The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 8

2b SPORTS Thursday, September 17, 2009 Montgomery Advertiser Blankenship heads Montgomery Spoils Commission While Blankenship's role will focus on luring lesser-known sporting events to the city and to look at using the city's top venues as sports event sites, a primary focus will have to focus on renovating the city's outdated venues as well. Strange, the former county commissioner who explored the possibility of renovating Garrett Coliseum, is now a mayor saddled with the project of renovating Cramton Bowl. On Wednesday, the mayor called the 88-year-old facility a "valuable asset but it is aged," reiterating the city's commitment to renovate the stadium with input from Alabama State, a project once undertaken by former mayor Bobby Bright before it was dropped because of resistance from university By Tim Gayle tgayie69annett.com In order to create a better economic environment in the city of Montgomery mayor Todd Strange figured he needed to invest more effort into luring sporting events to the city and keeping the ones he had. On Wednesday, he unveiled the first step in that plan with the formation of the Montgomery Sports Commission, headed by executive director Ken Blankenship. "We went to the chamber and said help us with this vision, help us where we want to go with this," Strange said.

"There were several names put on the table, but one name was put on the table over and over and over." A recent study by Randall Travel Marketing, at Atlanta firm, was commissioned by the for sports," he said. "No. 2, they're influential and can make things happen and are committed to making things happen. And the third part is the leadership in the community that understands how sports can be a part of the community's economics and quality of life." In recent years, the city has lost the Blue-Gray All-Star Football Classic because of the antiquated Cramton Bowl; the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships because it wasn't able to guarantee River-walk Stadium as a venue; and the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week because of the renovation of the Montgomery Civic Center. In addition, the outdated Garrett Coliseum has cost the city the AHSAA state indoor track meet a decade ago and has caused the Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo to explore other options.

basic goals I set for myself," Blankenship said. "The first is to assure that we improve and keep the events we have. The second part is the one that I know the mayor well enough to know it's probably number one with him and that's to bring additional sporting events to our city. We can do that and we will do that. And the one that is just as critical to those two is we must evaluate our present facilities and we have to identify the improvements that need to be made and the additions that need to be made." Blankenship has yet to sign a formal contract but will be paid out of funds the city provides to the chamber of commerce.

The other members of the sports commission will be named at a later date as Blankenship determines the criteria for their participation. "No. 1, they've got a passion Cramton Bowl to host inaugural HBCU Senior Bowl, Page 1A with their own event and nobody was willing to invest the money into a full-time job. "Everybody was fragmented, doing their own thing." Strange believes this time the idea will work, largely because the past accomplishments of Blankenship give him instant credibility. The 73-year-old Wetumpka native is a former athletic director at Troy University, executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association and executive director of the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program, a statewide program of the Alabama High School Athletic Association and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

"I tried to get hold of three Montgomery Chamber of Commerce to learn about the traveling habits of people and how to lure them to the Capital City. Sporting events, the study pointed out, were unaffected by the recent economic downturn. "Out of that study came this vision," said Kenneth Coleman, chairman of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board, "and it was sports, we believe, has a tremendous opportunity for Montgomery." It isn't the first time the city has come up with a sports committee. In the past, those organizations often reported ideas to the chamber, who tried with little success to implement them. "We've tried it three times and with the same good intentions," said Wiley Steen, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

"Everybody went back into self-protection SCOREBOARD Today's sports BASEBALL Southern League playoffs Championship (Best-of-5) Jacksonville vs. Tennessee i-if necessary 4 Pearl River CC 3-0 107 5 5. Butter CC 2-1 106 4 6 Hutchinson CC 2-0 101 7 7. Trinity Vallev CC 2-0 96 6 8 Fort ScottCC 2-0 87 9 9 Eastern Arizona 2-0 86 10 9 Dean 2-0 86 8 11. Snow 2-1 60 13 12 Arizona Western 2-0 58 16 13.

Mississippi Gull Coast CC 2-1 56 11 13 Ellsworth CC 1-1 56 14 15 Rochester CTC 3-0 38 17 16. Grand Rapids CC 3-0 36 NR 17 Lackawanna 2-0 30 19 18 JolietJC 3-0 20 NR 19. Northwest Mississippi CC 2-1 12 15 20. Scottsdale CC 1-0 8 NR LOCAL EVENTS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL LaFayette at Montgomery Aca. HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL Tuesday: Jacksonville 6, Tennessee 5 'ednesday: Jacksonville 2, Tennessee BASKETBALL WNBA playoffs (x-H necessary) FIRST ROUND (Bet-of-3) EASTERN CONFERENCE Indiana vs.

Washington Today: Indiana at Washington, 6 p.m. Saturday: Washington at Indiana. 6p.m. x-Monday: Washington at Indiana, 7 p.m. Atlanta vs.

