news-record.com

South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley is leaving the Gamecocks football team to play baseball at another school.

Smelley said he decided a change of scenery was the best thing for him, and that he has not yet chosen a new school.

Smelley played in 21 games at South Carolina, going 5-4 as a starter. He never played consistently enough to keep the starting job very long.

He was named the SEC's offensive player of the week in October when he threw for 327 yards and three TDs in a win at Ole Miss. He threw four interceptions in South Carolina's 31-10 loss at Clemson in November.

Smelley's move leaves freshman Stephen Garcia as the only experienced quarterback on next year's Gamecocks roster.

CLEMSON: Clemson hired Alabama's Kevin Steele as defensive coordinator under coach Dabo Swinney. Steele most recently served as head coach of the defense for the Crimson Tide, who were ranked No. 1 for much of the season and finished 12-2.

MARYLAND: Massachusetts coach Don Brown has resigned to become the defensive coordinator at Maryland. In his five seasons as head coach, Brown went 43-19 leading the Minutemen to two NCAA tournaments, including the 2006 NCAA title game.

SOUTH CAROLINA: South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has hired one of his former Florida players to coach Gamecocks quarterbacks. Spurrier has hired G.A. Mangus, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Middle Tennessee State the past three seasons.

FLORIDA STATE: Bobby Bowden says he'll be back for a 34th season as coach at Florida State. The 79-year-old Bowden said Friday that details of his new contract are being finalized. He also said his longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews will return. Bowden earns slightly more than $2 million a year.

TURNING PRO? Alabama running back Glen Coffee is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Joining him in the draft is Missouri All-American Jeremy Maclin. Kentucky linebacker Micah Johnson, an All-SEC first teamer, says he is returning for his senior season.