Northwest Notes: Dec. 22, 2013
Diamond Cup highlights scheduled for today on TV
Highlights from the Diamond Cup unlimited hydroplane races on Lake Coeur d'Alene over Labor Day weekend are scheduled to be shown today at 10 a.m. on the CBS Sports Network.
The network is available on Time Warner Cable channel 251, Dish Network channel 158 and DirecTV channel 221.
Utah hires former Wyoming coach as OC, demotes Erickson
From wire reports
Utah hired former Wyoming coach Dave Christensen as offensive coordinator and demoted Dennis Erickson to running backs coach.
Erickson and Brian Johnson were co-offensive coordinators last season but the Utes had another disappointing season on that side of the ball. Utah ranked 76th in the country in total offense (397 yards per game), though injuries that limited quarterback Travis Wilson were a factor.
Johnson will continue to be quarterbacks coach. The 66-year-old Erickson, who has been head coach at Idaho, Washington State, Miami, Oregon State and Arizona State, worked with the running backs last season.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported Erickson had not heard the news of his demotion until reached for comment by a reporter from the paper.
Christensen was fired by Wyoming on Dec. 1. He went 27-35 in Laramie, Wyo., though the Cowboys often had productive offenses. This season they ranked 22nd in the nation in total offense (472.7 yards per game).
Boise State sends home Southwick from bowl game
HONOLULU (AP) - Boise State sent home quarterback Joe Southwick from the Hawaii Bowl on Friday and reinstated backup Nick Patti.
After the two quarterbacks were suspended from practice Friday for violating team rules, Broncos interim head coach Bob Gregory said that Southwick was sent home for his violation and that Patti was reinstated for practice and the Hawaii Bowl on Tuesday against Oregon State. Boise State declined to comment further.
Southwick returned to action Nov. 30 against New Mexico in the regular-season finale after breaking his right ankle Oct. 19. Patti has appeared in six games, completing 8 of 11 passes for 63 yards.
Grant Hedrick is expected to start against Oregon State. In 12 games this season, he completed 135 of 198 passes for 1,443 yards and 15 touchdowns.
ESPN acquires rights to Arena Football starting in '14
CHICAGO - ESPN and the Arena Football League have agreed to a multi-year agreement beginning in 2014.
The new deal grants ESPN rights to more than 10 regular season and postseason games on its television networks per year, including ArenaBowl and one conference championship game, as well as 75 or more games annually on the Internet on ESPN3, ESPN's live multi-screen sports network. ESPN's video player will also be available on the AFL website, ArenaFootball.com.
The relationship between the AFL and ESPN began more than two decades ago when ESPN televised the very first ArenaBowl live in 1987. Since then, ESPN televised a combination of AFL regular season and playoff games for five years (1995-99), AFL playoff games from 2000-02 and both regular season and playoff games from 2007-08. Additionally, ABC presented the ArenaBowl for five years from 1998-2002.
Fans who receive their internet or video subscriptions from an affiliated provider will have access to ESPN3 online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members, Apple TV and Roku. The complete schedule of 2014 games will be announced at a later date.
Ten Vandals named to all-independent team
Two Idaho Vandals were first-team choices, seven were second-team honorees, and one was on the third team of CollegeSportsMadness.com's All-Independent Team.
Defensive end Maxx Forde (Woodinville, Wash.) and punter Austin Rehkow (Spokane) are first-team selections, while receiver Dezmon Epps (Sacramento, Calif.), tight end Mike LaGrone (Reno, Nev.), center Mike Marboe (Wenatchee, Wash.), running back James Baker (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), defensive tackle QuayShawne Buckley (Ontario, Calif.), linebacker Marc Millan (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and defensive back Jayshawn Jordan (Seattle, Wash.) are on the second team. Safety Trey Williams (Itta Bena, Miss.) is on the third team.
Rehkow has also been named to the Walter Camp All-American Team and the Sporting News All-Freshman Team, a second team All-American by SB Nation, a third-team All-American by the Associated Press and an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated.
Rehkow was also chosen the FBS Independent Special Teams Player of the Year by a nationwide media panel, which also chose the FBS Independent Players of the Week throughout the season.
Signups underway for men's 4-person volleyball
POST FALLS - The Post Falls Recreation Department is accepting teams for its men's 4-person adult volleyball league. Registration forms are due into the rec department office by Jan. 10. League play will begin on Jan. 19.
Information: Visit the rec department office at Post Falls City Hall located at 408 Spokane Street in Post Falls, or call 773-0539 for more information.