Manning Has Infected Knee

Peyton Manning spent Thursday in a Knoxville, Tenn., hospital bed with a VCR and game films of Nebraska while his Tennessee teammates practiced for the Orange Bowl. Manning, who prided himself on missing only one practice during his four-year career, has an infected knee, but school officials expect him to be released today. . . . Despite NCAA rules against the practice, some sports memorabilia shops have been selling autographed pictures of Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson and other Michigan athletes. Stores violating the rules included one shop on the university’s campus in Ann Arbor, the Detroit News reported Thursday. . . . Arkansas State has been invited to rejoin the Big West Conference as a football-only entry. Arkansas State was a Big West member in football from 1993-1995 and has been an independent in football the last two seasons.