A&T (11-0) vs. Grambling State (11-1), Noon (ABC)

New Orleans Bowl

North Texas (9-4) vs. Troy (10-2), 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Cure Bowl Orlando, Fla.

Georgia State (6-5) vs. Western Kentucky (6-6), 2:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

Las Vegas Bowl

Boise State (10-3) vs. Oregon (7-5), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

New Mexico Bowl Albuquerque

Colorado State (7-5) vs. Marshall (7-5), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala.

Arkansas State (7-3) vs. Middle Tennessee (6-6), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Dec. 19 Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl

Akron (7-6) vs. FAU (10-3), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Wednesday, Dec. 20 Frisco (Texas) Bowl

Louisiana Tech (6-6) vs. SMU (7-5), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 21 Gasparilla Bowl At St. Petersburg, Fla.

Temple (6-6) vs. FIU (8-4), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Friday, Dec. 22 Bahamas Bowl Nassau

Ohio (8-4) vs. UAB (8-4), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise

Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Wyoming (75), 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday, Dec. 23 Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl

South Florida (9-2) vs. Texas Tech (6-6), Noon (ESPN)

Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas

San Diego State (10-2) vs. Army (8-3), 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Dollar General Bowl Mobile, Ala.

Appalachian State (8-4) vs. Toledo (112), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday, Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl Honolulu

Fresno State (9-4) vs. Houston (7-4), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)