NCAA May Punish 99 Teams

Teams at 65 schools -- including Texas, Tennessee and West Virginia -- failed to meet the NCAA’s new academic standards and face the loss of scholarships for their poor grades.

But there were few of the biggest names in football or basketball on the list released Wednesday by the NCAA of those lagging in the classroom.

The only school in the six biggest conferences to be sanctioned in football or men’s basketball was DePaul of the Big East. It could lose one scholarship in men’s basketball.

Nationwide, 99 teams could lose scholarships as early as next fall. The new academic points system requires each team to meet minimum requirements or face the potential loss of scholarship money when academically ineligible athletes leave school. No school can lose more than 10% of its scholarships. And if the ineligible scholarship athlete stays in school, the NCAA will not take the scholarship away from their team.

Cal State Sacramento had the most teams affected -- six -- and could face the loss of as many as 2.3 scholarships in football.

Prairie View A&M; in Texas was among the hardest-hit schools. As many as 10 athletes in five sports could lose scholarship money, including 5.3 scholarships in football alone.

The NCAA also released a list of schools that consistently outperformed its baseline standards. Among those were Brown, Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame, the three U.S. military academies and William and Mary.

Overall, NCAA officials were pleased with the improvement made since last year, when about 6% of sports teams made the list. Fewer than 2% of teams were penalized this year.

“We want people to know that if you’re going to play our games, you’re going to be a student,” NCAA President Myles Brand said.

PRO FOOTBALL

Broncos Release Anderson, Pryce

The Denver Broncos waived running back Mike Anderson, 32, defensive end Trevor Pryce, 30, and tight end Jeb Putzier, 27, clearing at least $10.6 million from their payroll.

The Indianapolis Colts agreed to a multiyear deal with free-agent linebacker Gary Brackett, 25, and offered new contracts to tight end Ben Utecht, 24, and offensive guard Ryan Lilja, 24.

Meanwhile, Lucas Oil Products bought the naming rights to the Colts’ new stadium for $122 million over 20 years. The 63,000-seat facility will be named Lucas Oil Stadium and is scheduled to be ready for the 2008 season.

The Miami Dolphins waived left tackle Damion McIntosh, 28, saving $3.8 million against the salary cap.... The Carolina Panthers trimmed about $4 million off the salary cap by releasing defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, 35, running back Stephen Davis, 32, and kick returner Rod Smart, 29.... Defensive end Orpheus Roye, 33, signed a three-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns.

TENNIS

Agassi Eliminated

by Unseeded Phau

Fourth-seeded Andre Agassi lost to 80th-ranked Bjorn Phau, 7-5, 7-5, in the second round of the Dubai Open in the United Arab Emirates.

Top-seeded Roger Federer struggled to beat Mohammed Al Ghareeb, 7-6 (5), 6-4, and Marat Safin’s comeback was slowed when Olivier Rochus beat him, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt defeated Jan Hernych, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Tennis Channel Open at Las Vegas. Third-seeded Tommy Robredo beat Mardy Fish, 6-4, 6-4.

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo beat Marion Bartoli, 6-0, 6-2, and Martina Hingis ousted third-seeded Francesca Schiavone, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open at Doha.

SOCCER

Galaxy Prevails, 2-1,

in Exhibition Play

The Galaxy defeated Houston 1836, 2-1, in a preseason match at the Home Depot Center. Galaxy midfielder Peter Vagenas opened the scoring, and Houston defender Eddie Robinson tied it before the half, but it was forward Mike Enfield’s late goal that sealed the victory.

Meanwhile, Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant has a strained left quadriceps and will sit out the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup match Wednesday against Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica. Midfielder Paulo Nagamura has a fractured sternum and will also sit out the game.

MetroStar defender Marvell Wynne is expected to be sidelined one to two weeks after a procedure to repair a hernia.

MISCELLANY

Cause of Death

Pending for Claridge

The cause of former USC offensive lineman Travis Claridge’s death is pending the results of toxicology results, which could take two to six weeks, a spokesperson for the Clark County coroner’s office said.

Claridge, 27, died Tuesday at a Nevada hospital after being found unconscious in a home in Las Vegas.

Claridge spent last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

-- Gary Klein

Former World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion Greg Page, 47, is breathing on his own but remained in critical condition at a Louisville, Ky., hospital with acute respiratory failure after being checked in Friday.

Atlanta and Daytona Beach still like their chances to land NASCAR’s Hall of Fame, even though a report from Charlotte, N.C., says that city has already completed a deal to build the shrine to stock car racing.

The Charlotte Observer, citing three sources, reported that city had won the museum and that an official announcement was expected Monday. The Associated Press, however, citing two sources, said that although Charlotte is the leading candidate, the deal isn’t complete.

Jeff Doyal Robertson, convicted of shooting his son’s high school football coach, Gary Joe Kinne, last April in Canton, Texas, was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison. The coach has since recovered.

Ernie Van Leeuwen, 93, of Encino, was presented with the Patsy Choco Courage Award by William Burke, president of the Los Angeles Marathon.

Van Leeuwen has been the oldest participant in the L.A. Marathon for more than a decade and is training for the March 19 race.