Colleges

West Virginia starting QB hurting for USF

By wire services
Published October 19, 2005

MORGANTOWN - West Virginia quarterback Adam Bednarik is questionable for Saturday's game at USF with a sprained foot, coach Rich Rodriguez said Tuesday.

Bednarik, who has started every game this season, was injured against Louisville. Redshirt freshman Pat White led the Mountaineers to scores on their final six possessions in the triple overtime victory.

White will practice with the first team all week.

"If Adam can get a few reps later in the week, it will certainly give us a little bit more confidence and comfortability," Rodriguez said. "The trainers think he may be 85 to 90 percent ready."

If that's the case, Bednarik wouldn't start, Rodriguez said.

Freshman J.R. House will practice as White's backup and Dwayne Thompson would be the No. 3 quarterback. If Bednarik can't play, Rodriguez plans to use White the entire game.

Bednarik also sustained a pinched nerve in his neck against Maryland, a knee sprain against East Carolina and a shoulder injury against Virginia Tech.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Big East Conference says game officials were wrong in failing to call a penalty on an onside kick by West Virginia in its victory over Louisville.

"We're acknowledging that a mistake was made on the play," associate commissioner John Paquette said Tuesday.

The Mountaineers attempted an onside kick, sending a high looping ball in the air. Louisville's Jimmy Riley tried to catch the ball but was hit by a West Virginia player and the Mountaineers recovered.

Unlike a kickoff that rolls on the ground, which is fair game for any player after it goes 10 yards, the receiving team must be allowed to field a ball in the air.

ALABAMA: Receiver Tyrone Prothro, injured against Florida, is expected to be released from the hospital in a few days after breaking two bones in his left leg and developing an infection. Doctors are optimistic for a full recovery.

CLEMSON: With tailback James Davis out for about a month with a fractured left wrist, walk-on Paul Macko is expected to move into the rotation behind Reggie Merriweather and Kyle Browning.

SOUTHERN MISS: Receiver Antwon Courington will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left knee in last week's victory over Central Florida. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament and cartilage. Backup Tavarres Williams is out two to three weeks with a strained medial collateral ligament, so junior-college transfer Josh Barnes will start Friday against UAB.

VIRGINIA TECH: Mike Imoh, the co-starter at tailback who missed a game with a high ankle sprain, will play Thursday at Maryland. Cedric Humes, the other starter, is out with a broken arm.

UCF GENDER STUDY: The NFL ranked last in a study comparing opportunities for women and minorities in five professional sports leagues, and the WNBA was the only to earn top marks.

The NBA, Major League Baseball and the MLS showed improvement, but women's basketball received the only A overall in the report card released Tuesday by the University of Central Florida.

The study examined the front office, support staff, playing and coaching opportunities for women and minorities in professional football, basketball, baseball and soccer, along with colleges.

"There's been a general improvement in the leagues over a period of time," said researcher Richard Lapchick. "I think the glaring gaps are at the college level at what are considered to be the top positions."

SOCCER: Samantha Robinson tied a school record with four goals and broke the school record with nine points as the host University of Tampa women defeated Florida Southern 5-0, improving to 11-1-2 and 5-0-1 in the Sunshine State Conference. The Tampa men lost 4-2 to host Rollins, dropping to 6-5-3 and 1-3-2 in the conference. ... The Eckerd women outshot Clearwater Christian 33-2 and won 2-0. Eckerd is 3-13, 1-5 SSC. The Cougars are 3-10.

VOLLEYBALL: Host Saint Leo won the first game 30-23 against defending Division II national champion Barry, but the Bucs won the next three 30-23, 30-15 and 32-30. Saint Leo is 9-14, 4-5 SSC.

[Last modified October 19, 2005, 00:31:08]