UAB coach Bill Clark wins Eddie Robinson Award
University of Alabama-Birmingham's
Bill Clark has won the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award.
Clark has led the Blazers to their first Conference USA championship with a program-record 10 wins. The award was announced Thursday by the Football Writers Association of America and the Sugar Bowl.
UAB's program resumed play last season after being shut down for two years by the university.
UAB plays Northern Illinois on Tuesday in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Blazers are seeking their first bowl win.
Clark has gone 24-14 in three seasons with the Blazers, including one before the shutdown.
He will receive the award on Jan.
5, in San Jose, California ahead of the national championship game.
It's named after the famed Grambling State coach who won 408 games in his career.
Former OU walk-on sentenced to prison
A former University of Oklahoma football player and fledgling recording star has been sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors of almost $900,000.
Federal prosecutors say 31-year-old T.J. Hamilton of Dallas was sentenced Thursday and ordered to pay $869,300 in restitution to his victims.
Hamilton was a walk-on whose last season with the Sooners was 2009.
Hamilton pleaded guilty in September to federal wire fraud conspiracy charges. Hamilton acknowledged promoting false investment opportunities for sportswear and nutritional supplement ventures.
Prosecutors say the money was instead used for personal gain, primarily Hamilton's country music career ambitions and his extravagant lifestyle. They say Hamilton persuaded investors to fund companies by exploiting his status as a former Sooner wide receiver and bogus endorsements from other former OU athletes.
Razorbacks' linebacker suspended from team
Arkansas linebacker Demetrius Walker has been suspended from the football program after being arrested on drug and weapon charges.
Washington County booking records show the 21-year-old Walker was arrested for delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and guns and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into jail Wednesday and has a hearing scheduled for Friday.
The University of Arkansas said in a statement Thursday that Walker is suspended "indefinitely," and the school will monitor the case and cooperate with related legal and campus issues.
Temple introduces new head coach
Manny Diaz let everyone know what he thought of the reception he received when being introduced as Temple's football coach Thursday.
"This is better than what was on the brochure," he said.
The 44-year-old University of Miami defensive coordinator was introduced as the 15th head coach in school history in front of a packed crowd of students and supporters at Liacouris Center. Diaz replaces Geoff Collins, who left last week after two seasons to coach Georgia Tech.