fined $30,000

Urban Meyer of Florida became the first coach to be disciplined under the Southeastern Conference`s new policy regarding criticizing officials.

The league fined Meyer $30,000 on Friday, two days after he said referees missed a late hit against quarterback Tim Tebow in No. 1 Florida`s 41-17 win against Georgia. Meyer sent video of the play to the SEC office, but his mistake was telling reporters refs missed the call.

Last week, the SEC changed its policy about coaches publicly criticizing officials, making the punishment either a fine or a suspension and doing away with reprimands. The change came after Tennessee`s Lane Kiffin, Mississippi State`s Dan Mullen and Arkansas` Bobby Petrino were reprimanded after they publicly questioned officiating.

"Coach Meyer has violated the Southeastern Conference Code of Ethics," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "SEC bylaw 10.5.4 clearly states that the coaches, players and support personnel shall refrain from public criticism of officials. The league`s athletics directors and presidents and chancellors have made it clear that negative public comments on officiating are not acceptable."

Meyer apologized following the fine.

"As I stated last week, I have great respect for commissioner Mike Slive and the Southeastern Conference, and I respect this decision," Meyer said in a statement. "There was no intent to criticize an official after being asked about a situation that occurred last Saturday, and I apologize for my remarks."

OSU`s Bryant

headed to NFL

Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant is headed to the NFL.

Bryant told ESPN.com that he plans to enter the 2010 NFL draft, disclosing his intentions late Thursday after the NCAA rejected a final appeal by the school to reinstate the junior All-American who lied about contact with former NFL player Deion Sanders.

Bryant sat out the first five games while the NCAA investigated his offseason meeting with Sanders at a Texas athletic center. Bryant admitted that he lied to an NCAA investigator about the meeting and later apologized.

Bryant told ESPN.com that entering the draft is "the best decision for me" and that he will start training for the NFL combine next week in Florida.

AFA, Army to honor

Fort Hood victims

The Air Force Academy will hold a moment of silence in honor of the shooting victims at Fort Hood before today`s Army-Air Force game.

Academy spokesman Troy Garnhart says the observance will also honor soldiers from nearby Fort Carson who`ve been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Notable

Stanford will be without top linebacker Clinton Snyder for the rest of the season. The school announced Friday that Snyder is sidelined with a knee injury sustained in practice on Tuesday. Snyder leads the team with 61 tackles and has started 42 of 44 games in his career.

A dozen students and a bus driver are being treated for injuries after three buses carrying members of the renowned Grambling State University marching band were involved in a traffic crash in southern Arkansas. Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler says none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.

Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner has been cleared to play in today`s game at No. 10 Georgia Tech after sustaining a concussion last week.