The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • D3

Orlando Sentinel: PRODUCT: OS DESK: SPT DATE: 04-13-2007 EDITION: FLA ZONE: FLA PAGE: D3.0 DEADLINE: 22.21 COMPOSETIME: 22.58 CMYK FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2007 D3 Orlando Sentinel Golden' era ends for UCF The office has been fantastic' New Kentucky basketball head coach Billy Gillispie, a professed workaholic, on how he has been too busy to see much of the town yet. mer-long marketing campaign UCF announced Thursday called "The Knights Are Coming Home" that will promote the school's new athletic markings. How UCF actually became the Golden Knights in the first place might be the more interesting story. UCF chose "Knights of the Pegasus" for its original nickname in 1970, when the school still was named Florida Technological University. The school resisted a push by a small but vocal group of students in 1988 that suggested changing the nickname to "Sharks." In 1993, UCF was in the midst of poorly performing merchandise at the time and was looking for way to boost sales.

Steve Sloan, who took over as athletic director that same year, told the school's sports information directors to refer to all athletic teams as "Golden Knights" in what he called an effort to accelerate UCF's popularity. Sloan was no stranger to incorporating colorful modifiers to nicknames. He previously worked for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Duke Blue Devils. The new nickname and new logo will be unveiled a few months before the school opens a new football stadium and a new basketball arena. "We are now entering into one of the most exciting periods in UCF athletics history," Athletic Director Keith Tribble said in a statement.

"The opening of Bright House Networks Stadium and the convocation center in the fall will redefine the way the UCF campus is viewed, not only within our community but throughout the country." Kyle Hightower can be reached atkhightowerorlandosentinel.com. Beginning in June, the school's teams will be known only as the Knights. By KYLE HIGHT0WER SENTINEL STAFF WRITER UCF's nickname is the Golden Knights at least for a couple of more months. UCF officially will drop "Golden" as part of its nickname at a June 14 unveiling of its new logo. New "UCF Knights" merchandise goes on sale the next day.

The event is part of a sum- THE MORNING BUZZ Venus Williams cruises at Family Circle Cup GYMNASTICS Wolverines rebound Michigan rebounded with a third-place finish in the NCAA championship qualifying round to join Stanford and Illinois in the finals. Michigan edged the current No. 1 team, Ohio State, 21 5.35 to 21 5.25 for third. BASKETBALL Wooden's release delayed John Wooden will remain hospitalized at least one more day because of an elevated heart rate, the former UCLA basketball coach's daughter said. Wooden was hospitalized Sunday when he started experiencing symptoms similar to those he experienced a year ago when he was hospitalized for diverticulitis, an inflammation of pockets in the colon.

HORSE RACING Hard Spun set for Derby Hard Spun passed his test at Churchill Downs and will return in three weeks to run in the Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old colt handled the dirt track well during a morning workout, which was all trainer Larry Jones needed to see before commiting Hard Spun to the Derby. MORE HORSE RACING: One Hot Wish broke the world record for 4V2 furlong, winning a $50,000 race for 2-Year-Olds in 48.87 seconds at Keeneland in Kentucky. BOXING Court date for Tyson Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared in court and learned he will go on trial Aug. 20 on charges of drug possession and driving under the influence of drugs.

Tyson was fresh out of a California rehabilitation facility and said very little during the five-minute proceeding in Mesa, Ariz. Compiled by Matt Murschel Venus Williams cruised into the quarterfinals of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Chan Yung-Jan of China. The American, unseeded and in her fourth tournament since recovering from a wrist injury earlier in the year, reached 1 25 mph with her serve and neededjustoveran hour to win the match. MORE TENNIS: The United States will play in Goteborg, Sweden for the Davis Cup semifinals, facing the Swedes in an arena where they twice beat the Americans for the title.

James Blake beat fellow American Alex Kuz-netsov 7-6 (4), 6-1 and Juan Monaco of Argentina defeated American Amer Delic 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the U.S. Clay Court Tennis Championships in Houston. Alberto Martin upset second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the Valencia Open in Spain. AUTO RACING Ragan on pole in Texas David Ragan earned his first NASCAR Busch Series pole, edging Roush Racing teammate and series points leader Carl Edwards. Ragan ran a lap of 1 91 .063 mph on the 1 V2-mile, high-banked Texas track, nearly 2 mph faster than Edwards, who qualified second for the O'Reilly 300 on Saturday.

FOOTBALL Preds make roster moves The Orlando Predators made several roster moves. They resigned lineman Doug Miller, who had been released March 27, and signed wide receiver J.R. Russell. To make space for Miller and Russell, the team placed offensive lineman Delanio Taylor on injured reserve with a knee injury and placed wide receiver and UCF alumnus Charles Lee on recallable waivers. NFL I The Beat Broncos defender favors crackdown Denver Broncos CB Do-monique Foxworth wholeheartedly supports the NFL's crackdown on off-the-field problems, but he still thinks the league may have judged Tennessee Titans CB Adam "Pacman" Jones and Cincinnati Bengals WR Chris Henry too severely.

Commissioner Roger Goodell recently suspended Jones for the entire 2007 season and Henry for eight games. "It's a shock to me," Fox-worth said Thursday. "I was surprised by how harsh the punishments were that came down. "It sends a message: The stance of the NFL is very stern in off-the-field behavior, and I think that's in concert with how the players feel, with how the coaches feel, with how the fans feel. It's unacceptable." Texans add receiver The Houston Texans signed free-agent WR Andre Davis.

