Wyoming fires coach with one game left

Laramie, Wyo. – Wyoming football coach Vic Koenning was fired Monday, with his team struggling at 2-9 and one game left on the schedule. Koenning is 5-28 in three seasons and will work the Cowboys’ finale at New Mexico on Nov. 30. He has two years left on a contract, with a base salary of $105,204 a year.

Koenning was Wyoming’s defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach for three seasons before being hired as head coach. He came to Wyoming from Memphis, where he was an assistant for six seasons (1991-96).

Austin Peay cans coach

Clarksville, Tenn. – Austin Peay fired football coach Bill Schmitz on Monday. Schmitz, who joined the Governors in 1997, was 19-46 in six seasons. The team finished 7-5 this year, Austin Peay’s first winning season since 1984. Athletics director Dave Loos said he had “significant philosophical differences” with the coach without further explanation.

Gator has surgery

Gainesville, Fla. – Florida receiver Carlos Perez had surgery Monday on his broken right leg and will begin rehabilitation in four weeks. The junior was Florida’s leading receiver with 58 catches for 591 yards and four touchdowns. Perez should be healthy in time for spring practice.

Vol returns to practice

Knoxville, Tenn. – Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen returned to practice Monday after a week off and was optimistic he would be able to play Saturday against Vanderbilt. Clausen sprained his right foot and ankle Nov. 9 against Miami. He missed the Vols’ 35-17 win against Mississippi State during the weekend.

Leftwich questionable

Charleston, W.Va. – Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich has yet to return to practice since injuring his left shin Nov. 2 and is questionable for Saturday’s game at Ohio. Leftwich is still on crutches, and backup Stan Hill is listed as the starter. A win against Ohio (4-6, 4-2 MAC) would give Marshall (7-2, 5-1) the division title and the home field in the conference championship Dec. 7.

Badger to have surgery

Madison, Wis. – Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans will have a second operation for a knee injury that sidelined him this season. Evans, who led the Big Ten in receiving last year, will have surgery this week and was expected to take six months to recover. Evans decided to have surgery again because of persistent swelling.

Former Razorback pleads innocent

Fayetteville, Ark. – Former Arkansas tackle Jermaine Brooks pleaded innocent Monday to charges of selling drugs and possessing stolen weapons. Prosecutors added a pair of charges after two handguns discovered in his apartment during a raid Oct. 22 were found to be stolen. A trial was set for Jan. 29.

Brooks was charged with the sale and possession of 101¼2 pounds of marijuana. Officers also seized several guns and nearly $17,000 in cash.

NCAA upholds Cal ban

Berkley, Calif. – The NCAA upheld its one-year bowl ban on California’s football team Monday, but restored nine scholarships it revoked in June after an investigation into academic fraud and other infractions. The ruling ended the bowl hopes of the Bears (6-5). Three months ago, the bowl ban seemed superfluous for a team that went 1-10 last fall.