WASHINGTON (AP) - An online coupon company based in Washington has agreed to foot the bill for keeping the Metro subway system open late during the Washington Nationals' playoff run.
Metro announced Thursday that LivingSocial will put down the $29,500 deposit to keep the trains running for an extra hour. Metro closes at midnight, but playoff games can run later.
Last month, some fans were stranded at Nationals Park after a 13-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. That led District of Columbia officials to pledge that they'd find a way to keep Metro open late during the playoffs.
LivingSocial will be reimbursed for part or all of its deposit based on how many people use Metro during the extended hours.
The Nationals lead the National League East and have clinched a playoff berth.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Virginia heads into its last non-conference game in desperate need of improving its minus-seven turnover margin.
The Cavaliers have given the ball away 10 times, and taken it just three. If they aren't careful Saturday against Louisiana Tech, their margin could get a lot worse.
The Bulldogs (3-0) rank sixth in the country with a plus-six turnover margin. That's a significant advantage for any team, but especially one ranked third nationally in scoring at 54.7 points per game.
Coach Mike London says "taking care of the ball is absolutely a necessity" for Virginia (2-2) this week.
Scoring and turnovers are not the only strengths for Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs also have won 11 consecutive regular season games dating to last season, and seven in a row on the road.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Phil Housley never thought he'd see kids playing hockey in non-traditional American cities when he was whirling around a rink as a teenager in his home state of Minnesota. He's certain now the game hasn't reached its peak in his native country.
When Housley was drafted out of high school by the Buffalo Sabres in 1982 (No. 6 overall), the NHL was dominated by Canadian-born players. More than 30 years later, the game has gone global, with the United States now supplying close to 25 percent of the league's player pool.
"I have to credit the 1980 Olympic team," Housley said of the surge in Americans playing hockey. "That team opened the door for not only me but for many other Americans. Now, we've gotten first overall picks, and we have way more depth when it comes to the World Championships at the end of the year for the players that don't make the (NHL) playoffs. That's unlike the early 80's, when it was like, 'Well, who are we gonna get?"'
Housley and Rob McClanahan, a member of that 1980 USA team that upset the Soviet Union en route to an improbable gold medal, will be behind the bench when 40 of the top American prospects eligible for the 2013 NHL draft meet in the inaugural USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Saturday in Buffalo.
Now, if they can only get the lockout situation figured out. While these prospects dwelled in Buffalo on Thursday, the league announced the cancellation of the entire preseason schedule.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Washington Redskins left tackle Trent Williams remains unable to practice because of a knee injury.
Williams remained sidelined again Thursday because of a bone bruise in his right knee. He was hurt during Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Coach Mike Shanahan did not rule out Williams for this week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jordan Black will start if Williams can't play.
Nickel cornerback Cedric Griffin also did not practice because of his hamstring injury.
Receiver Pierre Garcon was limited because of an injured right foot. Also limited were safety Brandon Meriweather and running back Evan Royster, each with a sprained knee.
<VIDEO> The NFL and the referees' union have reached a tentative contract agreement, ending an impasse that began in June when the league locked out the officials and used replacements instead.
<VIDEO> Seattle is hoping to attract professional basketball and hockey, after the City Council approved a new arena. The NBA Seattle Supersonics left the city in 2008.
SEATTLE (AP) - The Baltimore Orioles are throwing 19-year-old pitching prospect Dylan Bundy into the middle of a pennant race.
Baltimore recalled Bundy from Double-A Bowie on Wednesday. The right-hander will provide depth in the bullpen for the Orioles, who played an 18-inning game against the Mariners on Tuesday night and have an upcoming doubleheader against Toronto on Monday.
Bundy has not yet played in the majors and will be the first Oriole to debut before his 20th birthday since right-hander Mike Adamson in 1967.
Bundy was selected fourth overall in the 2011 draft. He was a combined 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA with three minor league affiliates this season, including 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in three starts at Bowie.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Olympic bronze medalist Lana Gehring, U.S. teammate Jessica Smith and seven other skaters say abuse allegations against their speedskating coach are "baseless" and a "false attack on his character."
