Times wires
Tuesday, October 16, 2012

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State will not renew the contract of athletic director Tim Curley, who has been on leave since being charged last year with perjury and failing to report a child sex abuse allegation against Jerry Sandusky.

The school told Curley his contract would not renewed when it expires in June, university spokesman Dave La Torre said in a statement.

Curley and retired vice president Gary Schultz are scheduled to stand trial in January. Both have denied the allegations.

Sandusky, a former assistant, is serving a minimum 30-year prison sentence for molesting 10 boys, including some on campus.

The school has paid about $2 million for the legal defense of Curley, Schultz and former president Graham Spanier. La Torre said that won't change.

Martine Charles, a spokeswoman for Curley's attorney, Caroline Roberto, said, "We are prohibited from commenting on personnel issues."

MATHIEU VIOLATION?: Sports Illustrated reported that former LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu might have violated NCAA rules by promoting a night club while he was still on the team. The magazine said Mathieu appeared in a video made by a group of his friends in which he promotes a party March 10 in Baton Rouge.

RIGHT RULE: Rogers Redding, the national coordinator of NCAA football officials, said the decision to uphold the ruling for the last play of Saturday's Stanford-Notre Dame game was correct. Field officials ruled Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor's progress was stopped before he reached the ball across for what would have been a tying touchdown on fourth down in overtime. Notre Dame won 20-13 after replay upheld the ruling.

JURISPRUDENCE: A Lubbock County (Texas) prosecutor said part of the reason a felony burglary case against Texas Tech linebacker Daniel Cobb was dropped is because he agreed to a protective order. Prosecutor Sunshine Stanek said the alleged victim requested the order. … Mike Lucas, an offensive lineman for No. 25 Ohio, was arrested after police say he and four other men attacked a freshman on a bench. Lucas, 19, was charged with felonious assault and has a hearing Oct. 25.

MINNESOTA: Coach Jerry Kill was back after his latest seizure and said he's "going full speed" after the episode over the weekend. Kill also said quarterback MarQueis Gray (sprained left ankle) is questionable for Saturday's game at Wisconsin. Finally, the school confirmed that it will pay an $800,000 buyout to cancel two games against North Carolina, on the road in 2013 and at home in 2014.

NOTRE DAME: Quarterback Everett Golson (concussion) did not pass all his cognitive tests and can't practice until at least today.

TEXAS A&M: Defensive back Steven Campbell left the team because of lingering problems from a concussion this season.

BASKETBALL: Connecticut plans to break ground in the spring on a training center after raising $24 million toward construction of the building.

Times wires
Tuesday, October 16, 2012

SOCCER

VICTORY PUSHES U.S. TO NEXT STAGE

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Clint Dempsey scored twice as the United States rallied to beat Guatemala 3-1 Tuesday and reach the last round of continental qualifying for the World Cup.

The Americans needed only a tie to advance to the six-team finals in CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean). After Carlos Ruiz put Guatemala ahead in the fifth minute, Dempsey set up captain Carlos Bocanegra's goal in the 10th, then scored in the 18th and 36th minutes.

"We feel like we're the best team in the region," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "When you believe that, you have to go out and do it every game. That's what the best teams do."

The U.S., seeking its seventh straight World Cup appearance, led its semifinal group with 13 points. Guatemala, which has never been to a World Cup, was eliminated when Dane Richards scored two goals late in Jamaica's 4-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda. Guatemala and Jamaica had 10 points apiece, but the Jamaicans advanced on goal difference (plus-3 to plus-1).

Honduras routed visiting Canada 8-1 to clinch a spot in next year's final stage, in which each team plays the five others home-and-home; Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama also advanced. The region has three automatic spots in Brazil with the fourth-place team entering a playoff against the Oceania region winner.

MORE SOCCER

France ends Spain's qualifying win streak

Substitute Olivier Giroud ended Spain's 24-match winning streak in qualifiers with a 1-1 tie in Madrid. The world champions led on Sergio Ramos' header in the 25th minute and were on the verge of being 2-0 up in the 41st but French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved Cesc Fabregas' penalty.

Elsewhere in Europe, Sweden staged a four-goal comeback to tie Germany 4-4 in Berlin. Rasmus Elm's goal for Sweden snatched the point two minutes into injury time. The qualifier between Poland and England was postponed and moved to today because of a waterlogged pitch in Warsaw. In South America, Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain each scored as Argentina won 2-1 at Chile to remain atop the standings.

In Africa, Senegal was disqualified from the African Cup of Nations after fan rioting during its final qualifier against Ivory Coast in Dakar.

TENNIS

Davis Cup match set for Jacksonville

The United States and Brazil will play a first-round Davis Cup match in Jacksonville in February. The United States Tennis Association and Davis Cup captain Jim Courier made the announcement. The matches will be held Feb. 1-3 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The U.S. team is 6-0 all-time in Davis Cup events in Florida.

VENUS RETURNS, ROUTS TEEN: Venus Williams cruised through her first match since the U.S. Open, beating 15-year-old rookie Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Luxembourg Open. Williams struggled with a back problem at the U.S. Open but said she felt better in her return to the court, breaking Bencic five times.

KREMLIN CUP: Defending champ Dominika Cibulkova rallied to beat Ekaterina Makarova 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in Moscow. In the men's event, Alex Bogomolov Jr. upset fellow Russian and three-time champ Nikolay Davydenko 7-5, 6-4.

AUTOS

Qualifying changes finalized in NASCAR

NASCAR made official a change to its qualifying format for next season, including the elimination of the top 35 rule. Starting next season, NASCAR will use a 36-6-1 format in which the fastest 36 cars make the race on speed. The next six highest cars in owners points not already qualified earn a starting spot, followed by the most recent eligible past champion driver. Also, fields in the second-tier Nationwide series will be cut to 40 cars each week instead of 43.

EARNHARDT UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. visited a noted concussion specialist in Pittsburgh as part of a planned program to get NASCAR's most popular driver back in a car. Hendrick Motorsports confirmed Earnhardt met with Micky Collins, the clinical and executive director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

FORMULA ONE: Ferrari extended Felipe Massa's contract for one more season. Massa, 31, hasn't won since a life-threatening accident at the Hungarian Grand Prix at Budapest in 2009. He is ninth in points.

NBA

Magic falls to 0-4

Rookie DeQuan Jones scored a game-high 22 but the Magic fell to 0-4 in the preseason with a 112-86 loss at Detroit. The Magic was outscored 35-14 in the second quarter. Orlando rookie Chris Johnson left with a leg injury.

MAVERICKS: Guard Delonte West, suspended Monday for conduct detrimental to the team, was reinstated after meeting with president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson and coach Rick Carlisle on Tuesday.

