Bobby Petrino named WKU football coach

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

WKU hires Petrino

Western Kentucky announced yesterday that it has hired Bobby Petrino as its new football coach.

Petrino, 51, replaces Willie Taggart, who left WKU on Saturday to become South Florida's coach. Petrino had a 34-17 record at Arkansas and is 75-26 in eight seasons as a college head coach.

He was fired by Arkansas in April for a "pattern of misleading" behavior after a motorcycle accident. Petrino had an affair with former Razorbacks volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, whom he later hired as a football assistant and gave $20,000 in gifts. Petrino initially said he was the only person on the motorcycle but later admitted to Dorrell's presence.

Colorado lands MacIntyre

Mike MacIntyre turned around the San Jose State football program in short order and will be asked to do the same at Colorado. MacIntyre signed a five-year deal to coach the Buffaloes, and his hiring ends a two-week search by Colorado that included a rejection by its first choice, Butch Jones. Colorado has had seven straight losing seasons, including a 1-11 record this year under Jon Embree.

Lattimore to enter NFL draft

Injured South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore will enter the NFL draft, people familiar with the decision said. One person said Lattimore is expected to announce his decision this week. The running back suffered a horrific injury to his right knee against Tennessee on Oct. 27. Doctors say Lattimore had successful surgery to repair several ligaments Nov. 2. It is unclear when he'll be able to play.

BOXING

Gatti picked for Hall

Arturo "Thunder" Gatti, who won world championships in two different weight classes, heads the class of 2013 to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The honor comes three years after his untimely death.

A native of Calabria, Italy, who was raised in Montreal, Gatti retired in 2007 with a record of 40-9 with 31 knockouts and was selected in his first year of eligibility. Gatti died at age 37 three years ago in Brazil under mysterious circumstances.

Also selected for induction: Virgil "Quicksilver" Hill, a five-time world champion who won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics and defended his light-heavyweight title 20 times during two separate reigns; two-time light flyweight champ Myung-Woo Yuh of South Korea, lightweight Wesley Ramsey, middleweight Jeff Smith, 19th-century Irish boxer Joe Coburn, referee Mills Lane and ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.-- AP