Gabriel earns academic honor at Tennessee

October 3, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

Poland High School graduate Erin Gabriel is one of seven University of Tennessee softball players named to the NCAA Division I All-America Scholar Athletes. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association makes the selections.

Players must have a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher. The other Volunteers are Ellen Renfroe, Madison Shipman, Jennifer Burroughs, Hannah McDonald, Hannah Devotie and Megan Geer.

Tennessee boasted a 3.11 team GPA for the 2013-14 academic year and was recognized as a 2013-14 NFCA NCAA Division I All-Academic Team.

YSU men’s basketball Tip-Off Banquet slated

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State men’s basketball program is hosting its third annual Tip-Off Banquet, Nov. 2 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Hall.

YSU President Jim Tressel will give opening remarks, and doors will open at 2 p.m. with a buffett at 3 and the program starting at 4.

The event also includes a preview video, raffle and silent auction. Individual tickets cost $30, a table of eight is $240 and $15 for to sponsor a player.

For more information, contact Director of Men’s Basketball Operations Kevin Bruinsma at 330-941-3712 or by fax at 330-941-1534. RSVPs are due by Oct. 28.

NFL draft headed to Chicago in 2015

NEW YORK

The 2015 NFL draft will be held in Chicago, the league announced Thursday. Hours after the Bears posted an announcement on their Twitter account, the NFL confirmed the draft will move to Chicago on April 30-May 2. It will be held at Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. The draft was held in Chicago in 1938, 1942-44, 1951, and 1962-64.

Moving the draft out of New York, where it has been held for decades, was likely once the league began taking bids for the event. Los Angeles and Chicago were the finalists for next year’s event. The NFL soured on Radio City Music Hall after it was forced to move the draft back two weeks into May this year. But under Commissioner Roger Goodell, the league also has considered moving around the draft for a while.

Refs union knocks NFL inconsistency on calls

NEW YORK

The union representing NFL on-field officials criticized the league Thursday for inconsistencies in grading calls, including two high-profile penalties from recent games. In a release, the NFL Referees’ Association says the NFL has “caused confusion for NFL officials as to what the league does and doesn’t want called.”

The union referred to penalties on Washington’s Chris Baker for a hit on Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sept. 21, and to Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah last Monday night for going to his knees to celebrate an interception return for a touchdown. Abdullah actually had gone to his knees to pray — an act exempted from celebration penalties.

The union says both calls were graded as correct even after NFL executives announced that they were incorrect. Baker got a 15-yard penalty and was ejected from the game at Philadelphia. Abdullah also received a 15-yard penalty.

Eagles RB McCoy baffled by his struggles

PHILADELPHIA

LeSean McCoy has no excuses for his poor start. While coach Chip Kelly insists injuries on the offensive line are the reason why the Philadelphia Eagles have struggled to run the ball effectively, the All-Pro running back points to himself. “I’m just not getting it done,” McCoy said. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

McCoy led the NFL with a franchise-record 1,607 yards rushing last year, helping the Eagles win the NFC East title. He set 2,000 yards as his goal this season. At this rate, 1,000 yards will be tough. McCoy had 192 yards and averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in the first month.

Staff reports/Associated Press