BRIEFS

Reid scores

28 in win

Former Gaffney High standout AZ Reid scored 28 points Tuesday to lead High Point over Savannah St.

Clemens denies

steroid allegations

Roger Clemens denied allegations by his former trainer that he took performance-enhancing drugs, calling them ''a dangerous and destructive shortcut that no athlete should ever take.''

The accusations against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner from former trainer Brian McNamee were the most striking in last week's Mitchell Report. Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell wrote McNamee said he injected Clemens with steroids in 1998 while with the Toronto Blue Jays, and steroids and human growth hormone in 2000 and 2001, while with the New York Yankees.

''I want to state clearly and without qualification: I did not take steroids, human growth hormone or any other banned substances at any time in my baseball career or, in fact, my entire life,'' Clemens said Tuesday in a statement issued through his agent, Randy Hendricks.

Tigers lose 3

to academics

Two of Clemson's top three tacklers this season won't play Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Bowl because of poor academic performances.

Linebackers Nick Watkins and Tramaine Billie were declared ineligible Tuesday, as was offensive tackle Christian Capote, the team said. All three are fifth-year seniors and won't play again for the 15th-ranked Tigers.

Clemson (9-3) will face No. 22 Auburn at the Georgia Dome on New Year's Eve.

''I am disappointed that these young men will not be able to play in our bowl game with Auburn,'' Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said.

Bowden said all three had chances to stay eligible and got help on coursework from tutors. ''But, they are accountable for their academic performance,'' he said.

Watkins led the defense in tackles the past two seasons, registering 116 in 2006 and 118 this past fall. Billie was third on the team with 79 tackles this season. He started for Clemson in 2004 and 2005 but missed last season with an injury.

Capote started all 12 games at right tackle.

The Tigers were sixth in the country in total defense, allowing 297 yards a game this season.

There's also a chance Clemson could be without its third starting linebacker. A school spokesman said Bowden has yet to determine the status of linebacker Cortney Vincent, arrested earlier this month on drunken driving charges.

USC names new assistant coach

South Carolina has a new assistant coach - and no, it's not a defensive coordinator.

Coach Steve Spurrier hired Maryland assistant Ray Rychleski on Tuesday to serve as special teams coordinator.

Rychleski, 50, has spent the past seven seasons as tight ends-H backs coach with the Terrapins. Maryland did not have a punt blocked during that span.

Rychleski is expected to coach with the Terps when they take on Oregon State in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 28, then join the Gamecocks.

''This is an outstanding opportunity for me to coach in the SEC in what I consider one of the top jobs in the country,'' Rychleski said in a statement.

Spurrier was out of town and not immediately available for comment, athletic spokesman Steve Fink said.

Assistants Shane Beamer and Fred Chatham served as co-coordinators for special teams this season.

Rychleski's hiring brings South Carolina's staff back up to nine fulltime assistants.