College Football | Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell now says Mike Leach likely to stay

Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell isn't so sure now that coach Mike Leach will be leaving Lubbock.

Harrell, who last week said there was a "great chance" Leach would leave the Red Raiders, reversed his opinion Tuesday because his coach didn't fill the vacancy at Washington.

"I really thought a few weeks ago he might go," Harrell said in a brief interview with the AP. "I thought the Washington job would be a great job for him. He loves the West Coast. He likes the Pac-10 conference.

"When he didn't take that one, I figured, I think he'll be back."

Leach met with Washington officials, but USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was hired to replace Tyrone Willingham.

Hall of Fame

inducts 13 players

NEW YORK — Billy Cannon has lived through the highest highs and lowest lows.

As an electrifying running back at LSU, he became an All-American, a Heisman Trophy winner and a national champion. He was smart enough to become a dentist and misguided enough to become a bankrupt felon.

His newest title: member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Twenty-two years after being released from prison and 11 since he was unemployed and broke, Cannon's life is in order and his greatest accomplishments are being celebrated.

Joining the 72-year-old Cannon in this year's Hall of Fame class were Troy Aikman and Thurman Thomas, two Super Bowl heroes and recent inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The other players were Rueben Mayes of Washington State, Don McPherson of Syracuse, Jim Dombrowski of Virginia, Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern, Wilber Marshall of Florida, Jay Novacek of Wyoming, Dave Parks of Texas Tech, Randall McDaniel of Arizona State, Ron Simmons of Florida State and Arnold Tucker of Army. John Cooper and Lou Holtz were elected as coaches.

"When I think of this gathering today, I am very humbled," Mayes said. "I actually came from a different country [Canada] and was graciously accepted by all the people at Washington State."

Notes

• California center Alex Mack won the Draddy Trophy, given to the top senior scholar-athlete in college football.

He beat out 14 other players from all levels of college football.

• Incoming New Mexico coach Mike Locksley is picking up where his predecessor left off, saying the program is in good shape and he's ready to make things even better.

"This isn't a rebuilding project. I look at it as a renovation," Locksley said. "I'll be putting my personal touches on the great foundation that's already been laid."

Locksley is the fourth black head coach in the Bowl Subdivision. He agreed to a six-year contract worth $750,000 annually.

• Wake Forest senior Aaron Curry has won the Butkus Award honoring the nation's top college linebacker.

• Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was given the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.

• Dozens of Auburn students and alumni marched across campus to the president's mansion to protest the school's treatment of former coach Tommy Tuberville.