Meyer on USC talk: ‘There’s no chance’

When Southern California fired coach Clay Helton on Sept. 13, speculation swirled about Jaguars coach Urban Meyer’s immediate future in Jacksonville.

The former Ohio State coach responded Sept. 15 by saying “there’s no chance” he takes the Trojans job. Believe him or not, he insists he’s in for the long haul.

“I’m here and committed to try to build an organization,” Meyer added.

It’s unlikely to be the last time Meyer’s name gets linked to a collegiate job opening. After all, the 57-year-old coach has found success at every stop, building winners at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State.

COWBOYS’ LAWRENCE

OUT » Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence broke a foot in practice and likely will be out at least six weeks, two people with knowledge of the injury said. Lawrence was helped off the field during the first practice to prepare for a Sept. 19 visit to the Los Angeles Chargers.

HISTORIC HIRE » Lisa Byington is making history as the Bucks’ new playby-play voice on their television broadcasts. The Bucks announced the hiring and said Byington is the first woman to work as a full-time television play-by-play announcer for any major men’s professional sports team. Byington replaces Jim Paschke, who retired after 35 seasons as the team’s main television play-by-play broadcaster.

Soccer

MORGAN ON DEAL » Alex Morgan says the U.S. women’s national team needs to make sure players aren’t losing any of their existing compensation under the identical contract proposals the U.S. Soccer Federation has made to both the men’s and women’s teams. But the team is hopeful for a new collective bargaining agreement that will address players’ concerns about equitable pay, she said. “We still need to chat about the statement given by US Soccer. But any commitment to equal pay publicly is good,” Morgan said.