Sports

University of Louisville football coach Charlie Strong says no one from the NCAA has interviewed assistant coach Clint Hurtt yet regarding allegations of rules violations during Hurtt’s time at the University of Miami. U of L said earlier this month it would comply with a request from the NCAA to talk to Hurtt. He’s named in a Yahoo Sports report on former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro, who says he provided improper benefits such as cash, meals and trips to football recruits.

What once was a sleepy resort on U.S. 31-W at the edge of Edmonson and Barren counties is quickly making a bang in the gun world and having an economic influence on the region. Park Mammoth Resort and its Rockcastle Shooting Center are on the radar of gun enthusiasts from across the country - and even the world, as evidenced by the AR15.com Rockcastle 3-Gun Pro-Am Championship held over the weekend. The match drew three major outdoors cable channels and interest from bloggers and Internet radio. Nearly 500 professional and amateur shooters from 43 states and four countries participated in the event.

High schools in Kentucky are protected with certain procedures to prevent and respond to concussions in high school sports. But when it comes to middle and elementary schools, decisions are left to local jurisdictions. “The high schools in our state have us to make rules, the middle schools and other levels don’t have anyone making those rules,” said Julian Tackett, commissioner of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

Georgetown College Director of Athletics Brian Evans announced the new head men’s basketball coach Thursday afternoon. Four-year Tiger assistant to Happy Osborne, Chris Briggs, will immediately assume the leadership position. Briggs also served as a graduate assistant and student manager for UK coach Tubby Smith.

Bell County school officials have ended the tradition of having a minister lead prayer over the public-address system before high school football games because of a complaint from a Wisconsin-based group that promotes the separation of church and state. Friday's home game against Lexington Catholic was the first in decades that didn't include a prayer before the game, said Bell County Superintendent George Thompson.

LEXINGTON – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team is set to face a 2011-12 schedule that features three nonconference opponents who finished last year ranked in the top 20, 18 home games – including one in Rupp Arena – and a pair of games on ESPN2, UK head coach Matthew Mitchell announced Tuesday.

Kentucky Downs will open its gambling room with 200 instant racing machines on Sept. 1, the Franklin track announced Monday. A brief opening ceremony is planned at 10 a.m., then it is off to the historical races. Instant racing allows players to bet on previously run races; the games are designed to mimic electronic slots or video lottery terminals and appeal to bettors who wouldn't necessarily be drawn to traditional pari- mutuel wagering.

Georgetown College head basketball coach Happy Osborne resigned Saturday to become assistant basketball coach at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tenn., a NCAA Division I school. His office was cleared, and Osborne said he planned to go to Cookeville Sunday. “I’ve got to get out of here,” Osborne told the News-Graphic in an exclusive interview. “If I stick around until Monday or Tuesday, I’ll never leave.”

The University of Louisville says it is cooperating with an NCAA request to speak with assistant football coach Clint Hurtt about alleged recruiting violations during his time at the University of Miami.  Hurtt (pictured) is named in a Yahoo Sports investigative report this week on former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro, who has admitted providing cash, meals, prostitutes and the use of his yacht to recruits.

The North Oldham County Little League team will play the last game of the regional finals against Hamilton, Ohio this Saturday. If they win, they’ll head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series. The team is staying at the central division Little League Headquarters in Indianapolis, said manager Brad Bates.

Centre College is moving forward with plans to locate two new sports fields on land once occupied by some agricultural landmarks. In the last several months, the college has acquired the former Boyle County Stockyards and Farmers Tobacco Warehouse No. 1 sites. Michael Strysick, Centre’s director of communications, said plans include a multipurpose field that could serve as a playing surface for sports, including field hockey and lacrosse, on the corner of Dillehay and Hope streets.

When Daniel Cowan was a soccer player at George Rogers Clark High School, suffering a concussion was just par for the course. “Back then, it was just sit out of practice a couple days and you’re good to go. You might miss one game. It wasn’t a big deal,” Cowan said. Now Cowan is in a different position, coaching the GRC boys junior varsity soccer team, and concussions, he said, are something that he and coaches in all contact and collision sports are taking much more seriously.

The University of Kentucky's Darius Miller will represent the United States in the 2011 World University Games. Miller was named to the 12-member men's basketball team Wednesday following six days of tryouts at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado.

College football fans will have a voice this year in the selection of a player to receive the Paul Hornug Award. The national award, created last year by the Louisville Sports Commission to recognize the most versatile player in college football, is named for the Louisville native who excelled at several positions for Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers.

The KFC Yum! Center was recently listed as the 24th best concert arena in the world by Pollstar.com. It was named the 10th best overall venue in the nation.

Many young horse riders are getting their first taste of the big time this week at Kentucky Horse Park. Trailers line the parking lots, colorful golf carts decked out in U.S., Canadian, and Mexican flags speed by, and spectators brave the summer heat for a glimpse at the young talent. It's early afternoon and 17-year-old Talia Hershaft just finished a solo ride in front of the judges. 

Mayor Greg Fischer announced on Wednesday that The Kentucky Derby Festival will add another week to its schedule. It’s called Give a Day and for one week before Thunder Over Louisville it asks individuals, businesses and non-profits to volunteer their service throughout the week.

The NFL lockout officially ended Monday, which means the Cincinnati Bengals are returning to Georgetown for their pre-season training camp. "I'm sure the city in general has just breathed a sigh of relief," Georgetown Mayor Everette Varney said. "If they didn't come, it would have been a huge hit for the college. Not only the revenue, but the recognition of having Georgetown's name on the national spotlight."

While the NFL owners and players continue to work on a labor agreement, Georgetown College was preparing as if the football season will go on as scheduled. Developments Thursday indicated an agreement could be reached soon that would allow the Cincinnati Bengals to hold its training camp at Georgetown College, just as the team has for the past 15 years. The camp is an important money-maker for the college, and the owners' lockout of the players has put that in jeopardy.

University of Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips is confident he has the offensive arsenal needed to take on the SEC this season. The Wildcats no longer have Derrick Locke and Randall Cobb to run and catch the ball, but Phillips says his team has worked through transitions before.