Newton, James are Heisman finalists

Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Oregon running back LaMichael James, two of the nation's most dynamic players, will meet in the national championship game next month.

First, a stop in New York.

Newton and James were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy yesterday, and will be joined by quarterbacks Andrew Luck, of Stanford, and Kellen Moore of, Boise State, for Saturday's announcement in Times Square.

"Since I was a young boy, playing the game of football has been a pure joy and this season has been a very special one for my teammates and for me," Newton said in a statement.

In other college football news:

* Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis has resigned and two other assistant coaches are leaving after the Longhorns' first losing season since 1997. Davis, who has been with head coach Mack Brown for 13 seasons at Texas, which finished 5-7. Offensive line coach Mac McWhorter and defensive line coach Mike Tolleson also are leaving the program.

* Jon Embree was introduced as Colorado's new coach after accepting a 5-year deal that's worth approximately $1 million a season. He takes over for Dan Hawkins, who was fired after going 19-39 during four-plus seasons.

* Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn won the annual Broyles Award given to the nation's top college assistant coach.

* Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player.

* Oregon coach Chip Kelly was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America after leading the Ducks to a 12-0 record.

* An annual report released by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport found the graduation success rate for black players went from 58 percent last year to 60 percent this year among the 70 bowl teams. But for white players, the graduation rates increased from 77 to 80 percent.

* Senior punter Rob Long of Syracuse will undergo immediate surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and won't play for the Orange in the Pinstripe Bowl.

* Oregon State police said the oversized mascot head of ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso has been recovered, and two men have been cited on theft charges in the case. The prop used on ESPN's "College Gameday" was reported stolen in Corvallis on Saturday after the Oregon-Oregon State game. An Oregon State employee found the prop near his home in Harrisburg, nearly 30 miles from the OSU campus.

* Penn senior kicker Andrew Samson is among the 10 finalists for the Fred Mitchell Award, which is presented to the placekicker that best excels on the field and in the community in the FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA divisions combined. The winner will be chosen on Dec. 15.

* An upstate New York prosecutor who made national headlines by charging a Florida pharmacy with selling anabolic steroids to pro athletes and entertainers is being sued by the pharmacists for $75 million. Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares and his deputy face federal trial on accusations of false arrest and defamation in the case. Meanwhile, Soares' charges against operators of the Orlando pharmacy, shut down in a 2007 raid. have been dismissed twice by courts.