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Chizik Takes Auburn Job

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2008

AMES, Iowa - Auburn has hired Iowa State's Gene Chizik as its new football coach, turning to a former defensive coordinator who helped the Tigers forge a perfect season but has won five games in two years as a head coach.

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard said Chizik told him Saturday he was accepting the job at Auburn.

"I'm disappointed for our Iowa State fans and student-athletes that he has chosen to leave our program after only two seasons," Pollard said in a statement. "I understand that it is a dream job for him, but the timing and the way it played out has been hurtful and disappointing."

Chizik will succeed Tommy Tuberville, who resigned following 10 seasons with an 85-40 record.

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs would not confirm the hiring earlier in the day after it was reported by numerous media outlets.

Chizik, 46, is 5-19 in two seasons at Iowa State after successful stints running the defenses at Auburn and Texas. He coached the nation's top scoring defense on a 2004 Auburn team that went 13-0 in his third and final season with the Tigers before taking the same job at Texas.

Richmond Rallies, Reaches Final

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Eric Ward threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joe Stewart with 14 seconds left to give Richmond (12-3) a 21-20 victory against Northern Iowa (12-3), sending the Spiders to the Football Championship Subdivision title game.

Richmond started the winning drive at its 38 with 1:44 remaining and no timeouts left. Ward passed the Spiders down the field and hit Stewart in the end zone to tie it at 20. Andrew Howard kicked the extra point for the win.

Richmond, whose 12 wins are a school record, reached the final for the first time and will play Montana in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Friday night.

Minn.-Duluth Takes D-II Crown

FLORENCE, Ala. - Ted Schlafke threw two touchdowns to lead Minnesota-Duluth (15-0) to its first NCAA Division II football championship with a 21-14 win against Northwest Missouri State.

Northwest Missouri (13-2) lost in the title game for the fourth consecutive season.

SWAC: Greg Dillon threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another as Grambling State (11-2, 7-0) took a 41-9 victory against Jackson State (7-5, 6-1) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game at Birmingham, Ala.

Dillon was 12-of-17 passing for 137 yards and one interception.

The Grambling State (11-2, 7-0) defense forced five Jackson State (7-5, 6-1) turnovers.

Division III

Nate Kmic gained 310 yards and scored three touchdowns to become college football's career rushing leader, lifting Mount Union (14-0) to a 45-24 win over Wheaton (11-3) in the NCAA Division III semifinals.

Kmic broke the record on a 42-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. He has 7,986 career yards, 24 more than the record set by Danny Woodhead of Chadron State in 2004-07.

Mount Union (14-0) advanced to Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl for the 12th time. The top-ranked Purple Raiders will be seeking their 10th national title in Salem, Va., on Saturday against Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-1), which defeated Mary-Hardin Baylor 39-13.

The teams will meet for the fourth year in a row for the championship. A year ago, Whitewater beat Mount Union 31-21, snapping the Purple Raiders' 37-game winning streak.

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