LOCAL

LOCAL
SteelHounds holdCollege Nights
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the remainder of the SteelHounds' season, every Wednesday night home game will be "College Night" beginning Dec. 7 when the Hounds play host to Rio Grande Valley.
Students with a valid college ID will be able to purchase a Gold Level ticket for $13 (regular price $16) or a Silver Level ticket for $8 (regular price $10).
"We are very pleased to offer this promotion to the many local colleges whose students are sometimes looking for an entertainment alternative during the weeknights," said SteelHounds general manager George Manias.
Brad Smith namedAll-Big 12
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri's record-setting senior quarterback, Brad Smith, was named first team All-Big 12 by the Associated Press.
Smith, who owns 59 different school, Big 12 and NCAA single-game, single-season and career records, earned first team honors for the first time in his career. He was third team in 2003 and honorable mention in 2002 and 2004.
Smith, the Big 12's career record holder for total offense (12,656 yards) has 2,022 yards passing and 1,151 yards rushing in 2005.
He is the first player in NCAA Division I-A history to achieve 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing twice in his career (he had 2,333 passing and 1,029 rushing in 2002).
Salem man donatesmoney for building
BOWLING GREEN -- Ground was broken Friday for the Sebo Athletic Center at Bowling Green State University's Doyt Perry Stadium.
Bob and Karen Sebo of Salem, for whom the structure is named, contributed $3.5 million toward a goal of $7 million being raised to support construction of the facility.
They, along with BGSU president Sidney Ribeau and athletic director Paul Krebs, a native of Canfield, took part in the groundbreaking ceremonies.
The unique, three-story structure will become the new front door of Perry Stadium. With approximately 42,500 square feet, the center will provide modern sports medicine-rehabilitation and strength-training facilities; a balcony overlooking the playing field; offices for the football coaches; teaching space for coaches and players; a video editing room; team meeting rooms, and a coaches' conference room.
Sebo, a 1958 graduate of Bowling Green, is a member of the University's Board of Trustees and a staunch supporter of Falcon athletics.
A good athletic program benefits the entire University, Sebo said. "Winning teams generate a really positive attitude" on campus, and those good feelings stay with students as they become alumni who support academic, as well as athletic, programs, he explained.
NATION
Stewart cashes in
NEW YORK -- Tony Stewart's best year in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series reached the bottom line Friday, with the two-time champion setting a record for single-season earnings.
He picked up $6,173,633 from the points fund set up by series sponsor Nextel and NASCAR, and added $517,000 in contingency awards from sponsors. Combined with the prize money earned during the 36-race season, Stewart's total of $13,578,168 breaks the previous mark of $10,979,757 by Jeff Gordon in 2001.
Stewart, who earlier in the day had a migraine headache that caused him to miss a breakfast at which he was to collect several checks from sponsors, was feeling a lot better on stage Friday night during the formal awards ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
Stewart is a lifelong racer, a driver who ranks making money below winning races, winning championships and just driving the car.
When told he has now earned $48.4 million in his Cup career, Stewart rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I'm not going to give the checks back," he said, grinning. "But we didn't start racing because we thought we'd be collecting a big check at the end of the season. We did it for the thrill of winning races and, at the time I started racing, wanting my trophy to be bigger than the next guy's trophy."
The other nine drivers in the second Chase for the championship also were given big checks Friday night, along with 11th-place finisher Gordon and rookie of the year Kyle Busch.
Runner-up Greg Biffle got a points fund check for $2,624,124, while 10th-place Kurt Busch, the 2004 champion, received $1,151,543. Four-time champion Gordon, who didn't attend the ceremony, got $1,075,386, including a $250,000 bonus for finishing 11th.
NATION
Raiders put Walkeron injured reserve
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders put left guard Langston Walker on injured reserve Friday night and signed defensive tackle Anttaj Hawthorne from the practice squad to fill the roster spot.
Walker, a fourth-year pro from California, underwent emergency surgery Oct. 25 to repair an internal hemorrhage sustained during a game against Buffalo two days earlier. He lost nearly a gallon of blood, then lost a significant amount of weight while recovering from the abdominal surgery.
Hawthorne, a rookie from Wisconsin, was a sixth-round pick.
The Raiders visit the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.
Vindicator staff/wire reports