Notre Dame loses appeal, vacates wins

The NCAA denied Tuesday Notre Dame’s appeal of a decision to vacate 21 football victories because of academic misconduct, including all 12 wins from the school’s 2012 national championship game run.

In a letter to Notre Dame alumni, University President Fr. John Jenkins criticized the decision, saying the penalty was unprecedented considering who was involved in the misconduct, and the school was being punished for rigorously enforcing its honor code. He called the ruling unfair, referencing the recent North Carolina case in which the NCA A did not punish the school after an investigation of athletes taking irregular courses.

The appeals committee was not swayed and upheld the penalty .

Notre Dame agreed to accept certain NCAA findings and acknowledged cheating involving several football players and a student athletic trainer, but appealed only the penalty that vacated victories.

The NCAA stripped Notre Dame of the 21 victories, fined the school $5,000 and placed the school on one years’ probation in November 2016 after finding academic misconduct orchestrated by the trainer.

MLB

UTLEY BACK TO DODGERS? » Chase Utley appears headed back to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The free-agent infielder’s gloves and cleats were in the Dodgers clubhouse on Tuesday and mail addressed to him was in a dressing stall.

“We’re hopeful,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “Chase is great. I’ll talk more about him, maybe in a couple of days.”

The 39-year-old second baseman, a six-time All-Star, hit .236 last year for the Dodgers with eight homers and 34 RBI in 309 at-bats.

NFL

JOHNSON MOVING ON » Derrick Johnson’s tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs is coming to an end.

The franchise’s career tackles leader and a fourtime Pro Bowl selection, Johnson will become a free agent when his contract expires at the start of the new league year March 14. He intends to keep playing, it just won’t be in the familiar red, yellow and white of the Chiefs.

“I love Kansas City and this fan base. They’ve always had my back,” Johnson said.