Big Sky Only Reprimands

The Big Sky Conference didn’t exactly stick it to four Sacramento State defensive linemen who greased their jerseys for a game.

Brad Osterhout, Bilal Watkins, Ben Fox and Eric Broden were reprimanded Friday, but can play against Weber State today.

“The Big Sky was very concerned that coaches may have been involved,” conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton said.

“Had the coaches been involved, we would have considered this a more serious ethical problem. It appears one player initiated the incident. While we in no way condone this action, we feel that a reprimand is the appropriate response.”

The players put on nonstick cooking spray during Sacramento State’s 31-24 loss last weekend at top-ranked and defending NCAA Division I-AA champion Montana.

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A federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., threw out a jury’s $2-million award in a sex discrimination suit filed by former Duke kicker Heather Sue Mercer. A three-judge panel unanimously ruled that punitive damages are not available in private actions brought to enforce Title IX