Detroit Wednesday: Detroit 94, Atlanta 69, Detroit lead series 1-0 Friday: Detroit at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. x-Sundav Detroit at Atlanta. 2 p.m. WESTERN CONFERENCE Phoenix vs. San Antonio Today: Phoenix at San Antonio, 8 p.m.

Saturday: San Antonio at Phoenix, 9 p.m x-Monday: San Antonio at Phoenix, 9 p.m. Seattle vs. Los Angeles Wednesday: Seattle at Los Angeles, late Friday: Los Angeles at Seattle, 9 p.m. x-Sunday: Los Angeles at Seattle, 4 p.m. 4 p.m.: Crenshaw Chr.

at Lighthouse; 4:30: Edgewood at Evangel Holtville at Thorsby, Hooper at Pike Liber Las Vegas line al Arts, CatholicTallassee at Trinity; 5:30: Alabama Chr. at Montgomery 6: St. James at Hoover; NA: Brewbaker i Friday: Jacksonville at Tennessee, 6 p.m. x-Saturday: Jacksonville at Tennessee, 6 p.m. x-Sunday: Jacksonville at Tennessee, 6 p.m.

Major league leaders Through Sept. 15 NATIONAL LEAGUE Tech at Wetumpka ON THE AIR COLLEGE FOOTBALL Georgia Tech at Miami, ESPN, 6:30 p.m. GOLF BATTING Ha Ramirez. Florida. .358: Pujols, St.

Louts, Sandoval, San Francisco, Helton, Colorado, DWright, New York LCaslillo, New European PGA Tour, Austrian Open, first round, at Sports briefing COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION NCAA president Myles Brand dies Myles Brand, who fired Bob Knight as Indiana University basketball coach and went on to become NCAA president, died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer. He was 67. The first former university president to run college sports' largest governing body, Brand worked to change the perception that wins supersede academics and earned accolades for his efforts. Brand broke the news that he had cancer in January at the NCAA convention and continued to handle the organization's day-to-day operations, despite undergoing treatment. NCAA officials, who announced his death, were not ready to say who would replace Brand or when they may begin searching for a successor.

Brand gained national attention in May 2000 when, as Indiana president, he put Knight on a zero-tolerance policy after a former player alleged the hugely successful but hotheaded coach had choked him during a practice years earlier. Four months after that announcement, freshman Kent Harvey accused Knight of grabbing him, and Brand did what fans considered unthinkable he fired the coach who won three national championships in Bloomington. Knight later moved on to Texas Tech, stepping aside for his son, Pat Knight, in February 2008. After his NCAA term began in January 2003, Brand pushed for tougher eligibility standards for incoming freshman and current students. Eventually, the NCAA adopted two new academic measures, the Academic Progress Report and the Graduation Success Rate calculations that provide real-time statistics on how athletes are performing in the classroom.

Those initiatives earned praise from university administrators and others. Brand also helped the NCAA embrace the 21st century, starting his own podcast and adding videos to the NCAA Web site. He is survived by his wife and a son. NFL McKelvin willing to forgive vandals Vienna, Austria, The Golf Channel, 8 a.m. Nationwide Tour, Boise Open, first round, at Boise, Ida ho (same-day tape).

The Golf Channel, 5:30 p.m. Turn, oraun, wiiwaunea, RUNS-Puiols, St. Louis, 119; Braun, Milwaukee, 102; Utley, Philadelphia, 100; Zimmerman, Washington, 98, Victorino, Philadelphia. 94; HaRamirez, Florida, 92; Bourn. Houston.

90; Fielder, Milwaukee, LPGA, Samsung World Championship, first round, at La 90; Reynolds. Arizona, 90. RBI-Fielder Milwaukee. 126; Pujols, St. louis, Howara, Knnaaeipma.

ne, DLee. Chicaoo. 101: Braun. Milwaukee 100; ADunn, Washington, 99; HaRamirez, rioriaa. sra.

HITS HaRamirez. Florida. 186: Teiada. Jolla, Calit. (same-day tape).

The Golt Channel, 7:30 p.m, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, WGN, 1:10 p.m. Tampa Bay at Baltimore, WIQR-AM 1410, 6:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets at Atlanta, SportSouth, 6:30 p.m. WNBA Houston.

172, Braun. Milwaukee 171; Pu jols, tt Louis, ibti; victorino, Knuaaeipnia, 168: Kemp, Los Angeles, 167; CaLee, Houston, 167; FLooez. Milwaukee. 167 ETC Personnel changes BASEBALL MLB Suspended Yankees ptayers Jorge Posada and 1B-OF Shelley Duncan and Toronto LHP Jesse Carlson (or three games and fined Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, HHP Edwar Ramirez and Toronto Rod Barajas undisclosed amounts tor their actions in a bench-clearing incident in a game on Sept. 15 Suspended Baltimore minor league Freuny Parra 50 games after testing positive tor Boklenone in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, American League CHICAGO WHITE SOX-Waived RHP Bartoto Colon tor the purpose ot granting him his unconditional release.

