until we watch it tomorrow, OConnor said. Thats our job

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- Carson-Newman coach Ken Sparks has retired, ending a 37-season career in which he won 338 games to rank fifth on the NCAAs all-time list.Its been an unbelievable journey, Sparks said Monday during a news conference at the athletic complex that has been named after him.The only coaches with more career wins are John Gagliardi (489), Joe Paterno (409), Eddie Robinson (408) and Bobby Bowden (377). Sparks went 338-99-2 and had the most wins of any active coach.Sparks, 72, had continued coaching even after announcing in 2012 that he had cancer. Sparks said Monday that he was at peace and indicated his health issues played a role in his decision to retire now.Last week, after missing three days of practice and being in the hospital four straight days, I said `Im not a very good football coach. These guys deserve a better coach, Sparks said. Thats how the decision came about. My goal was, and youve heard me say this before, my goal was to die on the practice field and they roll me over in the kudzu and (his wife) Carol wouldnt have to worry about funeral arrangements. Were going to see what the Lord has for us.Before Carson-Newman entered the NCAA ranks in 1993, Sparks led the Eagles to five NAIA national championships -- in 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1989. Carson-Newman was an NAIA runner-up in 1987 and lost in the NCAA Division II championship game in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Carson-Newman reached the Division II semifinals in 2009.Sparks teams won 21 South Atlantic Conference championships and earned 25 NCAA or NAIA playoff appearances.Carson-Newman went 4-7 this year, only the second losing season in Sparks career.Sparks was inducted into the inaugural NCAA Division II Hall of Fame coaches class in 2010 along with Northwest Missouri States Mel Tjeerdsma and West Alabamas Bobby Wallace. Sparks also is in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the NAIA Hall of Fame.This is a day that none of us looked forward to as Carson-Newman football fans and supporters, but its a day we honor and a day we rejoice in, Carson-Newman athletic director Allen Morgan said. Its a day we honor Ken and the legacy he is leaving for how he has touched young mens lives in a way far greater than wins on a football field.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Alex Biega Jersey . -- Peyton Manning will have all of his wide receivers available for the first time in a month when the Denver Broncos begin their playoff run Jan. Ben Hutton Jersey . 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Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home.BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Suddenly, No. 17 Michigan State finds itself in a heap of trouble.The Spartans blew a 14-point lead in the final 16 minutes Saturday night, losing the Old Brass Spittoon to Indiana for the first time in a decade. Theyve lost back-to-back games for the first time since November 2012, and now the defending Big Ten champs must find a way to dig themselves out of this midseason mess.Players are competitors, you hope theyre competitors and if not then we recruited the wrong guys, coach Mark Dantonio said after Saturdays 24-21 overtime loss at Indiana. Theres a lot of football teams that dont go to the playoffs or win a Big Ten championship, you keep playing and you play yourself into situations on where you want to go.Its been a long time since the Spartans (2-2, 0-2 Big Ten) have faced such a predicament.Over the past three-plus seasons, Michigan State is 38-7, and the Spartans have played in three of the first five conference championship games. Getting back will be tough.No. 2 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0) and No. 4 Michigan (5-0, 1-0) already have two fewer losses. Maryland (4-0, 1-0) and Indiana (3-1, 1-0) also are unbeaten in conference play, and, incredibly, the Spartans are tied with Rutgers in the division basement.The standings are only part of the problem.Quarterback Tyler OConnor was a solid 21-of-35 passing for 263 yards and three TDs on Saturday but wound up getting sacked on Michigan States last two plays in overtime. The result: Usually reliable kicker Michael Geiger missed a 49-yard field goal to the left. He also had a makeable field goal blocked in the first quarter.Defensively, injuries have taken a toll. Michigan State started Saturdays game without starting linebackers Riley Bullough or Jon Reschhke, and a parade of defensive players left during the game.dddddddddddd While most returned, cornerback Darian Hicks did not after appearing to his hip. Dantonio did not provide a postgame update on the diagnosis.Thats still not all.The officials called 11 penalties against Michigan State, including a targeting call that led to the ejection of nose tackle Malik McDowell on a touchdown pass, and the leaping penalty on cornerback Drake Martinez that gave the Hoosiers a second chance at the winning score.It was frustrating for Dantonio to watch again.Too many mistakes by us, too many penalties, too many plays we didnt make that would have been great plays, some of them, he said.Dantonio told reporters that if there is going to be a turnaround, it will start with what he does.But there was plenty of blame to go around.Receiver Donnie Corley had a defender beaten by two steps for what would have been a 97-yard TD pass early in the third quarter -- if the ball hadnt slipped through his hands.OConnor wasnt exactly thrilled with his performance, either.We took some shots and some were good throws, some werent as on the money as wed like them to be, OConnor said. But there were definitely plays to be made down there and we have to make them.Especially now, with no more margin for error.This ones going to sting until we watch it tomorrow, OConnor said. Thats our job as leaders, to get everyone kind of back and remind everybody what this program is and not to get used to this and this isnt what were about. Everything that happened, was on us.---Online:AP college football coverage at www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '