Chicago Sun-Times

SMALL COLLEGES: North Central’s Johnny Crain has big run at Drake Relays

Thu, 02 May 2013 02:27:58 -0500

With athletes from high school, all college levels, and invitational events for elite competitors beyond college levels, the Drake Relays have a unique place in track and field. For North Central College, the event long has had a cherished spot on the schedule. “We have a great history at Drake Relays,” said coach Frank Gramarosso, noting the NCAA Division III Cardinals have competed in the event since 1974, including every year since 1983. “It’s a lot of fun. In the College Division, you compete against Division II and NAIA, and then the events that are University and College, those are …

Manti Te’o selected by San Diego Chargers in second round

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 18:18:00 -0500

Manti Te’o is off the board. And off to Southern California. After falling to Day 2 of the NFL draft, Te’o, Notre Dame’s oft-scrutinized middle linebacker, was selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 38th overall selection on Friday. The Chargers traded up to grab the pick from the Arizona Cardinals. The big buzz on Thursday was that the Bears were very keen on Te’o and could take him with the No. 20 pick. But general manager Phil Emery and Co. passed on him and other defensive players, taking Oregon guard Kyle Long. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. …

Wisconsin-Green Bay coach Brian Wardle accused of ridiculing player who defecated during workout

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:24:26 -0500

Ryan Bross, the former University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball player whose allegations led to an investigation of head coach Brian Wardle, went public with his accusations Monday.

Steve Alford refuses to pay $1M buyout to New Mexico

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:14:00 -0500

A University of New Mexico official says former Lobos basketball coach Steve Alford is willing to pay a $200,000 buyout for leaving the Albuquerque school to take a job at UCLA but he won’t pay the $1 million payment that New Mexico wants.

Rick Pitino gets a tattoo

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:08:01 -0500

Rick Pitino is now inked up. The Louisville coach followed through Friday on his promise to players to get a tattoo if the Cardinals won the NCAA championship, adorning his left shoulder blade with the school’s old-English ‘L’ emblem in red. It’s perpendicularly surrounded by the words ‘2013 NCAA champions, 35-5.’

Perennial D-III baseball power Illinois Wesleyan sets sights on title

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:19:52 -0500

You know things are going your way when a key injury uncovers a new strength. So it goes for the Illinois Wesleyan baseball team (23-7, 13-2 CCIW), which has had things going its way since the dawn of the 2000s, qualifying for 11 CCIW tournaments, winning eight conference championships, playing in seven NCAA Division III regionals, two Division III World Series and winning a national championship in 2010. Zach Scott was a starter on the title team and entered this season expecting to be the Titans’ shortstop for the fourth year running. But in his first game of the season, …

Notre Dame sets times for home football games

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:37:08 -0500

Notre Dame and Southern California will meet under the lights. The Irish released times for seven dates on the 2013 football schedule. The Oct. 19 game against the Trojans will start at 6:30 p.m. at Notre Dame Stadium. The five other games at Notre Dame Stadium – Aug. 31 vs. Temple, Sept. 21 vs. Michigan State, Sept. 28 vs. Oklahoma, Nov. 2 vs. Navy and Nov. 23 vs. BYU – will begin at 2:30 p.m. The Oct. 5 game against Arizona State at Cowboys Stadium will start at 6:30 p.m. Those games are on NBC. Notre Dame’s Oct. 26 game …

How college football playoff came to be called College Football Playoff

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:36:01 -0500

The cartel formerly known as the Bowl Championship Series has changed its name. Because nothing says college football playoff better than, well, College Football Playoff. Yeah, it’s unimaginative. The capital letters are pretentious, too. But tell me you don’t envy the marketing consultants who were called in and practically dared to give the old BCS crowd a dose of their own medicine. Consultant A: “How about the SEC Championship?” Consultant B: “Just because they won the last seven doesn’t mean they’ll win the next seven. Besides, it’s already taken.” Consultant C: “The Grifters?” Consultant B: “Same problem.” Five minutes of …

