Buccaneers Now Have Mariucci in Their Sights

Tampa Bay’s meandering, monthlong search for a coach headed in yet another direction Friday when the Buccaneers received permission to talk to San Francisco’s Steve Mariucci.

The sons of Buccaneer owner Malcolm Glazer are interested in hiring Mariucci as coach and general manager, dual responsibilities that haven’t been offered to previous candidates. Tony Dungy was fired Jan. 14 as coach.

Mariucci has two years remaining on his contract as San Francisco’s coach, meaning Tampa Bay would have to work out a trade that could involve draft picks, players, cash or a combination of the three.

“We gave Steve permission to go and talk to Tampa Bay because this is an opportunity that is unique,” 49er General Manager Terry Donahue said. “If it had just been for a head coaching position, my own personal belief, is that we would not have granted [permission].”

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The Detroit Lions expect to release quarterback Charlie Batch on June 1 if he isn’t selected by the Houston Texans in Monday’s expansion draft. The date is critical because the Lions would have to count an extra $5 million against this year’s $71.8-million salary cap if he is released before then.... Bill Arnsparger, 75, who gave Marty Schottenheimer his first NFL coaching job, was hired by Schottenheimer as the San Diego Chargers’ associate head coach for defense.... Seven-time all-pro Willie Roaf says he has irreconcilable differences with New Orleans Saint Coach Jim Haslett and would rather retire than play any longer for the team.

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Golf

Mike Hill just missed becoming the youngest player to match his age in Senior PGA Tour history, shooting a seven-under-par 64 for a share of the lead in the Verizon Classic at Lutz, Fla.

The 63-year-old Hill, tied with Dana Quigley, had seven birdies, but missed an eight-footer on No. 14. Gary Player holds the age record with a 64 in the 2000 BellSouth Senior Classic.

Bruce Summerhays was one shot back at 65, and Tom Kite and Bruce Fleisher shot 66s.

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Tennis

Frenchman Cedric Pioline ousted top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-5, to advance to the semifinals of the Open 13 tournament at Marseille, France.

Defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Marc Rosset, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Top-seeded Venus Williams reached the semifinals of the WTA Diamond Games at Antwerp, Belgium, when Silvia Farina Elia retired because of a right leg injury with Williams leading, 6-3, 0-1. She next faces Amelie Mauresmo, a 6-4, 7-5 winner against Daja Bedanova of the Czech Republic.... Jiri Novak and Rainer Schuettler, the two top-seeded players at the $381,000 Copenhagen Open, were eliminated in the quarterfinals. Magnus Larsson, who won the tournament in 1992, defeated Novak, 6-3, 6-2, and will meet Olivier Rochus in the semifinals. Rochus defeated Schuettler, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.... Monica Seles was broken in the first game, then defeated Nicole Pratt, 6-1, 6-0, to advance to the semifinals of the Qatar Open at Doha.

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Miscellany

The NCAA will allow the experimental use of a two-interval play clock, possibly as early as this fall, in certain conference football games.

A team would have 45 seconds to snap the ball after the preceding play is whistled dead. However, when the game clock is stopped for reasons such as a first down, ball out of bounds, change of possession or penalty, the team would have 25 seconds to snap the ball after a signal by the referee.

Jason Pyrah, the only U.S. finalist in the 1,500 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will compete in the L.A. Invitational mile at the Sports Arena on Feb. 23.

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Passings

Johny Aldana, a 21-year-old midfielder and a member of the national champion soccer team Municipal in Guatemala, died of injuries suffered when a portable goal toppled over in practice.... John Barnaby, who won 17 national squash titles as coach at Harvard, has died at 92.