Notes

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

— BIG TEN

Wisconsin RB honored

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Career touchdown leader Montee Ball of Wisconsin was selected the Big Ten’s top running back for the second consecutive year and was a first team all-conference pick by both the coaches and media.

The announcement Monday came two days after he became the NCAA’s all-time leader in touchdowns. He set the record with his 79th touchdown when he scored on a 17-yard run Saturday against Penn State.

With 1,528 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns this season, it was hardly a surprise that the coaches and media both picked Ball. They also went with conference rushing leader Le’Veon Bell of Michigan State (1,648 yards), but they were split at quarterback.

The media went with Ohio State’s Braxton Miller and the coaches choosing Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez. Miller got the top quarterback award.

The coaches and media also agreed on the top receivers, going with Penn State’s Allen Robinson and Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis at receiver.

PACIFIC-12

Shaw wins award

SAN FRANCISCO - Stanford Coach David Shaw won the Pacific-12 Conference’s Coach of the Year award for the second consecutive season.

Southern California wide receiver Marqise Lee also was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton the Defensive Player of the Year on Monday. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota took home Offensive Freshman of the Year honors and Trojans freshman defensive end Leonard Williams won on the defensive side.

Shaw is the fourth coach in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons. Shaw helped Stanford overcome the departure of No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Luck, seamlessly made a midseason quarterback change from Josh Nunes to Kevin Hogan and overtook Oregon to take the North Division crown.

Lee set conference records with 112 receptions for 1,680 yards to go with 14 touchdowns. Sutton led the Pac-12 with 1.82 tackles for loss per game and also registered 10 1/2 sacks.

TEXAS

McCoy to start

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Coach Mack Brown said Case McCoy will start at quarterback this week for the No. 18 Longhorns at No. 6 Kansas State.

Starter David Ash is listed as questionable after a rib injury in last week’s loss to TCU. Ash had three turnovers in the first half in one of his worst games of the season

McCoy led Texas (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) on a late touchdown drive against the Horned Frogs but also threw an interception in the final two minutes.

POINSETTIA BOWL

Cougars, Aztecs to meet

PROVO, Utah - Brigham Young knows it will be facing San Diego State in the Poinsettia Bowl next month after the Aztecs accepted a bid Monday.

The bigger question is who should start at quarterback for the Cougars.

BYU Coach Bronco Mendenhall said after Saturday’s 50-14 road victory over New Mexico State that Riley Nelson would likely remain his starter. But he wanted time to take in the performance of senior James Lark in his first start.

Lark completed 34 of 50 passes for 384 yards and 6 touchdowns, with no turnovers.

Nelson was out with a rib injury.

San Diego State opened 2-3 but closed with seven consecutive victories to improve to 9-3. Former Mountain West foe BYU is 7-5.

The Poinsettia Bowl will be played Dec. 20 in San Diego.

Sports, Pages 19 on 11/27/2012