Buckeyes raid Mich-again

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New Ohio State coach Ryan Day has hired a second assistant away from rival Michigan.

The university said Tuesday that Day hired Michigan linebackers coach Al Washington for the same position on the Ohio State staff. The move comes a day after Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison was added to the staff as co-defensive coordinator.

Day will part ways with Bill Davis, who was the linebackers coach under Urban Meyer last season.

The 34-year-old Washington is a Columbus native whose father played linebacker for the Buckeyes. Washington and Day were assistants on the Boston College staff from 2012 to 2014.

Washington was defensive line coach on Luke Fickell’s Cincinnati staff in 2017 before jumping to Michigan.

TITLE GAME WAS A RATINGS CLUNKER » Clemson’s blowout victory over Alabama in the College Football Playoff drew a 14.6 overnight rating for ESPN across its multiple-channel broadcast, the lowest-rated title game in the 5-year-old postseason system.

The viewership numbers reported Tuesday by Nielsen provided some better news for the network. ESPN said Nielsen reported that 25.2 million viewers tuned into Monday night’s game on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. The figures do not yet include ESPNEWS or streaming viewership. The 2016 national championship game between Alabama and Clemson that was decided on a last-second touchdown drew 25.3 million viewers.

The third championship meeting of the Tigers and Crimson Tide, and fourth straight playoff meeting overall, was also the most lopsided CFP final.

The ratings and viewership topped out at 16.2 and 27.8 million in the first half when the Tigers extended their lead to 15 points.

NFL

CARDINALS TAP KINGSBURY» The Cardinals have hired former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, a move aimed at providing guidance for young quarterback Josh Rosen and resuscitating the worst offense in the NFL.

The Cardinals announced the hiring Tuesday after a long interview earlier in the day. He was to be introduced at a news conference at the team’s training facility in Tempe on Wednesday.

Kingsbury was fired after going 35-40 in six seasons at Texas Tech, but his teams were known for their highscoring performances. His prize pupil in those days was current Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Tuesday’s hiring came barely a month after Kingsbury was hired as offensive coordinator at USC.

Kingsbury replaces Steve Wilks, who was fired after going an NFLworst 3-13 in his one season in Arizona.

Soccer

SABATHIA CLEARED » Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia has been cleared to resume working out, including baseball activities.

The 38-year-old lefthander had a blockage in one artery to his heart and had a procedure Dec. 11 to insert a stent to clear the blockage.

Sabathia had a scheduled follow-up stress test Tuesday, according to the team, and was cleared to work out.

Yankees pitchers and catchers are scheduled to start spring training workouts on Feb. 14.

TWINS SET MAUER’S JERSEY DAY» The Twins have set the date for retiring Joe Mauer’s No. 7 jersey.

The Twins announced Tuesday that Mauer’s number will be retired in a pregame ceremony at Target Field on “Joe Mauer Day” on Saturday, June 15.

The event will take place before the Twins’ 6:10 p.m. game against Kansas City.

Mauer, a six-time AllStar, retired after a 15year major-league career, all with the Twins. The Twins earlier announced plans to retire Mauer’s number.

Mauer will become the eighth former Twins player or manager with a retired number.