WSU kicker Dunning is All American

PULLMAN —Washington State kicker Drew Dunning was named first team All America by The Sporting News Tuesday.

Dunning, a 5-11, 170-pound senior, connected on 27 of 30 field goal attempts in 2003 and broke his own single season scoring record with 114 points. The Issaquah native capped his Cougar career by breaking Jason Hanson’s school record for points in a career with 334 and is the only player in program history to compile three 100-point seasons.

Dunning, a first team All-Pac-10 selection in 2001 and 2003, is tied for the national lead in field goals with a .900 field goal percentage. Dunning is also 12th nationally in scoring at 9.50 points per game.

Washington State has had at least one player named first team All-America in each of the last three seasons. Lamont Thompson was an Associated Press selection in 2001, while Jason Gesser, Rien Long, Derrick Roche, and Marcus Trufant all received first team All-America honors from at least one outlet in 2002. This is the first time since 1934-36 that the Cougars have had first team representatives in three-straight seasons.

Kegel undergoes MRI: Washington State quarterback Matt Kegel underwent an MRI examination of his injured shoulder on Tuesday, but results won’t be known for several days. Kegel, a fifth-year senior for the No. 15 Cougars, injured the shoulder of his right throwing arm several times this season and has been held out of Holiday Bowl practices.

Army hires Ross: Bobby Ross was hired as Army’s coach Tuesday, returning to football after resigning as the Detroit Lions’ coach three years ago. He takes over a team that became the first in NCAA history to finish 0-13 after losing to Navy 34-6 on Saturday. The academy fired coach Todd Berry in October with the team 5-35 in his four seasons. Ross, who turns 67 this month, hasn’t coached since 2000, when he quit the Lions after nine games. He led the San Diego Chargers to their only Super Bowl appearance in 1995, a 49-26 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. His NFL record was 77-68.

Sherrill says facts distorted: Former Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill lashed out at the NCAA, accusing it of distorting facts about claims he offered gifts to recruits.

“I think there is a group of people that went after Mississippi State,” he told The Associated Press. “The investigator didn’t want to know the truth when he was given information.”

Mississippi State released an NCAA report Monday, detailing 13 alleged violations by the school’s football program from 1998-2002.

Sherrill, who retired last month after 13 years with MSU, was accused of making offers of improper benefits to two recruits. He denied the allegations.

The university has until March to respond to the NCAA’s charges

Tiller’s contract exteneded: Purdue football coach Joe Tiller agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2010 season Tuesday. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Tiller, 61, led the 12th-ranked Boilermakers (9-3, 6-2 Big Ten) to the Capital One Bowl – Tiller’s seventh straight bowl appearance as Purdue coach.