SPORTS DIGEST || Phantoms down USHL’s top team

Phantoms down USHL’s top team

CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

Cam Morrison and Noah Lalonde scored goals on Friday as the Youngstown Phantoms defeated the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, 2-1.

The victory lifts the Phantoms (19-11-3-5, 46 points) into a third-place tie with Dubuque in the Eastern Conference standings and moves them to within five points of first-place Cedar rapids (24-10-2-1, 51 points).

Goaltender Ryan Bednard made 26 saves as the Phantoms won for the sixth time in their past seven games.

Morrison’s first-period goal was set up by Kri Myllari. Lalonde’s goal snapped a 1-1 tie in the third period and was set up by Tommy Apap.

The Phantoms and RoughRiders play again tonight and will meet at the Covelli Centre on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21.

Ole Miss aware of NCAA allegations

Mississippi has been notified by the NCAA of rules violations involving the football, women’s basketball and track and field programs.

Some of the allegations regarding the football program date back to previous coach Houston Nutt, but others involve current coach Hugh Freeze’s tenure, a person familiar with the investigation told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. The person said the Ole Miss football program has already taken some steps — like reducing recruiting official visits — to try to mitigate any punishment from the NCAA.

Yahoo! Sports first reported that Ole Miss was aware of the Notice of Allegations.

The announcement was not unexpected but comes at a bad time for the football program, which is trying to lock down one of the nation’s most highly regarded recruiting classes before national signing day on Wednesday.

Utah coach signed through 2020

SALT LAKE CITY

Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham has received a two-year year extension to keep him with the university through 2020. Athletic director Chris Hill announced the deal late Friday afternoon.

The contract pays $3.3 million per year.

Whittingham has led the Utah program since 2005 and has a 95-46 record. The Utes finished 10-3 in 2015 for their best finish since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. They started 6-0 and were ranked No. 3 in the country at one point.

The timing of the deal could be beneficial on National Signing Day on Feb. 3. There were talks in the fall that Whittingham could be a candidate for the USC job. The signing gives some assurance to potential recruits that Whittingham will be at Utah through an incoming freshman’s senior year.

Brian Kelly signed for six more seasons

SOUTH BEND, IND.

Brian Kelly has agreed to a six-year contract to stay on as coach at Notre Dame through the 2021 season.

The deal announced Friday by athletic director Jack Swarbrick would make the 54-year-old Kelly, who has been at the school six seasons, the second-longest serving Irish coach in history. Knute Rockne coached 13 seasons from 1918-1930 before he died in a plane crash in Kansas at age 43.

Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian and Lou Holtz all coached the Irish 11 seasons.

Swarbrick, who hired Kelly after firing Charlie Weis following the 2009 season, said he is excited about the future of the program under Kelly.

“In the classroom, in the community and on the playing field, Brian has built the foundation of a great Notre Dame football program — one that reflects this university’s values and its unique relationship to the game of football,” Swarbrick said.

Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The announcement comes five days before signing day, with Kelly on the road recruiting.

Staff/wire report