SPORTS digest

YSU football team to scrimmage

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State’s football team is holding its first scrimmage of fall camp today at 10 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. After the scrimmage, the team will host its “Meet the Penguins” event starting at 2 p.m.

The event is free and parking in the M-72 and M-71 lots by the YSU softball complex is also free.

Curbstone Coaches sets luncheon schedule

Beaver Township

The Curbstone Coaches will kick off their new luncheon season beginning Sept. 9 and it will run every Monday at noon through May 18. They will not have a meeting on Dec. 30.

The luncheons are at noon at the Avion Banquet Center located at 2177 Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township. The luncheons are always open to the public. There is a buffet luncheon followed by a sports related speaker.

Also, applications are being accepted for nominations for the 2020 Hall of Fame Class that will be inducted on May 3. For an application to nominate please call 330-506-6774.

The application deadline is Nov. 16.

Football HOF to expand in 2020

CANTON

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will expand the number of potential inductees to 20 in 2020 as part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th season.

Calling it a centennial class, hall president David Baker said Friday five modern-day players, 10 seniors, three contributors and two coaches could be elected next year. The modern-day group would be decided by the 48 selection committee voters, as always, on the day before the Super Bowl in February.

The other 15 would be voted on as one bloc, not individually, by the selection committee. They would be chosen by a 25-member committee that will include Hall of Famers, historians and current voters.

Part of the 2020 class would be inducted in early August. The others would be enshrined about Sept. 21, 2020, the date that marks 100 years from the original NFL game.

Messi suspended for corruption comments

ASUNCION, Paraguay

Soccer body CONMEBOL has suspended Lionel Messi from international matches with Argentina for three months because of accusations of corruption he made at the latest Copa America.

The South American body also said Friday that it fined the superstar in $50,000 for his comments after Argentina’s 2-1 win against Chile in the third-place playoff of the tournament in July.

Messi and Argentina can still appeal the decision, which stops the striker from playing in four friendlies this year.

The 32-year-old will not play Argentina matches in September against Chile and Mexico, plus another two in October versus Germany and another adversary to be picked.

Messi is already suspended from the first match of the South American World Cup qualifiers next March because of the red card he received against Chile.

Bundesliga team retires goat mascot

COLOGNE, Germany

Long live Hennes the Eighth.

Cologne’s popular club mascot, a 12-year-old goat, is stepping down after an 11-year reign due to health reasons.

Hennes, an ever-present at the team’s games who had overseen two relegations, two promotions and a first European campaign in 25 years, has age-related osteoarthritis and will see out his remaining days at the local zoo.

Hennes is to be given an official farewell at Cologne’s season opening on Sunday, when his successor will be presented in front of thousands of fans.

Cologne has had its famous mascot since 1950, when it was gifted a former circus goat and named it after coach Hennes Weisweiler.

Staff/wire report