Maryland regents chairman steps down
The chairman of the University System of Maryland board of regents has resigned yesterday following the furor over the decision to reinstate football coach DJ Durkin. The board’s decision to reinstate Durkin on Tuesday drew harsh criticism from students, players and state politicians. As a result, University president Wallace Loh fired Durkin on Wednesday. Yesterday, board chairman James Brady stepped down from his post. “In my estimation, my continued presence on the board will inhibit its ability to move Maryland’s higher education agenda forward,” Brady said in a statement. “And I have no interest in serving as a distraction from that important work.”
No UConn violation
A Connecticut Superior Court judge ruled that UConn did not violate the state’s ban on nepotism when it hired football coach Randy Edsall’s son as an assistant coach. Judge Trial Referee Joseph Shortall vacated the state Citizen Ethics Advisory Board’s ruling that would have forced Corey Edsall to leave his job when his contract expires in January . ... Mississippi won part of its appeal of NCAA sanctions against the football program, with a committee overturnThe ing the penalty restricting the school from hosting unofficial recruiting visits. This season’s bowl ban and other penalties still stand. Some of the penalties for recruiting rules violations against the program were self-imposed by the school . ... Katie Hnida, a former University of New Mexico kicker who was the first female to play and score in a Division 1 football game, faces months of recovery after becoming seriously ill from an adverse reaction to a prescribed medicine. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the family of Hnida says the 37-year-old’s condition has stabilized but that she might need a liver transplant. Hnida played three seasons with New Mexico from 2002-04.
Castillo doesn’t opt
Red Sox minor league Rusney Castillo was among the players who let the Wednesday night deadline pass for exercising the optout provisions in their contracts. Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward, San Francisco reliever Mark Melancon and Arizona outfielder Yasmany Tomas also chose not to opt out. Cubs exercised their $6.25 million option for Pedro Strop, and fellow reliever Brandon Kintzler picked up his $5 million player option . .... The Dodgers made their first offseason move, agreeing to terms with infielder David Freese on a one-year contract . ... The Seattle Mariners and pitcher Marco Gonzales have agreed to a $1.9 million, twoyear contract . ... The Atlanta Braves have acquired catcher Raffy Lopez from the San Diego Padres in exchange for cash considerations . ... Justin Wayne, a pitcher on the Florida Marlins team that won the 2003 World Series, has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for taking part in an insurance scam.
Federer wins again
Roger Federer’s bid for a 100th career title remains on as he beat Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Paris Masters quarterfinals. If he wins that, against either Kevin Anderson or Kei Nishikori, he could face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. Djokovic is chasing a record-extending fifth Paris Masters title and advanced when Damir Dzumhur retired trailing 6-1, 2-1.
Uihlein tops in Vegas
Peter Uihlein topped the leaderboard at 8-under 63 on in the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open in Las Vegas, with Jordan Spieth 3 strokes back in his season debut. The PGA Tour event in the southern California desert in January will be played as the Desert Classic after losing its title sponsor . ...
WNBA deal shortened
WNBA players have exercised their right to terminate their collective bargaining agreement after the 2019 season, cutting the deal short by two years. The current labor contract started on March 5, 2014, and had been scheduled to run through October 2021 or the day after the last playoff game, whichever was later. The move announced by the players’ union ends the deal on Oct. 31, 2019, or the day after the postseason finale.