LOCAL

LOCAL
Sebring seeksfootball coaches
SEBRING -- The Sebring High athletic department is accepting applications for head football coach, along with applications for four assistant football coaching positions. Send resumes to athletic director Dick Murray or call 330-938-2963, ext. 2505. Deadline is Jan. 23.
region
OSU's Youbotyto enter draft
COLUMBUS -- Ohio State cornerback Ashton Youboty will pass up his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
Youboty, 21, was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and has been projected as going anywhere from the late first round to the third round.
Coach Jim Tressel said he thought Youboty felt a kinship with the seniors on the Buckeyes' stellar defense.
"I just hope he gains the draft status he is capable of gaining," Tressel said.
Youboty is the second junior from the Fiesta Bowl-winning squad to declare for the draft. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes, a likely first-round choice, said after the Jan. 2 bowl that he would enter the draft.
Safety Donte Whitner is widely expected to be the team's third junior to declare.
NATION
Women's grouptargets Paterno
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- A leader of a women's rights group has asked Joe Paterno to resign over comments the Penn State football coach made about an alleged sexual assault.
Joanne Tosti-Vasey, president of the National Organization for Women in Pennsylvania, said Sunday that she was "appalled" by Paterno's comments last week and that they represent an institutional insensitivity that endangers women.
Paterno's remarks came a day before the Orange Bowl, when a reporter asked about Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson, who was accused of sexual assault and sent home before Tuesday's game.
Paterno replied by talking about past suspensions of Penn State players. He then added: "There's some tough -- there's so many people gravitating to these kids. He may not have even known what he was getting into, Nicholson. They knock on the door; somebody may knock on the door; a cute girl knocks on the door. What do you do?"
"Geez. I hope -- thank God they don't knock on my door because I'd refer them to a couple of other rooms," Paterno continued. "But that's too bad. You hate to see that. I really do. You like to see a kid end up his football career. He's a heck of a football player, by the way; he's a really good football player. And it's just too bad."
Tosti-Vasey issued a news release calling for Paterno to apologize and step down from the post he has held for 40 years. She sent an e-mail to Paterno and the university president the next day, but said Sunday she has not heard back from either.
"Allegations of sexual assault should never be taken lightly," the statement reads. "Making light of sexual assault sends the message that rape is something to be expected and accepted."
Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said Sunday that Paterno's comments were taken out of context. A spokeswoman at the NOW headquarters in Washington said the organization's president, Kim Gandy, supports the call for Paterno's resignation.
San Diego's Cameroninterviews with Texans
HOUSTON -- San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said coach Marty Schottenheimer encouraged him to interview with the Houston Texans because of the respect he has for team owner Bob McNair.
"Marty Schottenheimer said, 'Cam, when it comes to winning in the National Football League it comes down to three things: the owner, the owner and the owner. There's an owner that you need to go talk to,"' Cameron said Sunday. "And that's why I'm here."
Cameron is the fourth offensive coordinator to interview for the job left vacant when Dom Capers was fired.
Weaver, Dodgersface deadline
NEW YORK -- Jeff Weaver faced a Sunday deadline to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who would lose the right to sign him until May unless they reached an agreement before midnight EST.
Weaver's agent, Scott Boras, said Friday night that he was still talking with the Dodgers about Weaver, who went 14-11 with a 4.22 ERA last season. Also facing the deadline were infielder Alex Gonzalez and Tampa Bay, second baseman Rich Aurilia and Cincinnati and pitcher Pedro Astacio and San Diego.
First baseman Eduardo Perez, the fifth remaining unsigned free agent among the 26 offered salary arbitration on Dec. 7, has been working on finalizing a contract with Cleveland and has not been talking to the Devil Rays, his former club.
Michigan backupset to transfer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan's No. 2 quarterback, Matt Gutierrez, says he is leaving the Wolverines and will play for Idaho State in the fall.
Gutierrez, who has one year of college eligibility remaining, declined to say whether he was promised the starting job for the Division I-AA Bengals but said he was certain he would never supplant Chad Henne as Michigan's top quarterback.
Vindicator staff/wire reports