Kreider, 31, who starred as a running back and linebacker at Manheim Central, was in his first season with the Rams. He played for the Steelers for the first eight seasons of his NFL career, most as the team's starting fullback and the lead blocker for Jerome Bettis.

Kreider was the Rams' No. 1 fullback and played in all 11 games this season. He had one carry for no yards.

The Rams, who fired head coach Scott Linehan and replaced him with Jim Haslett early in the season, are 2-9 entering today's game against the Miami Dolphins.

Kreider, who played his college Football at New Hampshire, was signed as a free agent by the Steelers in 2000.

Mark Your Calendar Dept.: The BCS Championship Game will be played at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

The Rose Bowl, featuring Penn State and the Pac-10 champion, is one of five bowl games set for Thursday, Jan. 1. The Rose Bowl, which is one of five BCS bowls, starts at 4:30 p.m.

The schedule for the other four New Year's Day bowls: the Outback (a Big Ten team vs. an SEC team), in Tampa, Fla., at 11 a.m.; Capital One (Big Ten vs. SEC), in Orlando, Fla., at 1 p.m.; Gator (ACC vs. Big 12 or Big East), in Jacksonville, Fla., at 1 p.m.; and Orange (BCS vs. BCS), in Miami, at 8:30 p.m.

The other BCS bowls are the Sugar, in New Orleans, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2; and the Fiesta, in Glendale, Ariz., at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5.

It's hard to imagine that any team will be able to keep North Carolina from winning the NCAA men's basketball title this season. Of course, that's what a lot of people were saying about Southern California in college Football in early September.

It didn't take long for Penn State to move to the top of the Big Ten this season.

But in the summer, some people were predicting a lackluster season for the Lions, who are 11-1 and headed to the Rose Bowl.

Sporting News' preseason college Football preseason magazine picked the Nittany Lions to finish seventh in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State.

Michigan picked for fourth? Guess they didn't take into account the impact Rich Rodriguez would have on the Wolverines.

It's an unusual time for Atlanta's pro sports teams.

The Braves went 72-90 in 2008, their second losing season in three years after making 14 consecutive postseason appearances.

But the NFL Falcons and NBA Hawks, who have struggled in recent years, are playing well this season.

The Falcons, 4-12 last season, are 7-4 and fighting for a playoff spot behind the play of rookie quarterback Matt Ryan.

The Hawks, with a young roster, were 9-6 entering Saturday's game. The Hawks were only 37-45 last year, but made the playoffs for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

What's less surprising: Allen Iverson not showing up for the Detroit Pistons' practice on Thanksgiving Day, or the Detroit Lions not showing up for their game against the Tennessee Titans on Thanksgiving Day?

Jim Hersh is sports editor of the Sunday News. E-mail him at jhersh@lnpnews.com