College Football | Florida coach Urban Meyer is fined $30,000

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Urban Meyer of Florida became the first coach to be disciplined under the Southeastern Conference's new policy regarding criticizing officials.

The SEC fined Meyer $30,000 Friday, two days after he said referees missed a late hit against quarterback Tim Tebow in No. 1 Florida's 41-17 victory over Georgia. Meyer sent video of the play to the SEC office, but his mistake was telling media that refs missed the call.

Last week, the SEC changed its policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the punishment either a fine or a suspension and doing away with reprimands.

The change came after Tennessee's Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State's Dan Mullen and Arkansas' Bobby Petrino were reprimanded after they publicly questioned officiating.

"Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics," commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league's athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable."

Meyer apologized.

"As I stated last week, I have great respect for commissioner Mike Slive and the Southeastern Conference, and I respect this decision," Meyer said in a statement. "There was no intent to criticize an official after being asked about a situation that occurred last Saturday, and I apologize for my remarks."

Boise State prevails

RUSTON, La. — Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore, a sophomore from Prosser, threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns and the No. 5 Broncos remained in contention for a BCS bid with a 45-35 victory over Louisiana Tech.

Tech (3-6 overall, 2-4 Western Athletic) had pulled to 30-28 early in the fourth quarter on Dennis Morris' leaping catch in the corner of the end zone.

Boise State (9-0, 4-0) pulled away with touchdowns on consecutive drives, first on Moore's 12-yard pass to Austin Pettis and then on Jeremy Avery's 44-yard touchdown run.

"We made more plays than they did tonight when it mattered and we were able to finish it out," Moore said.

Notes

• A dozen students and a bus driver are being treated for injuries after three buses carrying members of the Grambling State marching band were involved in a traffic crash near Fordyce, Ark.

Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said none of the injuries appears to be life-threatening. In all, 126 students were aboard.

Grambling plays Arkansas-Pine Bluff today in Little Rock.

• Stanford will be without linebacker Clinton Snyder for the rest of the season.

Snyder, who leads the team with 61 tackles, injured his knee Tuesday in practice.