IN BRIEF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Ex-USC back Moody transferring to Florida

Florida coach Urban Meyer accidentally confirmed that Monday former Southern California running back Emmanuel Moody is transferring to the defending national champions.

“He’s not here yet,” Meyer said during his weekly news conference. Meyer quickly realized his error and said, “He’s not here.” Then, he paused and said, “Oops.”

Moody, a sophomore, decided to transfer after getting caught in a glut of highly touted tailbacks. He has to sit out the 2007 season under the NCAA’s transfer rules and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Before missing the final four games because of a sprained ankle last season, Moody gained 458 yards on 79 carries and finished as USC’s second-leading rusher.

Also: Utah plans to redshirt junior running back Darrell Mack, a move that would leave him with two more seasons of eligibility, coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Mack was a reserve in 2005 and 2006, playing in 17 games with 82 carries for 320 yards and one touchdown.

South Carolina’s athletic director has upheld the one-game suspension of quarterback Blake Mitchell and he will miss the team’s season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

Mitchell was suspended for the game for missing summer school classes.

Alabama receiver Keith Brown and linebacker Prince Hall have been suspended for the season opener against Western Carolina for unspecified violations of team rules, coach Nick Saban said.

BASKETBALL

UNR guard Burleson ineligible for semester

Lyndale Burleson, who was a top candidate to become UNR’s starting point guard next season, has been declared academically ineligible for the fall semester, coach Mark Fox said.

Burleson, a junior, played in 33 games last season and started two. He averaged 2.2 assists and 1.7 points in 15.2 minutes per game.

Also: Forward Marcin Gortat signed with the Orlando Magic.

The Magic acquired Gortat from Phoenix on draft night in 2005 for cash. He was chosen in the second round with the 57th overall pick.

Gortat has played summer league for the Magic the past three years, but then returned to Germany each time.

NBA star Allen Iverson’s stepfather was indicted on federal drug distribution charges in Norfolk, Va., after police said they found crack cocaine in his car in April.

MISCELLANEOUS

Couture fractures bone in forearm in UFC win

Las Vegan Randy Couture suffered a fracture of the ulna bone in his left forearm Saturday night during his victory over Gabriel Gonzaga during UFC 74 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, a source close to Couture confirmed.

The injury occurred when Couture blocked a right leg kick shortly before he stopped Gonzaga in the third round.

Couture likely will miss six weeks of training.

Also: A NASCAR team owner pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to defrauding the government of more than $34 million in taxes.

Gene Haas, the 54-year-old owner of Oxnard, Calif.-based Haas Automation and NASCAR’s Haas CNC Racing, agreed to pay a fine, back taxes and interests totaling more than $70 million, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.

Haas pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy charge for orchestrating a plan to list bogus expenses that could be written off as business costs.

The Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks signed left wing Chris Kunitz to a four-year, $14.9 million extension through the 2011-12 season.