Jackson, Miss. ? Sylvester Croom resigned from Mississippi State on Saturday, five years after becoming the Southeastern Conference’s first black head football coach.

Croom’s decision came less than 24 hours after an embarrassing 45-0 loss to No. 25 Mississippi in the most lopsided Egg Bowl in 37 years. He announced the decision after meeting with athletic director Greg Byrne.

Croom, who took over the team while it was under NCAA sanctions, won 2007 SEC coach-of-the-year honors after leading the Bulldogs to an 8-5 finish and the Liberty Bowl. He signed a contract extension in the offseason that paid him $1.7 million this year.

But he came under immediate pressure from fans after a season-opening loss to Louisiana Tech of the Western Athletic Conference, and the heat only intensified as the offensively inept Bulldogs stumbled to a 4-8 finish.

The coach was 21-38 overall.

“Five years ago, Mississippi State gave me the unprecedented opportunity to be a head football coach in the Southeastern Conference and to build a program based upon a strong foundation,” Croom said in a statement.

“We have tried to build a program the right way that can compete for conference championships. I believe the foundation has been set for those goals to be reached under the leadership of someone else, and it was my decision to resign.”

Calls for Croom to make changes to his coaching staff and run-first offensive philosophy dogged the Bulldogs. The team continued to have trouble at quarterback, and Croom switched starters midway through the season.

NFL

Burress accidentally shot

Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the right thigh and spent the night in the hospital, another dramatic turn in a tumultuous season in which the star New York Giants receiver has been fined and suspended.

The Giants said the shooting happened Friday night, and he was released from the hospital early Saturday. The team did not say which hospital Burress went to or how badly he was injured.

However, a team official told the Associated Press that Burress shot himself in a nightclub. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was still trying to sort out all the facts.

“Our primary concern is for Plaxico’s health and well-being, and given the circumstances, we are relieved to say he was released from a New York City hospital,” the Giants said in a statement.

New York City police said they were investigating whether the incident took place at Latin Quarter, a sprawling 15,000-square-foot, two-story restaurant and club located in the Radisson Lexington Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

Police added that they have not spoken to Burress or recovered the gun used in the shooting.

Newsday reported Burress has a concealed weapon permit from the state of Florida that expired in May 2008. It is unclear if the permit was renewed; such a license can be renewed up to six months beyond the expiration date in accordance with section 790.06(11)(a) of Florida Statutes. However, the states of New York and New Jersey do not recognize permits from Florida, so Burress could be charged in the incident.

Dolphins suspend lineman

Davie, Fla. — Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Paul Soliai was suspended for the second time this season for an unspecified violation of team rules. Soliai will not play today when the Dolphins visit the St. Louis Rams.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Notre Dame forward ailing

South Bend, Ind. — Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody is out indefinitely because he has pneumonia. Harangody, the Big East player of the year last season, became ill after scoring 29 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in No. 8 Notre Dame’s 81-80 victory over No. 6 Texas on Tuesday in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational.

Despite feeling ill, he had 13 points and seven rebounds in a 102-87 loss to top-ranked North Carolina in the championship game Wednesday.

NBA

Rockets’ McGrady sidelined

Houston — Houston guard Tracy McGrady missed the Rockets’ game Saturday night against San Antonio because of a sore left knee. McGrady also sat out Wednesday night against Indiana and will miss the Rockets’ game today in Denver. He played Houston’s first 15 games, but said before training camp that his knee hurt and needed time to heal after arthroscopic surgery in May.

Warriors’ Jackson injured

New York — Golden State scoring leader Stephen Jackson missed the Warriors’ game against New York on Saturday night because of a sprained left wrist. Jackson was hurt sometime during the Warriors’ five-game trip and aggravated the injury in a 112-97 loss at Cleveland on Friday night.

GOLF

Choi tops Skins Game

Indian Wells, Calif. — K.J. Choi rolled in a three-foot birdie putt worth $75,000 on the third hole Saturday, giving him the first-day lead in the 26th annual Skins Game.

Phil Mickelson earned $25,000 with a spectacular eagle-3 on the fourth hole, while two-time defending champion Stephen Ames and Skins Game rookie Rocco Mediate were shut out on the first nine holes.

Sorenstam logs victory

Singapore — Annika Sorenstam isn’t quite finished. Playing her second-to-last event before retiring, Sorenstam holed a 45-foot pitch for eagle on the par-5 18th hole to give herself and Suzann Pettersen a 1-up victory over Inbee Park and Eun Hee Ji on Saturday in the Lexus Cup. With the comeback victory in the opening best-ball match at Singapore Island Country Club, Sorenstam and Pettersen helped the International team match two-time defending champion Asia at six points entering the closing 12 singles matches.

Allenby shares lead

Melbourne, Australia — Robert Allenby holed a 3-wood shot for a double eagle on the par-5 seventh and finished with a 5-under 67 on Saturday for a share of the third-round lead in the Australian Masters with playing partner Michael Sim. Sim shot a 68 to match Allenby at 10-under 206 on the Huntingdale course.

Australia, Spain tied

Shenzhen, China — Brendan Jones made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, giving Australia a 9-under 63 and a share of the lead with Spain after the third round of the World Cup of Golf on Saturday.