Gehring and Smith issued a statement Tuesday saying they don't believe allegations leveled against short track coach Jae Su Chun or assistant Jun Hyung Yeo. Both say they never have seen the behavior described in a complaint to the U.S. Olympic Committee.
They acknowledge Chun pushes hard but say he cares deeply about his skaters. Gehring and Smith say they have faith Chun would take them to the top of the podium in Sochi in 2014.
U.S. Speedskating announced Monday that Chun was being placed on administrative leave and Yeo in charge while an independent law firm investigates.
LONDON (AP) - The first round of the 2013 Davis Cup could feature a matchup between Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych, the man who beat him in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open two weeks ago.
Switzerland was paired against the Czech Republic in Wednesday's draw for the opening round of the World Group, setting up a potential match between two of the top players in the game.
Top-ranked Federer has a career 11-5 record against Berdych, but the No. 6 Czech defeated him in four sets at the U.S. Open. Berdych also beat Federer in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2010 and at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Switzerland will be at home for the Feb. 1-3 series. Federer does not always play in the early rounds of the Davis Cup.
ATLANTA (AP) - Rory McIlroy is No. 1 in the world, and Jim Furyk says that makes him a marked man at the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy has won three of his last four tournaments, starting with an eight-shot win at the PGA Championship, and he is the favorite this week at the Tour Championship. The Ryder Cup is next week at Medinah, and while McIlroy is one of 12 players on the European team, Furyk says he will get all the attention.
He said the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland is a "present day Tiger Woods," and that everyone wants to see McIlroy and Woods in Sunday singles.
Furyk says McIlroy is the best player in the world and he is going to be the toughest to beat.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - A new NCAA task force will come up with guidelines for how to distribute the record $60 million fine that Penn State has agreed to pay in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
The money will fund programs designed to combat child sexual abuse and help victims around the country.
The 10-member task force was announced Tuesday. The group will set policy and hire a third-party administrator who will choose which nonprofit groups receive the money each year.
One prominent Pennsylvania politician, House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody, wants the NCAA keep all of the funds in state.
The NCAA imposed tough sanctions on Penn State over its handling of sex-abuse allegations against Sandusky, a retired assistant football coach convicted of abusing 10 boys over 15 years.
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) - Washington Redskins two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Orakpo and defensive end Adam Carriker are out for the season with injuries.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that Orakpo suffered another tear of the pectoral muscle near his left shoulder in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the St. Louis Rams.
Orakpo had surgery on the same shoulder after a suffering similar injury in the final game of last season.
Carriker tore the quad tendon at the base of his right knee in the first quarter of Sunday's game.
The Redskins now have to replace two defensive starters on a team that has allowed 63 points in its first two games.
NEW YORK (AP) - Day 2 of the NHL lockout saw no changes from either side Monday, as talks between the league and the NHLPA remain unscheduled.
The NHL locked the players out over the weekend, when the collective bargaining agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. It's the NHL's fourth work stoppage in the last 20 years.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr have spoken informally since the lockout began, and may do so again on Tuesday. But nothing official will resume until at least Wednesday between Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr.
The two sides haven't met for face-to-face talks since last Wednesday.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) - A difficult early-season schedule has made it easier for the Baltimore Ravens to look to their next challenge rather than look back at Sunday's 24-23 defeat in Philadelphia.
Coming off a near-flawless performance in a season-opening 44-13 rout of AFC North rival Cincinnati, Baltimore (1-1) gave up 486 yards in offense, failed to take advantage of four turnovers and virtually abandoned its running game in the second half.
All that is lamentable, yet it won't do the Ravens any good to dwell on those negatives because next up is a Sunday night duel with New England (1-1). It's a rematch of last season's AFC title game, won by the Patriots 23-20.
Coach John Harbaugh hopes the Ravens can learn from the loss in Philadelphia, "and come back swinging next week."
<VIDEO> Boxing great Muhammad Ali was honored with the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia on Thursday, for his longtime role outside the ring as a fighter for humanitarian causes, civil rights and religious freedom.
<VIDEO> There has been no movement in the NHL labor dispute. The players had a meeting amongst themselves on Thursday while commissioner Gary Bettman filled the owners in on how things have been going.