SIXERS: Center Andrew Bynum is set to begin practicing on Oct. 24, one week before the team opens the regular season against Denver, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

ET CETERA

CYCLING: American rider Levi Leipheimer was fired by the Omega Pharma-Quick Step team after confessing to doping as part of the investigation that brought down Lance Armstrong.

OLYMPICS: Five cities submitted official bids for the 2018 Summer Youth Games for athletes ages 15-18: Buenos Aires, Argentina; Glasgow, Scotland; Guadalajara, Mexico; Medellin, Colombia; and Rotterdam, Netherlands. The IOC will vote on a host July 4.

Times wires

Times wires
Tuesday, October 16, 2012

CHICAGO — Mike Holmgren won't be finishing the job he went to do in Cleveland.

New Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III said Tuesday that Holmgren was out as team president, though the Super Bowl-winning coach will remain to help the franchise's transition.

Haslam was introduced as the Browns' new boss after the 32 NFL owners unanimously approved his $1 billion purchase from Randy Lerner. Moments later, Haslam said former Eagles president Joe Banner would become chief executive officer. The move takes effect Oct. 25 when the sale is concluded.

Haslam plans no other personnel changes before 2013, meaning the jobs of coach Pat Shurmur and his staff and general manager Tom Heckert appear safe for now.

"I told Pat on Saturday night that this was the only personnel move until the end of the season," Haslam said, "But I am not at all saying we'll make changes at the end of the season."

The Browns were the last team to win a game this season, beating Cincinnati on Sunday after five losses. They are tied with Kansas City for the worst record in the league.

Haslam, 57, who built his fortune with Pilot Flying J truck stops, has been a minority owner of the Steelers, and is in the process of divesting that stock.

In other league business:

• Minnesota will host Pittsburgh in a second London game next year. The Vikings and Steelers will play Sept. 29 at Wembley Stadium, four weeks before Jacksonville hosts San Francisco there.

• Houston, San Francisco and South Florida will bid for the 2016 and '17 Super Bowls.

HARRISON CONCUSSIONS IN "DOUBLE DIGITS": Steelers All-Pro linebacker James Harrison says he has endured "double digit" bouts with concussion-like symptoms, but began using a special layer of padding inside his helmet last fall and is pleased with the results. "I haven't seen any spots or had any blackouts," Harrison said.

Also, the Steelers suspended rookie nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu two games without pay after his weekend arrest for a late-night run-in with police.

BEARS: The team terminated the contract of offensive lineman Chris Williams, a former first-round draft pick.

CARDINALS: ESPN reported that quarterback Kevin Kolb will miss several weeks with a rib injury.

COWBOYS: Owner Jerry Jones said it "looks obvious" that running back DeMarco Murray won't play Sunday at Carolina because of his sprained left foot.

EAGLES: Juan Castillo's offense-to-defense coaching experiment backfired, costing the defensive coordinator his job. Castillo was fired by coach Andy Reid and replaced by secondary coach Todd Bowles.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DETROIT — Alex Rodriguez was benched on Tuesday, Yankees officials said, because of his inability to get on base. And not for his reported attempts during Saturday's series to, well, score.

Rodriguez, according to a report in the New York Post, was seen flirting with two women seated behind the Yankees dugout in the innings after being pinch-hit for in Game 1, sending them a ball with a note to get their phone numbers.

While Yankees officials declined to comment on the report, they said the decision to drop Rodriguez from the lineup was strictly performance related, specifically that he was 0-for-18 with 12 strikeouts against right-handed pitchers during the playoffs.

"This is pure baseball-related," GM Brian Cashman said.

"There are no other issues," manager Joe Girardi said.

Rodriguez, 3-for-23 in the postseason overall with 12 strikeouts, was also benched for Game 5 of the AL Division Series.

AND MORE: The Yankees made other changes — drastic, if not quite desperate — with Nick Swisher also on the bench and Eduardo Nunez starting at shortstop.

That gave them a lineup that included OF Brett Gardner, who hadn't started a game since April 17 due to an extended injury absence; Eric Chavez at third (where he made an error); and Nunez, who wasn't even on their ALCS roster until Derek Jeter was hurt.

"There's time for patience and there's time for change. Right now we feel it's time for change,'' Cashman said. "There's an extended period of time that opportunity has been given, now we're going to give it to some other people.''

NO REVENGE: Bruce Bochy expects Giants 2B Marco Scutaro to be on his lineup card for Game 3 of the NL Championship Series today.

And the manager isn't interested in retaliation talk.

"What's on our mind is to go out and play our best ball," Bochy said. "That's over. You have to move on."

Scutaro has a strained left hip after the Cardinals' Matt Holliday plowed into him with a late slide while busting up a double play Monday.

BERKMAN EYES SERIES: Cardinals 1B Lance Berkman, who was left off the playoff roster after knee surgery, started some light running and said he could be ready to play in the World Series if St. Louis advances. Berkman pinch-hit in the Cardinals' regular-season finale.

RAYS REPORT: As the Red Sox and Rockies have extended their list of managerial candidates, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez has not heard from either team, at least not yet.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

American League Championship Series

Tigers 3, Yankees 0

Game 1: Tigers 6, Yankees 4 (12)

Game 2: Tigers 3, Yankees 0

Tuesday: Tigers 2, Yankees 1

Tonight: at Detroit, 8:07

Thursday: at Detroit, 4:07*

Saturday: at New York, 8:07*

Sunday: at New York, 8:15*

TV: All games TBS

National League Championship Series

Cardinals 1, Giants 1

Game 1: Cardinals 6, Giants 4

Game 2: Giants 7, Cardinals 1

Today: at St. Louis, 4:07

Thursday: at St. Louis, 8:07

Friday: at St. Louis, 8:07

Sunday: at San Francisco, 4:45*

Monday: at San Francisco, 8:07*

TV: All games Ch. 13

* If necessary

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DETROIT — Elimination might be kind for these Yankees, because at least it could be over as soon as tonight. The humiliation will exist for much longer.

With Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Justin Verlander, ex-Ray Delmon Young and the rest of the Tigers, the Yankees find themselves on the brink of a colossal fall, down three games to none in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

And little reason to think they can do much, if anything, about it.

"It's definitely a tough situation that we're in," DH Raul Ibanez said. "What else are you going to do? You have to fight. Fight all the way back."

Staggered by massive offensive failure that has them hitting .200 for the postseason — "Shock, to be honest," general manager Brian Cashman said — the Yankee made major changes to their lineup, benching Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher.

But it didn't change much, as Eduardo Nunez's ninth-inning homer was all that kept them from being shut out for the second straight game (ending a string of 20 zeroes), and they have scored in exactly two of the 30 innings thus far.

"What has happened has happened," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "You have to find a way to score runs (tonight)."

