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College Football

Indiana coach dies from tumor

Indiana football coach Terry Hoeppner died Tuesday of complications from a brain tumor, a university spokesman said. He was 59.

Hoeppner, who had two brain surgeries in the past 18 months, missed nearly four months on medical leave. He died at 6:50 a.m. at Bloomington Hospital, said J.D. Campbell, the school’s sports information director.

Hoeppner, who went 9-14 in two seasons as Indiana’s coach, had taken three medical leaves since December 2005. He hadn’t been seen publicly since late February.

Baseball

Yankees send Phelps packing

The New York Yankees recalled infielder Andy Phillips from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday and designated first baseman Josh Phelps for assignment.

Phelps, a Rule 5 draft selection from Rathdrum, was offered back to the Baltimore Orioles.

Phillips was making a push to break camp with the Yankees this spring when he missed time to be with his mother, Linda, who was critically injured in a car accident in Alabama on Feb. 28. She continues to recover.

NFL

Nike backs Vick over dog flap

Nike has no plans to dump Michael Vick from its roster of celebrity athletes, turning aside a request from the national Humane Society to cut ties with the Atlanta Falcons quarterback over alleged ties to dogfighting.

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, on Tuesday released a letter that he sent to the apparel giant.

“We trust that Nike does not want to be associated with any celebrity who is linked to this odious form of animal cruelty,” Pacelle wrote.

Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said the company planned to honor its lucrative deal with Vick.