Larry Smith, who led USC to Rose Bowl appearances in his first three seasons coaching the Trojans, and the coach who boosted Arizona to Pac-10 prominence, died Monday following a lengthy illness, the Tucson Citizen and the Arizona Daily Star newspapers reported on their Web sites. Smith had been diagnosed with leukemia. He died at a Tucson hospital. He was 68.

Three Penn State football players charged in connection with a campus fight last fall have been kicked off the team, the Associated Press has reported. Defensive tackle Chris Baker, linebacker Navorro Bowman, and cornerback Knowledge Timmons are no longer on the roster.

The Associated Press is reporting that the relationship between Rich Rodriguez and the West Virginia Athletic Department has gradually disintegrated over the last five months. The disintegration was evident in a series of e-mails exchanged between Rodriguez and a number of West Virginia executives and officials.

Sources close to Norm Chow have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that he will accept UCLA's offensive coordinator position and an announcement could happen on Monday. Chow held the same position with USC before being hired by the Tennessee Titans. He was fired last Tuesday despite helping the Titans reach the playoffs.

About 25,000 fans turned out in chilly conditions Saturday to celebrate LSU's national football championship. "I got chills when I was carrying that flag," star defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey said after the 75-minute event Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium. "Today was a day of closure for my four years at LSU. It has been unbelievable."

West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin disputes claims there was any kind of a smear campaign against former Mountaineers' football Coach Rich Rodriguez. "As far as everyone I know -- and that includes the president and the athletic director and most of the staff -- there is no smear campaign," Manchin told The Charleston Gazette. "The facts are simply what they are." On Thursday, Rodriguez broke his silence on the controversy that has followed since he left West Virginia to become head coach at Michigan. "There seems to be a campaign to try to smear me," Rodriguez said. "I haven't said anything until recently, when I felt I needed to defend all the false accusations." "It has just gotten ridiculous over the last couple of days."

Connecticut football Coach Randy Edsall has agreed to a five-year contract extension, taking him through 2012, ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad has learned. He had two years left on his current contract. Edsall, who made $900,000, will make an average of $1.5 million a year. He had interviewed in December for the Georgia Tech head coaching job but decided to stay at UConn. "I'll stay here as long as they would like me to stay," Edsall said at the time of UConn. "There is still quite a bit of work to be done and I want to continue to do that." UConn shared first place in the Big East in 2007, a first in school history. The Huskies finished 9-4 after losing to Wake Forest in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Clemson running back James Davis, who last week declared his intentions of entering April's NFL draft, instead will return to school for his senior season, sources familiar to the situation said Friday. Davis, the Tigers' leading rusher last season with 1,064 yards and 10 touchdowns, requested permission from the NFL and Clemson to return to school. College underclassmen had until Tuesday to declare their intentions of entering the draft, then had 72 hours to change their minds. Davis' return is a big boost for the Tigers, who finished 9-4 last season. Davis and junior C.J. Spiller were among the leading rushers in the ACC, and the Tigers will return the bulk of their playmakers in 2008.

Rich Rodriguez broke his silence on the controversy that has followed since he left West Virginia for Michigan, saying during a hastily scheduled conference call that he had been the target of a "smear campaign." "There seems to be a campaign to try to smear me," Rodriguez said Thursday. "I haven't said anything until recently, when I felt I needed to defend all the false accusations." "It has just gotten ridiculous over the last couple of days." An investigation into missing files from Rodriguez's former office revealed the academic records of West Virginia football players are secure after a newspaper report raised questions about missing paperwork.

UCLA wants to talk to Norm Chow, and the chances of a significant conversation between Bruins' Coach Rick Neuheisel and the veteran offensive coordinator increased dramatically Tuesday when the Tennessee Titans fired Chow after three seasons with the NFL team. Chow, who interviewed to become UCLA's head coach in December, acknowledged Tuesday night that UCLA had contacted his oldest son Carter, who is his agent. Chow, 61, has two years left on a contract that will pay him more than $1 million a year. UCLA is believed to have between $300,000 and $400,000 available for an offensive coordinator. Asked if he was interested in joining the Bruins' staff, Chow said, "At this point in time, I'm going to sit back and stay home and walk the dog and think about some stuff. My wife and I have been apart for three years, and we're going to enjoy being together."