Florida Sentinel Bulletin

AUSTIN, TEXAS — University of Texas women’s track coach Bev Kearney resigned last Saturday and acknowledged in an interview that she had an intimate relationship with an athlete in her program in 2002.

Kearney, who won six national championships since 1993, was placed on paid leave in November as university officials investigated unspecified issues within the program.

In a statement released Saturday night, university officials said the relationship was first reported to the school in October and the school was taking measures to fire Kearney before she resigned.

If you wanted to see a competitive college BCS National Championship football game Monday night, I know you were disappointed. At the end of the first quarter, it was apparent to everyone sitting inside the stadium in Miami Gardens that the Irish of Notre Dame had bitten off far more than they could chew.

For the second straight year, head coach Nick Saban took his team to the national championship game, and walked away a winner. As a matter of fact, it’s Saban’s third championship in four years. When the dust finally settled Monday night, the Crimson Tide had rolled over the Irish 42-14. Monday night’s game exposed the Fighting Irish as being terribly overmatched, and out of its league.

The rest of college football has to catch up, because the Southeast Conference (SEC) claimed its 7th straight national championship. The last time a non-SEC won a college championship was the Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush led Trojans of USC.

Alabama punched the Irish in the mouth the entire game with its massive offensive line, and the one-two punch of running backs Eddie Lacey and T. J. Yeldon. It was obvious Notre Dame hadn’t faced this level of competition en-route to their undefeated season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was named Friday as one of the five finalists for the 2012 NFL Pepsi Max Rookie of the Year award.

In addition to Martin, who broke Bucs rookie records for rushing yards (1,454) and all-purpose yards (1,926) in a season, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin, III, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, Redskins running back Alfred Morris and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson were nominated as finalists.

Martin finished the season ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing with 1,454 yards and scored 11 rushing touchdowns. His 1,926 yards from scrimmage were the third most for a rookie running back behind Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James, both of whom eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark as rookies.

Young quarterbacks have been the dominant storyline of the 2013 season. Of the 12 NFL playoff teams, six start quarterbacks that are either in their first or second year. The days of needing an established veteran at the quarterback position may be over. Of those five young starting quarterbacks, three are African-American.

Rookies Robert Griffin, III and Russell Wilson played each other in the premier wildcard game last weekend, with the Washington Redskins losing to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday afternoon. 49er QB Colin Kaepernick will play the Green Bay Packers Saturday.

Pictured: QBs Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson. 

BALTIMORE – Ray Lewis’ last ride now will take him to Denver. Anquan Boldin, Joe Flacco and a staunch Baltimore defense made sure of that Sunday.

Boldin set a franchise record with 145 yards receiving, including the clinching touchdown in the Ravens’ 24-9 victory over Indianapolis in an AFC wild-card game. The win delays star linebacker Lewis’ retirement for at least another week as Baltimore (11-6) heads to Denver next Saturday.

The Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17 three weeks ago. Lewis even lined up at fullback for the final kneel-down in his last home game of a 17-year career, then went into a short version of his trademark dance before being mobbed by teammates.

Friday, ESPN columnist Jemele Hill revealed media members are not immune from criticism themselves.

Hill posted a letter she received from ‘some guy’ after several appearances on “The Herd” with ESPN radio host Colin Cowherd last year. The letter is filled with racist language directed at Hill.

In addition to her role as columnist for ESPN.com, Hill appears on a variety of other platforms for the network. She’s made appearances on ESPN radio and television shows such as First Take. She just completed her first college football season as a sideline reporter for both ESPN and ESPN 2.

Josh Freeman became Tampa Bay’s first 4,000-yard passer and also threw for more touchdowns in a season than any player in franchise history, yet the NFL playoffs will begin without the Buccaneers for the fifth straight year.

Sunday’s 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons stopped a five-game losing streak and enabled the Bucs (7-9) to finish with three more wins than they did a year ago, when a season-ending 10-game skid led to the dismissal of former coach Raheem Morris and the hiring of Greg Schiano.

In addition to Freeman’s record-setting season, Tampa Bay had a 1,400-yard rusher in rookie Doug Martin and a 1,400-yard receiver in Vincent Jackson. One of Freeman’s other playmakers, Mike Williams, finished four yards shy of giving the Bucs their first pair of 1,000-yard receivers.

When Ray Lewis takes the field for the Baltimore Ravens-Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday, it may be the last time he puts on the uniform.

“I told them I just felt so much peace in where I am with my decision because of everything I’ve done in this league,” Lewis said to the media on Wednesday regarding what he told his teammates. “I’ve done it, man. There’s no accolade that I don’t have individually but I’ve never played the game for individual stats. I’ve only played the game to make my team be a better team.

Lewis hasn’t played since October because of a triceps injury. There’s a chance he could play on Sunday, but Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has been evasive in questions about Lewis’ status. Lewis said there wasn’t a reason for him not to play.

LAKE FOREST, Illinois — The Chicago Bears have fired coach Lovie Smith after the team missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons. Smith was informed of the decision by general manager Phil Emery on Monday, a day after the Bears beat Detroit to finish 10-6 but still missed out on a playoff spot.

Smith led the Bears to a Super Bowl, but also saw his team collapse in the second half of the past two seasons. Hired in 2004, Smith led the Bears to three division titles, two NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in his nine seasons. His record is 81-63. The Bears scheduled a news conference to discuss the move.