DETROIT TtGERS-Activated RHP Alfredo Figaro from the 1 5-day DL. National League CHICAGO CUBS -Purchased the contract of OF So Taguchi from towa (PCL). HOUSTON ASTROS-Purchased the contract of RHP Chad Paronto from Round Rock (PCL). Placed RHP Billy Sadler on the 60-day DL SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Activated DOUBLES-Sandoval. San Francisco, Playoffs, Eastern Conference semifinals, Game 1, Indi 41; btnier, los Angeles, w.

lejaaa, Houston, 40; Hawpe, Colorado. 39; Pujols, St. Louts. 39: HaRamirez. Flonda, 39; Rollins.

College football MIAMI (FLA.) Georgia Tech Friday Boise Slate 7 FRESNO STATE Saturday ARMY 77, Ball State PURDUE 13 Northern Illinois MICHIGAN 24 E. Michraan MICHIGAN ST. 19'i UAB PITTSBURGH 7 Navy Northwestern 3V SYRACUSE CLEMSON 7 Boston College PENN STATE 292 Temple CAROLINA TA East Carolina W.MICHIGAN 17 Miami (Ohio) VANDERBILT 9 Miss. State COLORADO 7 Wyoming IOWA 5 Arizona AKRON 4'i Indiana KANSAS 22 Duke MISS 167a Virginia OREGON 4 Utah Southern Cal 20 WASHINGTON UCLA 12 Kansas State VIRGINIA TECH 4 Nebraska NOTRE DAME 10 Mich State AUBURN 7 West Virginia FLORIDA 297a Tennessee SMU 67a WASH ST. San Diego State 3 IDAHO Nevada 3 COLORADO ST.

Bowling Green 3 MARSHALL California 14 MINNESOTA CENTRAL Fla 4 Buffalo OKLAHOMA ST. 327a Rice OKLAHOMA 16'a Tulsa BAYLOR 10 Connecticut TEXAS 19 Utah State KENTUCKY 137a Louisville Iowa Stale 3 KENT BYU 7 Florida State ARKANSAS 1 Georgia Air Force 17 NEW MEXICO UTEP 13 7a NEW MEXICO ST. TEXAS 177, Texas Tech UNLV 7 Hawaii STANFORD 177, San Jose State OREGON STATE 27, Cincinnati RUTGERS 147a FLORIDA INTL ALABAMA 38 North Texas MARYLAND 6 Middle Tenn. State CAROLINA 207a Florida Atlantic TROY 6 UAB LSU 26 NFl Sunday KANSAS CITY 3 Oakland TENNESSEE 67a Houston New England 37a Y. JETS GREEN BAY 9 Cincinnati Minnesota 97, DETROIT PHILADELPHIA NL New Orleans ATLANTA 6 Carolina WASHINGTON 97, St Louis JACKSONVILLE 3 Arizona SAN FRAN 17a Seattle BUFFALO 47, Tampa Bay DENVER 3 Cleveland SAN DIEGO 3 Baltimore Pittsburgh 3 CHICAGO DALLAS 3 N.Y.

Giants Monday INDIANAPOUS 3 Miami Philadelphia, 37: CRoss. Florida, 37; Victo rino, Philadelphia, 37. TRIPLES Bourn, Houston, 11; Victo- ana at Washington, ESPN2, 6 p.m. Playoffs, Western Conference semifinals, Game 1, Phoenix at San Antonio, ESPN2, 8 p.m. TVRADIO TALK SHOWS nno.

Philadelphia, 11; SDrew, Anzona, 10; Fowler, Colorado, Pagan. New York, Milwaukee. GParra, Arizona, Tulowitzki, Colorado. 8. HOME RUNS-Pujols.

St. Louis, 47; Reynolds, Arizona, 42; Fielder, Milwaukee, The Bud and Amos Show, with Mike Amos and Bud Casey, WRJM67, 6 a.m. jy, nowara, rnnaaeipnia, jo, suunn, Washington, 37; AdGonzalez, San Diego, 37: DLee, Chicago, 33; Werth, Philadelohia. 33. The Wake-Up Call, with Michael Butler, Shane Yankey and Miles Hathcock, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 6:30 STOLEN BASES-Bourn.

Houston, 56; a.m. Morgan, Washington, 42; Kemp, Los Angeles. 33; Rollins, Philadelphia, 28; Fowler, SportsLine, with John Longshore and Barry McKnight, L-oioraao, w. Pierre, los Angeies, HaRamirez, Florida, 25; Taveras, Cincinnati, 25. PITCHING -Wainwright, St Louis, 18-8; CCarpenter, St.

Louis. 16-4; Marquis, Colorado. 15-11: JoJohnson. Florida. 14--4: Un- cecum.

