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MULLEN DISPUTES GATORS TD, WANTS OFFICIAL DISCIPLINED

 
Published Oct. 26, 2009|Updated July 9, 2010

JACKSON, Miss. - Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen called for disciplinary action against the SEC replay official who worked the Bulldogs' 29-19 loss Saturday to top-ranked Florida after a Gators touchdown that might have been a fumble was not overturned.

Mullen said Sunday that it's understandable if a field official makes a mistake because of the speed of the game, but the replay official should be accountable.

"I don't even know why we have replay right now in the Southeastern Conference if they're not going to utilize it," Mullen said. "I hope he's severely punished if he ever works another SEC game again."

The replay official listed was Dan Dembinski.

SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said the league would not comment until after the play is reviewed today.

With Florida up 23-13 midway through the fourth, linebacker Dustin Doe held the ball out in celebration as he returned an interception 23 yards. Brandon McRae stripped the ball near the goal line and recovered, but it was called a touchdown.

UF defensive tackle Terron Sanders said the Gators gave Doe a hard time: "We told him it was real close, and we told him that it was a boneheaded move.''

Said assistant Chuck Heater: "We've all watched it on ESPN highlights, and bloopers, right? That was awfully close.''

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Bradford to have surgery, enter NFL

ST. LOUIS - Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford plans season-ending right shoulder surgery Wednesday and expects to enter the NFL draft in April.

Bradford injured his throwing shoulder twice this season. He faces recovery time of four to six weeks.

"I dreamed about coming to Oklahoma my whole life," the junior said. "That's the reason I came back for this season. That's the reason I tried to play after the injury. I'm very disappointed.''

RANKINGS: Florida regained the Associated Press No. 1 ranking, and the Gators, Alabama and Texas held onto the top three spots in the BCS standings, keeping control of their chances to reach the title game.

Miami sustained the biggest BCS drop, plunging nine spots to No. 19, and Texas Christian passed Boise State, positioning itself as this season's BCS buster.

In the AP, Alabama dropped to No. 2 with the top two spots flip-flopping from one week to the next for the first time since Miami and Washington in 1992.

NOTRE DAME: After freshman Ben Turk averaged 32.7 yards per punt Saturday, coach Charlie Weis said that job is open.

TENNESSEE: Coach Lane Kiffin said he did not run another play before a blocked 44-yard field goal in a loss at Alabama in part because "I wasn't going to let the refs lose the game for us there and some magical flag appear.'' With about 35 seconds left, the Vols waited and spiked the ball with four seconds to play. Tennessee had eight penalties for 68 yards and Alabama had one 10-yard penalty. Kiffin expects a reprimand from the SEC for criticizing officials as Arkansas' Bobby Petrino was for criticizing officiating in a loss to Florida on Oct. 17. "I'm sure we'll get one of those letters that really means nothing, as Bobby got last week, but Florida and Alabama live on," Kiffin said.

late saturday: Kellen Moore threw five touchdowns and visiting Boise State forced six turnovers that led to 30 points in a 54-9 win over Hawaii.

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USF basketball gets guard commitment

TAMPA - USF got its first oral commitment of the season, on Sunday from Lavonte Dority, a 6-foot-1 point guard from Chicago who visited last weekend.

"I think the program is on the rise," said Dority, rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and a two-star by Scout.com. "I love the coaching staff, and I just liked the environment. And you can't beat the Big East."

ACC: Media members picked North Carolina and Duke as conference co-favorites. Clemson was picked third, followed by Georgia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest, FSU, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Miami, Virginia and North Carolina State.

Times staff writers Antonya English and Greg Auman contributed to this report.