Sports briefs 1/13/04

Colleges

Chris Shumate of Murray State was named the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week Monday. The senior guard/forward averaged 21.5 points in two wins. Bruce Price of Tennessee State is rookie of the week. Price led the way as the Tigers snapped an 18-game OVC regular-season losing streak with wins over Jacksonville State and Samford. The freshman guard scored 38 points against JSU, hitting 17 free throws.

Emily Christian of Tennessee Tech was named the OVC women's player of the week Monday. The sophomore center averaged 26.7 points in three games.

Football

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm and St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith are two of the finalists for the Chicago Bears' head coaching job. Grimm visited Halas Hall on Monday. Smith, interviewed earlier by general manager Jerry Angelo, was scheduled to visit the team complex today. Angelo fired Dick Jauron on Dec. 29. The Bears also have interviewed Romeo Crennel, the Patriots' defensive coordinator.

Dan Marino returned to the Miami Dolphins as senior vice president of football operations Monday, a surprising move that gives the team a popular if inexperienced boss. Marino was a record-setting quarterback and the last to lead the Dolphins to a Super Bowl. Marino has been working as an NFL TV analyst for CBS and HBO.

-- From wire reports