NCAA Relaxes Rules

In an effort to help athletes from schools in hurricane-stricken areas of the Gulf Coast, the NCAA unveiled guidelines Thursday that allow wide exceptions to NCAA rules.

Athletes from affected schools may accept clothing, housing, meals and medical assistance for themselves and their families from their schools and conferences, the NCAA said.

In a more striking exception, athletes also may accept financial assistance from other sources -- including boosters and other academic institutions -- for “educational expenses or expenses related to the disaster,” the NCAA said.

“The normal activities of athletics programs do not apply to those affected by the hurricane and, therefore, the normal application of NCAA rules doesn’t work,” Steve Mallonee, NCAA managing director of membership services, said in a statement released by the NCAA.

The exceptions apply not only to financial aid and extra benefits but also address recruiting, coaching staffs and eligibility -- and could allow an athlete to compete for one school while attending another.

The NCAA also is considering issues related to transfer requirements for athletes who attend schools in the disaster area, as well as those who are from the area but attend school elsewhere.

“Our No. 1 priority is with the safety and well-being of student-athletes, their families and the entire Gulf Coast population,” NCAA President Myles Brand said, calling Hurricane Katrina an “unprecedented natural disaster.”

“We recognize the unique challenges this disaster poses to student-athletes,” Brand said.

“We believe that by giving increased flexibility to conferences and schools, they can best assess the particular needs of the student-athletes within their campus communities.”

-- Robyn Norwood

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Utah sought permission from the NCAA to keep using its Utes nickname and requested a decision before tonight’s football game against Arizona.

The university sent a seven-page appeal to the governing body Wednesday, asking that it be removed from a list of 18 schools with Native American nicknames, mascots or images.

The NCAA said there would be no decision by tonight and gave no timetable for a ruling.

Golf

Heather Bowie chipped in for an eagle and had a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the LPGA State Farm Classic at Springfield, Ill.

Sherri Turner finished a stroke back at six under with Natalie Gulbis and Tina Barrett.

Retief Goosen had two eagles in an eight-under 64, setting a course record and taking a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the China Masters at Beijing.

Canada’s Darren Griff and Australia’s Gary Simpson were at 66.

Hockey

New Jersey assistant Bobby Carpenter said he would not coach with the team this season, citing personal reasons.

Carpenter said several factors influenced his decision, including his father’s suffering a stroke in June and the need to undergo several operations.

Vancouver signed free-agent goaltender Brent Johnson and re-signed winger Jarkko Ruutu.

Johnson split the 2003-04 season between St. Louis and Phoenix, going 5-9-2 with a 2.51 goals-against average. Ruutu has 13 goals and 21 assists in 185 games with the Canucks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed forward Ryan Malone, who scored a team-high 22 goals and had 21 assists in the 2003-04 season.

Basketball

Yao Ming signed a five-year contract worth more than $75 million, keeping the 7-foot-6 center with Houston through the 2010-11 season.

Tyson Chandler agreed to a multiyear contract with Chicago. The 7-foot-1 Chandler averaged 8.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and nearly two blocks a game last season.

Charlie Bell scored 20 points to lead the United States to a 91-77 victory over Uruguay in the second round of the World Championship qualifying tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The U.S. (4-2) qualified for next year’s championships in Japan.

Tory Jackson, a highly regarded point guard from Buena Vista High in Saginaw, Mich., who averaged 29 points and eight assists as a junior, is making his official visit at USC today. Jackson has already been offered scholarships by Florida, Michigan, Virginia and Notre Dame.

Miscellany

Four teens were charged in Miami in the July 28 shooting of Philadelphia defensive end Jerome McDougle, who has recovered from his injuries and rejoined the Eagles.

Todd Shell, coach of the Arena Football League’s Arizona Rattlers, resigned, two days after being arrested and telling police he had been snorting cocaine.