O’Brien, Nittany Lions eye future, sanctions

O’Brien, Nittany Lions eye future, sanctions

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

As training camp nears, as well as his second season on the sidelines, coach Bill O’Brien believes Penn State is headed in the right direction amid NCAA-imposed sanctions. O’Brien addressed the media on Friday, joined by Penn State athletic director Dave Joyner, on a conference call to discuss the Nittany Lions’ first-ever international game — in Dublin, Ireland — on Aug. 30, 2014, against Central Florida.

But the tenor of the call quickly turned toward the bigger picture, as O’Brien continues to navigate through tough waters. Penn State faces four years of scholarship reductions and no postseason bowls because of the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal.

“I understand exactly why the sanctions are in place,” O’Brien said. “It’s about putting an end to child abuse and I get that.

“I’ve been asked many, many questions over the last 19 months about the sanctions,” he said. “I think we’re pulling in the same direction. I just try to make sure people know what is best for the Penn State football program.”

NHL stars to return to Olympics in 2014

NEW YORK

After weeks of tough negotiations, the NHL and its players reached a deal with the International Ice Hockey Federation on Friday to put the season on hold again so the game’s biggest stars can compete next year in the Sochi Olympics.

“Our outstanding athletes take tremendous pride in representing their homelands on the global stage,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a joint announcement with the players’ association. “The decision to participate in the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi was in many ways a difficult one, but one that we know will be well received by our players and, most importantly, by the vast majority of our fans and sports fans everywhere.”

NHL players first went to the Olympics for the 1998 Nagano Games. Now they will be available to the 12 national teams that will comprise the hockey tournament from Feb. 12-23. More than 120 NHL players are expected to compete in Sochi while the league takes a break for 21/2 weeks from Feb. 9-26.

NHL releases schedule with new alignment

NEW YORK

Shortly after the NHL said Friday it would send its players to the Olympics for the fifth straight time, it announced its 1,230-game regular-season slate. The season will be put on hold for 21/2 weeks in February to accommodate the 2014 Games in Russia. Opening night is Oct. 1 and the regular season concludes April 13, with the playoffs beginning three days later.

The league’s four new divisions will be called Metropolitan and Atlantic in the Eastern Conference, and Central and Pacific in the West. The Western Conference has two seven-team divisions, while the Eastern Conference has two eight-team groupings.

The annual Winter Classic, to be played on New Year’s Day at Michigan Stadium between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings, won’t be alone in the great outdoors. Southern California rivals Anaheim and Los Angeles face off in Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25; the Rangers will take on their local rivals, the Devils (Jan. 26) and Islanders (Jan. 29), in a pair of games at Yankee Stadium three days apart; the Penguins and Blackhawks at Soldier Field on March 1 at night and the annual Heritage Classic will be in Vancouver on March 2 when the Canucks host the Ottawa Senators.

US tweaks roster for Gold Cup quarterfinal

MIAMI

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has adjusted his roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals. Defenders Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler and forwards Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson have been added to the team. Oguchi Onyewu, Herculez Gomez, Jack McInerney and Corey Ashe were removed from the roster.

The U.S. will play El Salvador in Baltimore on Sunday. The knockout rounds begin in Atlanta today, with Panama taking on Cuba, and Mexico facing Trinidad and Tobago. Honduras and Costa Rica also play on Sunday in Baltimore.

Associated Press