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Vanderbilt wins first bowl game since 1955

NASHVILLE, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Bryant Hahnfeldt kicked a 45-yard field goal with 3:26 to play Wednesday, giving Vanderbilt a 16-14 triumph over Boston College in the Music City Bowl.

The Commodores had not played in a bowl game in 26 years and had not won one in more than a half century.

Myron Lewis preserved the victory by intercepting a Dominique Davis pass with 1:36 to play and Vanderbilt was able to run out the clock. Vanderbilt's last bowl win was in 1955 -- a 25-13 victory over Auburn in the Gator Bowl.

Boston College (9-5) took a 14-13 lead with 6:38 to play on a 55-yard pass from Davis to Colin Larmond. Vanderbilt then marched from its own 24-yard line to the Boston College 29 before Hahnfeldt came on to kick the game-winning field goal.

Vanderbilt came into the game with a 6-6 record and was a decided underdog against the Eagles, who had won their eight previous bowl appearances. Their bowl winning streak had been the longest active such run of success in college football.

Michigan State hands Gophers their first loss

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A career-high, 24-point effort from Kalin Lucas Wednesday helped carry No. 15 Michigan State to a 70-58 win over 21st-ranked Minnesota.

It was the first loss of the season for the Golden Gophers and came in the opening Big Ten Conference game of the campaign for both schools.

Chris Allen added 13 points for the Spartans and Goran Sutton had 11 points and 12 rebounds. It was Michigan State's sixth straight victory since the Spartans (10-2) took a 35-point pounding at the hands of No. 1 North Carolina.

Minnesota (12-1) had been off to its best start in 60 years. The Gophers were led by 14 points from Al Nolen.

Michigan State broke open a tie game in the early moments of the second half with an 8-0 run. The Spartans had another eight-point surge later in the half en route to a 60-45 advantage.

In other Big 10 openers Wednesday, Wisconsin surprised No. 21 Michigan 73-61, No. 23 Ohio State edged Iowa 68-65 and Penn State edged Northwestern 61-57. Illinois had defeated Purdue in the first conference game of the season on Tuesday.

Report: Petty, Evernham to merge next week

GREENSBORO, N.C., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The deal finalizing the merger between Petty Enterprises with Gillett Evernham Motorsports will be announced next week, Fox Sports reported Wednesday.

Multiple sources beyond Fox also confirmed the merger, including the Greensboro (N.C.) Record on New Years Eve.

It would combine two of NASCAR's most visible entities, but no details about the new company's name were made available.

It comes one week after cash-strapped Petty Enterprises agreed to merge with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

Late Wednesday, the Charlotte Observer reported that all people employed by Petty Enterprises have received their final check with that company.

The Petty family, led by NASCAR legend Richard, has been a part of the auto racing series since 1949, when it was founded by patriarch Lee Petty, but went winless in the 2008 Sprint Cup season.

Whispers of a possible merger developed earlier this month when driver Bobby Labonte was released from his contract.

Paterno to coach Rose Bowl from press box

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Joe Paterno will coach from the press box Thursday when eighth-ranked Penn State faces No. 5 Southern California at the Rose Bowl.

The 82-year-old coach is recovering from hip replacement surgery Nov. 23, and admitted Wednesday that simulating game conditions from a golf cart recently made him realize coaching from upstairs would be a wise decision.

"I'm going to be upstairs," Paterno said at a gathering with reporters Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think I can handle 3 1/2 hours, 4 hours on the sideline. I think I'd be a distraction (and) if I see you on the sideline, we're going to throw it 50 times."

The Trojans (11-1), from the Pac-10, are nine-point favorites against their Big Ten Conference opponents and a victory would give them an NCAA-record seventh straight season with at least 11 wins.