YSU

YSU
Howard released
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State head football coach Jon Heacock has released transfer quarterback Cecil Howard from his scholarship so Howard can pursue an opportunity at another school.
Heacock met with Howard Monday when Howard officially asked for a release from his scholarship.
The native of McKeesport, Pa., transferred to YSU after spending one year as a redshirt quarterback at Syracuse.
Volleyball teamloses at Toledo
TOLEDO -- The undefeated University of Toledo volleyball team was pushed to the limit Friday before claiming a five-game decision from Youngstown State.
The Rockets (4-0) defeated the Penguins 31-29, 30-23, 27-30, 29-31, 15-11.
Colleen Royer collected 15 kills for the Penguins (1-3), who were out-hit, 78-52.
Beth Boscarelli had 20 sets and Angie Pasquinelli added 13. Cameron Drake collected 13 digs, while Royer had 10 digs.
LOCAL
Blaney third
RICHMOND, Va. -- Hartford native Dave Blaney will start from the third position in today's NASCAR-Monte Carlo 400 race at Richmond International Raceway.
Blaney's Ford time for the 0.75-mile lap was 125.733 mph.
The pole winner was Jimmie Johnson at 126.145 mph. At 125.733 mph, Ryan Newman will start in the No. 2 spot.
Fusion tryouts
BEDFORD -- The Cleveland Fusion will hold tryouts for the 2003 season at Bedford High School on Sept. 14. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and tryouts start at 10:30 a.m.
The Cleveland Fusion is a women's professional football team. Call (440) 816-1457.
Golfers qualify
NASHPORT -- Two area golf professionals qualified for the sixth annual Northern PGA Club Professional Championship to be held Sept. 26-29 at the Longenberger Golf Club.
Dennis Miller, director of golf at Mill Creek Golf Course, and Ted Ossoff of Valley Golf Club were among the top 15 at the section championship this week at Quail Hollow in Concord, Ohio.
Miller shot 76-70--146, 3 over par, to tie for eighth. Ossoff shot 75-75--148, finishing in a tie for 14th.
Correction
CANFIELD -- A picture in Friday's edition misidentified Canfield soccer player Amy D'Amico. The Cardinals tied Howland 0-0.
REGION
Bettis deniesalleged misconduct
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, a gregarious star known for his charity work and perhaps the team's most popular player, on Friday denied accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman outside a nightclub.
A 22-year-old woman told police Bettis forced her to perform oral sex in his Land Rover outside a restaurant and lounge Aug. 21 after he had autographed a football for her 2-year-old son. The woman told police Bettis had promised the autograph when she met him after a training camp practice earlier last month.
Bettis was interviewed Thursday evening by authorities in Greensburg, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh, according to his Attorney Robert Del Greco Jr.
"Jerome didn't engage in any sexual misconduct or criminal activity," Del Greco said. Bettis is cooperating with the investigation and passed a voice-stress analysis administered by police, Del Greco said.
HOF takes showon the road
KENT -- The College Football Hall of Fame "Road Show", a traveling exhibit of the South Bend, Ind.-based Hall of Fame, will come to Kent State University this fall for the Golden Flashes' Nov. 2 game against Bowling Green University at Dix Stadium.
Housed in a 38-foot motor home, the "Road Show" will open its doors free to fans beginning when gates open at 11 a.m. It will remain open through halftime.
Aeros fall
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Glenn Davis hit a pair of home runs and right-hander Josh Karp allowed just six hits in seven innings to lead the Harrisburg Senators over the Akron Aeros 7-1 Friday in Game 3 of the Eastern League Southern Division finals.
Vindicator staff/wire reports