Penn State to play in Outback Bowl
STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Penn State was selected Tuesday to play in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on New Year's Day as the Big Ten representative.
The Nittany Lions, who will be making their 22nd January Bowl appearance under Coach Joe Paterno, will be playing in a New Year's bowl game for the third time in the last five years.
It is also the third time Penn State is playing in the Outback Bowl, having won its previous two against Auburn in 1996 and Kentucky in 1999.
Penn State's opponent will likely be determined on Sunday, Dec. 3, when the Bowl Championship Series teams are announced. Southeastern Conference teams Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee are all possible Penn State foes.
The Nittany Lions finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and are ranked 25th in the BCS standings. The club's 24 bowl wins is tied for third-best with Oklahoma and Tennessee
Troy Smith among O'Brien Award finalists
FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Ohio State's Troy Smith, Notre Dame's Brady Quinn and Hawaii's Colt Brennan were named finalists Tuesday for the Davey O'Brien Award.
The award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback.
Smith has completed 199-of-297 passes for 2,507 yards with 30 touchdowns against just five interceptions for the top-ranked Buckeyes, who have already clinched a berth in the national championship game on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.
Quinn has connected on 252-of-387 passes for 3,004 yards with 32 TDs against just five interceptions for the Fighting Irish.
Brennan leads the nation in passing efficiency (189.6), total offense (403.3), passing yards (4,155) and touchdown passes (48). The junior tied the NCAA record for most passing touchdowns (83) in two seasons last week against San Jose State.
He needs one more TD pass to surpass the mark set by Houston's David Klingler.
Purdue to play in Champs Sports Bowl
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The Purdue Boilermakers accepted a bid Tuesday to play in the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
The Boilermakers (8-4, 5-3 Big Ten) will face an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Dec. 29.
The Champs Sports Bowl has the fourth pick from the ACC, which will not be decided until after the ACC Championship Game, which takes place Dec. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Purdue still has one game left on its regular season schedule, at No.25 Hawaii on Saturday.
The Boilermakers were not bowl eligible last season, when they had a 5-6 record.
Groza Award finalists selected
PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Juniors from Louisville and Oklahoma and a senior from Auburn were selected Tuesday as finalists for the 2006 Lou Groza Award, given to college football's top kicker.
The finalists are: Louisville junior Art Carmody, Oklahoma junior Garrett Hartley and Auburn senior John Vaughn.
Carmody has connected on 94.1 percent of his field goals this season for the 9-1 Cardinals. That percentage is currently the third best for place kickers who have attempted at least 10 field goals. He is first among kickers in points per game with an average of 9.3 and is a perfect 45-for-45 in extra points this season.
Vaughn has connected on 19-of-23 field goals this season for the Tigers, 10-2. The 19 made field goals is currently tied for third in the NCAA. Vaughn is a perfect 32-of-32 in extra points this season.
Hartley has connected on 17-of-18 field goals this season for the Sooners, 9-2. His only miss on the year came on a blocked 44-yard field goal against Oregon. Also, he is a perfect 39-of-39 in extra point attempts on the campaign.
Swimmer Ian Thorpe announces retirement
SYDNEY, Australia, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, said he will give up the professional aspect of the sport.
Thorpe, who has also earned 11 world titles and set 13 long-course world records, said he would remain involved in swimming in some capacity, The Age reported Tuesday.
"I'm actually going to discontinue my professional swimming career," he said. However, he said, "I intend to have a role with swimming still, I think that's important."
"I don't see myself competing again. I don't think it will happen. I won't rule it out but it's not going to happen," he told The Age.
