Albany State Player Dies at 26

A 26-year-old football player at Albany State died Thursday morning after participating in a team run before the first practice of the season at Albany, Ga.

Jackie Blanding, a defensive lineman, was running in the sand dunes near the Albany State campus when he collapsed.

The 6-foot-2, 270-pound Blanding was a walk-on transfer from Middle Georgia. This would have been his first season at Albany State after several years away from football, including time in the Army.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

“It’s hard to explain. It’s just one of those things that happens,” Ram Coach Mike White said. “It was a real nice morning. It wasn’t hot at all.”

This year, the NCAA instituted new preseason practice rules to help athletes avoid heat problems. Those rules include five single-day practice sessions, only one in full gear, to help players get accustomed to the hot weather.

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College Basketball

Marvin Menzies has replaced departed USC assistant Kurtis Townsend on basketball Coach Henry Bibby’s staff, becoming the Trojans’ second such hire of the summer.

Menzies, who left a similar position at San Diego State, said he had no apprehension in joining a program that has had to replace four assistants in two years.

“None at all, I mean, I know everyone on the [USC] staff and all of the encounters I’ve had with them have been positive,” said Menzies, who will assume recruiting duties for USC as well as work with fellow new hire Mike Johnson on the team’s defense.

“But coming home was the main thrust.... I’m a die-hard Los Angeleno.”

Menzies, 41, attended Hamilton High and graduated from UCLA, though he did not play for the Bruins.

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Tennis

Andre Agassi stumbled to a 4-1 deficit, then recovered to beat local wild-card entry Simon Larose, 6-4, 6-2, and reach the quarterfinals of the Canada Masters at Montreal. Agassi next faces Rainer Schuettler in a rematch of their Australian Open final. Agassi beat the German in straight sets then, and this will be their first meeting since. Schuettler, seeded eighth, beat 10th-seeded Jiri Novak, 7-5, 6-0.

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Miscellany

A judge refused to throw out a manslaughter indictment against former NBA star Jayson Williams, who is charged in the shooting death of a limousine driver at Flemington, N.J. Judge Edward Coleman said defense attorneys failed to prove Williams was a victim of bias or vindictiveness by prosecutors. Williams’ trial is expected to begin in January.

A misdemeanor assault charge against Washington Wizard guard Jerry Stackhouse was dropped at Beaufort, N.C., after he apologized to the alleged victim.

Washington fullback Zach Tuiasosopo is expected to sit out his team’s first three or four games after being charged with punching out windows of four cars after a sorority party.

Michael Phelps broke his American record in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 1 minute 45.99 seconds for a third title at the U.S. swimming championships at College Park, Md.

Pavol Demitra will stay with the St. Louis Blues after the team agreed to re-sign him to the one-year, $6.5-million contract an arbitrator set this week.... Washington Capital defenseman Calle Johansson announced his retirement.

Silverio Ortiz (13-3, seven knockouts) will meet Julio Sanchez-Leon (20-14, 14 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round bout tonight as the main event of a seven-bout card at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena.