NASCAR-STEWART
Grand jury to weigh case of NASCAR’s Tony Stewart
CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. (AP) β A grand jury will decide whether NASCAR driver Tony Stewart will be charged in the August death of a fellow driver at a sprint car race in upstate New York.
Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo said Tuesday that after reviewing evidence collected by sheriff’s investigators, he has decided to present it to a grand jury. Tantillo could have determined there was not enough evidence to support charges and dropped the case.
Stewart’s car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt-track race in Canandaigua on Aug. 9. The 20-year-old had climbed from his car after it had spun while racing alongside Stewart.
Stewart issued a statement saying he looks forward to the process being completed and will continue to cooperate.
T25-S CAROLINA-STAYING FOCUSED
No. 14 South Carolina needs focus against Vandy
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β Steve Spurrier figures he’s got an equally difficult task getting No. 14 South Carolina ready for Vanderbilt as he did last week for Georgia.
Spurrier said while the Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) picked up a big victory over then-top-10 ranked Georgia, they are not close to being a dominant team that can take wins for granted. So they can’t overlook the struggling Commodores (1-2, 0-1).
South Carolina got several fortunate breaks to preserve last week’s 38-35 victory, including two missed field goals by Georgia kicker Marshall Morgan and a Bulldogs intentional grounding penalty from the Gamecocks’ 4 late in the fourth quarter.
The win kept South Carolina in the thick of the SEC East race. But Spurrier knows his team must rely on strong play and not good fortune.
CLEMSON-SWINNEY
No. 22 Clemson hopes to upset No. 1 Florida State
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) β Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has seen too many underdog success stories to worry about what others think of his team’s chances at top-ranked Florida State this week.
Swinney said the 22nd-ranked Tigers (1-1) have practiced with confidence and urgency in prepping for the Seminoles (2-0), their Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winstson and the perception they have less chance of winning this time than a year ago in their 51-14 Death Valley debacle.
Clemson is a 20-point underdog, a massive margin for a game between ranked opponents.
Swinney recalled his senior season at Alabama in 1992 when the Crimson Tide were two-touchdown underdogs to No. 1 Miami. Alabama won the national title game, 34-13.
Swinney said Alabama didn’t see itself as an underdog and the Tigers don’t now.
RBC HERITAGE-IMPACT
RBC Heritage golf tourney has $96 million impact
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) β Officials of the RBC Heritage golf tournament say this year’s event had an economic impact of more than $96 million.
The Heritage Classic Foundation released details of the study on Tuesday.
The survey of the PGA Tour event was conducted by Clemson University’s International Institute for Tourism Research and Development. The study collected data from 1,474 spectators and found that the tournament generated almost $76 million in direct visitor spending in the Beaufort County economy. There were 1,178 area jobs supported by the tournament and $6.95 million in taxes and fees collected for state and local governments.
This was the fifth survey conducted for the foundation and first since 2010.
The tournament returns to Harbour Town Golf Links from April 16-19, 2015.
US SENIOR AMATEUR
Cloninger reaches US Senior Amateur quarterfinals
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) β Rick Cloninger advanced to the U.S. Senior Amateur quarterfinals Tuesday, beating qualifying medalist Alan Fadel and David Szewczul at Big Canyon.
The 57-year-old Cloninger, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, routed Fadel, from Toledo, Ohio, 7 and 6 in the second round, and edged Szewczul, from Farmington, Connecticut, with a birdie on the 19th hole.
Cloninger is a construction equipment consultant. He played baseball and football at Wofford College.
On Friday morning in the event for players 55 and older, Cloninger will face Frank Dial of Auburn, Alabama. Dial beat James Gallagher of Yorktown, Virginia, 2 and 1.
CLEMSON-ANNOUNCER
Castricone new Clemson basketball voice
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) β Clemson named Tony Castricone to take over play-by-play duties basketball radio broadcasts this season.
The school and multimedia rights partner Learfield Sports announced the move Tuesday. Castricone takes over for Pete Yanity, the longtime football and basketball announcer who was let go earlier this year.
Castricone has spent the past four years as play-by-play and game host talent for several affiliates of the IMG Sports Network. He also served on Michigan basketball broadcasts as studio host and fill-in play-by-play person.
Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said Castricone was a great pick from a strong pool of well-qualified candidates.
Castricone will join color analyst Tim Bourret in calling Tiger basketball games. Bourret begins his 35th year as part of the broadcast.
