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Associated Press

COLUMBUS — Two more Ohio State players will miss the Rose Bowl.

On his weekly radio show Tuesday, coach Jim Tressel confirmed that the team’s top kick returner, Ray Small, and backup defensive lineman Rob Rose would not be making the trip with the Buckeyes to play Oregon. Tressel says both were suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

The two seniors were also classmates at Cleveland’s Glenville High School.

Freshman wide receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL great Cris Carter, was declared ineligible last week shortly after semester grades were released. Ohio State would not say why Carter was unavailable to play.

The team was scheduled to arrive in California on Christmas Day.

Oregon’s Holland out of Rose Bowl

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon wide receiver Jamere Holland has been ruled academically ineligible to play in the Rose Bowl.

The university made the announcement Wednesday. The junior started the first two games before getting shifted to a reserve role. He had 13 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns this season. He also carried the ball three times for 41 yards.

The Ducks (10-2) face Ohio State on Jan. 1.

USC RB McKnight rejoins team, not cleared to play

SAN FRANCISCO — Southern California tailback Joe McKnight has rejoined the Trojans for practice after missing their early preparations for the Emerald Bowl.

McKnight still hasn’t been cleared by the school to play against Boston College on Saturday night. USC is investigating his use of an SUV that doesn’t belong to him.

McKnight practiced with the Trojans in Los Angeles on Monday, but stayed home to deal with compliance issues when the Trojans traveled to San Francisco. Coach Pete Carroll says he arrived in the Bay Area on Wednesday night.

McKnight is USC’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005.

Chiefs coach Haley says he did not flip off fan after loss

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Accused of making an obscene gesture to a fan, Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley says such a thing is not in his character.

Fans were abuzz Wednesday over an accusation leveled Tuesday night through a Kansas City TV sportscaster. The fan, who was not identified by the sportscaster, said Haley flipped him off while walking into the tunnel right after Sunday’s 41-34 home loss to Cleveland.

Haley responded Wednesday, saying he appreciates Chiefs fans and wouldn’t disrespect them. He said he has five children to be a role model for and making obscene gestures to fans is not the way he behaves.

Haley said, “That’s not something I do, would do, want to do, or want to be thought of as doing.”

Emporia honors NASCAR’s Bowyer with street name

EMPORIA, Kan. — NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer has donated thousands of dollars in his Kansas hometown in recent years, and now Emporia is showing its thanks.

Bowyer’s racing career began on a practice track at Flint Hills Towing on Emporia’s Graham Street. This week, he was on hand as the city unveiled a sign adding the honorary label, Clint Bowyer Boulevard.

Two years ago, Bowyer established the 79 Fund with the Emporia Community Foundation to help Emporians in need. The fund has helped a city cleanup project and the city Arts Council’s building fund, and this month provided 20 Christmas trees to needy families and shoes for 85 children.

Bowyer says he’s humbled by the street sign, and promises that his fund’s work has just begun.

Nevada player

arrested for

allegedly shoplifting

HONOLULU — A Nevada linebacker who did not play in the Hawaii Bowl after he was dismissed by the team had been arrested days earlier on suspicion of shoplifting.

Honolulu police say Andre Davis was detained this week by security at a Waikiki store before he was turned over to authorities.

Nevada coach Chris Ault said Wednesday that Davis had been dismissed from the program for violating team and athletic department policy although he did not disclose the exact violation.

Davis apologized to his team and family in an interview with Hawaii’s KGMB-KHNL news station Wednesday after posting bail. He is expected to be arraigned in January, and his attorney says he doesn’t plan to fight any charges.

SMU went beat Nevada 45-10 in Thursday’s game.

Pacquiao says he plans to sue

Mayweather

SARANGANI, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao says he is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr., the fighter’s father, and Golden Boy Promotions.

In a statement posted Friday on his Web site, Pacquiao claims that his character has been damaged and tarnished by accusations he says are untrue.

“Enough is enough,” Pacquiao said in the statement. “These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard.”

The proposed megafight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is in danger because the sides have failed to find a compromise to a dispute over blood testing. Promoter Bob Arum declared the bout dead Thursday.

Arum had set a Thursday deadline for an agreement on testing, the only issue not resolved for the planned March 13 fight. But with the Mayweather camp still insisting on using the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct the tests, Arum said there wasn’t much left to discuss.