The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page C004

4C Final 4C THE PALM BEACH POST TUESDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2009 Vols kick Pahokee's Richardson off team MAGENTA BLACK He was charged with attempted robbery last week. options for Richardson and Edwards, but ultimately decided it was in his program's best interest to kick them off the team. "This type of conduct will not be tolerated," Kif fin's Richardson One of two players released. ardson had been dealing with "some personal issues." Pahokee coach Blaze Thompson said Monday that he had nothing to add to the statement he made last week. "We love Nu'Keese," Thompson had said Thursday.

"This is out of character for him, but if this is in fact what he did, then we are here to support him." Richardson, who has no previous arrests on his record, was released from jail on $19,500 bond Friday, a day after his co-defendants either posted bond or were released on their own recognizance. Richardson did not return a message left on his cell phone Monday. All four defendants are scheduled to appear in a Tennessee court on Friday. jasonlieserpbpost.com and a 22-year-old woman named Marie Montmarquet all face Class felony charges. The four were arrested Thursday morning in connection with a robbery at a Pilot convenience store near the Knoxville campus.

The victims told police they were sitting in their car in the parking lot when two men whom they identified to police as Richardson and Edwards approached them and demanded, "Give me everything you got." They said one of the suspects displayed what appeared to be a black semi-automatic handgun and when the alleged victims showed their empty wallets, another man allegedly Jackson emerged from the store and said, "We've gotta go." Police later determined the weapon was a pellet gun. Richardson, 18, helped lead Pahokee to its third straight state championship last season and was All-State as a quarterback and wide receiver. He committed to Florida in May 2008, but a strong push by Tennessee early this year swayed him to sign with the Volunteers in February. A reserve wide receiver, he saw action as a return man on special teams for Tennessee this season. He caught eight passes for 102 yards and a touchdown and had 58 rushing yards on six attempts.

He averaged 22.5 yards per kick return. Earlier this month, Richardson missed the team's Nov. 1 practice for undisclosed reasons, which fueled rumors of a possible transfer. Kiffin denied that speculation and said Rich By JASON LIESER Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Ji Pahokee's Nu'Keese Richardson ever resurrects his football career, it won't be at the University of Tennessee. Volunteers coach Lane Kif-fin on Monday announced the dismissal of Richardson and fellow freshman Mike Edwards following their arrests on charges of attempted armed robbery The third player involved in last Thursday's incident, Janzen Jackson, is suspended but remains on the team.

In a statement, Kiffin said he did "extensive research" and considered other disciplinary statement read. "My hope is that these two young men will learn from their terrible decision. "Clearly, their actions have no place in our program." The Tennessee athletic department declined to say if Richardson and Edwards would be permitted to continue their enrollment at the university, but it did note that they will no longer be on scholarship. Richardson, Edwards, Jackson Gator stingiest in fourth quarter "II 1 WEST PALM BEACH Vl1 ImlfM j. Municipal Golf Corns Jjg GAINESVILLE Florida's defense has been ranked No.

1 or 2 in the nation the entire season, but the unit has been especially dominant in the second half of the Gators' past three games. The top-ranked Gators (10-0, 8-0) have allowed a total of 37 yards in the fourth quarter in victories over Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Georgia gained 26 yards, Vanderbilt gained 27 and South Carolina was knocked backward for minus-16 yards. "That almost takes your breath away when you see something like that," coach Urban Meyer said on Monday. Meyer came to his Monday news conference armed with more stats: Twelve of the Gators' 17 interceptions have come in the second half.

Twenty of their 29 sacks have come in the second half, including four in the fourth quarter against USC. Four SEC opponents gained 5 or fewer rushing yards in the fourth quarter. Five of the Gators' 10 opponents have gained under 100 yards in the second half. Ben RICHARD GRAULICHStaff Photographer Mark McCumber's redesign included the removal of thousands of trees and adding white sand areas off the fairways. Palmer approves course's new look FSU suffers another injury setback TALLAHASSEE FSU's injury list has started to feature some significant names, the latest being the anchor of the offensive line.

Guard Rodney Hudson, a pre-season All-ACC pick, may not play Saturday against Maryland because of a sprained knee ligament. Offensive line coach RickTrickett said Monday that Hudson suffered the injury during FSU's win last week over Wake Forest. Brandon Davis took over and likely would start there Saturday if Hudson can't play. Derek Redd UM: QB Harris wearing soft cast CORAL GABLES Miami quarterback Jacory Harris is wearing a soft cast on his throwing arm and hand after he said he "messed up" a finger in Saturday's loss at North Carolina. Harris, who threw four interceptions Saturday and has 16 on the season, is expected to play Saturday against Duke.

The Miami Herald week. He did admit to being a regular in a game at his Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, site of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on the PGA Tour. A bit of money changes hands in his private games. "It's going the wrong way most of the time, now," he said. Back in the grill room after the ceremony, Palmer, a course-designer himself, said he appreciated the restoration work Mark McCumber did on the course.

