Iowa quarterback AP Player of the Year

For a guy who never started a college football game before this season, Iowa quarterback Brad Banks caught on pretty fast. Not only did Banks become the nation’s top-rated passer, he also led the third-ranked Hawkeyes (11-1) back to national prominence and into the Orange Bowl.

Banks was chosen Monday as The Associated Press College Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound Banks received 24 votes in balloting by 71 members of the AP college football poll board, which includes representatives of newspapers, TV and radio stations.

He edged Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer by three votes, with Miami running back Willis McGahee third with 10 votes.

Penn State running back Larry Johnson was fourth with six votes, Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey had five votes, and Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser had three votes.

In the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2, Banks will match passes with Palmer, who threw for 3,639 yards and 32 TDs.

Maine linebacker linked to steroids

Orono, Maine – Maine linebacker Stephen Cooper is being investigated for possession of steroids after police found 1,000 pills during a traffic stop last month.

Cooper acknowledged to police that the pills were steroids, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. The pills were seized and the case was referred to the U.S. attorney’s office.

No charges have been filed, and federal prosecutors would not comment on the investigation.

Anabolic steroids, which increase muscle mass, are illegal in the United States unless prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons. Their use is banned by the NCAA.