National Sports Briefs

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 13, 2009

Associated Press
CONWAY, S.C. ó Coastal Carolina will take on a pair of Bowl Championship Series opponents, including its first-ever meeting with Clemson, in its 2009 football schedule.
The Chanticleers played their first-ever BCS team last year when it opened at Penn State. The Nittany Lions won 66-10.
This season, Coastal Carolina opens at Kent State of the Mid-American Conference on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Chants will travel to Clemson on Oct. 31.
– KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Tennessee put on full pads Friday night for the first time under new coach Lane Kiffin.
The Volunteers, who opened spring practice in helmets and shorts Tuesday and Thursday, planned to move to Neyland Stadium for the second half of a workout scheduled to last more than two hours. Up to 10,000 fans were invited to attend.
– EUGENE, Ore. ó Mike Bellotti is stepping down as Oregon’s football coach to become the school’s athletic director.
NHL
NEW YORK ó Former NHL player Ron Duguay plans to play a game each next weekend for the Jersey Rockhoppers and Brooklyn Aces in the first-year Eastern Professional Hockey League.
The 51-year-old Duguay, a 40-goal scorer for the New York Rangers in 1981-82, signed a two-game contract. He will become the second-oldest player to play in a professional hockey game. In 1997, Gordie Howe took a shift for the Detroit Vipers in the International Hockey League at age 69.
Blue Jackets 5, Blackhawks 3
CHICAGO ó Antoine Vermette scored two goals, and backup goalie Wade Dubielewicz made 27 saves to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets to their fourth straight win on Friday night.
Kristian Huselius, Raffi Torres and Rick Nash also scored to help Columbus, fighting to make the playoffs for the first time, move into fifth place in the Western Conference ó a point ahead of Vancouver.
NFL
ST. LOUIS ó The St. Louis Rams released wide receiver Torry Holt on Friday, parting ways with one of the last remaining holdovers from their “Greatest Show on Turf” glory days.
Holt is 32 and Pace is 33 and combined the moves created $14 million in salary cap space.
– OWINGS MILLS, Md. ó The Baltimore Ravens are expected to release former Pro Bowl cornerback Samari Rolle in the next few days, the player’s agent said.
GOLF
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. ó Joey Sindelar shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over two-time winner Tom Purtzer in the AT&T Champions Classic.