Notre Dame's Brian Kelly named top coach

NOTRE DAME'S Brian Kelly Wednesday was named the Home Depot Coach of the Year after the No. 1 Irish finished the regular season 12-0 and earned a spot opposite Alabama in the BCS championship game.

Kelly became the first two-time winner of the award. He won it in 2009 when he coached Cincinnati.

In another Notre Dame matter, Tyler Eifert won the John Mackey Award that goes to college football's best tight end.

Coming into the season, Eifert was regarded as the best receiver for the Fighting Irish and drew extra attention from opposing defenses. Nonetheless, he had 44 receptions for 624 yards and four touchdowns.

A senior, Eifert is Notre Dame's all-time leading receiver among tight ends and has also been praised for his blocking.

Rutgers is suing the Big East Conference, trying to avoid paying an exit fee.

Rutgers is trying to avoid a $10 million hit for leaving en route to the Big Ten. Big East bylaws state a school must give 27 months' notice and pay a $10 million withdrawal fee.

The suit says the Big East selectively enforced the rules. Rutgers claims some schools did and some did not have to give notice or pay the fee on their way out of the embattled conference. The Big East allowed Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and TCU to leave the league before the 27-month period had run its course.

The conference voted to increase its exit fee from $5 million to $10 million last month. Rutgers did not vote on the motion, but voiced opposition.

* California wide receiver Keenan Allen said he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Allen finishes his career as the school's all-time leader with 205 receptions. He ranks third with 2,570 yards receiving and seventh with 17 touchdown catches.

* Some standing-room only tickets for Saturday's Army-Navy game at the Linc are available.

They can be obtained at area TicketMaster outlets, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.