<VIDEO> Jim Calhoun retired as Connecticut's basketball coach Thursday, closing a 26-year career at the school with three national titles, an upcoming NCAA tournament ban and no apologies. Assistant coach Kevin Ollie will be the Huskies' new coach.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Notre Dame has picked its conference. Now it has to decide which football rivalry games to keep.
The announcement Wednesday that Notre Dame is moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports except football and hockey came with a provision that the Fighting Irish play five football games a year against league opponents. That's good news for fans who want to see the Irish play Miami more often, but may not be welcomed by some traditional rivals.
The deal calls for the Irish to play each ACC team once every three years, which means traditional games against Pittsburgh and Boston College will end. Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick said Notre Dame will continue to play Navy, Southern California and Stanford.
But what of Big Ten rivals Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue? Swarbrick wasn't ready to say immediately.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State has said it wanted to settle "privately, expeditiously and fairly" with the boys Jerry Sandusky sexually abused, but lawyers for the victims tell The Associated Press they have had very limited contact from the school.
The lawyers, who together represent at least 20 people in the matter, are raising the prospect that more lawsuits may follow the four now under way.
The plaintiff's lawyers say they won't wait indefinitely for the university to propose a settlement process stemming from Sandusky's conviction in June on 45 counts of sexual abuse of 10 boys. Sandusky awaits sentencing.
A university spokesman says the school has had "multiple conversations" with the plaintiffs' lawyers. But the school isn't offering specifics about the process, how much money might be made available or eligibility standards.
<VIDEO> The late boxing great Joe Frazier may get a statue in his hometown of Philadelphia. Mayor Michael Nutter joined members of Frazier's family on Wednesday to announce a fundraising campaign for the sculpture.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns, two to new-found favorite receiver Kevin Ogletree, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Super Bowl champion New York Giants 24-17 on Wednesday night in the NFL season opener.
Dallas outplayed its division rival nearly all game, reversing its loss to the Giants on New Year's Day that set up their run to the title last season. Ogletree, the Cowboys' third wideout, scored on passes of 10 and 40 yards, Miles Austin had a leaping 34-yard score and DeMarco Murray rushed for 129 yards, including a spectacular 48-yard romp in the third quarter.
The replacement officials were not the feared focal point many expected as the game was called without any blatant errors or ugly controversy. Despite the closeness of the final score, it really wasn't that tight.
<VIDEO> Thousands turned out for the funeral of former Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell, including linebacker Ray Lewis. Modell was one of the NFL's most polarizing owners. Cleveland fans never forgave him for moving his club to Baltimore.
NEW YORK (AP) - NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says the owners and players are both to blame for their failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement before the Saturday deadline for a work stoppage.
Daly writes in an email to The Associated Press that he hopes both sides will meet before Saturday.
He says the league has received no indication the players want to meet.
More than 250 players are set to attend the NHLPA meetings Wednesday and Thursday here to discuss the current state of collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
The board of governors will meet Thursday at the NHL offices here and could authorize Commissioner Gary Bettman to proceed with a lockout on Saturday if a new CBA hasn't been reached.
NEW YORK (AP) - NFL Charities is awarding more than $1.5 million in grants for sports-related medical research at 15 organizations, with nearly two-thirds of the money going to study concussion prevention and treatment.
This year's grants include research on stem cells and nervous system injuries; MRI methods after concussions; and the effect of temperature on the severity of potential brain injuries.
The intuitions receiving grants are Washington University, Washington State University, University of Miami, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Pennsylvania State University, Columbia University, University at Buffalo, Ohio State University, University of New Hampshire, University of Minnesota, Brigham & Women's Hospital, University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and Hospital for Special Surgery.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State is sticking with kicker Sam Ficken.
The sophomore had an extra-point attempt blocked and missed four kicks in last week's 17-16 loss at Virginia, including the potential game-winner from 42 yards in a heavy drizzle.
Coach Bill O'Brien said Tuesday that Ficken is working hard to improve. He said everything else needs to get better, too, like the protection, snaps and holds on kicks.
Ficken is the only kicker listed on the depth chart. But when asked later, O'Brien also said the kicking job has been an open competition every week this season won by Ficken.
