FCS-CITADEL PREVIEW
Citadel’s Houston looks to turn Bulldogs around
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Mike Houston knows what it’s like to enter a job when expectations are strong, yet recent performances have not met those goals. That’s what he faces as Citadel’s first-year coach with a loyal fan base longing for the Bulldogs to again play consistent, winning football.
Citadel had one of the most effective option attacks in the country in the 1990s, has struggled to find success lately with only two winning seasons since 1997. Coach Kevin Higgins had appeared to find an answer when he reinstituted the option game four seasons ago and went 12-11 the past two years. But Higgins left for an assistant’s spot at Wake Forest, joining his friend, new Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson, and Citadel tapped Houston from Lenoir-Rhyne to move things forward.
FCS-WOFFORD PREVIEW
Wofford hopes to return to winning ways
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) β Wofford coach Mike Ayers believes the Terriers were very close to keeping their successful run going last season and plans to get back on track this fall.
The longest serving coach in the Southern Conference β Ayers starts his 27th season with the Terriers β had his program in position for another conference crown and NCAA playoff spot midway through last season before they closed with a four-game losing streak to finish 5-6.
It was only the second losing season for Wofford in the past 12 years and ended a run of three straight trips to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. When Ayers reviewed the film, he didn’t see poor fundamentals, effort or execution. He saw a handful of mistakes at the worst times, all fixable for this year.
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON-WOJCIK
Charleston players ‘forgive’ fired coach Wojcik
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β College of Charleston basketball players say they agreed with the dismissal of men’s coach Doug Wojcik after allegations of verbal abuse and they “forgive” him.
The school released a statement Wednesday saying it was from the members of the Cougars men’s basketball team this season. Wojcik was fired by school President Glenn McConnell on Tuesday for cause.
Wojcik, 50, has apologized to those he hurt emotionally or offended.
The players’ statement said while the past few weeks were difficult, they feel they are closer as a team.
Wojcik’s attorney Scott Tompsett did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press. He had said in a statement the school became so desperate to fire the coach, it had basketball players sign sworn affidavits which he believes contain “materially false statements.”
NC STATE-THORNTON
Wolfpack RB Thornton reinstated from suspension
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) β North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren has reinstated junior running back Shadrach Thornton following an indefinite suspension.
The suspension came in December after authorities cited Thornton for misdemeanor simple possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Police had visited an apartment he shared with teammates in a sexual battery investigation, with a probable cause affidavit for a search warrant listing Thornton as the suspect.
Lee Turner, Thornton’s attorney, says authorities dismissed charges because Thornton was not present during the search and passed drug tests. Thornton was not charged in the sexual battery case.
Doeren said Thursday that Thornton, last year’s leading rusher with 768 yards, has “met every expectation on and off the field” to return to “full status.”
Thornton has practiced with the team in spring and preseason drills.
NATIONAL GUARD-SPONSORSHIP
National Guard to pull out of NASCAR and IndyCar
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β The National Guard said Wednesday it will end its sponsorship of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and IndyCar driver Graham Rahal, but it is not clear when that goes into effect.
Hendrick Motorsports said in a statement it has a contract with the Guard through 2015 and there have not been discussions to change that deal.
A spokesperson for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing did not immediately return a request for comment on the status of the Guard’s sponsorship in IndyCar.
The Guard said in a statement posted on its web site it spent $32 million on its NASCAR sponsorship and $12 million on its IndyCar sponsorship this year. Sen. Claire McCaskill has led a push in Congress to end military sponsorships, calling the funding “wasting a bunch of money.”
US UNDER-18
US under-18 girls rout Mexico 104-55
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) β Jessica Shepard and Brianna Turner each scored 16 points to help the United States beat Mexico 104-55 on Wednesday night in its first game in the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship.
Turner, from Pearland, Texas, also had seven rebounds. Shepard is from Fremont, Nebraska.
A’ja Wilson of Hopkins, South Carolina, had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Napheesa Collier of O’Fallon, Missouri, added 10 points and eight rebounds, and Destinee Walker of Ocoee, Florida, also had 10 points.
“We came out energized,” said U.S. coach Dawn Staley of the University of South Carolina. “We made a conscious effort to get the post players the ball and take advantage of our size.”
Claudia Ramos led Mexico with 15 points.