Certainly Verlander had something to do with it Tuesday, delivering another dominant though not quite complete game performance, retiring the first 10 Yankees and allowing only a pair of singles (to Ichiro Suzuki) until the ninth. He gave up the homer to Nunez on his 124th pitch — prompting a quick visit from manager Jim Leyland, who asked, simply, if he could get one more out — and after retiring Brett Gardner on his 132nd pitch (one off his career high), he was done, replaced by Phil Coke, who allowed two two-out hits before ending it.

Young, the one-time Rays prodigy who has grown up — and out — in the five years since being dealt for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett, led off the fourth with a solo homer to put the Tigers ahead.

Young, now 27, was primarily the DH for the Tigers this season, hitting .267 with 18 home runs and 74 RBIs, but has come up big for a second straight postseason, the homer his second of this series and a Tigers record seventh overall. "It feels good," Young said. "We all want to help win games in the postseason right now, and everyone is doing what they can."

The Tigers added an unearned run in the fifth, taking advantage of a trio of Yankees defensive miscues.

After winning 88 games during the season — two fewer than the Rays — the Tigers have won six in the playoffs and with one more will be back in the World Series for the second time in seven years.

"It's great to be up 3-0; we have to win one," Verlander said. "But against this lineup, against this team, you never know. … Every game in the postseason is a must-win. You have to keep momentum on your side. Hopefully we can go out (tonight) and shut this down. If it doesn't happen then reset, and go out the next day."

The Yankees, meanwhile, are tasked with trying to become the second team to come back from a 3-0 deficit, joining the 2004 Red Sox, who did it to them in the ALCS. At least they have ace CC Sabathia on the mound tonight.

"You look at this and it could be a number of different things besides 0-3 for us," Girardi said. "We have gotten good pitching all the way throughout the playoffs, and we will need it again (tonight) if we want to live another day."

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

GAINESVILLE — The sports highlights shows on Saturday night repeatedly showed Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel breaking loose for a 37-yard touchdown run, but what may have been missed was the celebration that No. 41 was having by himself just past the line of scrimmage after his block helped free Driskel.

When Mike Gillislee rushed for one of his two touchdowns at Texas A&M, that same No. 41 was taking out multiple defenders to spring the running back loose.

Sophomore fullback Hunter Joyer may be the most obscure player on the team when it comes to position and public recognition, but the former Tampa Catholic standout's unselfish play makes him one of the most valued and respected Gators.

"He definitely doesn't get near enough credit as he deserves," Driskel said. "He doesn't want the credit. Fullbacks get two or three touches a year and that's it, but he springs big plays all the time and he's always sticking his nose in the middle of it. He's definitely a big part of our offense."

His role now is a far cry from the days when he helped Tampa Catholic reach the state final.

"Because I played running back before, you're just running the ball, all eyes are always on you and you're really big in the team's success; how good they do," Joyer said. "It's different blocking. You're not really focused on that much, you're not really game-planned for. It's just a little different. It's kind of like a smaller role, but it's not like a worse role, or a bad role or anything."

Last season, Joyer was a valuable short-yardage runner. He played in all 13 games, with one start. He was a member of the kick-return team and scored a touchdown on his first career rush, a 3-yard run against Alabama-Birmingham. He finished the season with 82 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns.

During the offseason, coach Will Muschamp challenged Joyer to become a better blocker. For a young man who benches more than 400 pounds, squats more than 550 and can clean and jerk 315 pounds, strength was never the issue.

"I just felt like I needed to become more of an actual fullback," Joyer said. "I never really played it before I got here to college, so it's something I was still adjusting to, and something I needed to work on was blocking. I just felt like that's the reason that I'm here. I'm not here to get touches, get carries. So I just focused in on that."

As the Gators prepare for Saturday's game against South Carolina, their ability to run the ball is expected to have a significant impact on the game. That means Joyer will, too.

"Half of the runs for Gillislee is because of Hunter," receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. said. "He doesn't get in the spotlight but us as a team, we understand what he means to us."

His unselfishness is an example of the new Muschamp-style Gators, a team-first concept the coach believes has led to Florida's resurgence this season. Joyer has two carries for 1 yard and two catches for 10 this season.

"That's not a very glamorous position," Muschamp said. "The fullback position is a lost art in college football. Everybody is going to all this spread stuff, nobody plays with a fullback anymore. But we will.

"He's a guy that catches the ball well out of the backfield. We really challenged him in the offseason to become a more physical blocker at the point of attack. He's done that. He adjusts well to different looks, different fronts. Some of the things we ask him to do he's got to block on the move, so he's moving at a target and sometimes the target changes based on how we block up front and he adjusts to those things extremely well.

"He's extremely bright, extremely intelligent on and off the field. He's a very unselfish player and epitomizes what we want here at Florida."

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com. Follow her coverage at gators.tampabay.com.

Times wires
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas — Lance Armstrong stepped down as chairman of his Livestrong cancer-fighting charity while Nike and Anheuser-Busch each said they were cutting ties with him as fallout from the doping scandal that has swirled around the famed cyclist escalated Wednesday.

Armstrong announced his move at the charity in an early-morning statement. Within minutes, Nike said that it would end its relationship with him "due to the seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade."

Nike said it will continue to support Livestrong.

Armstrong, the seven-time Tour winner who denies ever doping, founded the organization in 1997 after he survived testicular cancer, and it sold millions of yellow Livestrong wristbands and went on to partner with Nike to sell millions of dollars of Livestrong gear. Jeff Garvey, the vice chairman of the organization, will become chairman, while Armstrong will remain on the foundation's board.

In the past, Nike stood by athletes such as Kobe Bryant, who was accused of sexual assault but never convicted, and Tiger Woods, who gained international notoriety for his extramarital affairs. Nike severed ties with Michael Vick when he went to prison for his role in a dogfighting ring but later re-signed him.

Beer-maker Anheuser-Busch did not give a reason for its action, which followed hours after Nike's move. A two-sentence statement from U.S. marketing vice president Paul Chibe said simply, "We have decided not to renew our relationship with Lance Armstrong when our current contract expires at the end of 2012. We will continue to support the Livestrong Foundation and its cycling and running events."

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency released a massive report last week detailing allegations of widespread doping by Armstrong and his teams when he won the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 to 2005.

The document's purpose was to show why USADA has banned him from cycling for life and ordered 14 years of his career results erased — including those Tour titles. It contains sworn statements from 26 witnesses, including 11 former teammates.

Armstrong, who was not paid a salary as chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, will remain on its 15-member board.

"This organization, its mission and its supporters are incredibly dear to my heart," Armstrong said in a statement. "Today therefore, to spare the foundation any negative effects as a result of controversy surrounding my cycling career, I will conclude my chairmanship."

Kelley O'Keefe, professor of brand strategy at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the charity already may be permanently damaged and that Armstrong may never be able to fully resume his public role.

