In the news
East High loses TSSAA appeal to go to national tournament: East High's won't be allowed to play in the Dick's Sporting Goods national tournament after their appeal was denied by the TSSAA.
School officials presented their case before the board of control in the hopes of overturning the rule that states member schools' seasons are over with the conclusion of the state tournament. But after a closed-door session, TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress sent a letter to school principal Dr. Marilyn Hilliard denying the appeal.
Attempts to reach East officials for comment were unsuccessful. East will begin defense of its AAA state title Wednesday at 1:15 pm against East Hamilton at the Murphy Center.
Devin Mantha named Bauer player of the week: The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) on Tuesday announced Devin Mantha of the Mississippi RiverKings is the Bauer Player of the Week for March 6-12.
Mantha etched his name into the SPHL record book last Saturday night by scoring five goals and seven points (5g, 2a) in a 9-2 win over the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.
Mantha became the fifth player in SPHL history to record five goals in a single game, joining Steve Roberts, Rob Sich, Chris Wilson and Matt Gingera, who most recently accomplished the feat for Columbus against the Mississippi Surge on Feb. 28, 2014. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native scored twice in the first period and three times in the third period, including two short-handed goals, which also tied an SPHL record.
Lacy’s agent says RB to join Seahawks: The Seattle Seahawks are hoping Eddie Lacy can be motivated by a one-year contract to rediscover the form that made him the 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Seahawks and Lacy agreed to terms on a one-year deal Tuesday, providing Seattle a big body for a run game that was once the best in football but lagged last season following the retirement of Marshawn Lynch.
“I like that we’re bringing in a big, tough guy that’s going to send a message the way he plays the game,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said in an interview with KIRO-AM, the Seahawks flagship station, on Tuesday.
Lacy was the top offensive rookie four years ago when he rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for more than 1,100 yards in 2014, but has since been slowed by injuries and lost favor with Packers coach Mike McCarthy at times.
Last season, Lacy played in only five games, sidelined by ankle problems, and finished with only 360 yards rushing and no touchdowns. Weight also has been an issue for Lacy, but Carroll said he would expect the running back to play in the range of 240250 pounds.
Lacy is Seattle’s second signing in free agency after agreeing to a one-year deal with offensive lineman Luke Joeckel last week. Carroll said Joeckel is progressing in his recovery from knee surgery that limited him to four games, and the Seahawks see him as an option at either left tackle or left guard.
Patterson hopes to expand as wide receiver: Cordarrelle Patterson’s skills as a kick returner are unquestioned after four seasons in the NFL with two first-team All-Pro selections, the second highestreturn average since World War II, and five momentum-changing touchdowns.
When the Oakland Raiders told the former Tennessee Vol they wanted to get more out of him as a big-play wide receiver, he jumped at the chance to sign a two-year deal as a free agent.
“That was one of the deciding factors,” Patterson said Tuesday. “We sat down and talked. They were just saying how they can work on getting me a better receiver. Things I’m good at, they’re going to keep continuing to do that. Those things I need to work on, they’re going to help me improve on that.”
Muirfield to admit women, rejoin British Open rotation: Muirfield voted to admit female members for the first time in its 273-year history, clearing the Scottish golf club to return to the list of 10 courses that can host the British Open.
The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns Muirfield and is the world’s oldest golf club, held a second postal ballot after members voted last May to retain the male-only policy. That led to Muirfield being taken off the British Open rotation.
The results of the second vote were announced Tuesday outside Muirfield’s clubhouse, with club captain Henry Fairweather saying that 80.2 percent of those who voted chose to allow women to become members. A two-thirds majority was required for change.
A total of 621 members voted, a turnout of 92.7 percent. The R&A, which organizes the British Open, said minutes after the announcement that Muirfield was back in the rotation to stage the world’s oldest major.