IN BRIEF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Oregon RB Johnson set to play in Holiday Bowl

Oregon running back Jeremiah Johnson, who hadn't practiced in eight days because of hamstring and stomach problems, says he'll be ready to go when the 15th-ranked Ducks meet No. 12 Oklahoma State on Tuesday in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

Johnson rushed for 1,082 yards this season for Oregon. He said the hamstring remains a little tight.

Also: Gus Malzahn, who directed one of the nation's top-ranked offenses at Tulsa, was hired by new Auburn coach Gene Chizik as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Malzahn brings a no-huddle, fast-paced attack to the Tigers, who abandoned a struggling spread offense in midseason and returned to a more smashmouth style.

Tulsa led the nation in total offense in 2007 and ranks second going into the Jan. 6 GMAC Bowl against Ball State in Mobile, Ala.

Malzahn, who spent one season as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, will join Auburn's staff after the bowl game.

Backup running back Shawnbrey McNeal and reserve tight end Daniel Adderley will be granted releases by Miami to transfer to other schools.

Miami coach Randy Shannon said he isn't sure which schools the players will chose. McNeal, who has an ailing mother and a small child to take care of in his native Texas, is thought to be considering enrolling at Texas Christian.

Adderley likely will return to South Carolina, his home state, Shannon said.

HORSE RACING

Proudinsky claims win in San Gabriel Handicap

Proudinsky beat Ferneley by three-quarters of a length to win the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap, one year after finishing second in the Grade II turf event at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Proudinsky ran 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 48.53 seconds.

Proudinsky paid $4.60, $3.20 and $2.80. Ferneley returned $7.80 and $4.80, and Medici Code, third in last year's San Gabriel, paid $3.80 to show.

Bejarano was tapped to ride after Garrett Gomez sustained hand and leg injuries in a spill Saturday. Gomez said he hopes to return to the saddle today, when Santa Anita will have a Pick Six carry-over of $156,069.

SKIING

Miller's tactics draw ire at World Cup downhill

Bode Miller's ploy to gain a better starting position backfired when he slammed into a gate and finished fourth in a World Cup downhill won by Italy's Christof Innerhofer in Bormio, Italy.

Miller missed Saturday's compulsory bib draw and was fined $933 and given the No. 46 starting spot, allowing him to ski when there was more sunlight on the icy Stelvio course.

International Ski Federation president Gian Franco Kasper called Miller's move "a mockery." He said there will be an inquiry to determine if the New Hampshire skier intentionally skipped the draw.

Innerhofer, the first starter out of the gate, notched his first World Cup victory. He was timed in 2 minutes, 3.55 seconds on a two-mile course that was icier and harder than usual. Klaus Kroell finished second, 0.32 seconds behind, and fellow Austrian Michael Walchhofer was third, 0.95 back.

Top skiers are usually drawn between 15 and 22. Miller said he was absent because he was getting medical attention following a minor injury in training. Miller, who has yet to win this season, added that he didn't mind being penalized.

Also: Kathrin Zettel of Austria won a women's World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria, for her second title of the season, and Lindsey Vonn of the United States finished eighth to remain atop the overall standings.

Zettel finished in a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 10.90 seconds to beat Italy's Manuela Moelgg by 0.37 seconds.

Olympic champion Julia Mancuso of Olympic Valley, Calif., was the fastest American, taking sixth, 1.27 seconds behind Zettel.

MISCELLANEOUS

Ex-Florida guard Lucas transferring to Texas

Jai Lucas, the former Florida guard who left the Gators last month, said he will transfer to Texas.

Lucas, son of former NBA player and coach John Lucas, started all 36 games as a freshman at Florida but decided after one exhibition game this season that he would leave. He told Houston television station KRIV that he chose the Longhorns over Rice and Baylor.

"Texas has always been my dream school. I always wanted to go there," he said. "I hope I can come in and contribute and be a part of something big."

Lucas said Texas coach Rick Barnes was a key to his decision.

At Florida, Lucas averaged 8.5 points, led the Gators in 3-point shooting and was named to the SEC all-freshman team. Gators coach Billy Donovan said last month that Lucas wanted to play the point, a spot Nick Calathes has secured. Lucas was instead relegated mostly to shooting guard.

Lucas will have to sit out a season before becoming eligible to play.

Also: Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. won her first all-around national title, and Chad Hedrick won the men's all-around at the U.S. Long Track Speedskating National Championships in West Allis, Wis.

Swider-Peltz Jr. won the 5,000 meters in 7 minutes, 23.39 seconds and took second in the 1,500 in 2:03.77 to add to her results Saturday, a victory in the 3,000 and eighth-place finish in the 500.

Hedrick came off a strong performance Saturday, when he edged rival Shani Davis in the 5,000 after Davis had beaten him earlier in the 500.

In the 1,500, Hedrick again nipped Davis, winning in 1:46.52.

Jordan Schroeder had two goals and an assist to help the United States beat the Czech Republic 4-3 at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa.

Schroeder leads the United States (2-0) in scoring with three goals and four assists.

Earlier, Jamie Benn scored three goals in Canada's 15-0 win over Kazakhstan. Russia beat Finland 5-2, and Sweden topped Slovakia, 3-1.