San Francisco, 14-5; Haren, Arizo na, 14-8; DLOwe, Atlanta, 14-9. STRIKEOUTS Li ncecum, San Francisco, 244; JVazquaz, Atlanta, 216; Haren, Wainwright, St. Louis, 183; WRodriguez, Houston, 176, Jimenez, Colorado, 173 SAVES-Franklin, St. Louis, 37; HBeH, San Diego, 37; Cordero, Cincinnati, 36; Broxton, Los Angeles, 34; BrWilson, San Francisco. 34; Street, Colorado, 33; Hoff man, Milwaukee 32.

AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTING Mauer. Minnesota, ISu- Ttrlri Coattlo IA alar Mou Vnrlr 419- MiCabrera, Detroit, Bartlett tampa ay, MYoung, lexas, oano, New York, .320. RUNS Figgins, Los Angeles, 1 06; Damon. New York. 102; Jeter.

New York, 101: BRoberts. Baltimore. 101: Pedroia. NFL standings AMERICAN CONFERENCE East Pet PF PA New England 1 0 0 1 000 25 24 NY Jets 1 0 0 1.000 24 7 Buffalo 0 1 0 .000 24 25 Miami 0 1 0 .000 7 19 South Pet PF PA Indianapolis 1 0 0 1 000 14 12 Houston 0 1 0 .000 7 24 WMSP-AM 740, 7 a.m. The Sports Ticker, with Keith Cantrell and Will Barrett, WIQR-AM 1410,7 a.m.

The Dan Patrick Show, WIQR-AM 1410, 9 a.m. The Herd, with Colin Cowherd, WMSP-AM 740, 10 a.m. The Jim Rome Show, WIQR-AM 1410, 11 a.m. The Roundtable, with Doug Amos and Josh Moon, WMSP-AM 740, noon Faulkner This Week, WBMM (Montgomery's CW), noon The Paul Finebaum Radio Network, WMSP-AM 740, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 2 p.m. Myers and Hartman, with Chris Myers and Steve Hart-man, WIQR-AM 1410, 2 p.m.

The Tim Brando Show, WIQR-AM 1410, 3 p.m. SportsCall, WQSI-FM 93.9, 4 p.m. The Sports Kennel, with Cedric "Pastor Ced" Barnett and "Rude Dog" Rick Hall, WAPZ-AM 1250, WAPZ-FM 95.7, 6 p.m. Lions Roar, with Prattville High coach Jamey Dubose and host Will Barrett, WMRK-FM 107.9, 6 p.m. Petros and Money, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 6 p.m.

Hey Coach (Alabama call-in show), with host Tom Roberts, WXFX-FM 95.1, 6:30 p.m. (Toll-free call-in number is 877-202-2262) Tiger Talk, with host Rod Bramblett and Auburn coach Gene Chizik, WMSP-AM 740, WLWI-FM 92.3, 7 p.m. (Toll-free call-in number is 888-282-2557) The Nick Saban Show, with host Tom Roberts, WXFX-FM 95.1, 7 p.m. (Toll-free call-in number is 877-202-2262) ESPN Game Night, WMSP-AM 740, 8 p.m. The Tony Bruno Show, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 9 p.m.

J.T. the Brick, WTLS-AM 1300, WTLS-FM 106.5, 1 a.m. Boston, 100; Scutaro, Toronto, 99; Cano, ew tone, ys. R8( Teixeira. New York.

111: Lonaoria. Tampa Bay, 103; Bay, Boston, 102; Lmd, juromo, iui, rvioineau Minnesota, iuu; CPena, Tampa Bay. 100; AHill, Toronto, 98: KMorales. Los Anaeles. 98.

Jacksonville 0 1 0 .000 12 14 HITS-ISuzukl, Seattle, 202; Jeter, New York, 194; Cano, New York, 187; MiCabre- ra, Detroit, 177; AHill, Toronto. 175; Marka-kis, Baltimore, 175; Mauer, Minnesota, 171, DOUBLES-BRoberts. Baltimore. 52: Butler, Kansas City, 46; Und, Toronto, 46; Longoria, Tampa Bay, 43; Pedroia, Boston, 43; Markakis, Baltimore, 42; MByrd, Texas, 41; Cano, New York, 41. TRIPLES -DeJesus.

Kansas City, El- Tennessee 0 1 0 .000 10 13 North Pet PF PA Baltimore 1 0 0 1 000 38 24 Pittsburgh 1 0 0 1.000 13 10 Cincinnati 0 1 0 .000 7 12 Cleveland 0 1 0 .000 20 34 West Pet PF PA Denver 1 0 0 1.000 12 7 Oakland 0 0 0 .000 0 0 San Diego 0 0 0 000 0 0 Kansas City 0 1 0 000 24 38 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East Pet PF PA NY. Giants 1 0 0 1.000 23 17 Dallas 1 0 0 1 000 34 21 Philadelohia 1 0 0 1.000 38 10 isoury, Boston, span, Minnesota, n-drus. Texas, EAybar, Los Angeles, Bioomquist, Kansas City, Crawford, Tamoa Bav. Fkwins. Los Anaeles.

