Tiger women’s cross country team ranked
For the first time, the University of Memphis women’s cross country team is ranked in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I regional rankings. Memphis is ranked No. 12 in the South Region.
The Tigers are one of two American Athletic Conference schools ranked in the South Region; UCF is No. 14.
Memphis had strong performances in its first two meets of 2016. The Tigers won the Rhodes College Invitational on Sept. 17 and placed fourth at the seasonopening Brooks Twilight Classic on Sept. 3.
Senior and junior were the Tigers’ top two finishers in both events.
SoCCer
Barcelona says will be out for three weeks with a groin strain. The Argentina star walked off in the 58th minute of the Spanish league match against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou that ended 1-1. If Messi recovers within the three-week time frame given by the team, he will be back in time for Barcelona’s match against Manchester City in the Champions League on Oct. 19.
HoCkey
The Mississippi RiverKings promoted to general manager. Schmoll, 27, who is in his sixth season with the ’Kings, had been director of business operations.
CourtS
could avoid bankruptcy after reaching a deal with his creditors. Court records say the NBA player and Duke All-American and his creditors have reached a settlement, and Laettner’s attorneys have filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to dismiss the involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against him.
tenniS
ranked No. 3 in the world, needed just 57 minutes to win 6-3, 6-1 against Czech player
in the second round of the St. Petersburg (Russia) Open. Also Wednesday, eighth-seeded of Portugal won 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the first round against Moldovan qualifier Top-seeded of Austria beat German qualifier 7-5, 7-6 (2) to reach the Moselle Open quarterfinals in Metz, France. The 10th-ranked Thiem hit 12 aces and did not face a break point . ... Former champion
outlasted fourth-seeded 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals in Tokyo. Wozniacki won four of five break points in the nearly three-hour match at Ariake Colloseum. Second-seeded overcame
of the Czech Republic 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 . ... advanced to the quarterfinals at the Guangzhou (China) Open by beating top-seeded 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4. The 23-year-old Swiss will next face
of Estonia, who beat of China 6-1, 3-6, 6-0.
BASketBAll
scored 20 points, had 11 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 89-78 on Wednesday night in a single-elimination game of the WNBA playoffs in Indianapolis. Former Tennessee Lady Vol
who played in her final game, and the entire Indiana team knelt with their arms intertwined during the national anthem. Two members of the Mercury,
and also took a knee.
Dak Prescott converted a long third down on the goahead drive in his first NFL win by changing the protection and the route at the line of scrimmage.
Later, the rookie Dallas quarterback slid to take a sack on a bootleg that didn’t work when the most important thing for the Cowboys was forcing Washington to use its last timeout in the final two minutes.
The former Mississippi State standout keeps telling people he felt ready for the NFL. And he keeps showing it after injuries to Tony Romo and Kellen Moore suddenly made him the starter.
“This isn’t a dream where I’m like wowed every day,” said Prescott, a third-teamer during offseason workouts. “I feel like this is where I belong, so I’ve got to continue to get better.”
Prescott has an NFLrecord 75 passes without an interception to start a career, although he’s still looking for his first touchdown pass.
He’ll shoot for a number more important to him when the Cowboys host Chicago on Sunday night. With a win, the 23-year-old will have double the number of victories the Cowboys had without Romo in 14 games over the three seasons before the fourthround pick showed up.
Prescott inherited starting jobs in high school and college because of injuries and didn’t surrender it either time.
At Mississippi State, he finished as the school’s passing leader while joining Tim Tebow as the only SEC quarterbacks with at
From his den in Huntsville, Alabama, Onree Jackson will quietly root to see Jacoby Brissett under center when he watches New England host Houston tonight.
Almost 50 years have passed, but Jackson still remembers his excitement when he was drafted out of Alabama A&M in 1969 by the Boston Patriots as the franchise’s first black quarterback.
Back then, the team hailed his potential to be “the Willie Mays of pro football.” But he never played in a regular-season NFL game.
Now, Brissett could make a footnote for the Patriots as the first AfricanAmerican player to start at quarterback. The New least 70 touchdowns passing and at least 40 rushing.
