North Texas hires Gators coach

DENTON, Texas - North Texas has introduced Dan McCarney as its new football coach, giving the Mean Green a leader with plenty of college experience.

McCarney's hiring comes six weeks after former standout high school coach Todd Dodge was fired following a failed 31/2-season experiment.

McCarney has been in college coaching for 34 years, the last three as a defensive coach at Florida. He was also head coach at Iowa State for 12 seasons.

North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal says it's time for the Mean Green football program to act like a "big-time program." Dodge was 6-37 at North Texas, which has had six consecutive losing seasons in the Sun Belt Conference.

SEC could fine Auburn if Newton stays silent

AUBURN, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference could fine Auburn if quarterback Cam Newton isn't available for postgame interviews following the league championship game.

The SEC requires all coaches and student athletes to be made available to reporters after the title game. League spokesman Charles Bloom said Tuesday that Commissioner Mike Slive can fine a school for violating that policy, but has never had to do so. Bloom said the amount is at the commissioner's discretion.

The second-ranked Tigers meet No. 18 South Carolina on Saturday.

Newton hasn't spoken to the media since Nov. 9. The NCAA is investigating his recruitment after allegations that Newton's father wanted $180,000 to sign with Mississippi State.

Coach Gene Chizik declined to answer Tuesday when asked if Auburn would abide by SEC rules.

ACC names Friedgen top coach

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Maryland's Ralph Friedgen is the Atlantic Coast Conference's coach of the year for the second time.

The Terrapins coach on Tuesday was named the award winner following a vote of 61 members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.

Friedgen received 29 votes, and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer was second with 19. North Carolina State's Tom O'Brien and Florida Stat