7: Granderson, Detroit, Zobrist, Tampa Washington 0 1 0 .000 17 23 Pet PF PA New Orleans 1 0 0 1 000 45 27 LHP Randy Johnson from the 60-day DL. Placed RHP Justin Miller on the 60-day DL BASKETBALL National Basketball Association LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS -Re-signed Brian Skinner. FOOTBALL National Football League NFL Fined the New York Jets $75,000. team president Mike Tannenbaum $25,000 and former coach Eric Mangmi $25,000 for violating the league rules on injury reporting with former QB Brett Favre last season. ARIZONA AR Dl NALS Signed DT Kej-len Dykes from the practice squad.

Released WR Lance Long Re-signed WR On-rea Jones to the practice squad. BUFFALO BILLS-Signed WR Justin Jenkins. Released TE Jonathan Stupar. CLEVELAND BROWNS-Skjned WR Ray Ventrone and OL Billy Yates. Waived DB DeArtgelo Smith.

DETROIT LIONS-Released DT Orien Harris. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS-Waived Shane Andrus and LB Cody Glenn. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Placed DE Regale Hayward on injured reserve. Signed CB Kennard Cox from the practice squad and DE Robert Henderson to the practice squad. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS-Signed WR Lance Long to the practice squad.

Released WR Rodney Wright from the practice squad. NEW YORK GIANTS-Slgned OL Jacob Bender to the practice squad. NEW YORK JETS-Signed CB Mar-quice Cole to the practice squad. Released TE Jack Simmons from the practice squad. ST.

LOUIS RAMS-Skjned WR Ruvell Martin and LB Paris Lenon. Waived LB Quinton Culberson and OT Eric Young. WASHINGTON REDSKINS-Signed FB Mike Sellers to a contract extension Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS Added DE Phillip Hunt to the practice squad. HOCKEY National Hockey League ATLANTA THRASHERS-Assigned Michael Forney. Tomas Pospisil, Matt Siddali and Scott Lehman to Chicago (AHL).

Released Matt Anderson and Darryl Smith. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS-Assigned Justin Hodgman. Matt Keith, Maxime Tanguay, Joe Chartebois. Jean-Claude Sawyer and Joe Palmer to Rocktord (AHL). Assigned Byron Froese.

Davtd Gilbert and Tetgan Zahn to the junior dubs. LOS ANGELES KINGS-Reteased Milan Doczy, Radko Gudas and Tyler Maxwell. Returned Jean-Francois Be-rube, Nicolas Deslauners. Martin Jones, RW Brandon Kozun and RW Linden Vey to their junior teams. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS-Assigned Aaron Boogaard, Zack Sill, Joey Had-dad, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Nick Petersen, Keven Veilleux, Lane Caffaro, Brian Strait, Alex Grant and Jordan Parise to Wilkes-BarreScranton (AHL).

Reassigned Nathan Moon to Kingston (OHL). Released Jamie Hunt. SAN JOSE SHARKS-Re-assigned William Colbert. Louis Liotti. RW Matt Jones, LW Corey Quirk.

Michael Wilson and Ryan Nie to Worcester (AHL) Returned LW Carter Bancks to Lethbridge (WHL), Marc Cantm and RW Luke Jud-son to Belleville (OHL), Michael Orazio to Owen Sound (OHL), Taylor Doherty to Kingston (OHL), Samuel Groulx to Quebec (QMJHL) and Thomas Heemskerk to Everett (WHL). TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING Named Jim Johnson associate coach, Leigh Mendet-son assistant coach and Aiken equipment manager of Norfolk (AHL). VANCOUVER CANUCKS-Assigned RW Dan Gendur to Manitoba JAHL), LW Steven Anthony to St John (QMJHL), Morgan Clark to Swift Current (WHL), Prab Rai to Seattle (WHL) and RW Kellan Tochkin to Everett (WHL). Released Dusty Collins and Nolan Toigo. ECHL VICTORIA SALMON KINGS-Signed Patrick Coulombe.

LACROSSE National Lacrosse League BUFFALO BAND ITS -Announced the Atlanta 1 0 0 1 000 19 7 Carolina 0 1 0 .000 10 38 Tampa Bay 0 1 0 .000 21 34 norm Pet PF PA 23 Eastern Kentucky 0-1 66 23 24. Liberty 1-1 57 24 25 Harvard 0-0 46 22 Others receiving votes: Holy Cross (39), Florida ASM (26), Eastern Illinois (21), Montana State (16), Furman (15), Horstra (13), Grambling State fl 1), Northern Arizona (11) Alabama (8). Western Illinois Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin is so far willing to forgive and forget after two male teens admitted to police that they defaced the player's front lawn. Hamburg (N.Y.) police Sgt. Thomas Best said Wednesday night that McKelvin is refusing to press charges against two 16-year-olds, who said they were the ones who spray-painted a message and an obscenity across the grass in front of the player's home shortly after the Bills' season-opening 25-24 loss at New England on Monday night.