O'Brien is also focusing on red-zone offense this week. The defense stepped up with four turnovers inside Virginia territory, but Penn State converted just three points off those chances.
Penn State (0-2) will host Navy (0-1) on Saturday.
<VIDEO> Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in a thrilling five-set U.S. Open final on Monday. He's the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles tennis event in 76 years.
<VIDEO> Serena Williams suddenly regained her composure and her strokes, coming back to win the last four games and beat No. 1-ranked Victoria Azarenka in three sets to win the U.S. Open on Sunday night.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Virginia Tech is going back to its defense-first roots.
For all the talk about quarterback Logan Thomas and his potential to be in the Heisman Trophy discussion, the No. 16 Hokies will rely on Bud Foster's defense first, starting with Monday night's season-opening game against ACC Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech and its explosive triple option.
Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson's team has lost two in a row and three of four to the Hokies.
Johnson says if the Virginia Tech defenders really are angling to be the best defense the school has ever put on the field, as several Hokies have said, the unit will have to be impressive.
Hokies cornerback Kyle Fuller says the matchups with the Yellow Jackets are always physical, but the Hokies are ready.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The suspensions of four players in the NFL's bounty investigation have been lifted by a three-member appeals panel. The league reinstated those players a few minutes after Friday's ruling.
The panel said Commissioner Roger Goodell did not have jurisdiction to hear the players' appeals of their punishment for their roles in the New Orleans Saints bounty program that paid cash bonuses for hits that injured opponents.
While the ruling allows Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Saints defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove to play immediately, it does not permanently void their suspensions.
NEW YORK (AP) - While the NHL and the players' association stay away from the negotiating table, discussions have taken place behind the scenes in an effort to restart talks as a lockout deadline looms.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr have discussed procedural details that could soon lead to a continuation of negotiations that broke off last week - perhaps as early as this week.
The current collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association expires on Sept. 15, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said he will impose a lockout then if a new deal hasn't been reached.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - NASCAR on Thursday passed a rule that will curb the ability of teams to set their cars up in a way that gives the driver easier rear steer.
The technical bulletin issued by NASCAR goes into effect next week at Chicago, when the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship begins, and many believe it is aimed directly at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports.
Drivers have alleged for months that Hendrick made gains in the rear housing this season that gave its cars an aerodynamic advantage. NASCAR has maintained through the complaints that the Hendrick teams weren't breaking any rules, which four-time champion Jeff Gordon reiterated.
"When we presented it to NASCAR for approval, they didn't act like it was something they had never seen before," Gordon said. "I don't even think we were the first ones to do it."
Gordon also alleged most everyone in the garage is doing the same thing now, which Kyle Busch confirmed - with a caveat.
"We all started working on it once we saw what they were doing," Busch said. "It's follow the leader. You really don't have many secrets here in the garage area very long. We started going to work on those kind of things, too, and trying to manipulate some of the same things they were doing."
Starting next week, NASCAR is limiting the size of the bushings located in the rear suspension to a quarter of an inch. The bushings are sleeves made of rubber or other materials located near the rear mounting points. Hendrick teams found a way to make them softer and softer in an effort to let the truck arms move and help steer the rear of the cars in the turns.
Brad Keselowski has been one of the most vocal critics of the development Hendrick has done, but NASCAR could do nothing.
"It's an advantage, but it's a legal advantage," Busch said. "There is nothing illegal with what they were doing."
But there will be limits starting next week, when Hendrick will have at least two and possibly all four of its drivers racing for the championship. Five-time champion Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are already in the Chase, while Kasey Kahne and Gordon are trying to lock down wild card spots Saturday night at Richmond.
Gordon said the Hendrick cars are doing the same thing as everyone else in the garage.
"When you watch on TV and see the cars skewed, running sideways down the straightaways, it's pretty obvious what everybody is trying to do - everybody is trying to get as much downforce in the car as possible," Gordon said. "And every time NASCAR comes up with a rule, you go OK, 'How do we get around the rule?' I feel like that's what everybody is doing, and our guys have done a lot of work in that area to gain that advantage and I give them all the credit in the world."
