Sports digest 11/20/01

Miami closes gap on Nebraska in BCS

Miami spoke, and even the BCS computer listened.

The Hurricanes surged closer to first-place Nebraska and pulled further away from third-place Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series standings released Monday.

Two days after its 59-0 rout of Syracuse, Miami was second again, but this week the Canes should feel much more secure about playing for a national championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3.

Should Nebraska (11-0) and Miami (9-0) win the rest of their games, it appears unlikely a one-loss team such as Florida or Oregon could pass them when the final standings are released on Dec. 9.

The BCS ratings, which determine who plays in Pasadena, are based on a formula that incorporates the AP media and coaches' polls, eight computers, strength of schedule, won-lost record and bonus points for big wins.

Nebraska, idle on Saturday, had 2.87 points, while Miami had 5.25 points. Oklahoma, a 30-13 winner over Texas Tech on Saturday, had 8.13 points.

Oates to have surgery on brain tumor today

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Former Texas Rangers manager Johnny Oates, diagnosed this month with a brain tumor, will undergo surgery today.

The surgery will be performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Doctors will remove as much of the tumor as possible, and Oates will be hospitalized for several days.

Oates was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme tumor, the most aggressive form of primary brain tumors, on Nov. 5 after experiencing weakness and slurring of speech the previous week.

Oates managed the Rangers to their only three AL West titles (1996, '98 and '99), but Texas finished last in 2000. The team was 11-17 and already 10 1/2 games behind Seattle last season when Oates resigned under pressure May 4.

Oates managed the Orioles from 1991-94.

SMU fires Cavan as football coach

DALLAS -- Southern Methodist fired coach Mike Cavan on Monday, ending a five-year tenure that began with a winning record then dissolved into four straight losing seasons.

Cavan will coach the Mustangs (3-6, 3-4 WAC) for their final two games, Saturday against Rice and Dec. 1 at North Carolina.

"This is the right time to make a change in the leadership of our football program," SMU athletic director Jim Copeland said.

Copeland said he hopes to have a replacement by mid December.

-- From wire reports