LOCAL

LOCAL
Semi-pro football
BOARDMAN -- Signups for the Steel Valley Hardhats semi-pro football team will be Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn here.
Anyone interested in playing, coaching or managing during the 2006 season should contact Coach Mark Green at (330) 559-8050 or Coach Fleetion at (330) 519-1318.
Malone coaches
CANTON -- Mike Gardner was named head football coach at Malone College.
He was coach at Tabor (Kan.) College the last two years, leading the Bluejays to a school-record 11-1 record last year, with an NAIA national playoff victory and No. 6 ranking in the final NAIA poll.
Also, Todd Clark resigned as Malone men's and women's soccer coach. His seven-year record as women's coach was 103-35-13 record and he was 18-36-1 with the men over three seasons.
NYP Leaguedonates to Red Cross
NILES -- The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation made a donation Friday for $1,000 to the Trumbull County Red Cross to be used for their Adapted Aquatics program.
Dave Smith, General Manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, presented the check to Bonnie Wilson and Cheryl Oblinger of the Red Cross at their local branch.
The league's charitable foundation was created in 2002 to promote and support the common good and social welfare of the 14 communities in the New York-Penn League.
REGION
PIAA tightens ruleon transfers
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. -- In a major step toward changing its transfer and eligibility rules, the PIAA has eliminated its former athletic intent rule and replaced it with language that should make transfer cases less arbitrary for students and schools.
Gone from the PIAA bylaws is the phrase that if a transfer was deemed "either in whole or in part for any athletic purpose," the student could be found ineligible for up to one year. The rule was designed to prevent a student from switching schools in order to benefit from an athletic standpoint.
In the past, students have attempted to switch from one high school to another so they could get more playing time, play under a specific coach or improve their chances for a college scholarship.
The PIAA board replaced that phrase with one that states transfers "which are motivated in some material way" could be subject to ineligibility. The PIAA also provided a list of situations that could result in a sanction.
The PIAA also established that private and public high schools must submit a list of specific feeder schools from which they can draw their students.
The effect on public schools will be minimal. Only districts with more than one senior high school will be affected by the new rule.
Private schools must submit a list of all feeder schools to the PIAA, and in the case of Roman Catholic schools, must have that list certified by a diocese. The rule thus sets up school districts for private schools.
Joe Paterno named Camp coach of year
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno was selected the Walter Camp Football Foundation's 2005 Coach of the Year Friday.
Paterno completed his 40th season as Penn State head coach and has a 354-117-3 record. He has led the Nittany Lions to 32 bowl appearances and two national championships (1982, 1986). The team has finished the season ranked No. 3 or higher nine times.
Steelers' Hampton added to pro bowl
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton will replace the injured Richard Seymour of the New England Patriots on the AFC Pro Bowl roster.
Hampton, in his fifth season, also played in the Pro Bowl following the 2003 season.
Bucs sign Hernandez
PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates agreed to a minor league contract with INF Jose Hernandez, who spent part of the 2003 season with Pittsburgh.
Hernandez, 36, played 84 games for the Cleveland Indians last season and batted .231 with six home runs and 31 RBIs. If added to the major league roster, Hernandez would get an $850,000, one-year contract and the chance to earn $150,000 in performance bonuses.
NATION
NBA dismissesChris Andersen
NEW YORK -- New Orleans Hornets forward Chris Andersen was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA on Friday for violating the league's drug policy. Andersen must wait two years before he can apply for reinstatement, the league said.
According to the league's collective bargaining agreement, a player can only be disqualified for a fourth positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, or a first positive test for "drugs of abuse."
The drugs on that list are amphetamine and its analogs, which include methamphetamine; cocaine; LSD; opiates, including heroin, codeine and morphine; and PCP.
Andersen has not previously been suspended for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Vindicator staff/wire reports