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In brief
Recruit spurns USF to sign with LSU
By wire services
Published February 11, 2005
TAMPA - Miami Carol City defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois, ranked as the state's No. 6 overall prospect by rivals100.com, spurned an offer from USF on Thursday, signing with LSU. "To be honest, (Wednesday) I thought it was cut and dried for him to go to USF," Carol City coach Walt Frazier said. "His parents had said they weren't going to sign anything with LSU. (Thursday morning), it was a totally different story, but that's the way it's been all along. It's been a saga."
For the past week, Jean-Francois had been adamant about signing with LSU, but his parents were firm about him staying closer to home and choosing USF.
- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer
FSU'S WEATHERFORD GETS OKAY: Freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford, the former Land O'Lakes standout, was granted a medical hardship for the 2004 season, meaning he has four years of eligibility remaining. Weatherford appeared in one play, injuring his right ankle and Achilles' tendon against North Carolina on Oct. 2. He and fellow freshman Xavier Lee are expected to compete with third-year sophomore Wyatt Sexton for the starting job during spring practices, which begin March 18.
NEUHEISEL TRIAL: Rick Neuheisel testified in court that he wasn't entirely truthful when he told his boss at Washington that he had been contacted about the 49ers' coaching vacancy in early 2003. Neuheisel is suing the university and the NCAA, alleging he was wrongly fired from his coaching job in June 2003.
LSU: Oklahoma assistant Bo Pelini, Chicago Bears defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and Middle Tennessee defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto joined Les Miles' staff.
MARSHALL: Mike Cummings was hired as offensive line coach, replacing Mark McHale who took the same position at FSU.
TENNIS: Mauresmo topples Pierce
No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo beat Mary Pierce 6-4, 6-3 in an all-French, second-round match at the Open Gaz de France in Paris. Marion Bartoli upset fifth-seeded Nathalie Dechy in another all-French match.
SAP OPEN: Cyril Saulnier used 19 service aces to beat qualifier Tomas Zib 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) and advance to the quarterfinals in San Jose, Calif.
SOCCER: German ref gets boot
The referee who took bribes to fix games was suspended by the German Soccer Federation in the country's worst corruption scandal in the sport in more than 30 years. The federation said Robert Hoyzer's suspension was for "unsportsmanlike conduct." He admitted rigging four games in return for $85,000 from a gambling syndicate led by three Croatian brothers.
REYES DENIES REPORTS: Jose Antonio Reyes, whom Arsenal signed for a club-record fee a year ago, dismissed reports linking him with a move to Real Madrid and said he is happy in England.
ET CETERA
SKIING: Hermann Maier won the giant slalom in Bormio, Italy, for his first gold medal at the Alpine World Championships since 1999, two years before he nearly lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. Another Austrian, Benjamin Raich, finished second, and Daron Rahlves of the United States won the bronze. Defending champion Bode Miller needed two stitches for a cut on his chin after he lost control on the first run and slammed into an advertising banner.
GREYHOUNDS: Flying Newport and Craigie Demander were the back-to-back winners in Round 2 of the $85,000 Sprint Classic Wednesday night at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg as the field of 32 was reduced by half. A three-way tie among J's Habanero, Sol Omar and Quibbler for the last spot will be settled by a draw today.
HORSES: Former stakes-record holder Ebony Breeze gets another crack to lower a mark when the multiple-graded stakes winner competes in Saturday's Manatee Stakes, the 10th race at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar.
[Last modified February 11, 2005, 00:52:18]
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