EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon might be without quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James this weekend when the ninth-ranked Ducks visit Colorado.
“Our game plan doesn’t change with the loss of a back. Our game plan doesn’t change right now with the loss of a quarterback,” coach Chip Kelly said. “Fortunately for us.”
James, who dislocated his elbow Oct. 6 against California, still has not carried the ball in practice. The nation’s top rusher said Tuesday that he was awaiting a special brace. He plans to make the trip to Boulder and dress for the game, but doesn’t know if he’ll play.
“I definitely could play,” James said. “It’s one of those things — if they need me to play.”
The prospect for Thomas was more vague. If he doesn’t start, the job will go to redshirt freshman backup Bryan Bennett. The junior quarterback was hurt when an Arizona State player landed on his legs in last weekend’s 41-27 victory over the Sun Devils. He has been seen in full pads after Oregon’s closed practices, but it is not known if he has been taking snaps.
• Auburn sophomore quarterback Clint Moseley will make his first career start Saturday at No. 1 LSU. He is replacing Barrett Trotter, who started the first seven games but completed only eight passes in the last six quarters for the nation’s 106th-rated pass offense.
Also, guard Jared Cooper will miss the rest of the regular season after having surgery on his right leg.
• Tulane coach Bob Toledo resigned after a 2-5 start that included lopsided losses to Tulsa, Duke, Army and UTEP.
• The University of Louisville agreed to a new seven-year contract with coach Charlie Strong.
• Arkansas unveiled details of an estimated $300 million athletic facilities plan, one that includes the enclosing of the north end zone at Razorback Stadium. The plan could take up to 30 years and affect each of the university’s 19 athletic programs.
Kobe still working on deal with Italian club
BOLOGNA, Italy — The Italian club Virtus Bologna said that “unexpected engagements” have made it impossible to sign Kobe Bryant this month, but both sides will keep working toward a deal in November.
Bologna president Claudio Sabatini said he had reached a tentative deal with Bryant’s agent on a 10-game contract worth more than $3 million.
A statement on Bologna’s website said that “the sides will continue to work toward arranging Kobe Bryant’s arrival in Italy for mid-November.”
• New York-based leveraged buyout specialist Joshua Harris and the rest of his ownership group completed the deal to buy the Philadelphia 76ers from Comcast-Spectacor.
Ed Stefanski is out as general manager and team president Rod Thorn will assume greater day-to-day control in running the franchise.
• The Memphis, Tenn., City Council is asking its attorney to explore options for the recovery of revenue that is lost during the NBA lockout.
A resolution adopted Tuesday contends the cancellation of the NBA season’s first two weeks has caused the city to lose revenues that are used to pay the debt service on bonds issued by the city’s sports authority to build the FedExForum, and public revenues might have to be used to cover the shortfall.
The bonds are paid with revenue streams related to the NBA, including tickets and concessions to Memphis Grizzlies games.
Footnotes.
University of California men’s basketball coach Mike Montgomery is scheduled for an undisclosed surgical procedure today that will include a short recovery period away from the team.
• Connecticut center Michael Bradley will miss the start of the basketball season with a fractured ankle.
• Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre pulled out of his Oct. 29 UFC 137 title fight against Carlos Condit because of a knee injury.
• Rory McIlroy made four birdies on the back nine to grab a share of the lead with Keegan Bradley at 4-under-par 67 at the PGA Grand Slam in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The Associated Press
