Fast Break
NFL
Hackett leaves for Panthers
Help is on the way for Steve Smith.
Determined to end the constant double teams of their star receiver, the Carolina Panthers came to terms Monday with Seattle free-agent D.J. Hackett on a two-year, $3.5 million deal.
Hackett is the second receiver the Panthers have added since missing the playoffs last season without a reliable second option after Smith. Muhsin Muhammad was signed last month.
The Seahawks had hoped to re-sign Hackett but have limited salary-cap space and a deep pool of receivers that includes Deion Branch, Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson.
College football
Mayes, Dietz candidates for Hall
Former Washington State football player Rueben Mayes and former Cougars head coach William “Lone Star” Dietz were announced as candidates for induction into the National Football Foundation’s 2008 Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame.
The 2008 Hall of Fame ballot includes 75 players and eight coaches. The FBS Hall of Fame Class will be announced May 1.
Mayes led the Pac-10 in rushing as both a junior and senior, garnering offensive player of the year honors following each season.
Dietz, head coach of the Cougars from 1915-17, compiled a record of 17-2-1 with WSU. Dietz led the Cougars to the 1916 Rose Bowl, the first in school history for WSU.
Volleyball
Big growth for Evergreen event
This weekend and next, Spokane will be site of the 11th annual Pacific Northwest Qualifier at the Spokane Convention Center, Eastern Washington University and the Valley HUB.
The tournament, hosted by Evergreen Region Volleyball, first started with 70 teams and has increased 114 teams this year to 390 mainly because of Open Division growth that qualifies teams coming from 13 states to various USA Volleyball age-group national tournaments. There is also a Club Division for less advanced teams.
Friday-Sunday includes ages 12-15, including two open classifications. The week of March 28-30 is for 16-18-year-olds with open tournaments in all three age groups.
The Spokane Regional Sports Commission estimates 9,000 guests for up to three nights will provide an economic impact to the city of $4.1 million during the two weekeends.