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Jerry Kill named top I-AA coach

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Southern Illinois University's Jerry Kill Thursday was named Division I-AA Coach of the Year.

He received the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the winner at the annual awards banquet in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Kill guided the Salukis to a 10-2 record in 2004 and the title of the Gateway Conference.

SIU was a perfect 9-0 against I-AA opponents and outscored competitors by more than 30 points per game. The school earned the No. 1 ranking for the final 10 weeks of the year, and garnered the No. 1 seed in the 2004 playoffs.

Kill is the second coach from a Gateway Conference school to win the award, and first since Youngstown State's Jim Tressel won it in 1994.

It is the first major I-AA award of any kind for Southern Illinois.

The honor is named after the legendary coach at Grambling University, Eddie Robinson, who retired in 1997 after 56 years at the school.

Bobby Mattick, ex-Jays skipper, dies at 89

TORONTO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Bobby Mattick, who joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 1976 and became the team's manager in 1980-81, has died at the age of 89, the team reported Friday.

Mattick died in Arizona Thursday night after suffering a stroke earlier in the day at his home.

"Bobby Mattick was the senior statesman of the Blue Jays family since day one," CEO Paul Godfrey said.

"He not only served in many positions on the baseball side of our operation, but also acted as an adviser to General Manager J.P. Ricciardi in recent years. Bobby will be sadly missed by the entire organization, not only for his baseball knowledge and advice, but also for his wit, sense of fun and personable manner.

Mattick, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, had a baseball career that spanned parts of eight decades. He was a scouting supervisor when he first joined the Blue Jays.

Luther Elliss done for 2004

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A back injury has ended the season for Denver Broncos defensive tackle Luther Elliss.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Friday that Elliss, 31, will meet with Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles to determine when surgery will be needed.

His injury was described as a herniated disc.

The 10-year veteran, who sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, missed the first game of the season because of an arm injury, and then missed four more games because of a calf injury.

The former Detroit Lions all-pro finishes with six tackles and two sacks in eight games. Eliss has played in 134 games and has 462 tackles, 29 sacks and five fumble recoveries in his career.

USC's Hershel Dennis out for Orange Bowl

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Southern California tailback Hershel Dennis will not play in the Orange Bowl contest against Oklahoma because of a knee injury.

Dennis suffered torn ligaments in his left knee during a scrimmage after playing sparingly this season. He started every game in 2003. The Los Angeles Times reported he is expected to have surgery within a month.

There is a chance the injury could force Dennis to sit out next season.

Dennis was suspended for nearly a month this season for violating team rules.

"He's had such a hard year -- my heart goes out to Hershel," Coach Pete Carroll told the newspaper.