IN BRIEF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Utah coach agrees to five-year extension

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham signed a five-year contract extension worth $6 million on Monday, a reward for leading the Utes to a perfect regular season and BCS bid.

No. 7 Utah (12-0) is the only major college unbeaten team, heading into Friday night's Sugar Bowl game against No. 4 Alabama.

"I am very, very happy at the University of Utah," said Whittingham, who was promoted from defensive coordinator four years ago when Urban Meyer left for Florida.

The deal includes a $200,000 base salary, with the rest of the money coming from things such as radio and television rights, and appearance and public speaking fees.

Whittingham, who made $681,000 this year, was the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year and a finalist for several national coach of the year honors. He has gone 36-14 in four years as Utah's head coach, including a 3-0 record in bowls.

Also: Alabama All-America left tackle Andre Smith was suspended from the Sugar Bowl for violating team rules, possibly signaling an end to the Outland Trophy winner's college career.

Coach Nick Saban did not specify Smith's violation leading up to Friday's game against No. 7 Utah.

The junior is expected to be one of the top players selected in the NFL Draft if he opts to skip his final season at Alabama.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis underwent knee replacement surgery.

Weis' right knee was replaced, and he is expected to have surgery at some point on his left knee, which was severely injured in a sideline collision with a player in September.

Patrick Nix was fired after two seasons as Miami's offensive coordinator, the first significant shakeup to the Hurricanes this offseason.

HOCKEY

Rangers prospect used steroids prior to dying

New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov took performance-enhancing drugs for several months before he died during a Russian league game in October, investigators said.

Investigators in Moscow added that during his last year, the 19-year-old player suffered from myocarditis, a condition where not enough blood gets to the heart, and he should not have been playing professional hockey.

Cherepanov collapsed Oct. 13 while on the bench for the Omsk club Avangard in Russia's Continental Hockey League and died a short time later.

Also: Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny will have surgery today to repair his right forearm, which was fractured last week against Phoenix.

Stastny is expected to be out six to eight weeks.

Claude Lemieux signed a contract with the San Jose Sharks after spending the past month with their top minor-league affiliate, giving another boost to his NHL comeback hopes.

The 43-year-old Lemieux signed with the Worcester Sharks on Nov. 25 after a five-year absence from pro hockey.

New York Islanders franchise goalie Rick DiPietro, who last week returned from a 27-game absence, is out of the lineup again with a groin strain. DiPietro, who didn't play Saturday at Buffalo, was held out again Monday against the New York Rangers.

St. Louis Blues left wing Paul Kariya will seek further medical advice before having what will likely be season-ending surgery on his left hip.

The 34-year-old Kariya said the operation will likely take place in the next few weeks.

Zach Boychuk had two goals in Canada's 5-1 victory over Germany at the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa.

The win gives Canada (3-0) at least second place in Pool A.

The United States (2-0) faces Kazakhstan (0-2) today. If the United States wins, it would make Wednesday's game with Canada a battle for first place in the pool -- and with it, a bye to the semifinals.

MISCELLANEOUS

Pitcher Penny set to sign with Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Brad Penny reached a preliminary agreement on a $5 million, one-year contract, according to several reports.

A two-time All-Star, the 30-year-old Penny struggled with injuries to his shoulder and side last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 17 starts and two relief appearances.

Also: Roger Clemens' name is being removed from a sports medicine institute at a Houston hospital, in another dent to the legacy of the major league pitcher since he was linked to steroid use.

The Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine at Memorial Hermann will shed Clemens' name effective Jan. 1 "to better reflect its commitment to all sports and athletes," the Houston-based health system announced.

Pitcher Daniel Cabrera formalized his one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Washington Nationals after passing a physical.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was charged with assault and affray over a brawl outside a bar that left a disc jockey hospitalized with facial injuries.

Police announced the charge 24 hours after the English soccer star was arrested in Southport, England, after Liverpool extended its lead atop the Premier League to three points with an emphatic 5-1 win at Newcastle on Sunday.

Maria Riesch of Germany won a women's World Cup night slalom in Semmering, Austria, for her second victory of the season and eighth overall, and American Lindsey Vonn placed third to stay atop the overall standings.

Riesch overcame an error in her second run to win with a combined time of 1 minute, 55.97 seconds.