Sports

Colts get passing grades on tough opening

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL schedule-makers sent Indianapolis an early message. Play well in the opening month, and it could lead to a better finish. Four weeks into the season, the Colts have done their part. They are 3-1 and hold a distinct advantage in the AFC South after wins at Tennessee and Jacksonville. But the players understand there's still more to do. "I don't really know what we've done yet," quarterback Peyton Manning said. "We're 3-1, but that means absolutely nothing now." Manning, last year's co-MVP, called the opening obstacle course the most challenging start of his seven-year NFL career.

Former teammates predict Williams retirement will last

DAVIE, Fla. -- With running back Ricky Williams ready to reverse directions and come out of retirement, his former Miami Dolphins' teammates were mixed in their reaction Wednesday. Defensive end David Bowens said he would like to see Williams rejoin the Dolphins, in part because they're 0-4. But Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas said he doubted that help from Williams is on the way. "He will not be playing for the Dolphins," Thomas predicted. "He's got too many things with the fans and too much with the media, and that's the reason he ran from it in the first place. He wouldn't come back here." Thomas might be right. Gary Ostrow, an attorney who has represented Williams, said the 2002 NFL rushing champion hopes to receive clearance from the league to play again before the Oct. 19 trade deadline so he can be dealt by Miami.

Working toward total net results

At about 7 a.m., sophomore Liz Davis wakes up and gets prepared for the day ahead of her. After getting dressed, brushing her teeth and all of the other morning rituals, Davis departs for her 8 a.m. class. Normally, she would have classes until noon and then wait until soccer practice later that afternoon. But instead, Davis now makes a detour to receive treatment for a stress fracture she developed during the preseason. Because of injury, Davis has decided to redshirt her sophomore season at IU. Davis already has experience on the field after playing in 12 games in 2003 and was looking forward to this year's competition. After being named the 2002 Indiana Girls High School Soccer Player of the Year while starting four years on North Central's varsity team, she arrived at IU with high goals -- on and off of the field.

Phelps leads USA into World Swimming Championships

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Phelps wants his shoulders to hurt. He's ready to put the weight of American swimming on his back, and carry it into the spotlight as a mainstream sport. "I want to be able to change the sport of swimming, in and out of the pool," Phelps said. After taking home eight medals -- six gold and two bronze -- in Athens, Greece last month, this weekend will be his chance to bring attention to American swimming.

Kentucky packs defense versus IU

When the Hoosier men's soccer team went to Lexington Wednesday night, the Wildcats played for a shutout and that's what they got. The University of Kentucky packed all but one player into the defense at times versus the Hoosiers, leading to an eventual 0-0 score after double overtime. IU was still able to muster up 15 shots, many of which were from 20 yards out. "Soccer is a hard enough game to score in," head coach Mike Freitag said. "But when a team packs in with nine players it's even more difficult. That was not a good game for college soccer." The Hoosiers were able to hold possession for much of the match, but the six defenders played by Kentucky were just too much for the two forward offense of IU.

Team's cohesiveness leads to victories, fun

In the world of intramural sports students participate for the fun, camaraderie and competition that the games bring. For juniors Janelle Kenzor, Jaimie Hewitt, Kate Ebert and Megan Adams, life without intramural sports would not be as much fun.

First rowing clinic nets 36 women for team

Carmen Mirochna and Fran O'Rourke decided to join the IU rowing team's coaching staff this year for several reasons, but the main attraction was the man who would be their boss. IU rowing head coach Steve Peterson is so willing to look at new ways of doing things in the country's oldest intercollegiate sport that the two assistants did not want to pass up the opportunity to work with him.

IU hopes to snap non-conference losing skid versus Wildcats

Ranked No. 3 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, the IU men's soccer team takes its 7-2-0 overall record to Lexington, Ky., tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT, to face unranked Kentucky. The game marks the first non-conference game for the Hoosiers in 17 days.

Twins open series with shutout

NEW YORK -- Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins' dazzling defense had the New York Yankees seeing double. Santana and the Twins escaped trouble with the help of a record-setting five double plays, Jacque Jones homered in his first start since the death of his father, and the Twins beat the Yankees 2-0 Tuesday night to win their eighth straight opener in a postseason series. Minnesota's Soul Patrol outfield twice denied the Yankees with jumping catches -- left fielder Shannon Stewart saved one run and possibly two on Ruben Sierra's shot in the second, and center fielder Torii Hunter pulled in an eighth-inning drive by Alex Rodriguez at the top of the wall.

Dealin' em: Euchre begins another season

There are many different aspects that can define a Hoosier. Car racing, basketball, corn -- they all represent Indiana in a special way. The card game Euchre is another that sets a Hoosier apart from a resident of any other state.

Postseason returns with October mystique

Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez are revved up. Roger Clemens and Roy Oswalt are rarin' to go. Baseball fans are ready, too.

Patriots win 18th straight; Colts 'Edge' Jacksonville

Patriots 31, bills 17 ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With Tom Brady at quarterback and a stingy, opportunistic defense, it's difficult to imagine when the New England Patriots might lose again.

Around The Game

Women's cross country places 8th The IU Women's cross country team took an eighth place finish Friday in the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C.

Happy Valley rewards

The IU men's soccer team took its 47-game conference unbeaten streak into University Park this weekend to face Penn State, a team that hadn't lost in a nation's best 12 games. In the end, it was IU's streak that was extended to 48.

Wisconsin halts IU's momentum

Anyone who watched the IU women's soccer game Sunday left with a sense of déjà vu in their 5-2 loss to the University of Wisconsin. The Hoosiers said they learned their lesson against Oakland, but the Hoosiers' intensity between the first and second halves was like night and day again.

Three more Hoosiers enter Hall of Fame

Three more murals were added to 129 that already stand watch over the north and south entrances to Assembly Hall. The murals rarely receive more than a glance from the thousands of students who pour into Assembly Hall each winter -- despite the presence of the three words that carry the most weight when it comes to individual achievement in sports -- "Hall of Fame."

on the SIDELINES

Houston wins wild race for final National League playoff berth

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros charged into the playoffs with their 18th consecutive home victory, capping an incredible turnaround by beating Colorado 5-3 Sunday to win the NL wild card.

Defense's inability to prevent big plays plague team

It was the same song, different day for the Hoosiers. The Michigan Wolverines put away an IU team in the second half of Saturday's contest, 35-14. After threatening from the red zone three times and keeping the game within a touchdown in the first half, Michigan went on a 21-7 rout in the latter half to secure the 35-14 win.

WOLVERINED

Plays come in all ranges and sizes, from small plays that net a few yards to medium plays that keep the team on the field. But Saturday, it was Michigan's "big plays" that resulted in the Hoosiers losing their third straight game, 35-14.