Hoeppner back to work after brain surgery
Indiana’s Terry Hoeppner walked into his weekly news conference Tuesday and got right back to business.
He took off his hat and tried to talk about football, even if everyone else wanted to know about his health.
Hoeppner temporarily turned over the reins of the Hoosiers to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Bill Lynch two weeks ago after announcing he would undergo his second brain surgery since December. Doctors said they would remove a possibly recurrent tumor.
The prognosis: Hoeppner would miss two to four weeks.
But the resilient 59-year-old coach made sure his absence was on the shorter end. Hoeppner said he wasn’t taking pain medication, had no restrictions and that doctors gave him, his wife, Jane, and his family the best possible news.
•Rice will play its scheduled game against Army on Saturday, despite the death of defensive back Dale Lloyd.
Lloyd, 19, collapsed on the field about 5 p.m. Sunday during a light workout but was conscious when taken to a hospital by ambulance. He died about 9 a.m. Monday, school officials said. An autopsy was pending.
•Jeremy Lyons returned an interception for a touchdown, leading Southern Mississippi (3-1) to a 19-14 victory over Central Florida (1-3) in Orlando in the Conference USA opener for both schools
Hockey
Niittymaki injured
Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki could miss up to two months because of a hip injury sustained during practice.
An MRI revealed the torn labrum in his left hip, and Philadelphia general manager Bob Clarke said a decision on whether to operate would be made today.
•Defenseman Rostislav Klesla of the Columbus Blue Jackets will sit out two regular-season games for a questionable preseason hit, the first NHL player suspended this season.
Basketball
Nowitzki signs deal
Dirk Nowitzki is sticking with the Dallas Mavericks at least through the 2010-11 season.
Nowitzki, 28, already was signed for the upcoming season and had a $16 million-plus option for 2007-08 under the maximum contract he signed in 2001. The new deal guarantees that season, plus tacks on three more. •Five Niagara basketball players will be disciplined whether or not they are convicted for their alleged involvement in an assault on a university baseball player last month.
Starters Charron Fisher and Stanley Hodge face the most serious charge of misdemeanor assault. They are accused of attacking Jeffrey St. Denis, a Purple Eagles pitcher who was pulled out of a parked van near a Niagara Falls bar in the early morning of Aug. 31.
Track and field
Robison dies at 83
Former BYU track and field coach Clarence Robison, a member of the 1948 Olympic team, died Monday in his sleep in Provo, Utah. He was 83.
BYU won 18 conference championships under Robison and tied for the national championship in 1970.