Best said it'll be up to the Erie County district's attorney's office to press charges against the two suspects. Best declined to release the names of the two teens because of their ages, but noted they both live near McKelvin's home in suburban Buffalo. The vandalism created headlines across the country, was fodder for numerous sports talk radio programs, and led to several Bills players questioning their privacy and security as they returned to practice to prepare to host Tampa Bay on Sunday. McKelvin shrugged it off, saying he still considers Bills fans to be the greatest. "It's just one little incident.

I hope it doesn't happen any more," McKelvin said. "I was mad, I was kind of like angry in a way, but I was laughing a little bit for what they put on there. It was just something that isn't appropriate." He was particularly impressed by a neighbor, who got out his lawn mower and cut the grass in bid to erase what had been painted. McKelvin has plenty of reason to look forward after being partly blamed for the loss at New England, in which the Bills squandered an 11-point lead in the final 2:06. After the Patriots scored to cut Buffalo's lead to 24-19, McKelvin was faulted for not taking a knee in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff.

Instead, he ran the ball out and had the ball stripped from his hands. The Patriots recovered at the Bills 31 and scored the decisive touchdown three plays later. SWAC FOOTBALL First female official to work game The Southwestern Athletic Conference's first female official in football will work a game this weekend. The league said Wednesday that Yvonde Lewis will help officiate the Texas College-Texas Southern game Saturday in Houston. The Houston native and Prairie View graduate became an official in 2004 and has been working high school games.

Lewis won't be the only female SWAC official this season. Sebrina Bruns-on, who works games in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will officiate a SWAC game in October. The two are among five female football officials in Division including three in the MEAC and one in Conference USA, according to the SWAC. VOLLEYBALL Catholic edges LAMP Kelsey Donohue had five aces, 20 assists, seven kills and six digs to lead Catholic to a five-set win over LAMP on Wednesday. The Knights won 25-20, 17-25, 25-18, 15-25, 15-10.

Liz Karst added eight kills, four aces and 14 digs. The Knights play at Trinity at 5:30 p.m. today. LOCAL SOCCER CANCELLATIONS Rain washes out AUM, Huntingdon Due to inclement weather Wednesday, soccer matches between AUM and Southern Wesleyan and the Huntingdon women against Wesleyan were postponed. Make-up dates will be announced at a later date.

WNBA PLAYOFFS Shock rallies to edge Dream Deanna Nolan scored 25 points and Kara Braxton Green Bay 1 0 0 1 000 21 15 Minnesota 1 0 0 1.000 34 20 Chicago 0 1 0 .000 15 21 Detrof 0 1 0 .000 27 45 Bay, HOME RUNS-CPena, Tampa Bay, 39; Teixeira, New York. 35; Bay, Boston, 32; NCruz Texas, 32: AHili Toronto, 32; Bra-nyan Seattle. 31 Lind, Toronto. 30; Longoria. Tampa Bay.

30; KMorales, Los Angeles, 30: Morneau, Minnesota, 30. STOLEN BASES-Eilsbury. Boston, 61; Crawford. Tampa Bay. 57; Figgins Los Anaeles, 41; RDavis, Oakland.

"37; BUpton, Tampa Bay. 37; BRoberts. Baltimore, 29; BAbreu, Los Angeles, 28; Kinsler. Texas, 28. PITCHING -Sabathia, New York, 17-7; Feldman, Texas 16-5; Verlander, Detroit, 16-8; FHernandez, Seattle, 15-5; Beckett, Boston, 15-6; JerWeaver, Los Angeles, 15-6; Halladay.

Toronto. 15-9. STRIKEOUTS-Verlander, Detroit, 239; Gremke. Kansas City, 216; Lester Boston, 211; FHernandez, Seattle. 193; Halladay, Toronto.

189; Beckett, Boston, 180; Sabathia, New York, 178. SAVES Fuentes. Los Angeles. 41; Nathan, Minnesota, 40, MaRivera. New York, 40, Papeibon, Boston, 3b, Aardsma, Seattle, 34; Rodney, Detroit, 32; Jenks, Chicago, 29.

west Pet PF PA oi, soumeasiern Louisiana (j, ueiaware 1 5), Youngstown State (4), Colgate (2), iaraner-vveoo (i), Kraine view (l) San Francisco 1 0 0 1 000 20 16 Seattle 1 0 0 1.000 28 0 Arizona 0 1 0 .000 16 20 St. Louis 0 1 0 .000 0 28 Tennessee State u). AFCA Division II coaches poll Through Sept. 13 necoro rw 1 Grand Vallev St. (25) 625 2.

Abilene Christian 3 North Alabama 4. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 5. Central Washington I1UI 11 IWCUI oi. Minnesota St -Mankato 3-0 Sunday Houston at Tennessee, noon Minnesota at Detroit, noon Carolina at Atlanta, noon St Louis at Washington, noon New Enoland at Jets, noon Oakland" at Kansas City, noon Cincinnati at Green Bay. noon New Orleans at Philadelphia, noon Arizona Jacksonville, noon Tampa Bay at Buffalo, 3:05 p.m.