"From the brand perspective, Armstrong is done," O'Keefe said.

O'Keefe compared Armstrong to Tiger Woods and Michael Vick, who also were embroiled in controversy but were able to return to the playing fields to help redeem their image.

"Armstrong doesn't have that. He's just a retired athlete with a tarnished image," O'Keefe said.

Armstrong's inspiring story of not only recovering from testicular cancer that had spread to his lungs and brain but then winning the world's best-known bike race helped his foundation grow from a small operation in Texas into one of the most popular charities in the country.

Armstrong drew legions of fans — and donations — and insisted he was drug free at a time when doping was rampant in professional cycling. In 2004, the foundation introduced the yellow "Livestrong" bracelets, selling more than 80 million and creating a global symbol for cancer awareness and survivorship.

"As my cancer treatment was drawing to an end, I created a foundation to serve people affected by cancer. It has been a great privilege to help grow it from a dream into an organization that today has served 2.5 million people and helped spur a cultural shift in how the world views cancer survivors," Armstrong said.

As chairman, Armstrong did not run the foundation's day-to-day operations, which are handled by Livestrong president and chief executive Doug Ulman.

Ulman had said last week that Armstrong's leadership role would not change. Armstrong's statement said he will remain a visible advocate for cancer issues, and he is expected to speak at Friday night's 15th anniversary gala for Livestrong in Austin.

"My family and I have devoted our lives to the work of the foundation and that will not change. We plan to continue our service to the foundation and the cancer community. We will remain active advocates for cancer survivors and engaged supporters of the fight against cancer," Armstrong said.

CharityWatch, which analyzes the work of approximately 600 charities, lists the foundation among its top-rated organizations. That status normally goes to groups which "generally spend 75 percent or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve" and disclose basic financial information and documents.

Livestrong says it had functional expenses totaling nearly $35.8 million last year and 82 percent of every dollar raised went directly to programs, a total of more than $29.3 million.

Information from the Associated Press and the New York Times was used in this report.

By Jim Huddleston, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

What's hot: In a fall bonanza along our coastline, anglers are catching kingfish, mackerel, grouper, trout, redfish and snook on the same day. This is largely due to the excessive bait along beaches in north Pinellas. Mackerel feed on bait schools and migrate south as cooler waters arrive. As the water temperature dips into the 70s, grouper use the hard bottom near passes to forage on pinfish. The inshore bite also has been stimulated by the drop in temperature, making gamefish more aggressive on incoming tides.

Technique: Larger speckled trout are moving into the shallows and holding in the same sandy troughs as redfish. Belly-hooked sardines with a splitshot keep the offering in the strike zone longer. Another key component inshore has been mullet working the shallows as the tide floods. Throwing gold or white spoons works well. Anglers can work all levels of the water column and often get a reaction strike from predators holding in the mass of jumping mullet.

Backcountry: Working bayous, river mouths and creeks are a staple of fall fishing as well as the destination of snook that move off the beaches. All three species of an inshore slam can be caught off oyster bars and docks found in "sweetwater" tributaries.

Jim Huddleston charters out of Tampa, Palm Harbor and Clearwater and can be reached at (727) 439-9017 and at jimmy@captainhud.com.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

TONIGHT

Seahawks (4-2) at 49ers (4-2)

When/where: 8:20; Candlestick Park, San Francisco

TV/radio: NFL Network; 98.7-FM, 1010-AM

Line/OU: 49ers by 7; 37½

It shapes up to be an interesting ride down the stretch in the NFC West. After six games, these two clubs seem on course for a seasonlong fight. Tonight, it's hard to envision Seahawks QB Russell Wilson having the same success he did in a rally over the Patriots on Sunday (16-of-27 for 293 yards and two late TDs). The 49ers defense, though coming off a poor performance in a loss to the Giants, present a stiffer test. And the prideful 49ers take after their coach, Jim Harbaugh. A bounceback seems likely.

Stephen F. Holder's pick: 49ers 23, Seahawks 21

Times wires
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

METAIRIE, La. — As the Saints began their prepractice stretch Wednesday, receiver Lance Moore hopped up, looked over at linebacker Jonathan Vilma and hollered, "Glad you're back! We missed you!" The entire team applauded.

"Hello!" Vilma responded with a smile, still seated on the field, one leg pulled over another.

The former University of Miami standout then did something he had yet to do in 2012: practice.

And it was obvious the Saints were pulling for him to be ready to play Sunday at the Bucs, which might be his only chance to get back on the field this season if his bounty suspension, currently on appeal, goes back into effect in a week or so.

"Vilma continues to fight for what's right and a fair process, which I think is extremely justified," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "The fact that he was out there practicing (Wednesday), it just kind of puts a smile on everybody's face knowing what he's been through and having the opportunity to get him back."

Vilma did not work with the first team but also did not wear any kind of brace or sleeve on his surgically repaired left knee.

"He's back," safety Malcolm Jenkins said. "He's doing a bunch of extra stuff, too, to make sure he's ready as far as conditioning and things like that. But he's ready to play. I know he's been champing at the bit and this is his opportunity this week and I know he'll be ready."

Vilma had several offseason procedures done on his knee.

WR FRUSTRATED: Jerome Simpson's deactivation Sunday cost him a chance to help the Vikings against the Redskins. It also cost the receiver a pretty good chunk of change.

Simpson said that every time he is deactivated from a game, it costs him $60,000 in bonus money. The Vikings built that clause into his one-year contract because the former Bengal was coming off a drug arrest.

The Vikings deactivated Simpson because of a back issue that caused numbness in a leg and limited him the previous week. Simpson felt he was ready to play.

"You lose $60,000, you'd be mad, too," he said. "I'm just a competitor, man. I just want to be out there on that field. Anytime something gets taken away from you, you're obviously going to be kind of upset about it."

RAVENS STAY HOPEFUL: Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who had surgery on his torn triceps and is expected to miss the rest of the season, was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return, meaning he would be eligible to start practicing with the team after six weeks and resume playing after eight.

BENGALS: Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, the team's top draft pick who hurt his left knee while working out during the summer, is close to fully healed and could return to the field Sunday night against the Steelers.

RAIDERS: Linebacker Aaron Curry returned to practice for the first time since May after dealing with nagging knee problems in recent months.

SEAHAWKS: Strong safety Kam Chancellor is set to face the 49ers tonight despite an ankle injury that limited him in practice this week.

TEXANS: Safety Danieal Manning was fined $15,000 by the league for punching Packers tackle Marshall Newhouse during a pileup in Sunday's game.

TITANS: Quarterback Jake Locker practiced for the first time since dislocating his left, nonthrowing shoulder Sept. 30, and coach Mike Munchak said he is on target to return Oct. 28 against the Colts.