"It really does have the look of an old-style Florida course," he said. Which was precisely McCumber's intention as he removed tens of thousands of trees. The now-dominant ST0 DA ramlC tertainer aggressive and charismatic the game needed as it grew into the television age. Palmer, 80, now stands as a sort of godfather of golf, and his appearances at events such as the West Palm Beach Municipal Golf Course gala seldom fail to infuse the proceedings with a sense of nostalgia. Arnie's Army still follows him.

"We love you, Arnie!" came a shout from the gallery around the first tee before Palmer struck the ceremonial first drive. Palmer said he still enjoys practicing but plays only once or twice a element is white sand covering the areas off the fairways. "We wanted to put back into the ground what Dick Wilson had in his original design," McCumber said. West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel said she is "very proud" that the cost of the work was covered by fees paid by users of the course, which has been accommodating about 70,000 rounds per year. The current 18-hole, daily-fee rates range from $20 to $49 on weekdays and $22 to $54 on weekends, depending on residency and time of play.

The automated tee-time number is (561) 822-1593. gregstodapbpost.com Coghlan made quick adjustments in field and at plate I would have been playing outfield," he said. "I felt fortunate to have that opportunity so quick I just tried to work as hard as I could to get as comfortable as I could in the outfield." Coghlan said Monday that if the Marlins are looking for a second baseman he would like to be given the "consideration" to return. On May 30 he was moved into the leadoff spot for the first time. He finished the season with a .397 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot.

Coghlan, who was raised northwest of Tampa in East Lake, was drafted in the compensation round of the 2006 draft (36th overall) out of Mississippi. He said he has had a chance to reflect on some of his accomplishments during the second half but is still looking at how to improve. "Now that the season is over I've been able to sit back and look at what I've done well in the year and what I didn't do well. I think there are plenty of things I can improve on and I'm excited about next year to show what I can improve on." In AL voting, Bailey, who had 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA, was selected first on 13 of 28 ballots and finished with 88 points. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus was the runner-up with 65.

Rookie of Year voting National League Player, Team lst2nd 3rd Tot Chris Coghlan, Fla 17 6 2 105 J. A. Happ, Phi. 10 11 11 94 Tommy Hanson, Atl. 2 6 9 37 Andrew McCutchen, Pit.

2 5 0 25 Casey McGehee, Mil. 1 3 4 18 Randy Wells, Chi. 0 10 3 Garret Jones, Pit. 0 0 2 2 Everth Cabrera, SD 0 0 11 Dexter Fowler, Col. 0 0 11 Gerardo Parra, Ari.

0 0 11 Colby Rasmus, StL 0 0 11 American League Player, Team lst2nd 3rd Tot Andrew Bailey, Oak. 13 6 5 88 Elvis Andrus, Tex. 8 6 7 65 Rick Porcello, Det. 7 8 5 64 Jeff Niemann, TB 0 5 6 21 Gordon Beckham, Chi. 0 2 4 10 Brett Anderson, Oak.

0 114 Coghlan made his debut for the Marlins on May 8, after playing just 25 games at Class AAA New Orleans and only one of those in left field. He started at second base in his Marlins debut and went 2-for-4 at Colorado. He started in left field the next game, playing the outfield for the first time since little league, and remained there for the rest of the season. Coghlan finished the season with five errors and a .977 fielding percentage, which placed him sixth in the NL among left fielders. "I would have never thought MARUNSyrowiC for 105 points.

Happ had 94 points with 10 first-place votes. Hanson had 37 points, followed by Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen (25) and Milwaukee infielder Casey McGehee (18) in the voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey was named the American League Rookie of the Year. Coghlan was able to post numbers the second half of the season unseen in the majors for decades, all while learning a new position (left field) and learning to hit leadoff. "It wasn't the easiest transition coming up and playing a position I had never played before in my life and hitting leadoff, something I had not done in a long time," Coghlan said.

"So I couldn't have written it better." Coghlan led all rookies for the season with a .321 batting average, 162 hits, 84 runs, 31 doubles, a .390 on-base percentage, a .460 slugging percentage, and .850 OPS (on-base plus slugging) He not only was among the best rookie hitters but also among the best hitters in baseball in the second half. Coghlan hit .372 after the All-Star break and led the majors ALBEHRMANThe Associated Press Chris Coghlan slides into third base during a September game against the Cincinnati Reds. He won the National League Rookie of the Year award. Marlins Rookies of the Year LHP Dontrelle Willis, 2003: 14-6 with a 3.30 ERA in 27 starts. SS Hanley Ramirez, 2006: .292 with 17 HRs, 59 RBI, 119 runs, 51 SBs LF Chris Coghlan: .321 with 9 HRs, 47 RBI, 84 runs, 31 doubles in 128 games with 113 hits, which tied him with the Marlins' Juan Pierre (2004) and the Cubs' Bill Buck-ner (1980) for most in the NL in the past 45 years.

Although Coghlan hit .245 before the break, he stayed confident. "Throughout the course there's so many games, so many at-bats, it's all about staying even keeled and believing in what you can do and your abilities," he said. Coghlan had 47 hits in August, the Marlins' record for one month and the most hits by an NL rookie in any month since Wally Moon of the St. Louis Cardinals had 52 in July 1954. The next month he equaled that number, becoming the first rookie with 47 September hits since Chuck Klein had 50 in September 1928..