College Football Playoff replaces Bowl Championship Series

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:36:48 -0500

PASADENA, Calif. — The name says it all: College Football Playoff. The major college football conference commissioners named the new postseason system that starts in 2014 on Tuesday, the first of three days of meetings at a resort hotel in the Rose Bowl’s backyard. Out with the Bowl Championship Series and in with the College Football Playoff. “I don’t think you can ever go too wrong calling something what it is,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said. “Things that make sense tend to stand the test of time.” Next on the agenda is to pick three more bowls for the six-bowl …

Bears don’t need him, but Packers could go after top RB Eddie Lacy

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:13:07 -0500

The Bears likely will keep an eye on running backs in the draft, but not because they need or even want one. It’s because of the Green Bay Packers. With Matt Forte and Michael Bush in place, the only concern is who the Packers take to fill their hole in the backfield. The Packers’ inability to run the ball and reliance on quarterback Aaron Rodgers have prevented them from fielding a complete offense. It’s a good thing that this year’s class isn’t stocked with game-changing running backs. Bears general manager Phil Emery called the group “average.” Alabama’s Eddie Lacy, Wisconsin’s …

Notre Dame men’s basketball to host Duke for first time since ‘95

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:33:49 -0500

The Notre Dame men’s basketball team will have a home game against Duke for the first time since 1995 as part of the Irish’s first ACC schedule. The conference announced opponent pairings for 2013-14 league games on Tuesday. Notre Dame will play each ACC school at least once as part of the 18-game conference schedule. Notre Dame will have home and road games against North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia Tech and Boston College. The Irish last played at North Carolina in 1993. The Tar Heels’ last trip to Notre Dame was in 1994. Additionally, Notre Dame will have home-only games vs. …

Cornerback Desmond Trufant ready to join two brothers in NFL

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:15:00 -0500

One day, if things go well for him in his NFL career, Washington cornerback Desmond Trufant won’t have to deal with people calling him by the wrong name. ‘‘Yeah, I get the ‘Hey, Marcus,’ a couple of times,’’ he said. ‘‘But it’s all good. He’s a great player. He’s done some great things in the league, so it’s not a bad thing.’’ Marcus Trufant, one of Desmond’s older brothers, is entering his 11th NFL season with the Seattle Seahawks. Isaiah Trufant, another older brother, is entering his fourth season with the New York Jets. Both are cornerbacks. Once Desmond Trufant …

NFL Draft: USC quarterback Matt Barkley likely to be late-1st or 2nd-round pick

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:35:45 -0500

The next player who regrets staying in school after his draft stock plummets probably will be the first. So it’s no surprise USC quarterback Matt Barkley wouldn’t change a thing. ‘‘No, no regrets that I came back last year,’’ Barkley said at the NFL combine. ‘‘Haven’t looked back once. Wouldn’t change my USC career for anything.’’ It’s difficult to define just how much Barkley lost by returning to USC for his senior year. After a stellar junior season, he was rated by some draft analysts among the top 10 players in the draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. rated Barkley with …

Tommy Hamilton Jr. signs with DePaul

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:50:23 -0500

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NFL Draft: Robert Woods looking to break USC’s pro drought at receiver

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:15:59 -0500

USC has produced some legendary receivers, including Lynn Swann and Keyshawn Johnson. But their recent run at the position hasn’t yielded much, at least not for the NFL’s tastes. Mike Williams and Dwayne Jarrett are among the disappointments. So how will Robert Woods fare? He’s not big (6 foot), he’s not fast (4.51 in the 40-yard dash), and he really doesn’t stand out in any measurable way. But Woods was remarkably consistent for the Trojans, catching 250 passes for 2,933 yards and 32 receiving touchdowns in his three seasons. His most brilliant season was his second, when he hauled in …

Defense dominates in Notre Dame spring football game

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 02:52:53 -0500

South Bend, Ind. — Brian Kelly lost a bet. And Blue-Gold game on Saturday was the time to pay up. So there was 347-pound nose tackle Louis Nix III in the backfield, taking a shotgun snap as Notre Dame attempted a two-point conversion. A lane wide enough to fit a semi-truck opened, and Nix stormed up the middle to the end zone. It was one of the rare highlights for the offense in a day dominated by defense. The defense, designated as the blue squad, defeated the offense, designated as the gold team, 54-43 in front of 31,652 fans at …