Thousands watch Paterno funeral procession
Quiet mourners, sometimes four deep or more, lined the route of Joe Paterno's funeral procession in State College, Pa., watching with grief and reverence as the electric-blue hearse carrying the former Penn State football coach's casket slowly drove by. A private funeral and burial service capped another emotional day for a campus and community pained over Paterno's death from lung cancer Sunday at age 85, and over the way his stellar career ended — being fired by university trustees Nov. 9 in the wake of child sex-abuse charges against a former assistant, Jerry Sandusky.
The service, a Roman Catholic Mass, was attended by a veritable who's who of Penn State and Paterno connections, including former defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, NFL great Franco Harris, ex-NFL player and executive Matt Millen and Nike founder Phil Knight. (AP)
Other college football news • San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre agreed to an extension through the 2017 season. ... Notre Dame hired Harry Hiestand to coach its offensive line and coordinate the running game. ... Memphis hired Darrell Dickey as offensive coordinator. (AP)
Baseball deals • Lefthander Gio Gonzalez, 26, signed his $42 million, five-year contract with Washington. ... Righthander Rafael Betancourt, 36, agreed to an $8.5 million, two-year contract with Colorado. ... Righthander Nick Masset, 29, agreed on a two-year, $5.5 million deal with Cincinnati. ... Boston agreed to terms with righthander Andrew Bailey, 27, on a one-year contract worth $3.9 million. ... Andruw Jones, 34, and the New York Yankees finalized a $2 million, one-year contract. ... Righthander Brad Ziegler, 32, and Arizona agreed to a one-year contract for $1,795,000. ... Infielder Robert Andino, 27, and Baltimore agreed to a $1.3 million, one-year contract. ... Cincinnati acquired infielder Wilson Valdez, 33, from Philadelphia for minor-league pitcher Jeremy Horst, 26. ... Daryle Ward, an 11-season veteran who hasn't played in the major leagues since 2008, and free-agent lefthander Dustin Richardson were suspended for violating the minor-league drug policy. (AP)
Jacobellis tears ACL • Lindsey Jacobellis tore a ligament in her left knee in a practice crash for the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colo., and won't have a chance to go for her fifth straight gold medal in snowboard cross. Meanwhile, snowboarder Seth Wescott, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, is out for the season after surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle. (AP)
Motor sports news • Elliott Sadler will drive the No. 33 car in the Daytona 500 for Richard Childress Racing, and the car also will run four more Cup races with driver Brendan Gaughan. ... NASCAR said it will stop issuing undisclosed fines. ... Rubens Barrichello will test an IndyCar next week at Sebring for KV Racing. (AP)
Solo hurt in win • The United States plays Costa Rica on Friday in Vancouver, British Columbia, in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament, but Hope Solo's status is uncertain. The U.S. goalie was clutching her right leg during the Americans' 4-0 win over Mexico on Tuesday and was wearing on ice pack on the leg after the game. She said she had a "little quad pull." (AP)