Prescott became the backup when Moore broke his right ankle in camp. And he became the starter when Romo broke a bone in his back in the third preseason game at Seattle.
Along the way, Prescott led the NFL in passer rating in the preseason, helping the Cowboys change their mind about adding a new backup to Romo. Eventually, Dallas signed Mark Sanchez as No. 2 behind Prescott, who had a rushing TD against Washington.
Before beating Washington, the Cowboys were 1-14 without Romo, including the opener with Prescott, going back to the season finale in 2013.
If Prescott beats the injury-riddled Bears, he’ll have one more victory than veterans Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel and Moore managed in 12 starts last season.
“We’ve had success; he’s handled that well,” coach Jason Garrett said of Prescott. “We’ve had some adversity, he’s handled that well. We’ve been ahead, he’s handled that well. We’ve been behind, he’s handled that well.
“So I think you put all of those things together, and you feel good about where he is in all aspects of his game.” York Giants are the only other NFL team to have never started an AfricanAmerican quarterback.
Brissett’s opportunity comes because of two factors. Tom Brady, the team’s cornerstone, is suspended four games for his role in using underinflated footballs in the playoffs in 2015. And Brady’s backup, Jimmy Garoppolo, has a shoulder injury and is doubtful for tonight.
Although none has started a regular-season game, the Patriots have drafted eight AfricanAmerican quarterbacks. Michael Bishop played the most, appearing in eight games in 2000.
Jackson was drafted by Rommie Loudd, the AFL’s first black assistant coach before he joined the Patriots in 1966. He moved to
DeveloPmentS
Adrian Peterson will have surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus, putting his season with Minnesota in doubt.
The Vikings have held off on placing the franchise’s all-time leading rusher on injured reserve. Peterson was hurt Sunday night during a victory over Green Bay.
Peterson, 16th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list, has only 50 yards on 31 carries this season. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the timetable for Peterson’s return won’t be clear until after the procedure.
Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman broke his hand during practice Wednesday. Coleman, a first-round pick, scored two touchdowns against the Ravens last week. There was no word from the team on how long he will be out . ... The Detroit Lions placed starting running back Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve with a foot injury he suffered in last weekend’s 16-15 loss to the Tennessee Titans. Theo Riddick takes over as the Lions’ No. 1 running back . ... Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck missed Wednesday’s practice with the team’s front office and became its personnel director in 1969, one of the first black personnel directors in the NFL.
Richard Johnson, curator of the Boston Sports Museum, said that although the quarterback milestone would be unintentional, there has never been talk of race influencing the Pats’ decisions.
“Under Bill Belichick, the best player has always played,” Johnson said.
Richard Lapchick, who has pushed for diversity across college and professional sports from The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, said the Patriots under owner Robert Kraft have consistently pushed for inclusion in several ways.
“They were working in the community on genderviolence prevention in the early 1990s, 20 years before Ray Rice or even a sore throwing shoulder. He said he hopes to return to practice today and plans to play Sunday when San Diego visits . ... The New Orleans Saints placed second-year pro P.J. Williams on injured reserve, three days after the cornerback took a hard hit to the head during Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants . ... The Vikings placed offensive tackle Matt Kalil, who has started all 66 games during his career, on injured reserve because of a hip injury. He will have surgery that will likely end his season, coach Mike Zimmer said. T.J. Clemmings, who started last season at right tackle, will replace Kalil. before O.J.,” Lapchick said.
The Patriots were also one of the first teams to help NFL players finish their degrees.
Josh Johnson, who is black and one of three Giants quarterbacks, was surprised when told his team could be the last to cross this particular racial benchmark.
“It shows progress,” he said. “That’s all you want to see, progress. Good luck to (Brissett), I hope he goes out and takes advantage of it. Opportunities come far and few.”
Though it didn’t work out for Jackson, he said he’s proud to have played a part toward a day when no one notices a quarterback’s color.
“It’s a pride thing now,” he said. “I’m proud of what happened. Though I didn’t make it, it was kind of a foot in the door typething.”