Times wires
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

nascar

report: oct. 28 return eyed for earnhardt

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. could be back racing next weekend, his sister said Wednesday. Earnhardt will miss his second consecutive Sprint Cup race Sunday because of two concussions sustained in six weeks.

Earnhardt is on schedule to test a car early next week, Kelley Earnhardt Miller wrote in a post on JRNation.com. If all goes well, he can race Oct. 28 in the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, she said.

Earnhardt has been resting but has been allowed to watch some television and play video games as long as he doesn't "stress" his brain, she wrote. She was with Earnhardt on Tuesday when he went to Pittsburgh to see a specialist at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

et cetera

wnba: Connecticut's Tina Charles was the leading vote-getter for the league all-star team, and Indiana's Tamika Catchings earned her seventh first-team selection in a vote by a national panel of writers and broadcasters. Only retired Lisa Leslie has more selections (eight) than Catchings and Lauren Jackson and Diana Taurasi, who also have seven. Also on the first team are Los Angeles' Candace Parker, New York's Cappie Pondexter and Minnesota's Seimone Augustus.

tennis: Top seed Juan Martin del Potro outlasted Daniel Brands 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (8-6) at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna in his first match since recovering from a right wrist injury that sidelined him for a month. … Third seed Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup by beating Urszula Radwanska 6-1, 6-3 in Moscow. Sofia Arvidsson upset second-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-0.

soccer: England stumbled for the second time in World Cup qualifying, with host Poland scoring in the 70th minute for a 1-1 tie in a match delayed by a day due to a waterlogged field in a stadium with a retractable roof. England (2-0-2), which tied Ukraine 1-1 last month, has eight points and leads Europe Group H by one over Montenegro (2-0-1). … Europe's governing body opened disciplinary proceedings against host Serbia and England, and a police investigation was ordered from Belgrade after alleged racist chanting and brawls at an ill-tempered under-21 match Tuesday.

Times wires

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs guard Carl Nicks spent the past four seasons with the Saints and probably could fill a parade float with insider information about them. Blocking schemes, audibles, hand signals — he could blow the horn on all that jazz.

But as his new team prepares to play the Saints and quarterback Drew Brees on Sunday, Nicks has decided to be as silent as a Bourbon Street mime.

"I'm a firm believer in playing fair and being honest and the code," Nicks said Wednesday.

"It's cheating, and I'm not about that. I know they're not about that. I want to be able to sit there and say, 'We beat you guys fair and square.' "

Perhaps Nicks' sense of fair play is the reason he says he was unaware of the Saints' bounty program that took place under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

The scandal resulted in the stiffest penalties in NFL history. Williams, now Rams defensive coordinator, was suspended indefinitely, Saints coach Sean Payton for a year, general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games and linebackers and interim coach Joe Vitt for eight games. The team also was stripped of two second-round picks and fined $500,000.

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the season, Saints defensive end Will Smith for four games, free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove for seven and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita for one. They can play while appeals are heard.

"I was disappointed for all the suspensions and allegations because I don't know if there is any actual evidence," Nicks said. "I've never seen any of that stuff."

The result has been more wreckage for a franchise that helped the city of New Orleans recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Under offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, coaching until Vitt returns next week, the Saints started 0-4 before beating San Diego 31-24 on Oct. 7.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5, 349-pound Nicks has been an enormous addition to the Bucs. The two-time All-Pro filled the leadership void created by the loss of guard Davin Joseph to a season-ending knee injury.

"That dude, he's a game-changer," defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "He's so unique how he plays. He has a dangerous punch. Then you think you can go around him, and his feet move like a running back's. It's like, 'Come on, what is your weakness?' "

Nicks, playing despite a right toe injury that has limited his ability to practice, previously circled games against the Saints on the calendar.

"I'm just excited to play my old team and stick it to them a little bit," he said.

The Saints have nothing but admiration and affection for Nicks, who figured he played his last game for New Orleans after a loss to the 49ers in the NFC division playoff game. Nicks signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract in March.

Nicks was a huge part of the Saints' success. He won a Super Bowl with them in February 2010 and last season picked up Brees when he broke Dan Marino's NFL record for passing yards in a season.

"(Those moments) are frozen in time," Brees said. "So you appreciate it. But you also understand life goes on, careers go on and he got a great opportunity to go elsewhere. And unfortunately, it was in our division."

The Bucs had a season-best 145 rushing yards Sunday against the Chiefs. A ground game will be paramount in limiting possessions of the Saints' high-powered offense.

"I think (Nicks has) made an enormous impact on our offense," Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said. "There's a toughness, a dominance. Some of the things he does, it doesn't go noticed, maybe, by the casual observer.

"I think he's excited about this one, and I can imagine it's got to be a little awkward for him. In the one sense, those are very close friends and nothing can tear away the bond and the relationship he has winning the Super Bowl. But you also want to show, hey, this is what we're about now."

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

TAMPA — Da'Quan Bowers didn't exactly toss and turn with anxiety before waking Wednesday morning.

He knew he was ready to practice less than six months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon, and there was no trepidation before taking the field at One Buc Place.

"I slept great," said the second-year defensive end, who was hurt while working out May 10.

Wednesday was the latest in a multi­step process, and it was a small step at that. Coach Greg Schiano said Bowers had only a "minimal workload." But just getting here as quickly as he has indicates Bowers could be a factor before the season ends.

"I knew it would be somewhere around this time," Bowers said. "It's all about how you attack your rehab, and I attacked my rehab pretty forcefully. I didn't baby it. All I could think about was trying to get back to play this season."

Said Schiano: "Da'Quan has been unbelievable in his rehab. And not only rehabbing his Achilles, but what he's done with the rest of his body. I always talk to our guys about if they do have an unfortunate injury like that, there's an opportunity there as well. Your Achilles is hurt, but your upper body is fine. There's a lot of things you can do cardiovascularly, and he's done that. He looks great."

In addition to getting into football shape, Bowers must acclimate himself to the new defensive scheme. He has regularly attended meetings, been at the facility and been around his coaches. But not being on the field means he has ground to make up.

"There are some things … you just can't get until you have the shots fired at you," Bowers said. "A lot of those things are just adjustments that I would miss because I wasn't out there (at practice)."

Schiano won't commit to a time line with Bowers. But now that he has practiced, the Bucs have 21 days to move him from the physically unable to perform list to the active roster.

Schiano did make it clear Bowers won't play Sunday against the Saints. The Bucs have a short week after that, at Minnesota for a Thursday night game, so the earliest he will play likely will be Nov. 4 at Oakland.

Before playing in a game, Bowers said he's first looking for "consistency."

"I just want to be consistent with everything: the playbook, the plays, taking coaching, conditioning and, most of all, my Achilles," he said. "It's just all about how that thing feels."