UNDATED (AP) - The resilient Baltimore Orioles regained a share of first place in the American League East by recovering from losing a five-run lead to club the New York Yankees 10-6 behind a four-run rally in the eighth at Camden Yards.
Mark Reynolds hit two of Baltimore's season-high six home runs. Adam Jones' leadoff homer in the eighth inning off David Robertson put Baltimore ahead 7-6 after the Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit in the top half. Matt Wieters (WEE'-turz) followed with a single and Reynolds hit a drive into the left-field seats. Chris Davis then slammed the first pitch from Derek Lowe over the right-field wall.
Wieters and Robert Andino (an-DEE'-noh) also connected for the Orioles, who've won 10 of 13 - a run that includes three of four over New York.
In the only other AL game of the night, Texas downed Kansas City 5-4 in 10 innings. Michael Young's single scored Ian Kinsler, who had opened the 10th with a triple. Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre hit back-to-back homers in the fourth to help the AL West leaders overcome a 3-0 deficit.
BALTIMORE (AP) - Former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell has died. He was 87.
The team said Modell died early Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he had been admitted Wednesday. A cause of death was not given.
Modell was among the most important figures in the NFL as owner of the Cleveland Browns, which became the Ravens after he took the team to Baltimore in 1996 in a move that tarnished his reputation as one of the league's most innovative and influential owners.
During his four decades as an NFL owner, Modell helped negotiate the league's lucrative contracts with television networks, served as president of the NFL from 1967 to 1969, and chaired the negotiations for the first the collective bargaining agreement with the players in 1968.
He also was the driving force behind the 1970 contract between the NFL and ABC to televise games on Monday night.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - Tony Romo threw for three touchdowns, two to new-found favorite receiver Kevin Ogletree, and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Super Bowl champion New York Giants 24-17 on Wednesday night in the NFL season opener.
Dallas outplayed its division rival nearly all game, reversing its loss to the Giants on New Year's Day that set up their run to the title last season. Ogletree, the Cowboys' third wideout, scored on passes of 10 and 40 yards, Miles Austin had a leaping 34-yard score and DeMarco Murray rushed for 129 yards, including a spectacular 48-yard romp in the third quarter.
The replacement officials were not the feared focal point many expected as the game was called without any blatant errors or ugly controversy. Despite the closeness of the final score, it really wasn't that tight.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco grew up a huge Penn State fan, and with good reason.
His father and uncle played for the late Joe Paterno, and his grandfather coached with Paterno for 19 seasons. Michael Rocco even had an offer to add to the family ties and attend Penn State, but says once he donned Cavaliers' orange and blue, any allegiance to the Nittany Lions disappeared.
Rocco will lead the Cavaliers (1-0) against visiting Penn State (0-1) on Saturday.
It's the second straight weekend Rocco has had to prepare for an opponent with family ties. Last week, he threw for 311 yards in three quarters in leading the Cavaliers past a Richmond team coached by his uncle, Danny Rocco.
BALTIMORE (AP) - Former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell has been hospitalized in Baltimore.
The team says the 87-year-old Modell is at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Kevin Byrne, senior vice president of public and community relations for the team, did not know Modell's condition, but Cleveland television station WKYC reported that Modell's vital organs are failing.
Modell purchased the Cleveland Browns for $4 million in 1961 and moved the franchise to Baltimore in 1996. The move made him a hero in Baltimore but a pariah in Cleveland.
He sold a minority interest in the team to Steve Bisciotti in 2000, and in April 2004, Bisciotti completed purchase of the franchise. But Modell retained a 1 percent piece of the team and is listed in the current Ravens media guide as a minority owner.
The Miami Heat still have more than three weeks before assembling for training camp and starting the defense of their NBA title, but for Wade, summer vacation is essentially complete. He's been cleared to return to the court and rehab from offseason knee surgery, a process he's already started. And he'll spend the next couple weeks bouncing from coast to coast on a tour for his book on fatherhood that was released Tuesday.
