North Carolina Fires Torbush

North Carolina coach Carl Torbush, who almost lost his job last year, was fired Monday after a 6-5 season.

Torbush was criticized this season when the Tar Heels had a four-game losing streak, but the team came back to win its last three games, including a 59-21 victory over Duke on Saturday.

Torbush, who had two years remaining on his five-year contract, had a three-year record of 17-18, including a 3-8 season last year when he was retained after an outcry from players, students and fans.

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The University of Memphis fired coach Rip Scherer after he failed to lead the Tigers to a winning record in any of his six seasons. . . . After finishing last and next-to-last in the Pac-10 in total offense the last two seasons, California fired offensive coordinator Steve Hagen.