COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTES

Coach Bob Toledo said he considers the season a success, even though it went from heading toward a possible national championship to finishing with losses to Miami and Wisconsin.

“I was really happy with the season,” he said Monday, echoing the sentiments of many players. “I thought it was a heck of a year. If you would have talked to a lot of people in August and said we would be going 10-2 and playing in the Rose Bowl, people would have thought I’d be crazy.”

And, in an obvious swipe at USC’s loss to Texas Christian in the Sun Bowl, Toledo added:

“It’s not like we got embarrassed by a 6-5 team or anything. We lost to a top-10 team from the Big Ten.”

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All-American tackle Kris Farris will announce Wednesday whether he will return for his senior season or opt for the NFL. . . . Toledo expects to sign a new contract agreement this week, a seven-year rollover deal with a base salary of $575,000 annually. He can earn more from incentives, such as bowl victories. . . . The Bruins plan to switch from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 next season, but consider it a minor alteration since the frequent use of a down linebacker often gave them a four-man front anyway.

Kevin Yoxall, the strength and conditioning coach the last three seasons, is leaving to take a similar position at Auburn. . . . Toledo was bothered by statements from Freddie Mitchell and Farris after the Rose Bowl that some UCLA players lacked heart and focus. “I disagree with them making the comments, and I already talked to them about that,” Toledo said. . . . Michael Wiley, who was projected to be a starting linebacker but instead missed most of the season because of injuries, is bound for back surgery that will probably end his career. He will be put on a medical scholarship, which will allow him to finish school on the full ride but not count against the team’s scholarship limit.