Strong to be introduced as Texas head coach

Strong to be introduced as Texas head coach

AUSTIN, Texas

New Texas football coach Charlie Strong says he’s excited to lead one of the premier programs in the country, calling the Longhorns job a dream.

In a statement released by the school formally announcing the hire Sunday, Strong called Texas a special program because of its history, tradition and pride.

Strong spent the previous four years at Louisville. His Cardinals teams went 23-3 the last two seasons. He replaces Mack Brown, who coached Texas for 16 years and won the 2005 national championship. The Longhorns have lost at least four games each of the last four seasons.

Strong says the decision to leave Louisville was difficult, but Texas was a job offer he couldn’t pass up. Strong was traveling to Austin on Sunday and will be introduced at a Monday news conference.

Al Golden not leaving The U for PSU

CORAL GABLES, Fla.

Miami coach Al Golden has released a statement, saying he is not a “candidate for another position.”

Golden’s statement did not specifically mention Penn State, his alma mater that reportedly targeted him as a top candidate to replace Bill O’Brien as its next coach.

Golden says he is “flattered that our progress at The U during an extremely difficult period of time is recognized.”

Golden is 22-15 in three seasons at Miami, with much of that time coming while the Hurricanes were dealing with an NCAA investigation that revolved around the actions of a former booster. That saga ended midway through this past season, when Miami finished 9-4 and began luring a recruiting class that is widely expected to be among the top 10 nationally.

Seahawks’ Lynch fined $50k for avoiding press

The NFL has fined Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch $50,000 for violating the league’s media policy.

Lynch stepped in front of a camera Friday and spoke for less than 90 seconds. It was his first time taking questions from the media all season, having politely declined every previous time.

Lynch’s longest answer was 24 words when asked about the Seahawks’ focus this week not knowing who their opponent will be.

The Seahawks will host the New Orleans Saints in the divisional playoffs Saturday. Lynch finished the regular season with 1,257 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.

Clippers’ Chris Paul out up to 6 weeks

LOS ANGELES

Chris Paul will be out of the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup for up to six weeks with a separated right shoulder, but the All-Star point guard won’t need surgery.

The Clippers gave the prognosis Sunday after Paul had an MRI. Paul was injured in the third quarter of the Clippers’ game at Dallas on Friday when he tripped over guard Monta Ellis.

Paul is averaging 19.6 points, an NBA-best 11.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game for the Pacific Division-leading Clippers, who were blown out by San Antonio on Saturday night in his absence.

Darren Collison is taking Paul’s spot in the starting lineup for the Clippers, who open a four-game homestand Monday against Orlando.

Finland wins world junior hockey title

MALMO, Sweden

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored at 9:42 of overtime to give Finland its third world junior hockey title, 3-2 over Sweden on Sunday.

Ristolainen picked up the puck along the right boards, cut in front of the goal and slid a backhander under goalie Oscar Dansk’s right leg pad. Finland also won the under-20 event in 1987 in Czechoslovakia and 1998 at home in Helsinki.

Sweden’s tied it at 2 on Christian Djoos’ power-play goal with 9:07 left in the third period. Finland’s Era Lindell scored 28 seconds into the game, and Lucas Wallmark tied it on a power play at 7:53 of the second.

In the third-place game, Russia beat Canada 2-1.

Associated Press