Tar Heels outlast Vols in double OT

Casey Barth kicked a 23-yard field goal in the second overtime to send North Carolina past Tennessee, 30-27, in a Music City Bowl that will be remembered much more for the crazy finish of regulation that even gave the Tar Heels a chance to keep playing last night.

Barth kicked a 39-yard field goal after officials reviewed what had been the final play of the game and decided to penalize the Tar Heels (8-5) for having "more than 11 men" on the field. The Big Ten officiating crew also announced T.J. Yates had spiked the ball with 1 second left.

That allowed Barth to run out for the field goal that tied it at 20.

Tennessee (6-7) was stunned at the sudden switch that cost the Vols an apparent bowl victory to cap Derek Dooley's first season. Tyler Bray threw a 25-yard TD in the first overtime, but Quan Sturdivant picked him off to end the Vols' last chance in the second OT.

In other bowl games yesterday:

* At New York, the first Pinstripe Bowl turned into a home run derby, with Syracuse and Kansas State trading big plays and touchdowns in one of the most exciting games of this postseason.

A little too much enthusiasm, though, cost the Wildcats.

Delone Carter ran for career-high 198 yards and two touchdowns, Marcus Sales caught three long TD passes and Syracuse got some help from a celebration penalty on Kansas State to beat the Wildcats, 36-34, yesterday at Yankee Stadium.

Adrian Hilburn slipped a tackle and raced to a 30-yard touchdown catch with 1:13 remaining to pull Kansas State within two. Hilburn saluted the crowd behind the visitor's dugout and was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, which pushed the 2-point conversion attempt back to the 17-yard line.

Kansas State quarterback Carson Coffman overthrew Aubrey Quarles in the end zone, and when Kansas State (7-6) couldn't come up with the onside kick, Syracuse (8-5) only had to take a knee to win a bowl game for the first time since 2001.

* At Dallas, Josh McNary scooped up a fumble and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and Army held on to beat SMU, 16-14, in the Armed Forces Bowl, giving the Black Knights their first winning season since 1996.

* Michigan backup quarterback Tate Forcier is academically ineligible for the Gator Bowl against No. 21 Mississippi State, a person familiar with the ruling said.

* There's a new addition to Georgia's injury report for its Liberty Bowl game: The team's mascot, Uga VIII, will miss the festivities due to illness.

However, Georgia has turned to a reliable sub. Russ, the white English bulldog who served as the interim mascot following the death of Uga VII, has been called back into service to fill in for Uga VIII in today's Liberty Bowl game against Central Florida in Memphis.

* Southern Miss receiver DeAndre Brown has informed coach Larry Fedora that he plans to declare for the NFL draft.

* Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James is coming back to Oregon next season.

* Jacory Harris will be Miami's starting quarterback in the Sun Bowl against Notre Dame, getting the nod while Stephen Morris nurses an ankle sprain.

* BYU announced the resignation of offensive coordinator Robert Anae.