THE BEST DEFENSE: At 402 yards per game, the Saints have the fourth-best offense in the league. So the Bucs offense is as important as the defense in stopping it.

"Every possession is critical," Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said. "But when you have a premier player (QB Drew Brees) and a great offense on the other side, you have to make every one of them count. It all starts with ball security. And then it's the ability to sustain our drives on third down and trying to stay in third and (shorts)."

ANOTHER SHOT: Jamon Meredith, who started at right guard for Ted Larsen on Sunday, will do so again against the Saints, Schiano said.

"It wasn't perfect, but he definitely maintains the starting job," Schiano said. "He played well enough. The one thing that Jamon is is very strong. We have to get some things cleaned up. But when he does hit you, he moves you."

FAMILIAR LOOK: Schiano will see his team don throwback, creamsicle uniforms for the first time Sunday.

"I do like them. I think it's a nice thing they do in the NFL," he said. "And a guy my age (46), I remember all those other uniforms. Well, some of them go way back. I don't remember those. But I certainly remember the old Bucs uniforms. It will be fun to wear them."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BucsBeat.

Times wires
Wednesday, October 17, 2012

NEW YORK — With an 82-game schedule hanging in the balance, the NHL's players union will respond to the league's latest contract offer during talks today in Toronto.

But the proposal, which the league made Tuesday and posted an overview of on its website Wednesday, drew a negative response from Donald Fehr, the union's executive director.

"While not quite as Draconian as their previous proposals, it still represents enormous reductions in player salaries and individual contracting rights," he wrote in a letter to players and agents, according to Canada's TSN. "At the five-percent industry growth rate the owners predict, the salary reduction over six years exceeds $1.6 billion. What do the owners offer in return?

"We do not yet know whether this proposal is a serious attempt to negotiate an agreement or just another step down the road. The next several days will be, in large part, an effort to discover the answer to that question."

The NHL declined to comment on Fehr's letter.

Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews also was unimpressed.

"It's not anything to get overly excited about," Chicago's captain said. "If they were that desperate to conserve an 82-game season … (a deal) would have been done already. There's no real effort there."

Jets wing Olli Jokinen called the offer a "starting point."

The NHL hopes a deal can be finalized and approved by the union by Oct. 25, camps open Oct. 26 and the season begins Nov. 2. The lockout began Sept. 16, and last week, the league canceled regular-season games through Oct. 24.

Commissioner Gary Bettman said it was "a fair offer for a long-term deal."

The proposal includes:

• A 50-50 split of hockey-related revenues; down from the 57 percent of the previous deal but up from the 43 percent of a July offer and about 47 percent of a September offer.

• A salary cap of $59.9 million for the upcoming season but provisions allowing teams to spend up to $70.2 million, the projected cap under the previous labor deal.

• Changing eligibility for unrestricted free agency from age 27 or seven years of service to 28 or eight years of service; down from 10 years of service in the league's previous proposal.

• Reducing entry-level contracts from three to two years.

• Maximum of five-year contracts that can vary in yearly salary by only five percent; designed to eliminate long-term, backloaded contracts.

• An increase in revenue sharing among owners by 33 percent to $200 million.

Items not addressed included realignment, which the union blocked in January, drug testing and participation in the 2014 Olympics.

The league also gave players and posted on nhl.com a letter underscoring its urgency.

"Delay (beyond Oct. 25) will necessarily leave us with an abbreviated season and will require the cancellation of signature NHL events," it read, likely referencing the Jan. 1 Winter Classic. "Failure to reach a prompt agreement will also have other significant and detrimental impacts on our fans, the game, our clubs, our business and the communities in which we play.

"All of this will obviously necessitate changes to this offer in the event we are unsuccessful in saving a full season."

By Joe Polito, Times Correspondent
Saturday, October 20, 2012

LOUISVILLE — Despite running out of time on its final drive, the USF offense saw a positive in the reemergence of wide receiver Andre Davis, whose second touchdown put the Bulls up four late in their 27-25 loss against Louisville on Saturday.

After being labeled USF's play-making receiver for his late-game heroics at Nevada, the Jefferson High graduate got more attention from opposing defenses, totaling just five catches for 45 yards in the three games before Saturday. But Davis had a big second half against the undefeated Cardinals, grabbing four catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

Coach Todd Fitch said quarterback B.J. Daniels called the play that gave Davis his first catch of the game early in the third quarter.

On second and goal from the 12-yard line, Daniels noticed backup cornerback Luke Brohm on the field and decided to toss the larger Davis a jump ball in the corner of the end zone.

"All week we talk about their personnel," Daniels said. "They had a corner out there that I felt like Andre could take advantage of. I told the coaches and it worked."

Daniels found Davis again on a nearly identical play with three minutes left in the game. Both touchdown catches hinged on Davis getting behind his one-on-one defender near the back pylon.

Fitch said Louisville's defense allowed Davis to do what he does best.

"They're more of a man-free team — they single people up," he said. "That's his talent, Andre, he's able to go up and get that ball vertically and did a nice job with both those."

After completing just six passes for 66 yards in the first half, the USF offense came out strong after halftime — punctuated by the returned chemistry between Daniels and Davis.

"It felt real good being down the way we were, coming out of the first half, and find that intensity, that fight within us to come back in the second half," Davis said.

But the sophomore receiver's big second half wasn't enough to snap the Bulls' losing streak. Davis said that though he was able to once again impact the game, there were no moral victories during USF's fifth straight loss.

"I just want to keep doing what I can for the offense," he said. "I just want to be put in the predicament where I can … help the team out and get closer to winning. Everybody is feeling the hurt, but nobody is ready to give up. Nobody is willing to throw the white flag in. We are going to keep going out there and fighting."

Times wires
Saturday, October 20, 2012

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The darkest moment for Ohio State became the highlight of Kenny Guiton's career.

With star quarterback Braxton Miller on the way to the hospital, Guiton passed for a touchdown and two-point conversion with three seconds left and the No. 7 Buckeyes went on to beat Purdue 29-22 in overtime Saturday.

"I'm still trying to figure that bad boy out," said Urban Meyer, whose team remained unbeaten in his first season as Buckeyes coach. "We won, right?"

Many among the crowd of 105,290 believed the Buckeyes had little chance of winning after Miller left on the next-to-last play of the third. The mood had sunk lower when Guiton, who threw an interception on his previous play, came onto the field with 47 seconds left, Ohio State down 22-14 and the ball at its 39.

"The people around me calmed me down and got me ready to go out there and have fun," the senior said.

He did more than have fun.

"Some of the efforts I saw were legendary," Meyer said. "I mean, that was a moment that I'll certainly never forget: The quarterback jogging into the game, the old right-hander. He just did a heck of a job."

After Guiton's interception to safety Landon Feichter with 2:40 left, Meyer grabbed Guiton.

