YSU

YSU
Track & amp; Field
INDIANAPOLIS -- Freshman Carly Youlton is the Horizon League athlete of the week.
In her first collegiate meet, Youlton placed fourth in the triple jump with a mark of 36 feet, 8 1/2 inches, and added a ninth-place spot of 17-4 3/4 in the long jump at the Golden Flash Gala. Her mark in the triple jump ranks third all-time in school history while her long jump mark ranks fifth.
AREA
Phantoms fall 5-4
BOARDMAN -- The Youngstown Phantoms surrendered two goals in the final three minutes and lost 5-4 to the Toledo Ice Diggers at The Ice Zone.
It was the third straight loss for the Phantoms (16-9-2, 34 points) who remain in first place in the North American Hockey League's North Division.
Youngstown led 1-0 after the first period on a goal by Dale Michonski and 3-2 after two periods on goals by Owen Meyer and Anthony Ciraulo.
Jared Katz scored for Toledo at 2:28 of the final period to tie the score at 3 before Aaron Rhyner scored his team-leading 18th goal of the season at 7:32 to put the Phantoms back on top, 4-3.
The Ice Diggers got the tying goal from Kaleigh Schrock at the 17:34 mark and the game-winner from Ross Enmark at 18:42.
Youngstown plays host to the Soo Indians Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at The Ice Zone.
REGION
NFL roundup
*CLEVELAND -- The Browns placed center Jeff Faine on injured reserve Tuesday, the 18th player and ninth starter Cleveland has lost for the season.
Faine injured his ankle in last weekend's loss at Buffalo on the same play that ended quarterback Jeff Garcia's season. Garcia was placed on injured reserve with a torn knee ligament.
An MRI revealed Faine suffered ligament damage and will need six weeks to recover. Left tackle Ross Verba is Cleveland's only remaining starter on the offensive line.
With Garcia out, the Browns signed quarterback Josh Harris from Baltimore's practice squad. The Ravens drafted the former Bowling Green standout in the sixth round in April.
Harris will be Cleveland's second or third quarterback Sunday against San Diego depending on the status of Kelly Holcomb (ribs). Harris threw for 7,503 yards and 55 touchdowns and rushed for 43 more scores at Bowling Green.
The Browns also signed offensive lineman Craig Osika to the active roster and running back Sultan McCullough to the practice squad. They waived tackle Chad Beasley, defensive lineman Antonio Garay and quarterback Nate Hybl.
*PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Plaxico Burress ran a few pass patterns during practice Tuesday and expects to play Saturday against the New York Giants.
With Burress out, the Steelers averaged 16.7 points and 261.7 yards. In their previous 10 games, they averaged 24 points and 326.4 yards.
Steelers running back Duce Staley missed four games with a hamstring injury and has not yet returned to his pre-injury production level. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and 101 yards per game before getting hurt, but in his two games back is averaging 3.1 per carry and 51 yards per game.
* SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco cornerback Ahmed Plummer, who hasn't played since Oct. 17, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because a bulging disc in his neck.
Plummer, a five-year veteran who signed a $25 million contract in March, has been bothered by neck problems since last season. The 49ers (2-11) hoped he could return this year, but Plummer's neck hasn't responded well enough to rehabilitation.
The 49ers signed offensive lineman Scott Peters from the practice squad to take Plummer's roster spot. San Francisco also re-signed tight end Doug Zeigler to the practice squad.
NATION
Ole Missto interview Erickson
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Mississippi has permission to interview San Francisco 49ers coach Dennis Erickson about its vacant head coaching position, general manager Terry Donahue said Tuesday night.
Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone and chancellor Robert Khayat were in California to meet with Erickson at the tail end of his second frustrating season with the 49ers. Boone called Donahue on Monday night to request the interview.
Erickson has three seasons and $7.5 million remaining on his contract with the 49ers, who hired him to replace Steve Mariucci in 2003. Erickson, Donahue and owner John York have been frustrated by the Niners' 2-11 performance this season after the team went 7-9 in the coach's first campaign.
Colorado chancellor Byyny resigns
DENVER -- Richard Byyny, chancellor of the University of Colorado's flagship Boulder campus, announced his resignation Tuesday after eight years that included a football recruiting scandal and steep cuts in state funding.
Byyny, 65, will become executive director of a new health policy center at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora on March 1.
Vindicator staff/wire reports