Charges against ex-coach shake Penn State campus

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

The Penn State board met in executive session Sunday following the weekend announcement that criminal charges were filed against former retired defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, accusing him of sexually abusing young boys.

Two top university officials — Gary C. Schultz, the university’s senior vice president for finance and business, and Penn State athletic director Tim Curley — also were charged in the case, announced Saturday.

Sandusky is accused of sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years. Schultz and Curley were both charged with failing to report to state and county officials that a witness told them he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a naked boy in the showers of a team practice facility. They also face a perjury charge.

Lawyers for all three men said they are innocent.

Missouri joins SEC

COLUMBIA, Mo.

Bye-bye Big 12, hello SEC.

After weeks of private flirtations and the college sports’ equivalent of prenuptial negotiations with their respective lawyers, Missouri and the Southeastern Conference took their mutual attraction public Sunday

First the SEC released a statement welcoming Missouri as its newest member. Later there was a campus pep rally in Columbia, replete with a new SEC banner, the school’s marching band and exploding confetti.

Missouri will join the league effective July 1, 2012 by unanimous agreement of the SEC’s presidents and chancellors.

Missouri will be leaving the Big 12, a conference it has been a part of since 1907, including its days as the Big Eight and earlier incarnations such as the Big Six.

The school could also face the end of annual athletic contests with neighboring Big 12 survivor Kansas, a rivalry with roots in the Civil War. The teams first met on the football field in 1891, the sport’s oldest traditional matchup west of the Mississippi River. Their college basketball battles also began in the 19th century.

BIG TEN

With just three weeks left in the season, the Big Ten’s first divisional races are shaping up to be real dogfights.

In the Legends, Michigan State (4-1) holds a one-game edge over Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa, all at 3-2. Northwestern is 2-4 and Minnesota 1-4.

In the Leaders, Penn State remains in command at 5-0. Wisconsin and Ohio State are each 3-2, with Purdue and Illinois at 2-3 apiece and Indiana at 0-6.

Saturday’s games feature Michigan State at Iowa, Michigan at Illinois, Nebraska at Penn State, along with Ohio State at Purdue (noon) and Wisconsin at Minnesota. Northwestern also hosts Rice.