"I said, 'You're going to win us a game,' " Meyer said. "He looked right at me. I think he was down, but I think that moment kind of picked him up."

Guiton appreciated the faith. When he ran onto the field for the final drive of regulation, he passed that confidence onto his teammates.

"(Coach Meyer) told me I was going to be okay," Guiton said. "I told the offense, 'We need to make plays, and we're going to get it. So let's go. Let's keep our heads up and let's start winning this game.' "

On first down, Guiton hit an open Devin Smith for 39 yards. With eight seconds left, the ball sat at the Boilermakers 2. Guiton rolled to his left and fired a low pass to another seldom-used player, Chris Fields.

Guiton then lofted a soft toss over a linebacker to freshman tight end Jeff Heuerman to tie it.

"I wanted the world for the team," Guiton said.

Ohio State got the ball first in overtime, and Carlos Hyde scored on a 1-yard run. When it was Purdue's turn, Caleb TerBush misfired on four passes.

Purdue scored on TerBush's touchdown passes of 83 yards to Akeem Shavers — on the first offensive play of the game — and 31 yards to Gary Bush in the third quarter, and Akeem Hunt's 100-yard kickoff return. It took a 22-14 lead 4:49 into the fourth when Ohio State was called for an illegal block in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

"Before the game, we talked about playing 60 minutes," Feichter said. "Unfortunately, we played 59 minutes and 30 seconds."

Times wires
Saturday, October 20, 2012

CLEMSON, S.C. — It was easy to spot the happiest guy in No. 14 Clemson's locker room: defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

Venables had spent most of his first season watching his Tigers struggle against opponents big and small. But with one of the ACC's best players in Logan Thomas in to lead Virginia Tech, Clemson's defenders put together their best effort of the season.

The Tigers got three interceptions, two off of Thomas, and made two fourth-down stops in a 38-17 victory over the Hokies on Saturday.

Clemson went in 10th in the 12-team conference with 445 yards allowed per game. Virginia Tech got 406 in this one, all but 100 by Thomas, but it was the Tigers defense that turned things around against the fired-up Hokies.

"We don't have to play like Alabama yet," Venables said with a grin. "Although we'd like to. But we can definitely play better than we have up to this point and hopefully, today was a sign of moving in the right direction."

Jonathan Meeks had two interceptions, one that he took back for a 74-yard touchdown off Thomas.

"I knew right away," Thomas said of his sailing throw.

Tajh Boyd ran for two touchdowns and passed for another for the Tigers, who were held to a season-low 295 yards.

Boyd thought the team didn't come out as strong as he had hoped for its first game in two weeks. Still, he said, in other seasons such a showing would lead to defeat. "I think it shows how far we've come," he said.

WAKE FOREST 16, UVA 10: Chad Hedlund kicked three field goals, and the visiting Demon Deacons returned from an open week with a much-improved defense to send the Cavaliers to their sixth straight loss.

The victory came two weeks after Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe suspended six players before a loss at Maryland for violating team rules, and with two new players sidelined for the same thing in the midst of losing three out of four games.

"We came out (Saturday) fired up," said quarterback Tanner Price, who completed just seven passes. "We realized the importance of this game and we realized that we really needed to get back on track. It was great to see a team after especially all that adversity come together and mesh and win a football game."

N.C. STATE 20, MARYLAND 18: Mike Glennon directed a frantic drive to set up a 43-yard field goal by Niklas Sade with 32 seconds left, and the visiting Wolfpack overcame a valiant performance by Terrapins backup quarterback Devin Burns.

After Sade's kick, Maryland moved 60 yards in five plays before Brad Craddock's 33-yard field goal try hit the left upright with 2 seconds left. Ten of the past 13 games between these teams have been decided by fewer than 10 points, five by fewer than four. Neither team could pull away in this one, even though the Terps lost starting quarterback Perry Hills to a knee injury that likely ended his season.

DUKE 33, UNC 30: Sean Renfree threw a 5-yard touchdown to Jamison Crowder on fourth down with 13 seconds left, and the host Blue Devils rallied.

The Tar Heels erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and took a short-lived lead on tailback Gio Bernard's touchdown, which came after he scooped up a teammate's fumble and galloped into the end zone with 3:12 left.

"Honestly, that play doesn't even matter. We lost the game," he said. "That one play, that's just a little something out of the whole game. But we didn't execute the whole day."

Duke is now bowl eligible for the first time since 1994.

GA. TECH 37, BC 17: Tevin Washington ran for two touchdowns and backup quarterback Vad Lee also accounted for two scores, leading the host Yellow Jackets. Tech snapped a three-game losing streak in their first contest since firing defensive coordinator Al Groh. The Eagles lost their fifth in a row and have yet to beat a Division I-A opponent.

Times wires
Saturday, October 20, 2012

Ohio State QB Miller checks out okay after trip to hospital

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State QB Braxton Miller was "doing fine" after being taken to a hospital and having tests in the wake of an injury sustained late in the third quarter of the Buckeyes' 29-22 overtime win over Purdue on Saturday. Team spokesman Jerry Emig said the sophomore went to the hospital and his shoulders, head and neck were evaluated. Miller's father, Kevin, was with him in the hospital. Emig said there were no symptoms of a concussion or other serious injury. Miller was at the end of a 37-yard run when he was thrown to the turf by Boilermakers CB Josh Johnson.

He's a man! He's at 63!

Mike Gundy earned his 63rd victory as Oklahoma State's coach, surpassing the school record owned by Pat Jones. Gundy, the starting quarterback from 1986-89 in the early years of Jones' 11-year tenure, is 63-32 in 7½ seasons.

Ouch of the day

Auburn is the first team to start 1-6 within two years of winning a national title.

Players of the day

Matt Barkley and Robert Woods, USC: Both set career school records in a 50-6 rout over Colorado. The duo connected on scoring throws of 39, 29, 17 and 3 yards in the first 35 minutes. Barkley hit Woods with his 100th career TD pass in the second quarter to pass Matt Leinart's USC and conference records. Woods passed Dwayne Jarrett on USC's career receptions list a few minutes later with his 217th career catch — and another TD.

Stepfan Taylor, Stanford: The senior running back, who was stuffed short of the goal line on a controversial play to end the previous week's loss to Notre Dame, ran for a career-high 189 yards and a TD in a 21-3 win over archrival Cal.

Number of the day

324 Career victories for Larry Kehres, coach of NCAA Division III powerhouse Mount Union after a 51-0 win over Otterbein. He passed Bear Bryant for fourth on the all-divisions list. Kehres is 324-24-3 in 27 seasons, all at Mount Union. The top five coaches:

John Gagliardi 487 1949-now

Eddie Robinson 408 1941-97

Bobby Bowden 377 1959-2009

Larry Kehres 324 1986-now

Bear Bryant 323 1945-82

A chop for Obama?

