College Station, Texas – The approach of Hurricane Rita caused major-college football teams near the Texas Gulf Coast to consider schedule changes Tuesday.
Texas A&M officials said they would decide today whether to move Saturday’s game against Texas State to Thursday. Houston was contemplating its options for Saturday’s game against Southern Mississippi, and Rice was discussing a plan that would move its game against Navy on Saturday to late October.
Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said there is a “pretty good chance” the Aggies’ game with Texas State will be played Thursday.
“Our first priority has to be the safety of our athletes, staff, families and fans,” he said.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Indian mascot ban extended to bowls
The NCAA is requiring bowl games to ban the “hostile” or “abusive” use of American Indian nicknames, mascots and logos beginning next year. The NCAA announced it’s extending its prohibition to include bowl games. The decision was made after Bowl Championship Series officials sought a ruling after determining it could not impose the prohibition. Only one Division I-A school, the University of Illinois, will be affected.
One day after getting out of the hospital, Reggie Ball was back at practice for Georgia Tech, but he didn’t get a chance to show if he will be able to play quarterback in Saturday’s game against No. 4 Virginia Tech.
“I was just going through the motions a little bit,” said Ball, who was hospitalized last weekend with viral meningitis. “I’m trying to work myself back in there.”
Redshirt freshman Taylor Bennett took snaps with the first team, while Ball mostly watched the 2 1/2-hour workout from the sideline.
CYCLING
WADA denies withholding information
World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound denied claims by cycling’s governing body that WADA withheld information for the probe into whether Lance Armstrong used banned substances during the 1999 Tour de France.
“We tried to the best of our possibilities to provide the information that we have,” Pound said.
Pound said he was puzzled by a request from the International Cycling Union for information on Armstrong because WADA did not exist at the time of the alleged doping incidents. Pound said WADA was concerned about the “accusatory approach” by UCI, which accused WADA of withholding information.
MOTORSPORTS
Stewart wrecks during Lowe’s test run
NASCAR points leader Tony Stewart crashed during a test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.
Stewart crashed his Chevrolet after running just a handful of laps, then ended his session because of a headache. Also wrecking during the test session were Greg Biffle, who is second in the points, Mike Bliss and Boris Said. No one was injured.
Crew chief Todd Parrott will rejoin the No. 88 Ford of Dale Jarrett, with whom he won the 1999 NASCAR championship.
FOOTNOTES
U.S. defeats Italy in Under-17 Cup
Ofori Sarkodie, Kile Nakazawa and Ryan Soroka scored second-half goals to lead the United States past Italy 3-1 and clinch a berth in the quarterfinals at the Under-17 World Cup in Lima, Peru. In other matches, defending champion Brazil beat the Netherlands 2-1 to avoid elimination, and North Korea defeated Ivory Coast 3-0.
Tony Parker had 13 points and Antoine Rigaudeau added 14 as France stunned world champion Serbia-Montenegro 74-71 to reach the quarterfinals of the European basketball championship in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro. In Thursday’s quarterfinals, France will face defending champion Lithuania and Greece plays Russia. On Friday, Germany will play Slovenia and Croatia will face Spain.
The Portland Trail Blazers signed restricted free-agent guard Steve Blake to an offer sheet. Blake, 25, spent the past two seasons with the Washington Wizards, who have until Sept. 28 to match the Trail Blazers’ offer.
Chicago’s WNBA franchise announced the team will be called the Sky, with light blue and yellow as its colors.
French Open organizers have decided to pay men and women equal prize money and add a 15th day to the May 28-June 11 tennis tournament. The Open’s new policy leaves Wimbledon as the last of the four majors to pay women less than men.
Michelle Wie will turn pro in time for the Samsung World Championship, which begins just two days after her 16th birthday Oct. 11, Golf World reported.
Joe Bauman, whose 72 minor-league home runs in 1954 stood as a professional baseball record until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001, died in Roswell, N.M. He was 83.
