FSU loss closes out Lewis' career with Georgia Tech

Bill Lewis, whose last game at Georgia Tech was a 41-10 loss at home to Florida State, stepped down as head coach Monday night, and the school named defensive coordinator George O'Leary to finish out the season.

"Late last week it was made clear to me that a decision had been made to make a coaching change. It was irreversible," Lewis said. "What I needed to do was to step down as of today."

Lewis will take an administrative position in the school's college of management. He spoke for 15 minutes during a news conference Monday night. He didn't answer questions.

"Over the last four or five weeks, our football team and coaches have been put through some trying circumstances," said Lewis, whose team has only one victory this season, over I-AA Western Carolina. "We can close the book. This gives our team a chance to be as successful as they can be in the last three games."

Lewis led the Yellow Jackets to an 11-19 record in three seasons, including 1-7 overall and 0-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.

Mackovic says he was rattled by hit

AUSTIN, Texas _ Texas coach John Mackovic hasn't felt well the past month, and it's not just because his team has lost three of its past four games.

Mackovic said Monday he may have suffered side effects from a sideline collision during the Longhorns' game against Colorado on Oct. 1.

"This is not a cop-out, but I got hurt in the Colorado game and didn't really understand," Mackovic said.

Mackovic said his reactions slowed after he was knocked down by Texas defensive end Tony Brackens, who accidentally ran into the coach after chasing Colorado quarterback Kordell Stewart out of bounds. The collision threw Mackovic back several feet and cut him on his chin and elbow, requiring stitches.

"I didn't think I was detached, but I was different (after the collision)," Mackovic said. "I was watching the team play and watching things happen, and I just wasn't able to respond as quickly."

Rumors target Hallman

BATON ROUGE, La. _ Someone has been spreading false rumors that LSU head coach Curley Hallman told his staff to quit recruiting, that he will be fired, Hallman said Monday.

"That is as far (from the truth) as anything that ever occurred," Hallman, whose team is 2-6, said at his weekly news luncheon.

Elsewhere

Washington: A group of Washington football players withdrew their motion for an injunction to temporarily end the probation that bars the Huskies from a bowl game this season. The players said they decided to give up their fight after they lost to Stanford on Saturday, giving them a 6-3 record and making it unlikely the team would be asked to a major bowl.