College football notes

Published 10:53 pm Sunday, January 6, 2008

CENTRAL FLORIDA: Running back Kevin Smith, the nation’s leading rusher this season, changed his mind and will turn pro, he confirmed Sunday night.

Smith challenged Barry Sanders’ NCAA record of 2,628 rushing yards in a season, but finished 61 yards short. The junior running back was hailed as a hero three weeks ago for deciding to stay in school to earn a degree and help build UCF’s burgeoning program.

Another season would have put Smith well within reach of former Wisconsin back Ron Dayne’s NCAA career record.

Smith said it had nothing to do with records. He said he made the previous announcement to deflect attention leading up to UCF’s Liberty Bowl matchup against Mississippi State. Smith also said the 10-3 loss in that game was no factor.

“Me coming back had nothing to do with records. I was here a lot of years — that’s not a reason,” Smith told The Associated Press.

Smith, a high school honor roll student, said he wanted to come back and get his degree — partly on the advice of his mother. But he returned to hometown Miami after the bowl game, and they had a long talk about his future.

“She basically told me, ‘Do what makes you happy,”’ Smith said.

CALIFORNIA: Jeff Tedford wants to concentrate on being a head coach next season, so he’s changing the structure of California’s coaching staff to give him more time to be in charge.

Tedford shuffled his assistants, most notably hiring Frank Cignetti as his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He also hired Al Simmons as defensive backs coach, reassigned three assistants and announced the departure of three others.

Tedford clearly has rethought every aspect of his program after his most disappointing season in six otherwise successful years with the Golden Bears. Cal finished 7-6 with a victory in last week’s Armed Forces Bowl, a dismal end to a season that began with a 5-0 start and a No. 2 national ranking.

Tedford will even cede play-calling duties next season to Cignetti, an up-and-coming offensive coach who will stay in the Bay Area after spending last season as the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterbacks coach.

Associated Press