Seattle at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m. Pittsburgh at Chicago, 3:15 m. Baltimore at San Diego, 3:15 p.m. Cleveland at Denver, 3:15 pm. N.Y.

Giants at Dallas, 7:20 p.m. Monday Indianapolis at Miami, 7:30 p.m. This week's local prep schedule TODAY Class 3A 8 Minnesota-Duluth 2-1 592 577 541 526 510 432 418 392 388 355 320 301 262 258 230 211 183 178 157 s. uerta st (Miss 10 Texas 11. Pittsburg St (Kan.) 12.

Central Missouri 13 Albany St (Ga.) 14. Catawba (N C) 15 Chadron St. (Neb.) 16 Valdosta St. (Ga.) 1 7 Tuskegee 18 Ashland (Ohio) 19. Tarleton St (Texas) 20 Wayne St (Neb.) 1- 1 3-0 2- 1 3- 0 3-0 3-0 2-1 1- 1 2- 1 2- 1 30 3- 0 3-0 30 LaFayette at Montgomery Aca.

Washhnm IKfln 1 ai rmiar AHSAA Class 6A 23! Saainaw Vallev St. (Mich I 136 124 113 NR 88 16 69 NR 66 NR Prattville at Wetumnka FOOTBALL AP Top 25 schedule Today No. 14 Georgia Tech at Miami, 6:30 p.m, Friday No. 10 Boise State at Fresno State, 8 p.m. Saturday No.

1 Florida vs. Tennessee, 2:30 m. No 2 Texas vs Texas Tech, 7 05 m. No. 3 Southern Cal at Washington, 2:30 p.m.

No. 4 Alabama vs. North Texas, 11:20 a.m. No. 5 Mississippi vs.

SE Louisiana, 6:30 p.m. No. 5 Penn State vs. Temple, 11a.m. No.

7 BYU vs. Florida State, 6 m. No. 6 California at Minnesota. 1 1 a.m.

No. 9 LSU vs. La -Lafayette, 6 p.m. No. 11 Ohio State vs.

Toledo at Cleveland, 11am. No. 12 Oklahoma vs. Tulsa. 8:30 m.

No 13 Virginia Tech vs. 19 Nebraska, 2:30 p.m No. 15 TCU vs. Texas State 6 p.m. No.

16 Oklahoma State vs. Rk. 6 p.m. No. 17 Cincinnati at Oregon State, 5.45 p.m.

No. 18 Utah at Oregon. 2:30 p.m. No. 22 Kansas vs.

Duke. 1 1 a m. No. 23 Georgia at Arkansas. 6 45 p.m.

No. 24 North Carolina vs. East Carolina, 11 am. No. 25 Michigan vs.

Eastern Michigan, 11 a.m. FCS coaches poll SPARTANBURG, C. The lop 25 teams the preseason Coaches Football Championship Subdivision poll, with first-place votes in parentheses records through Sept. 13 and previous ranking: Record Pts Pvs I Richmond (25) 2-0 674 1 2. Villanova 2-0 637 3 3 Montana 2-0 598 4 4 Northern Iowa 1-1 588 5 5 William Mary 2-0 535 7 6 James Madison 0-1 517 6 7 New Hampshire 2-0 507 9 8 Southern Illinois 0-1 480 8 9 Appalachian State 0-2 445 2 10 McNeese State (1) 2-0 42t 16 II Elon 2-0 403 11 12 Weber State 0-2 3 73 1 0 13.

Central Arkansas 0-1 350 12 14 Cal Poly 1-0 344 13 15 Wotford 1-1 308 14 16 South Carolina State 2-0 260 15 17 Massachusetts 1-1 235 18 18 Texas State 1-0 194 21 19 Maine 2-0 159 20 20 Eastern Washington 1-1 140 17 21. South Dakota State 1-0 134 25 22 Slate 0-2 115 I Robert E. Lee at Beniamin Russell Sidney Lanier at Jeff Davis Class 5A Carver at Demopolis Rehobeth at Tallassee 2- 1 24. Midwestern St. (Texas) 3- 0 25.

Augustana (S 3-0 NAIA Through Sept. 13 Record ass 4A Alabama Chr at Holtville Ashtord at Elmore Co. 2- 0 3- 0 NASCAR Sprint Cup points leaders Through Sept. 12 1. Mark Martin.

5040. 2. Tony Stewart. 5.030 3. Jimmie Johnson, 5 030.

4 Dennv Hamlin. 5,020. 5 Kasey Kahne. 5.020. 6 Jetf Gordon, 5,010.

7 KurtBusch 5.010 8 Brian Victors, 5 010. 9 Carl Edwards. 5.000 10. Ryan Newman 5 000 1 1 Juan Pablo Montoya, 5,000. 12 Greg Bitfie.

