Knocked out of Salem by Boston, the Houston Astros announced that they've moved their high-A team to the Red Sox's old digs in Lancaster in the California League.
The Astros have signed a two-year with the JetHawks.
--katrina waugh
So this is where we’ve now come. The University of Iowa, responding to a recent rash of off-the-field issues with its football team, has hired a “player development coach.” What is a player development coach, you ask? Well, it’s a guy who’s supposed to help the players “transition” positively into college life. In other words, a baby-sitter. And a built-in fall guy should the troubles continue. “What’s that you say? Our quarterback was arrested last night? That does it: Bring me the head of my player development coach!” And they say government is overly bureaucratic. — Aaron McFarling
West Virginia fans are nearly in a state of panic about what has befallen their Mountaineers. After starting the year ranked No. 8 and perceived as an offensive juggernaut, WVU has lost its last two games and the supposedly vaunted “Ferrari” of an offensive attack led by double-threat QB Pat White, dynamo TB Noel Devine and an intact offensive line has been instead reduced to a sputtering “Yugo.” On internet message boards and in newspaper columns, WVU fans and writers have been calling out head coach Bill Stewart and offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen for everything from atrocious clock management to anemic play calling to fouling up a proven system with new blocking schemes. But Bill Stewart isn’t having any of it. After WVU’s loss at Colorado in overtime Thursday night, Stewart emphatically stated following the game how he “won’t be second-guessed” despite what many fans and ESPN announcers called an embarrassing display of managing the waning seconds of regulation where he failed to call timeouts as precious seconds slipped away. Well, Mr. Stewart, if you don’t get things back on track soon, you’ll get your wish. WVU fans won’t be questioning you. They’ll be too busy second-guessing the athletic director. — Mark Shaver
SECOND QUARTER
UNC—FG Wooten 27, 12:31. Drive: 10 plays, 40 yards, 5:10. Key play: Foster 24 run to VT 14. North Carolina 3, Virginia Tech 0.
VT—FG Keys 19, 6:59. Drive: Four plays, 6 yards, 1:55. Key play: Graves fumble recovery at UNC 8. North Carolina 3, Virginia Tech 3.
UNC—Tate 32 pass from Yates (Wooten kick). Drive: Five plays, 68 yards, 2:06. Key play: Tate 30 pass from Yates to VT 36. North Carolina 10, Virginia Tech 3.
THIRD QUARTER
UNC—Little 50 run (Wooten kick), 6:44. Drive: One play, 50 yards, :09. North Carolina 17, Virginia Tech 3.
VT—Evans 10 run (Keys kick), 1:09. Drive: 13 plays, 89 yards, 5:35. Key play: Taylor 4 run plus 15 personal foul penalty to UNC 20. North Carolina 17, Virginia Tech 10.
FOURTH QUARTER
VT—Lewis 11 run (Keys kick), 13:56. Drive: Five plays, 30 yards, 1:53. Key play: Boykin 13 pass from Taylor on third-and-9 to UNC 16. North Carolina 17, Virginia Tech 17.
VT—FG Keys 45, 10:42. Drive: Four plays, 16 yards, 2:02. Key play: UNC 15 late-hit penalty to VT 29. Virginia Tech 20, North Carolina 17.
Two of our colleges are part of a profile of Davidson’s Stephen Curry in the latest “Sports Illustrated.” The article notes how Virginia Tech “snubbed” Curry when it was time to offer a scholarship. Correct. Seth Greenberg sadly did not offer Curry a grant for his freshman year. The article details how Curry spent part of last summer in Salem, working at the Roanoke College camp of “respected coach” Page Moir. Also correct. But the article states that after attending “high-profile camps” hosted by LeBron James and others, Curry’s next stop was Moir’s camp in “the glitz-free Shenandoah Valley.” Wrong, wrong. The Shenandoah Valley lacks glitz, but Salem is NOT part of the Shenandoah Valley. Not that Salem has glitz either. — Mark Berman
Florida State cracked the Associated Press Top 25 poll Sunday. Huh? Based on what? All the No. 24 Seminoles have done is beat up on two Division I-AA teams. That proves nothing. Voters should have waited to see how the Seminoles do Saturday against Wake Forest before deeming them one of the 25 best teams in the land. I also see that Clemson, which fell out of the Top 25 after losing to Alabama, is now back in the poll after beating a I-AA team and N.C. State. Heck, Vanderbilt — tops in the "also receiving votes" category — should probably be in the poll instead of FSU or Clemson. At least the Commodores have beaten South Carolina (a better team than N.C. State) and two other I-A foes. This just shows that right now, there really aren’t 25 teams worthy of being in a Top 25 poll. — Mark Berman
Last week, David Letterman brought out the 12 Sprint Cup drivers in the Chase to reveal “the top 12 perks of being a NASCAR driver.” Jimmie Johnson announced No. 3: “Traveling to go to exotic locations like Martinsville, Virginia, and Dover, Delaware.” I’m still waiting for Martinsville’s response. Other cities have gotten national publicity when they humorously defend their honor after being mocked by the likes of Letterman or Stephen Colbert. It’s time for Martinsville to crank up the p.r. machine and invite Letterman to town. Proclaim a new city motto, such as “We’re way more exotic than Dover,” or “We’re just as exotic as Darlington.” Let’s go, Martinsville. The pride of Henry County is at stake. — Mark Berman
The good news for the Pacific-10 was that USC once again showed on Saturday that Ohio State doesn’t belong on the same field with the big boys. The Trojans have spared from having to watch the Buckeyes get undressed in the BCS title game again this year. But there was also plenty of bad news for the Pac-10. It was that league’s turn to get embarrassed in Week 3. Maryland knocked off California. BYU demolished UCLA. Arizona and Arizona State lost to New Mexico and UNLV, respectively. Oklahoma rolled over Washington. TCU beat Stanford. Baylor squashed Washington State. Oregon did win at Purdue but needed two overtimes to do it. I don't see anyone in this league making USC sweat. — Mark Berman
The Huskies defeated Virginia 45-10 and it could have been worse. After gaining 307 yards in the first half, UConn had 199 in the second half and 34 in the fourth quarter, having replaced starting quarterback Tyler Lorenzen with freshman Brook Endres with 10:24 left.
UConn outgained the Cavaliers 506-219 and had possession for 36:37, compared to 23:23 for UVa. The Cavaliers inserted one of their true freshmen, outside linebacker Cam Johnson, in the third quarter. He could be a good one but it's probably too early for him to have an impact.
Clearly, there are problems on the offensive line (everywhere but Eugene Monroe's left-tackle spot) and at safety. Fourh-year junior Brandon Woods hadn't played much until this year and Virginia can't leave him out there if he can't make an open-field tackle.
Cornerback Ras-I Dowling ran down Donald Brown on one of his 63-yard runs and could be rounding into playing form. He could help and the Cavs need all the help they can get.
UConn has gone up 35-3 on a 63-yard touchdown run by Donald Brown, his second 63-yard run of the night, both at the expense of UVa safety Brandon Woods, who was faked out of his shoes on both plays.
Kevin Ogletree's kickoff return to the UVa 46 is to no avail as Verica is intercepted on first down. Then Clint Sintim is penalized 15 yards for a horse-collar tackle and now UConn is up 42-3 with 2:01 left in the third quarter.
RSS feed 