Reports say Young, 62, was offered a salary that would make him one of the highest paid assistants in the nation. Young has more than 40 years of coaching experience. In his short stay at UM, the Hurricanes finished 28th in total defense.

"I appreciate Bill's contributions to our football program and thank him for that," UM Coach Randy Shannon said. "I understand and respect Bill's strong ties to his alma mater and his family's ties to Oklahoma."

Young's departure comes less than a month after offensive coordinator Patrick Nix was fired following the team's loss to California in the Emerald Bowl. Filling the positions quickly is vital with National Signing Day two weeks away.

Baseball Rays, Bartlett reach deal

Shortstop Jason Bartlett and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed on a one-year contract worth $2 million, avoiding arbitration. Bartlett, part of the November 2007 trade that also brought righty Matt Garza to the AL champions in exchange for Delmon Young, made $412,500 while helping solidify the Rays' defense last season.

MORE Baseball: The Florida Marlins agreed to one-year contracts with P Ricky Nolasco, OF Cody Ross and utility player Alfredo Amezaga, avoiding salary arbitration with all three players. Florida and all-star 2B Dan Uggla did not reach an agreement before players and teams exchanged figures Tuesday. The club said if the sides didn't strike a deal by Tuesday, the case would go to a hearing in February. . . . Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ryan Howard asked for $18 million in salary arbitration, the third-highest figure submitted since the process began in 1974. . . . P Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. . . . RF Ryan Church and the New York Mets avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on a $2.8 million, one-year contract. . . . OF Xavier Nady and the New York Yankees agreed to a $6.65 million, one-year contract, a raise from his $3.59 million salary last year. . . . P Brandon Backe and the Houston Astros agreed to a $1.55 million, one-year contract, a raise of $550,000. . . . Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Adam LaRoche bypassed arbitration by agreeing to a $7.05 million, one-year contract. . . . C John Buck agreed to $2.9 million, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. . . . OF Luke Scott agreed to a $2.4 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, avoiding arbitration. . . . P Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners agreed to a $7.75 million, one-year contract and avoided salary arbitration. . . . P Chad Qualls and the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed on a $2.5 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.

Hockey Rangers pull past Ducks

Markus Naslund scored on the power play and set up Scott Gomez's man-advantage goal in the third period that snapped a tie and lifted the host New York Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

MORE HOCKEY: Rookie defenseman Zach Bogosian and Chris Thorburn each had a goal and an assist in the host Atlanta Thrashers' 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. . . . Cam Ward made 32 saves, Ray Whitney and Eric Staal scored and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the host Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. . . .

Brendan Bell scored Ottawa's third power-play goal of the game with 1:22 remaining to lift the host Senators to a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals. . . . Kyle Calder had a goal and an assist to help the Los Angeles Kings end a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the host Minnesota Wild.

Cycling Armstrong back to work

Riding in 103-degree heat and in wind that felt like a blast furnace, Lance Armstrong returned to professional cycling and was a long way from his champagne-sipping triumphs in Paris.

The seven-time Tour de France champion finished 120th of 133 riders in the six-day Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, his first road stage in three years.

Still, Armstrong said he felt "pretty good, pretty strong" for his first day back at work, although he thought officials were kidding when they told him the opening day of the race was also the easiest.

Germany's Andre Greipel, the winner of last year's race, won the first stage by a bike length in a bunched finish. Taking time bonuses into account, he will carry an 11-second lead into today's 90-mile second stage. The race ends Sunday.

'I try to stay politically neutral, don't get involved in worldly matters. For me, because I am black, seeing that happen, I would be blind if I didn't take interest in it.'

-- Tennis player Serena Williams, who doesn't vote because she

is a Jehovah's Witness, on the inauguration of President Obama