Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor has revealed he partially tore a ligament in his knee, claiming it didn't slow him down much while leading the Buckeyes to the Big Ten title.

Pryor says he's hurting everywhere at the close of his sophomore season, which ends Friday in the Rose Bowl against No. 7 Oregon. But he says he's feeling sharper after two sluggish practices in Los Angeles with the eighth-ranked Buckeyes.

Pryor said yesterday he has a partial tear in his posterior cruciate ligament, touching his left knee for emphasis, but not confirming which knee is hurt.

Ohio State hadn't mentioned a knee injury for Pryor, only acknowledging his injured ankle against New Mexico State.

FLORIDA

GATORS APPLAUD COACH-IN-WAITING

As Steve Addazio listened to Florida coach Urban Meyer talk about his health and his future, it never crossed his mind what kind of reaction players would have when he was picked to be the Gators' interim coach.

Addazio was not prepared for their response.

They gave the longtime assistant an overwhelming reception, an ovation so long and loud that it even caught superstar quarterback Tim Tebow off guard.

"It was one of the loudest rounds of ovation and applause that I have been a part of in my entire life," Tebow said yesterday in New Orleans. "The team, the players clapped probably for three or four minutes and didn't stop. You could see coach Addazio getting emotional while we were doing that because it meant so much to him. I think that was one of the coolest parts of the last two days."

Addazio will take over next week, filling in during Meyer's indefinite leave of absence brought on by recurring chest pains and an alarming hospital visit three weeks ago. Addazio has one goal in mind: Keep the Gators humming along until Meyer returns.

Meyer will coach Florida though Friday night's Sugar Bowl against Cincinnati, then turn things over to Addazio.

Meyer said Sunday his gut feeling was that he would be coaching the Gators next fall.

BOISE STATE

3 BRONCOS FRESHMEN DON'T MAKE TRIP

Three Boise State players did not accompany the Broncos to the Fiesta Bowl for disciplinary reasons.

A school spokesman said wide receiver Preston Minter, tailback Malcolm Johnson and cornerback Raphiel Lambert — all freshmen — had not made the trip.

Speaking to reporters after the Broncos arrived in Phoenix yesterday morning, coach Chris Petersen announced three players had been left behind but did not identify them or disclose any other details.

"We kind of say it's not meeting the Broncos standards. We don't say why," Petersen said. "They just didn't meet the standards that we kind of try to live by."

The Broncos will meet Texas Christian on Jan. 4.

IN THE COURTS

EX-TROJAN BUSH DENIED ARBITRATION

Reggie Bush has lost his bid to go to confidential arbitration to settle a lawsuit filed by a fledgling sports marketer.

The California state Court of Appeal yesterday upheld a lower court's order denying Bush's motion to compel arbitration with Lloyd Lake, meaning the case will proceed in court.

Lake's attorney, Brian Watkins, said it was Bush's last-ditch effort to keep the case out of the public eye.

Lake is suing Bush and his parents to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts they allegedly accepted during Bush's sophomore and junior seasons at the University of Southern California. Lake and his partner, Michael Michaels, were trying to attract Bush as a client for the marketing firm, New Era.