Ohio State project

late, over budget

COLUMBUS (AP) — A construction project that was to build a new practice gym for Ohio State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, expand the locker rooms and weight room and add a rehab and exercise pool is behind schedule and over budget.

Athletic director Gene Smith confirmed on Thursday that the project, which started in June and originally was to cost $13.7 million, had risen in price to $17 million and will end up with a $19-million price tag.

The cost increase and construction delays, originally reported by The (Ohio State) Lantern, will likely push the job’s completion to next fall. The new locker rooms may be available later this month.

Both the men’s and women’s teams open their seasons on Friday night in the Carrier Classic near Charleston, S.C.

 

 

UK players raise

$500G for victims

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A statewide telethon hosted by Kentucky coach John Calipari for victims of Superstorm Sandy has raised $500,000.

Part of the event on Wednesday was broadcast on WKYT-TV and featured Kentucky players taking phone calls and donations. Terry Burkhart, who is Bluegrass Region of the American Red Cross CEO, called it “an amazing night of support.”

A statement from the school says efforts to raise funds got a boost when Papa John’s pizza founder John Schnatter called in and offered $1 from each pizza sold Wednesday toward relief efforts.

Calipari has said he came up with the idea after talking with friends in affected areas in New Jersey and New York. In 2010, he organized a Hoops for Haiti telethon benefiting victims of the Haitian earthquake.

 

 

Pac-12 fines USC

for deflated footballs

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s not just the game balls that are deflated at Southern California this fall.

An unimpressive season reached a new, weird low late Wednesday night when No. 21 USC announced a student manager had been dismissed for underinflating several game balls during the Trojans’ loss to No. 2 Oregon last weekend.

Coach Lane Kiffin insists he and quarterback Matt Barkley knew nothing about the manager’s actions on the Oregon sideline before the game.

Kiffin says he’s disappointed in the distraction. He also realizes people will wonder whether his team has a culture that makes it acceptable to try such questionable tactics.

Earlier this season, a USC player changed jersey numbers during a game against Colorado, apparently to facilitate a trick play. The tactic is legal, but usually considered unsportsmanlike.