Newsmakers

Tue., Sept. 15, 2009

From Staff And Wire Reports

Cleared No. 1 NBA draft pick Blake Griffin has been cleared to work out with the Los Angeles Clippers after hurting his shoulder during the summer league. The club said Monday that its team physician gave Griffin the OK with no limitations.

Practicing Southern California coach Pete Carroll says quarterback Matt Barkley and safety Taylor Mays both will practice this week despite minor injuries. Barkley has a bruised right shoulder, and Mays has a mild right knee sprain. Carroll didn’t say whether he expects both players to be ready for the No. 3 Trojans’ Pac-10 opener at Washington on Saturday.

Undecided After getting a major road win at Tennessee and losing his quarterback to injury in one wild weekend, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel wanted to catch his breath before deciding on a replacement. Neuheisel is expected to announce today whether veteran Kevin Craft or freshman Richard Brehaut will fill in for Kevin Prince against Kansas State.

Named San Jose State coach Dick Tomey named junior Jordan LaSecla as his starting quarterback for Saturday’s game at Stanford. LaSecla took over for starter Kyle Reed at the end of the first quarter in the Spartans’ 24-14 loss to Utah on Saturday. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.

Kept Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin says he will stick with redshirt senior Jonathan Crompton as his starting quarterback when the Volunteers travel to Florida on Saturday. Kiffin won’t allow Crompton to speak to the media as part of game week preparations, however.

Out Vanderbilt has lost two starters for the rest of the season to injuries with the worst being senior free safety Ryan Hamilton who tore a pectoral muscle. The Commodores also lost starting right tackle James Williams to a dislocated left ankle.

Suspended Four Jamaican runners who had acknowledged using a banned substance have been suspended from track and field for three months. The suspensions for Yohan Blake, Lansford Spence, Marvin Anderson and Allodin Fothergill took effect immediately after sentencing hearing assembled by Jamaica’s Sports Ministry. The four had admitted to taking a banned stimulant before Jamaica’s National Championships in June.

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Newsmakers

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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