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Associated Press

COLUMBUS — Safety Kurt Coleman is the Ohio State football team’s MVP.

He also received awards as outstanding defensive player and best in the Michigan game at Sunday’s awards banquet. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor was selected as the top offensive player.

Other award winners: Andrew Moses (academics); Zach Boren (first-year offensive player); John Simon (first-year defensive player); Ray Small (special teams); Ross Homan (linebacker); Dane Sanzenbacher (receiver); Brandon Saine and Dan Herron (outstanding offensive back); Anderson Russell (defensive back); Dan Potokar (most inspirational); Jake Ballard (offensive lineman); Thaddeus Gibson (Homecoming game standout); Cameron Heyward (Agonis award); Thaddeus Gibson (Jim Marshall); and Cameron Heyward (defensive lineman).

Choo voted Indians Man of Year

CLEVELAND — Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, one of the few bright spots in Cleveland’s worst season in nearly two decades, was named Man of the Year for 2009 by Cleveland’s chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Choo batted .300 with 20 homers and 86 RBIs and 21 steals. He was the only AL player to hit .300 with at least 20 homers and steals. In a season in which Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore were hurt, Choo carried much of Cleveland’s offensive load.

Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera were the only players nominated for the award.

Utilityman Jamey Carroll received the Good Guy Award from the writers for being helpful to the media. Carroll, who is likely to sign elsewhere as a free agent this winter, was always accessible even as the Indians staggered to a 65-97 record — their worst since 1991.

Weis apologizes for comments about USC’s Carroll

LOS ANGELES — Charlie Weis has apologized to Southern California coach Pete Carroll for comments that he says were taken out of context in a recent interview.

In an interview transcript posted on IrishIllustrated.com Saturday, the former Notre Dame coach was quoted interrupting a question featuring Carroll’s name with a lengthy answer that suggested Carroll doesn’t live with his wife, yet the media never mentions it.

Carroll told the Los Angeles Times that Weis’ comments were “untrue” and “irresponsible.”

Weis later claimed his comments were meant to be general statements about false Internet rumors and their impact on coaches’ lives.

Weis called Carroll to apologize Sunday, saying his words were represented incorrectly.

Florida: Meyer

feeling better after hospital stay

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Urban Meyer has been released from a local hospital after being treated for dehydration.

Meyer was admitted early Sunday morning, but school spokesman Steve McClain says Meyer is feeling much better.

It was unclear what caused Meyer to go to Shands at the University of Florida and how long he spent at the hospital.

Meyer’s stay came hours after the top-ranked Gators lost 32-13 to No. 2 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game. The loss snapped Florida’s 22-game winning streak and left the defending national champions headed to the Sugar Bowl to probably face unbeaten Cincinnati, Meyer’s alma mater.

Lavender leads

No. 3 Ohio State past Wisconsin

COLUMBUS — Jantel Lavender scored 16 of her 23 points in the second half, powering slow-starting No. 3 Ohio State to a 70-55 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

The Buckeyes (9-1), coming off a devastating 83-67 loss at No. 11 Duke on Wednesday, trailed by eight points at halftime as the Badgers (7-2) controlled the tempo.

Lavender, who hit the go-ahead basket with 9:38 left, added 10 rebounds. Brittany Johnson scored 16 points and Tayler Hill and Samantha Prahalis each added 11 for the Buckeyes, who have won 15 straight home games and 15 in a row over Wisconsin.

Alyssa Karel and Teah Gant both had 10 points for the Badgers.

Ohio State is chasing a sixth consecutive Big Ten title.

Furyk rallies to win Tiger’s event

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Jim Furyk made two clutch putts to finish off his 5-under 67 and rally to win the Chevron World Challenge for his first victory in more than two years.

It was the first time in the history of this tournament that host Tiger Woods wasn’t around to present the trophy. He withdrew because of unspecified injuries in a car crash, although Woods continued to dominate talk at Sherwood with so much negative publicity around him.

One familiar sight Sunday — the winner in a red shirt, and timely putts.

Furyk holed a 35-foot par putt on the 17th hole, then hit his approach to 5 feet on the 18th. Waiting to putt, he saw that Lee Westwood had birdied the 17th to tie for the lead. Furyk knocked in his birdie putt, and Westwood wound up taking bogey on the final hole.

Merritt tops Q-school

leaderboard

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. — Troy Merritt had a three-stroke lead over former Boise State teammate Graham Delaet on Sunday when fifth-round play in the rain-delayed PGA Tour qualifying tournament was suspended for the day because of darkness.

Merritt, the Mexico Open winner this year on the Nationwide Tour, was 1 over through 12 holes on the Links at Bear Lakes Country Club and 18 under overall.

Delaet also had six holes left on the Links course. Brenden Pappas and Jeff Maggert were 14 under. Pappas had four holes left in the round, and Maggert has six left.