South Carolina Is Rewarding Holtz

Lou Holtz, who turned a 21-game losing streak into a 7-4 record at South Carolina, will get a contract extension and raise.

“Coach Holtz is responsible for one of the greatest turnarounds in the history of college football,� Athletic Director Mike McGee said.

Holtz, completing his second year at the school, will have his contract reinstated to the original five-year term. His raise has not been determined. He currently makes a base salary of $150,000 and a total package worth $883,600.

If South Carolina goes to a bowl, as expected, the 63-year-old coach will have taken six different teams to a bowl game by his second season.

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Miami Coach Butch Davis denied any contact with Alabama officials concerning the Crimson Tide’s vacant coaching job despite reports indicating that he is a leading candidate. Alabama is also reportedly interested in Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer. . . . Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter will miss his third consecutive game Saturday against Georgia Tech because of an injured right thumb. His coach, Jim Donnan, who nearly took the North Carolina job three years ago, spent much of Tuesday saying that he didn’t want to replace the fired Carl Torbush at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Washington State Coach Mike Price says running back Deon Burnett is free to transfer. Burnett left the team during the game against Washington, changed clothes and left the stadium. Burnett, who ran for a freshman record 974 yards last season, lost his starting role this fall after injuring a knee. . . . Wisconsin kicker Vitaly Pisetsky was suspended for Saturday’s game at Hawaii for receiving benefits exceeding $300 as a freshman. Pisetsky was originally thought to have received benefits between $100-$299 from the Shoe Box, a Madison-area retail outlet, but an in-house review revealed the actual amount topped $300, forcing the suspension. . . . As expected, Texas El Paso Coach Gary Nord signed a two-year contract extension. He deal runs to 2007.

Michigan and Ohio State reportedly were selected over Northwestern to play in bowl games that have ties to the Big Ten Conference. Although the Wildcats defeated the Wolverines during the season and the teams tied for the Big Ten title with Purdue, the Citrus Bowl extended an invitation to Michigan. Northwestern was also passed over by the Outback Bowl, which wants Ohio State. The Buckeyes finished a game behind the top three teams. Thus the Wildcats reportedly have been bounced to the Alamo Bowl, No. 4 on the Big Ten pecking order. Other Big Ten teams expected to earn bowl bids include Wisconsin (Sun) and Minnesota (Micron PC). Purdue will compete in the Rose Bowl. . . . Southern Mississippi accepted a bid to play No. 15 Texas Christian the Mobile Alabama Bowl. Two other Conference USA teams also were extended postseason invitations. Cincinnati will play in the Motor City Bowl and East Carolina will play in the inaugural galleryfurniture.com Bowl. . . . Georgia Tech accepted an invitation to play in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel and linebacker Rocky Calmus headline the Football Writers Assn. of America All-America team. . . . John Goodner was named defensive coordinator at Kentucky. He had previously worked at Texas Tech and Baylor. . . . Florida State’s Chris Weinke won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given annually to the nation’s top senior quarterback. . . . Jamar Fletcher of Wisconsin, Dwight Smith of Akron and Fred Smoot of Mississippi State were named finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football. Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer is gearing up to play rival Texas A&M; on Friday with a few choice words. “I don’t hate their team. I just want to kill them.� Jammer said.