Jaguars’ Collier is critical after being shot

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot and critically wounded outside an apartment building early Tuesday as he and a former teammate waited for two women they had met at a Florida nightclub, police said.

Collier, 26, and former Jaguars defensive end Kenneth Pettway were waiting in a Cadillac Escalade when a gunman fired into the vehicle, said Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ken Jefferson. Collier was shot several times, but it wasn’t clear where he was hit.

Collier was in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said early Tuesday. Later, spokesman Chris Turner said the hospital was no longer giving updates on Collier’s condition. Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio said Collier’s family had requested privacy.

Several Jaguars, including running back Maurice Jones-Drew, offensive tackle Khalif Barnes and linebackers Mike Peterson and Clint Ingram, gathered at the hospital.

The New Orleans Saints are returning to the Louisiana Superdome for their season opener Sunday. Forced to flee to Indianapolis ahead of Hurricane Gustav, the Saints will be able to play as scheduled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Virginia Tech to use two QBs

Virginia Tech will return to the two-quarterback system it used last season with Tyrod Taylor and Sean Glennon sharing the duties, Coach Frank Beamer said.

The announcement came a week after Beamer had said that Glennon would be the starter while Taylor redshirted, and a few days after the then-No. 17 Hokies lost their season opener to East Carolina, 27-22.

Chris Smelley will start at quarterback for South Carolina against Vanderbilt on Thursday. Gamecocks Coach Steve Spurrier said he made the decision after starter Tommy Beecher couldn’t practice Monday because he couldn’t lift his non-throwing shoulder.

Two University of Oklahoma athletes stabbed at a nightclub during a brawl that reportedly involved guns, knives and tire irons were identified by police. Football defensive end Frank Alexander and freshman basketball guard Ray Willis sustained knife wounds during the Sunday morning altercation, officers said in a news release.

Alexander, 18, was treated and released from Norman Regional Hospital. Willis’ condition wasn’t immediately available, although police said both stabbing victims required surgery.

MISCELLANY

Couture returning to UFC’s octagon

Ultimate Fighting Championship said that former heavyweight champion Randy Couture would return to the octagon after a yearlong layoff and take on former WWE professional wrestler Brock Lesnar in a five-round title bout Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Couture, 45, retired from the UFC last October while still holding the belt, claiming he was underpaid by the organization.

He was later sued by the UFC for failing to honor the final two fights in his four-fight contract. Both sides said the legal issues have been resolved.

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Dan Arritt

Dario Franchitti, who made an ill-fated switch to NASCAR stock-car racing this year after winning the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series title in 2007, said he plans to return to Indy cars next year.

Franchitti said he would drive for Target Chip Ganassi Racing, the same organization that brought him to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series but then abruptly shut down his car’s team after 10 races because of lack of sponsorship.

Ganassi also parted ways with driver Dan Wheldon, another former Indy 500 winner and series champion, whose departure will make room for Franchitti.

Ganassi signed Franchitti after the team was unable to reach a contract extension with Wheldon.

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Jim Peltz

Asafa Powell matched the second-fastest 100 meters ever and Usain Bolt clocked the second-fastest 200 this year as the Jamaican friends and rivals dominated the Athletissima Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Powell’s time was 9.72 seconds. Bolt eased up before the finish line, crossing in 19.63 to leave himself 0.33 behind the world mark he set at the Olympics.

Tiger Woods announced on his website that he and his wife, Elin, are expecting their second child to be born in late winter. They are the parents of Sam, their 13-month old daughter.