MORNING ROUNDUP
KU suspends RB Pooka Williams after arrest
Kansas running back Pooka Williams was suspended indefinitely by the Jayhawks on Friday after his arrest on suspicion of domestic battery, the same day the star freshman was chosen Big 12 newcomer of the year.
Williams was involved in a physical confrontation at a Lawrence apartment complex Thursday, university police said in a statement. The woman reported minor injuries, and the incident report indicates that she sustained injuries from bodily force.
Georgia Tech hires Temple coach
Georgia Tech hired Temple coach Geoff Collins on Friday, choosing a Georgia native with a background in defense to replace Paul Johnson as the Yellow Jackets coach.
Collins, 47, is a former Florida and Mississippi State defensive coordinator and Georgia Tech assistant who was 15-10 in two seasons at Temple.
Temple athletic director Patrick Kraft said assistant coach Ed Foley will serve as interim coach for the Independence Bowl against Duke on Dec. 27.
When announcing his decision to step down following 11 seasons at Georgia Tech on Nov. 28, Johnson said he will remain on the job through Georgia Tech's game against Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit on Dec. 26.
Hugh Freeze hired at Liberty
Hugh Freeze was introduced as Liberty's football coach on Friday.
The former Ole Miss coach was emotional at times during a press conference, thanking his family and calling them his heroes.
Freeze will replace Turner Gill, who resigned after his seventh season to spend more time with his ailing wife.
Freeze resigned at Ole Miss in the summer of 2017 amid a scandal in which school officials discovered a "pattern of personal misconduct" starting with a call to an escort service from a university-issued cellphone.
Littrell to remain at North Texas
Muskogee native and former Oklahoma fullback Seth Littrell has decided to remain at North Texas after Kansas State had expressed interest in one of the nation's up-and-coming coaches to replace Hall of Famer Bill Snyder.
Littrell told the Mean Green in a meeting Friday that he would not be leaving for the Wildcats.
It ended a courtship in which Littrell met with Kansas State officials several times this week.
North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman is among the front-runners for the Kansas State job.
Former OU pitcher Richards, Padres finalize 2-year contract
Free agent pitcher Garrett Richards and the San Diego Padres have finalized a $15.5 million, two-year contract.
The former Edmond Memorial High School and Oklahoma standout was 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA last season for the Los Angeles Angels before having Tommy John surgery in July.
Richards, 30, will likely miss the entire 2019 season.
Former MLB players die in car crash in Venezuela
Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash caused by highway bandits who then robbed them in Caracas, Venezuela, officials said Friday.
The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday. Both were playing for Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan league.
Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.
Four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account.