Briefly
NCAA defends Williams decision
The NCAA says Mike Williams sent a clear message he no longer wanted to play college football by hiring an agent and dropping out of spring classes.
That’s part of the reason Williams’ appeal to be reinstated was rejected, Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president for membership services, said in defending the decision Friday.
“At the end of the day, when we stepped back and looked, there was no question he violated the amateurism rule,” Lennon told the Associated Press. “He said, ‘I want to be a professional, I no longer want to be a college student-athlete.’ “
Southern California’s football team was in Maryland preparing for its season opener tonight against Virginia Tech and was unavailable for comment.
Vice president Todd Dickey, the university’s legal counsel, said he was more upset that the NCAA strung out the process.
“Basically, they said hiring an agent and declaring for the draft was too much, and they knew that from the beginning,” Dickey said.
Williams and a school attorney said Thursday they would not appeal the decision.
Auto racing
Gordon takes sixth pole of season
Jeff Gordon counted out the five wins he has this season, then his five poles. It was an hour before qualifying, and Gordon set a goal for himself.
“I think I want to make it six and six this weekend,” he said.
Gordon took the first step, winning the pole for the Sharpie 500 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway with a speed of 128.520 mph.
Rookie Kasey Kahne qualified second with a lap of 127.410 mph.
“Dale Earnhardt Jr. outlasted a season-high 13 cautions in a green-white-checkered flag finish at the Food City 250 Busch series race in Bristol, Tenn.
College basketball
Huggins returns to work at Cincinnati
A contrite Bob Huggins returned to work as Cincinnati’s basketball coach after university officials suspended him following his drunken driving conviction in June and told him to rehabilitate himself.
Huggins said he spent his days fishing and reconnecting with his family — a daughter gave him his first crew cut since high school — and reflecting on how he had let down those close to him.
“I made a terrible mistake, and what bothers me most is I hurt other people,” Huggins said. “All I can do is work like crazy to be a better person, a better coach, be better at everything I do and make those people proud of me.”
Miscellany
U.S. teams looking to change trend in final
Despite the strong hitting performances of both teams — Richmond, Texas, is batting .440 and Thousand Oaks, Calif., is hitting .354 — both teams are hoping today’s Little League U.S. championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., will be a defensive battle.
“I really believe it will come down to the things that most baseball games come down to, and that’s pitching and defense,” Texas manager Jim Michalek said. “We’re thrilled to death that we’re hitting the ball well, but it’s more important to me that we continue to do the other two things.”
“John-Michael Liles scored a goal, and Brett Hull added a power-play goal to lead the U.S. to a 2-0 victory over Russia in Columbus, Ohio, in their final World Cup of Hockey exhibition game.
“Nathalie Dechy advanced to the final of the Pilot Pen tennis tournament, beating Lisa Raymond 6-4, 6-0 in New Haven, Conn., and will face doubles partner Elena Bovina in today’s final.