UNC suspends safety Arnold

North Carolina safety James "Cooter" Arnold has been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

Football coach Butch Davis said he spoke with Arnold "and told him he had some things he needed to accomplish and get done, and we would revisit it in the future."

Arnold, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior from Mocksville, was listed on the depth chart as a backup free safety, behind starter Deunta Williams, for UNC's opener against James Madison on Saturday. Last season, he played in all 12 games, recording 48 tackles and forced two fumbles.

Arnold is UNC football's second "indefinite suspension" since Davis was hired in November, joining running back Barrington Edwards, who no longer is on the team. Offensive lineman Charleston Gray also was dismissed from the team.

Davis indicated Arnold has been given all of the information to resolve the issue, and "I suspect it will be resolved," the coach said.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

UNC CHANGES GAME TIME: North Carolina's Feb. 24 game against Wake Forest will start at 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m., as announced last week. The game will be played at the Smith Center and shown nationally by Fox Sports Net.

DEACONS PROMOTE MUSE: Wake Forest director of basketball operations Mike Muse, 46, has been promoted to assistant coach, coach Dino Gaudio said.

Muse, a high school coach in Winston-Salem for more than 20 years, joined the Wake coaching staff in June 2006 as director of basketball operations.

Muse's new responsibilities will include daily practice preparation, recruiting and on-floor coaching.

MISCELLANY

GOLF: Methodist, which won its 10th consecutive women's national championship this past spring, ranks first in Golf World magazine's preseason coaches poll. 2007 runner-up DePauw is second.

Methodist's men rank third behind defending champion Saint John's (Minn.) and Oglethorp.

Complete rankings are at www.golfworld.com.

LACROSSE: Duke's women's team has chosen seniors Caroline Cryer and Abigail Meyer to be captains for the 2008 season.