LOCAL

LOCAL
Harding's Phillipscommits to Pitt
WARREN -- Warren Harding senior defensive back Mike Phillips has verbally committed to the University of Pittsburgh, but he continues to visit other schools, the Associated Press reported Tuesday in its Pennsylvania scholastic notebook.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Phillips played quarterback and cornerback as he helped lead the Raiders to the Division I state championship game, where Harding lost to Cincinnati Elder.
An All-Ohio selection, Phillips recorded 30 tackles, 15 pass break-ups, four interceptions and a sack for Harding this past season.
REGION
Mount Union playershonored on AP team
National champions Grand Valley State and Mount Union dominated The Associated Press' Little All-America football team Tuesday with a total of five players selected to the squad.
Grand Valley State (14-0), the Division II national champs, led the way with three All-Americans -- quarterback Curt Anes, wide receiver David Kircus and offensive tackle Dale Westrick.
Mount Union (14-0), Division III champs for the third year in a row, was represented by record-setting running back Dan Pugh and cornerback Chris Kern.
Led by the Grand Valley State trio, there were eight repeaters from the 2001 team. The others were linemen -- Chris Booker of Delta State, J.D. Sheldon of Augustana (Ill.) and Seth Wand of Northwest Missouri State on offense, and Aaron McConnell of Pittsburg State and Steve Wilson of King's (Pa.) on defense.
Anes, the Harlon Hill Trophy winner as the division's top player, threw for 3,692 yards and 47 touchdowns; Kircus caught 77 passes for 1,341 yards and 35 TDs. Anes and Kircus helped the Lakers cap their perfect season with a 31-24 victory over Valdosta State in the Division II title game on Dec. 14.
Last year, Anes missed the title game with a knee injury and Grand Valley State lost to North Dakota 17-14.
The other running back was Ian Smart of C.W. Post, who was D-II's leading rusher with 2,023 yards. He also scored 30 touchdowns. Smart finished his career with 95 touchdowns and 570 points, both NCAA records.
Pugh, the Gagliardi Trophy winner as D-III's top player, ran for 2,047 yards and 31 TDs and then capped his career with a 253-yard, four-touchdown effort in last week's title game -- a 48-7 rout of Trinity (Texas). The 6-foot, 203-pound senior finished the season with an all-divisions record 41 TDs -- two more than Barry Sanders in 1988.
Kern had 53 tackles and a team-high four interceptions for the Purple Raiders, who allowed just 13.3 points a game.
The other receivers were Ben Nelson of St. Cloud State and Brian Potucek of Central Washington. Joining the four offensive line repeaters was Reggie Wells of Clarion (Pa.).
Wide receiver Blake Elliott of St. John's (Minn.) was the all-purpose player. Besides a remarkable 120 catches for 1,484 yards and 22 TDs, the junior scored three rushing touchdowns and returned two punts for scores.
Henrik Juul-Nielson of Nebraska-Kearney, who made 20 of 24 field goals, was the kicker.
Anthony Dunn of Northern Colorado and Mike Clay of Texas A & amp;M-Kingsville were the other defensive linemen. The linebackers were Khalid Abdullah of Mars Hill, Todd McComb of Catawba and Jamie Spielman of Wisconsin-Stout.
Dontaye McCoy of Emporia State, Drayton Florence of Tuskegee and Marvin Jackson of Chadron State rounded out the secondary.
Sean McNicholas of Edinboro was the punter, He averaged 42.2 yards on 58 punts.
NATION
Big Ten recommendssuspension of Davis
INDIANANPOLIS -- Indiana will respond Friday to the Big Ten's request that basketball coach Mike Davis be suspended following his outburst at the end of Saturday's game against Kentucky.
Interim athletic director Terry Clapacs said Tuesday he had received a letter from the Big Ten, which asked for the suspension.
Clapacs said he has spoken with Davis and will continue to speak with him before making a decision Friday, which is the conference's deadline.
"It's hard to make any statement till we review the tape again, and with the holidays, it makes it difficult to make all of the contacts," Clapacs said.
Wire reports