Tigers retain Swinney

Interim coach gets five-year contract

Never bet against Dabo.

"I've never failed at anything in my life," Dabo Swinney, Clemson's new football coach, said Monday. "It's not arrogance. I'm confident in my abilities."

Swinney, 39, who had no head coaching or coordinator experience before October, reached a five-year contract agreement to remain Clemson's football coach.

"I don't think it's a gamble at all," Swinney said. "I think it's a good investment."

One that got started back on Oct. 13 when Tommy Bowden walked away after 9 1/2 seasons.

Right away, he took steps to heal the troubled Tigers. He fired offensive coordinator Rob Spence and took over play-calling.

He opened practice to students and reinstituted a pregame "Tiger Walk" through the parking lot in front of the stadium so players could feel fan support.

Clemson won four of its last five down the stretch to finish 7-5 and qualify for a bowl -- something that seemed impossible seven weeks ago.

MISSOURI AIDE TAKES WYOMING JOB: Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen, the architect of the offense that vaulted Missouri back to national prominence, is moving on to become the next head coach at Wyoming.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel confirmed Monday that Christensen would take the Wyoming job vacated when Joe Glenn was fired Nov. 23 after four losing seasons in six years.

KIFFIN WON'T COMMENT ON DAD'S STATUS: Former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin was introduced as Tennessee's head coach on Monday.

To help with recruiting, Kiffin has hired his brother-in-law, David Reaves, who just resigned his job as South Carolina's quarterbacks coach. Reaves had been the recruiting coordinator there since 2006, and Kiffin believes his ties to the Southeastern Conference are necessary.

Kiffin wouldn't say whether he will hire his father to handle defensive responsibilities for the Vols. Monte Kiffin, the defensive coordinator for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, called those reports mere speculation on Sunday.

HARRELL HAS SURGERY: Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was recovering Monday from surgery to repair nine breaks in two fingers of his non-throwing hand, but he won't miss any playing time.

Harrell will play when the Red Raiders (11-1) appear in their ninth straight bowl, likely the Cotton Bowl.

ASU'S EDWARDS PAYTON FINALIST: Appalachian State junior quarterback Armanti Edwards has been voted one of three finalists for the 2008 Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the nation's top NCAA Football Championship Subdivision player.

Edwards joins James Madison senior quarterback Rodney Landers and Western Illinois senior running back Herb Donaldson as the three finalists for the award.

BASKETBALL

ACC HONORS: North Carolina guard Ty Lawson (player) and Wake Forest freshman Al-Farouq Aminu (rookie) received weekly honors in the league.

ECU'S MORROW HONORED: East Carolina freshman Darrius Morrow was voted the Conference USA co-rookie of the week.

VOLLEYBALL

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Three teams from the ACC have been selected into the NCAA volleyball championship field announced late Sunday.

League co-champions North Carolina and Duke will travel, and Clemson will host the first and second rounds on Friday and Saturday. The Tar Heels will travel to Washington and the Blue Devils will go to Los Angeles.

Automatic qualifier North Carolina (21-10) will open against host American (24-8) on Friday night. The winner will face either Delaware (19-15) or No. 11 seed Oregon (23-8).

Duke (24-8) will face San Francisco (22-7) on Thursday night in the opening round. The other half of the Los Angeles bracket features at-large selections LSU (18-9) and host UCLA (20-10).