It means long days will be the norm for Wade until training camp. Case in point: He was out of his hotel room in New York before 8 a.m. Tuesday, and didn't return until after midnight, at least a half-dozen events jamming his calendar.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - One week after piling up a school-record 35 fourth-quarter points, No. 21 Kansas State is preparing for a rematch of the game where it first earned a reputation for winning late.
Miami is coming to town on Saturday.
Wildcats coach Bill Snyder refuses to give the Hurricanes credit for being a turning point last season, but linebacker Arthur Brown is much more convinced that a dramatic goal-line stand - and an assist from a video review - changed the entire mentality of the team.
Kansas State wound up winning that game 28-24 in Miami and parlayed the mental toughness that it earned on the road into a 10-win season and a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
GIJON, Spain (AP) - With Rafael Nadal injured again, David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro will lead defending champion Spain for its Davis Cup semifinal against the United States this month.
Captain Alex Corretja is sticking with the same team that beat Austria in the quarterfinals: fifth-ranked Ferrer and No. 12 Almagro in singles and Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez in doubles.
The semifinal is Sept. 14-16, with Spain trying to reach its fourth final in five years.
Nadal needs at least two months to recover from a partially torn tendon in his left knee. The world's third-ranked player has been sidelined since a second-round loss at Wimbledon in June.
Corretja says former Davis Cup player Feliciano Lopez will be with the team as a practice partner.
NEW YORK (AP) - Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III was looking for a hot hand when picking four players to fill out his American team. Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker delivered two performances that were very warm.
They find out Tuesday whether it was enough for Love to pick them.
Three weeks after eight players qualified for the team, Love adds four picks during a news conference Tuesday morning in New York. Jim Furyk, who has earned his way onto every Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup team since 1997, and Steve Stricker were expected to be chosen.
The tricky part was figuring out who would get the last two spots.
Snedeker finished second at The Barclays and sixth at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday, while Johnson tied for third at The Barclays and for fourth in Boston.
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) - The 16th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies showed some early season resiliency by rallying to beat Georgia Tech 20-17 in the first overtime game in the history of Lane Stadium.
Cody Journell kicked a 17-yard field goal in overtime to win it. Georgia Tech got the ball first in overtime, but quarterback Tevin Washington threw an interception.
Tevin Washington's 10-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left in regulation had given the Yellow Jackets a 17-14 lead. But Journell, who had earlier missed from 38 yards, made a 41-yarder as time expired to force overtime.
Virginia Tech is the only FBS team to have won 10 or more games in each of the past eight seasons and the opening night victory gave the Hokies a leg up in the ACC's Coastal Division race. The Hokies and Yellow Jackets are the only two teams from that division to have appeared in the league championship game. Virginia Tech has been there five times and Georgia Tech twice.
The NFL referees union says the league is "engaged in a misinformation campaign" following unsuccessful negotiations earlier in the weekend. The two sides failed to reach an agreement Saturday when they met for the third day in a row, and the league said it's proceeding with replacement officials starting with Wednesday night's regular-season opener between Dallas and the New York Giants.
NEW YORK (AP) - Rafael Nadal has a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined for at least the next two months, including Spain's upcoming Davis Cup semifinal against the United States.
In a website posting linked on his Twitter feed, the 11-time Grand Slam champion says he "will be back when I have no pain."
He adds: "I really want to be back competing and enjoying the tennis tour, but I have many years in front of me and my knee needs some rest."
Nadal has been out of action since losing in the second round of Wimbledon in late June, missing the London Olympics and the U.S. Open.
The season-ending ATP World Tour finals begin in London on Nov. 5.
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) - Denny Hamlin won his second straight Sprint Cup race, holding off Jeff Gordon in a green-white-checkered finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday night.
Martin Truex Jr. appeared to be positioned for his first win since 2007 until Jamie McMurray smashed the wall on the front straightaway, bringing out a caution with three laps to go. The leaders went to pit road, and Hamlin's crew got him back on the track first, just ahead of Truex.
While Truex struggled to get up to speed on the restart, Hamlin pulled away with Gordon right on his bumper. The four-time Cup champion desperately needed a win to improve his chances of getting into the Chase, but couldn't get by Hamlin on the final lap.
Hamlin took the series victory lead with four, putting him in position to top the standings when the 12-drive Chase starts.
