Hofher takes over floundering Buffalo program

AMHERST, N.Y. -- Jim Hofher has no illusions taking over as the University at Buffalo's new football coach.

Asked whether lifting the Bulls program to a level of respectability was intimidating or merely challenging, Hofher replied that it's all of the above.

"It's the way it is," he said in his first public appearance as the Bulls' head coach on Thursday.

"The responsibility of leading this team in 2001 and the football program into the future is an awesome task," Hofher said. "It's one I accept completely and with great passion."

Hofher, who was quarterback coach at Syracuse University this season, brings with him 22 years of experience, including eight at Cornell where he remains the Ivy League school's winningest head coach.

He takes over for Craig Cirbus, whose contract was not renewed after going 2-9 this year. The program is 2-20,in two years since making the jump to Division I-A.

Terms of his contract were not released.

Penn State's Casey to sue cops after arrest

HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Penn State quarterback Rashard Casey intends to sue the police who arrested him on charges he beat an off-duty officer unconscious.

Casey, cleared by a grand jury in the attack, has filed a notice of claim, required at least six months before lawsuits against public institutions. It lists Hoboken, the city's police department, police Chief Carmen LaBruno and Officer Joseph Taglieri.

Casey, who is from Hoboken, and a friend were accused of beating off-duty Officer Patrick Fitzsimmons on May 14. The grand jury indicted the friend, Desmond Miller, on assault charges.

The notice, filed Nov. 15, says Casey intends to sue for malicious prosecution and slanderous statements.

LaBruno has said that Casey and Miller started a fight, beating and kicking Fitzsimmons in the head, because they were angry that Fitzsimmons, who is white, was at a bar with a black woman. Casey and Miller are black.

West chosen as new coach for Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Memphis defensive coordinator Tommy West was promoted to head football coach on Thursday.

West, 46, replaces Rip Scherer, who was fired after six non-winning seasons with the Tigers.

"We need to win," said West, who was 31-28 as head coach at Clemson from 1993-98. "Seriously, that's what you need to do. I can stand here and talk to you all I want to talk to you and I can go speak at every civic club, but we need to win. Winning will fill the stadium."

West came to Memphis in December 1999 after he was fired from Clemson following the 1998 season. In five years, he led Clemson to four bowl appearances.

Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said West has a five-year contract with a base salary of $139,725. It also includes $100,000 a year for radio and television shows and $10,275 for public relations appearances.

West, hired at Memphis by Scherer, said his former boss congratulated him on the promotion.

"He really wanted me to be a part of this program," West said.

Under West, Memphis' defense was ranked first nationally in rushing defense and sixth in total defense. West said he plans to hire a new defensive coordinator, as well as an offensive coordinator.

Wallace signs extension with Temple

PHILADELPHIA -- Temple football coach Bobby Wallace has signed a three-year contract extension that keeps him with the Owls through the 2005 season.

"We have been extremely pleased with the progress that Bobby has made since coming to Temple," athletic director Dave O'Brien said Thursday. "Under Coach Wallace's leadership our football program has made methodical and substantial progress over the last three years. As a result, we wanted to reward Bobby with a significant compensation increase and extension of his contract."

Terms were not released.

Temple has gone 8-25 in three seasons under Wallace, including 4-7 this season.

Wallace came to Temple in December 1997, after 10 seasons at Division II North Alabama.

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