Roundup: Former Buff kicks Packers into NFC Championship Game

Have yourself a finish, young man – former Colorado kicker Mason Crosby drilled two 50-plus-yard field goals in the final two minutes to lift the Green Bay Packers to the NFC Championship Game by virtue of their 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys. According to the Elias Sports Bureau and linked here by ESPN, Crosby is the first kicker to make two 50-yard field goals or longer in the last two minutes of a playoff game.

Former Arizona AD Greg Byrne was named the athletic director at Alabama, Alabama confirmed Monday. Yahoo Sports has more info.

ESPN is reporting that Justin Wilcox signed a 5-year deal in being hired as Cal football head coach. The folks in Berkeley seem to be loving this hire. One thing’s for sure – he’ll be bringing defense back to Strawberry Canyon.

Jeff Metcalfe of The Arizona Republic reports that Arizona State offensive line coach Chris Thomsen is leaving for TCU, where he was a football and baseball player. His staff position under football coach Gary Patterson is not known yet.

Washington women’s basketball guard Kelsey Plum surpassed the 3,000 career-point mark in the Huskies’ win at Arizona Friday night, dropping 36 on the ‘Cats in the 90-73 triumph.

Not again – Reid Travis injured his shoulder again in Stanford men’s basketball’s 76-69 win over Washington Saturday night. “It’s another right shoulder injury. We’re going to evaluate him day by day,” head coach Jerod Haase said to reporters after the win (The Mercury News).

Czech out the Pac-12 Networks recap of Utah women’s basketball defeating No. 24 Cal 63-57 in Salt Lake City Sunday afternoon.

This was pretty funny – the Utah men’s basketball bench celebrated a buzzer-beating shot thinking it tied the game against UCLA, when it actuality it only meant the Bruins won 83-82 (heck of a game, by the way).

Here are the highlights from USC men’s basketball’s 71-68 win at Colorado Sunday. The Buffs are still winless in conference play, while the Trojans get back to .500 at 3-3.

Here’s the Associated Press recap of Oregon State women’s basketball defeating USC 74-60 in Los Angeles on Sunday, helping the Beavs recover from a loss at UCLA. Kolbie Orum scored 16 points in the win.

In this Andrew Greif-produced link, Mario Cristobal explains why he left Alabama to become Oregon’s co-offensive coordinator.

David Lombardi writes that Washington State has some holes to fill at receiver in the offseason, as both Gabe Marks and River Cracraft are gone.