Indiana to offer multi-year scholarships

June 28, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.

Indiana is going to begin guaranteeing multi-year scholarships to athletes and will agree not to reduce the amount of money students on partial scholarship receive year to year based on illness, injury or ability.

Athletic director Fred Glass told The Indianapolis Star in a story Friday that the school immediately will begin implementing a 10-point student-athlete bill of rights. It will include significant financial support to former athletes who wish to return to finish their degrees and increased health care commitments.

Earlier this week, the Big Ten said it supports guaranteed four-year scholarships and improved medical coverage for its athletes. In 2012, NCAA members voted to allow Division I schools to offer scholarships guaranteed for more than one year.

2 Syracuse football recruits don’t qualify

SYRACUSE, N.Y.

Wide receiver K.J. Williams and defensive back Treevon Prater have failed to qualify academically and will not enroll at Syracuse in the fall, according to head coach Scott Shafer.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Williams, who played at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, last year, was considered one of the Orange’s top recruits. He received a four-star rating by Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports.

Prater, a 6-foot, 178-pound defensive back from East St. Louis (Illinois) High School, was a three-star athlete there but was listed by recruiting sites as an athlete because he had played very little organized football.

Shafer said both players were deciding whether to go to junior college or prep school.

US-Germany daytime ratings shine for ESPN

The United States’ 1-0 loss to Germany was the second-highest rated men’s World Cup match on ESPN’s networks despite the noon EDT kickoff.

The game received a 6.7 rating on ESPN and was seen by 10.77 million viewers, ESPN said Friday. Viewers peaked at 12.06 million during the final half hour.

With the early start for Thursday’s game against Germany, the match was seen by a record 1.05 million on the WatchESPN app.

The game trailed only last weekend’s 2-2 tie between the U.S. and Portugal, which received a 9.6 rating and was seen by 18.22 million viewers on ESPN and 24.7 million overall, including Spanish-language coverage on Univision.

Record rating for NBA draft on ESPN

The NBA draft delivered its highest rating on ESPN, surpassing the mark set 11 years ago when LeBron James was the No. 1 pick. The telecast Thursday night had a 2.3 rating, according to Nielsen.

NBA Digital also said Friday it showed record growth in the U.S., with a 108 percent jump in mobile application unique users for the week. It also saw a 46 percent increase in visits and a 32 percent leap in page views on draft night from last year.

Ducks acquire C Ryan Kesler from Vancouver

The Anaheim Ducks have acquired center Ryan Kesler from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade for center Nick Bonino, defenseman Luca Sbisa and the 24th overall pick in Friday’s draft.

The 29-year-old Kesler is a standout two-way center who has spent his entire 10-season career in Vancouver, compiling six 20-goal seasons and 392 career points. The two-time U.S. Olympian won the Selke Trophy in 2011 as the NHL’s best defensive forward.

Local mini golf event to benefit Autism Society

Thanks to the support of John Kufleitner’s Salem & Columbiana Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram and Creekside Golf Dome, the Autism Society of Ohio will hold a very special miniature golf event on Friday, July 11.

The event is open to players of all ages and abilities. Tournament play will be from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Entry fee is $80 ($70 before July 4) per team, and individuals also may enter the tournament as a single for $20.

Staff/Wire reports