FSU's win over Miami is a boost for President Barack Obama — if you put stock in a tweet from NBC News' chief White House correspondent Chuck Todd. Since 1988, when Miami has won, the Republicans won or kept the White House; when FSU has won, it's the Democrats.

Quotable

"As the sand goes out of the hourglass, there are some games left. We're not that far away, but we're miles away."

Frank Spaziani, Boston College coach, whose team fell to 1-6 with a 37-13 loss at Georgia Tech; the Eagles' only win came against I-AA Maine

The Division I-A unbeatens

Big East IndependentSEC

Louisville Notre Dame * Alabama *

RutgersMACFlorida *

Big TenOhioMississippi St.

Ohio State *Pac-12

Big 12Oregon

Kansas State Oregon St. * #

* Has not faced a I-AA team # Played late Saturday

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Saturday, October 20, 2012

GAINESVILLE

This is where the measurement starts. Against the statue standing in front of the stadium. Against the trophies sparkling in the case. Against the immense shadow looming from the other side of the field.

You want to be a successful coach at Florida?

First, you have to be superior to Coach Superior.

This is where the judging begins. With a young ball coach throwing down against the Old Ball Coach. With a patchwork game plan that dares the other guy's visor to stay on his head. With a big victory in the Swamp against the guy who named it that.

And here's a question:

There in the glow of another winning scoreboard, has Will Muschamp ever looked better?

This is how a Gators coach wins the undecided vote. He leads his team onto the field against Steve Spurrier, and he wins going away. Say what you will about Urban Meyer, who won two national titles here, but in Gainesville, Spurrier remains the most popular coach of them all. And it was memories of how good Spurrier has been on the sideline that made many of his old fans a little nervous going into Saturday's game with South Carolina.

And by the end?

Muschamp 44, Spurrier 11.

And furthermore, blammo.

For Muschamp — for any Florida coach — it will always be a big deal to beat Spurrier, who won the Heisman here, who coached the Gators to their first six SEC titles here, who defined the swagger shared by so many fans here.

"It has nothing to do with me being the Florida coach," Muschamp said. "It has to do with the respect I have for him. Not necessarily what he did at Florida. What he did at Duke. What he's doing at South Carolina. The guy's been good to me since I've been here, and I appreciate that. I have as much respect for him as anyone who has been a coach."

In life, don't you want to be impressive in front of coaches who have impressed you? Think of it like this: If Muschamp hadn't throttled back at the end of the game, the No. 3 Gators could have run up 50 on Spurrier.

In the end, Muschamp will be measured by the titles he wins. Everyone understands that. But here in late October, what more could Gator fans want from a head coach? Muschamp has now beaten two Top 10 programs in three weeks, and his team is 7-0 and ranked second in the BCS standings, and his program is about two years ahead of where anyone suspected it would be by now.

There have been prettier Florida teams, of course. There have been teams with more accomplished quarterbacks and teams with more relentless running attacks and teams that intimidated the opponents at first sight.

Still, there is something to be said for a coach who can win with a mix-and-match offense that often seems as if it is going uphill. For instance, the Gators had the ball for 26 plays in the first half against the Gamecocks, and they gained only 29 yards. For the game, Jeff Driskel completed only 11 passes, but four of them were for touchdowns.

Here's the thing, however. The Gators are winning the only way they can win. They cannot afford for Driskel to drop back and play bombs away. They are not the Fun 'n' Gun with Danny Wuerffel, and they are not give-it-to-Emmitt, and they are not move-out-of-Tebow's-way.

When you get down to it, isn't that how you define "coaching?"

"We are what we are," Muschamp keeps saying. "We don't have a lot of margin for error here. We're a team that's playing defense pretty decent at times. Offensively we're doing what we can to take advantage of the other team."

Of course, it helps if the other team leaves the ball lying on the turf as frequently as South Carolina did Saturday. The Gamecocks set up the Gators for 21 points with three of their four turnovers, which is sort of like filling a bus up with gas right before it runs you over.

"Maybe we just need to say 'Hey, we can't throw the ball anymore. We need to run three times and punt,' " Spurrier said.

Yeah, you remember grumpy Spurrier, too. Wouldn't you be grumpy if you brought your No. 9-ranked team home with you and it laid an egg?

"The only thing you can hope for is that your guys give it their best and don't just lay the ball down and basically say 'Here, Florida, we don't want to win. You guys take this fumble and this fumble and this fumble,' " Spurrier said. "It was a sad performance by a lot of us."

Last year Muschamp had a few of those himself. His first season, it is safe to say, didn't convince a lot of fans.

This year is better. This year his team is stronger and better. The future looks better.

Who knows? Someday Muschamp may get a visor of his very own.

Listen to Gary Shelton weekdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on 98.7 the Fan.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, October 20, 2012

Heading into this week's Class 8A-8 district tournament, Palm Harbor University may be the most dangerous 13-12 team in the area. The season has been filled with close losses, disappointing showings in two elite tournaments and injuries.

But as the Pinellas County Athletic Conference championship match against defending state champion East Lake on Wednesday showed, when healthy and motivated, the Hurricanes can play with any team. Palm Harbor University beat district rival East Lake in four games to claim the conference title and now takes a head of steam into district play.

A tough match against Sarasota Riverview awaits Tuesday. A win would set up a fourth meeting this season at East Lake for the district championship.

Are the Hurricanes starting to peak?

"I sure hope so,'' coach Tara Kuk said. "I told the girls that the record doesn't matter if you are PCAC champions. Your record doesn't matter if you are district champions. It doesn't matter if you make it to the states. Just battle every game until the season ends. We're off to a good start."

The biggest slide of the season started Oct. 9 at Clearwater. Top hitter Lee Nielsen twisted an ankle during the match and the Tornadoes went on to win 3-1. Then middle hitter Naomi Mack was lost for a week due to injury.

The result was a loss to Sarasota Riverview two days later and five more losses at the Dig Pink tournament.

"It was tough," Kuk said. "We're not used to losing, so to lose seven in a row was hard. The girls could've held on to that, but they didn't. They came back ready to work, and that's why we've been successful."

Nielsen and Mack returned Monday for the Northeast game. Now at full strength, Palm Harbor University has won three straight and looked good doing so.

Nielsen, Mack and Logan Miller have become a formidable trio at the net. Miller, a 6-foot-3 senior, averages four kills per game. Mack and Nielsen aren't far behind with more than three per game.

Senior setter Abbey Bouchard has been consistent all season. And defensive specialists Ameje Ismaili and Randi Dawson have been all over the floor.

Now with a victory over nemesis East Lake, their first since the 2010 season, the Hurricanes are feeling pretty good about themselves.

"Our morale wasn't very high (after the losses)," Nielsen said. "But now that were all together again I don't think anything can stop us."