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New Mexico Coach Rocky Long quitting post

ALBUQUERQUE, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- University of New Mexico football Coach Rocky Long announced Monday he is leaving his job effective immediately.

Long, the winningest coach in the program's history, is stepping down after 11 seasons with the school. He has a 65-69 record with five bowl appearances in seven seasons since 2002.

The Lobos captured the 2007 New Mexico Bowl for their first bowl victory since 1961.

"Coach Long's decision to step down was unexpected," said UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs.

Long, 58, is 46-40 since 2002, good for the third-best mark in the conference. Under his direction, New Mexico is the only school in the conference to be bowl eligible with at least six wins in each of the previous seven seasons.

New Mexico Saturday was the first FBS school to wrap up its regular season, finishing 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the Mountain West Conference.

Blues center McDonald out eight weeks

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- St. Louis Blues center Andy McDonald is expected to miss the next eight weeks with a fractured left leg, the team announced Monday.

McDonald, 31, had an MRI exam which determined surgery will not be necessary after the injury occurred late in the first period of Sunday's loss to Montreal.

McDonald has six goals and 12 assists with a minus-12 rating in 16 games this season, his second with the Blues. St. Louis acquired the 5- foot-11, 183-pounder from Anaheim Dec. 14, 2007, in exchange for Doug Weight, Michal Birner and a seventh-round pick in the 2008 draft.

Hall of Famer Pete Newell dies at 93

BERKELEY, Calif., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Basketball Hall of Fame member Pete Newell, who coached an NIT champion, NCAA champion and Olympic champion, died Monday at 93.

The University of California, which Newell led to the national title in 1959, announced his death. Newell coached for 15 years at San Francisco, Michigan State and California before coaching in the 1960 Olympics. He led the U.S. team -- which included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Jerry Lucas -- to a gold medal in Rome.

Newell won the 1949 NIT championship while at San Francisco and captured the 1959 NCAA crown with the Cal Bears. He won four straight Pac 8 titles from 1957-1960 and was named the National Coach of the Year in 1960.

"Coach Newell was one of the most beloved and revered coaches in the game influencing the careers and success of so many others -- including many contemporary coaches now elected to the Hall of Fame," said Basketball Hall of Fame President and Chief Executive Officer John Doleva. "His wit and wisdom will be missed but certainly not forgotten."

Newell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 1979.

Bucs running back likely out for season

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham may be out for the rest of the season with a right ankle injury suffered Sunday against Minnesota.

"Graham's ankle looks to be a serious injury and his status for the rest of the season is very much in question," Bucs Coach Jon Gruden said at a Monday news conference. "His season could be in jeopardy right now."

Graham, a 5-year veteran, was injured on his first carry of the game and had to be helped to the sideline. After being attended to by trainers, he was taken to the locker room for further examination.

He had been nursing a knee injury in the week prior to the game.

Graham's injury means Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, who was activated early last week, will see extended time at running back for Tampa Bay. Williams has not played an NFL game since Sept. 30, 2007. He returned to practice late last month.