5,000. 13. Kyle Bosch 3.195 14 Matt Kensetti. 3,165. 15 Clint Bowyer, 3.059 16 DavKJ Reutimann.

3.048 17. Marcos Ambrose, 2,830. 18 Jeft Burton. 2,738 19 Joey Logano. 2,705 20.

Casey Wears, 2,639. 21 Dale Earnhardt Jr 2.628. 22 Kevin Harvidc. 2.613 23 Jamie McMurray, 2.564. 24 AJ Allmendinger, 2.455.

24 Martin Truex 2,455. 26 Sam Hornish Jr ,2,434. 27 Elliott Sadler. 2,416. 28 Reed Sorenson.

2.390. 29. David Ragan. 2,314 30. Bobby Labonta, 2,299 31 Dawo Stremme, 2,289.

32, Paul Menard, 2,207. 33 Michael Waltrip, 2,018. 34 Robby Gordon, 2,015. 35 Scott Speed, 1,864 36. John Andretti.

1,790 37 David Gilliland. 1,473. 38 Regan Smith, 1,114. 39 Joe Nemechek, 979. 40 Brad Keselowski, 927.

41 Dave Blaney, 912. 42 Max Papis. 739. 43 Bill Elliott. 737, 44 Arte Almirola, 451, 45 Scott Rigos 448 46 Tony Raines 426.

47 Mike Bliss 369 48 Patrick Carpentier, 351. 49 Travis Kvapil, 292 50. Jeremy Mayfield. 288. Catholic at Bullock Co.

St. James at Opp Class 3A Beulah at Marbury Central-Hayneville at T.R Miller Dadeville at Trinity LaFayette at Montgomery Aca. I uverne at Calhoun 1 Sioux Falls (18) 2 Carroll (Mont 1(1) 3 Lindenwood (Moj 4 Saint Francis (Ind 5 Momingside (Iowa) 6 of the Cumberlands 7. MidAmehca Nazarene 8 Langston (Okla.) 9 Saint Ambrose 10. Union IKv.l retirement of Rich Kilgour.

427 2 406 3 397 4 376 5 359 6 336 8 290 7 285 13 281 10 281 14 262 11 256 16 243 17 189 22 155 18 130 NR 129 9 126 NR 123 20 104 NR 83 23 83 NR 29 25 27 NR 2-0 1- 0 2- 0 2-0 2-0 1- 1 2- 0 1- 0 2- 0 1- 1 2- 0 2-1 2- 0 0- 1 3- 0 1- 1 2- 0 1- 1 2- 1 1-1 1-1 Sttaughn at Bayside Aca. Class 2A Francis Marion at St Jude Highland Home at RC Hatch Class 1A Anton at Brantley Billingsley at Aufauqaville Pleasant Home at McKenzle Non-region Resurrection Catholic (Miss.) at Butler Co. Manner SOCCER Major League Soccer FC DALLAS -Signed Bryan Leyva. COLLEGE Al RANY -Named Rnrtaalina 10 Lambuth (Tenn.) 12 Shorter College 13 Missouri Valley 14 Saint Xavier 15. 22 Ottawa (Kan 16 Montana St -Northern 17 Benedictine (Kan.) 18 Friends 19.

Hastings (Neb 20 Ohio Dominican 21 McPherson (Kan 22 Northwestern (Iowa) 22 McKendreeilll I 24 Malone (Ohio) 25 Nebraska wesleyan women associate head lacrosse coach. PENN STATF-ALTOONA-Named Bilrv Clapper men's basketball coach. added 16 as the Detroit Shock rallied for a 94-89 victory over the Atlanta Dream in the opener of Eastern Conference first -round series Wednesday night. The defending champions trailed by 13 points midway through the third quarter, but dominated the final 15 minutes to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Izi- TEMPLE-Named Joe Aaneilo assistant Shaw (Ga.) at Stanhope Elmore AI5A Ashford Aca at Crenshaw Chr East Memonal at Bessemer Aca.

Evangel Chr at Southern Aca. Hooper at Fort Dale Aca. Lakeside at Edgewood Morgan Aca afLee-Scott SMCA at Restoration baseball coach. JUCO WASHINGTON STATE -Announced junior WR Jeshua Anderson Is leaving the lootball team to tocus on track. WISCONSfN-Dismissed freshman ane Castro Marques led Atlanta with 25 points and An pnngwood at Autauga Aca umter Aca atMacor-East gel McCoughtry added 21.

Through Sept. 14 Record Pts Pvs 1 Blinn 3 0 139 1 2 East Mississippi CC 3-0 133 2 3 Navarro 2-0 127 3 Jeremy Glover from the basketball team for violating the student-athlete discipline Tuscaloosa Aca at Prattvilte Chr. Witox Aca at Monroe Aca i yWire, staff reports. idle Lowies Aca..