He appeared in 16 games with the Buffalo Bills last season, making two receptions for 13 yards. He spent his first three NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns before playing for the New England Patriots in 2005. Saints, Patten agree The New Orleans Saints signed WR David Patten to a one-year contract, hoping the 10-year veteran can rebound from two disappointing seasons with the Washington Redskins. Patten was limited to 14 games the past two seasons with the Redskins. His best season was in 2002 with the Patriots, when he had 61 catches for 824 yards and five touchdowns.

Terrell rejoins Broncos The Denver Broncos signed WR David Terrell to a one-year contract. Terrell, 28, was out of the NFL last season after playing for the Broncos in 2005. Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR Lynn Swann is considering a run for Congress. He lost a bid to be Pennsylvania's governor last year. The MVP of Super Bowl Swann entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

From Wire Reports DENIS POROYTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS Dolphins Coach Cam Cameron has his eye on a return specialist and speedy receiver in the draft. Dolphins open minicamp Besides likely seeking a new punter, new coach Cam Cameron has other needs, too. Defensively, the major loss was defensive endleader Kevin Carter, who received a lucrative deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The key addition to Dom Capers' fourth-ranked unit is three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter, who the Dolphins signed for $32 million on March 7. On Wednesday, Cameron attended a workout of Ted Ginn the former Ohio State receiverreturn specialist, in Columbus, Ohio.

Ginn was still not totally recovered from his injured foot suffered against Florida in the Bowl Championship Series title game. "It was a heck of a feat for him to do what he did," Dolphins scout Ellis Rainsberger told the Columbus Dispatch. The Dolphins, who possess the ninth overall pick, are in the market for a return specialist and speedy receiver. On Thursday, former Florida State linebacker and draft prospect Lawrence Timmons visited the team. Harvey Fialkov and Alex Marvez write for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, a Tribune Publishing newspaper.

Former UCF and Green Bay Packers punter Ryan Flinn is the lone punter listed on Miami's roster. Flinn's only NFL experience came in 2005 when he averaged 36.3 yards on six punts for Green Bay. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is expected to participate in the voluntary minicamp, but on a limited basis as he continues an 18-month rehabilitation from two knee surgeries. Cleo Lemon should receive the bulk of the passing chores, along with 6-foot-6 quarterback Gibran Hamdan. "I anticipate him being on the offensive side of the ball and getting guys going in the right direction, and just being a leader of this organization," Lemon said of Cameron, his offensive coordinator in San Diego from 2003-05.

"He's about teaching fundamentals and correcting." Former Vikings receiver Kelly Campbell is back after another year out of football with hamstring injuries. Az-Za-hir Hakim, 29, who caught eight touchdown passes with the Rams in 1999, is in camp vying for a spot. By HARVEY FIALK0V AND ALEX MARVEZ MIAMI BUREAU DAVIE Miami Dolphins fans can get their first glimpse of the style of new coach Cam Cameron during the start of today's weekend-long minicamp at team headquarters. What they won't see is restricted free-agent punter Don-nie Jones, who on Thursday agreed to an offer sheet from the St. Louis Rams worth $5.9 million over five years, including a 1 1 75 million signing bonus.

"The Dolphins won't match because we really haven't had any productive discussions with them about an extension," said Drew Rosenhaus, Jones' agent. If the Dolphins don't match within the allotted seven days, they would receive the Rams' seventh-round draft pick, giving them a total of 10 picks. NCAA panel alters several rules for football CAROLYN KASTERTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS Ohio State's Grant Osborne performs his high-bar routine during the NCAA Championship qualifying round in State College, Pa. 1984 52496 The three-game series attendance total at Miller Park in Milwaukee for the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Angels. Pete Rose of the Montreal Expos collects the hit of his career with a double off Philadelphia's Jerry Koosman in the fourth inning.

several other measures intended to help keep them closer to 3 hours than 32. Kickoffs will be made from the 30-yard line, like in the NFL, instead of the 35. After media timeouts during televised games, teams will have less time to run plays. Previously, teams had a 25-second play clock; now it will be 15 seconds. Replay reviews will not change.

The football rules committee withdrew its proposal to impose a 2-minute limit, in part, because of the potential for technical difficulties. The committee also will begin considering a play clock that alternates between 40 seconds and 25 seconds, depending on whether the clock has Changes include stopping the clock on possession changes and moving kickoffs. FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Last season, the NCAA wanted to speed up football games. Next season, it wants more plays. The rules oversight panel approved Thursday two major timing changes that would revert the rules to what they were in 2005 stopping the clock on possession changes and not starting it on kickoffs until the receiving team touches the ball.

In February, the football rules committee recommended going back to the old system. After meeting with the American Football Coaches Association in March, the oversight panel agreed. The 2006 changes reduced average game lengths in Division I -A to 3 hours, 7 minutes, a drop of about 14 minutes, meeting a goal the committee had set. But the changes also resulted in about 14 fewer plays per game in Division I-A. "All levels of football were against that rule," Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said in February.

"We're trying to restore plays and go back to the 2005 rule." While this year's changes likely mean games again will be longer, the panel approved stopped. The NFL uses that system, and the committee thinks it could speed up games. In February, UCF Coach George O'Leary said the college game should mirror the NFL game, which manages to play most regulation games in less than three hours. He also favored kickoffs from the 30. The changes pleased Grant Teaff, the executive director of theAFCA.

"It made me uncomfortable to watch it last year," Teaff said. "It put a different slant on everything, and it almost seemed to put everything in reverse. If you, as an offense, don't have the right or opportunity to manage the clock, it's not a good rule." Will pitchers Mark Prior andor Kerry Wood ever see action for the Chicago Cubs this year? COLORSTRIP: I.