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Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 - 12:07 AM

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NCAA bans horse-collar tackles

INDIANAPOLIS - The NCAA banned the horse-collar tackle from college football.

Following the lead of the NFL and acting on a proposal made by its Football Rules Committee, the NCAA will assess a penalty this season when a runner is yanked to the ground from the inside collar of his shoulder pads or jersey.

Other changes announced yesterday include a clarification of rules on chop blocks, or tackling below the knees, and implementation of a 40-second play clock that will start as soon as the ball is ruled dead. Previously, a 25-second clock began only on the referee's signal.

The chop block will now be defined as any high-low combination block by any two players against an opponent other than the runner, anywhere on the field, anytime in the game and with or without a delay between the hits.

New Mexico put on probation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The NCAA put New Mexico's program on three years of probation Wednesday and cut five scholarships as punishment for academic violations involving two former assistant coaches.

The sanctions imposed by the NCAA's infractions committee went beyond the university's self-imposed penalties, which included two years of probation and fewer scholarship reductions.

New Mexico coach Rocky Long was not accused of any wrongdoing in the case.

The NCAA concluded that the former Lobos assistants in 2004 improperly helped three recruits to obtain fraudulent academic credits through correspondence courses they never completed at Fresno Pacific University, a fully accredited, four-year college in California that also offers online degrees.

In other college football news:

North Carolina State quarterback Justin Burke will transfer to Louisville, Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe said. The redshirt sophomore played in three games for the Wolfpack last season, completing 2 of 3 passes for 15 yards and an interception. Burke will sit out the season under NCAA transfer rules and be eligible to play in 2009.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

American gives Jones extension

WASHINGTON - American University coach Jeff Jones, who last season led the Eagles to the first NCAA Division I men's tournament berth in school history, has been rewarded with a contract extension.

The extension will be announced at a news conference today, according to a university official. Details of the extension were not immediately available.

A former Virginia player and coach, Jones is 125-113 over eight seasons with the Eagles.

Anderson spurs Spiders

Kevin Anderson averaged 10.7 points last season, his first at the University of Richmond.

The 6-0 point guard emerged as the Spiders' big man in Spain during UR's four-game playing tour that ended yesterday. Anderson, the 2008 Atlantic 10 Conference rookie of the year, scored 30 in the finale as the Spiders beat Illescas Toledo 91-77.

In four exhibitions, Anderson averaged 23.3 points. Junior guard David Gonzalvez scored 19 yesterday.

In other college basketball news:

The NCAA rejected Pittsburgh forward Mike Cook's request for an extra year of eligibility. His senior season was cut short by a knee injury. Cook played 11 games before injuring his knee Dec. 20 during overtime of a 65-64 win over Duke. Under NCAA rules, an extra year of eligibility is possible if the athlete plays 30 percent or fewer of the team's games. Cook played 11 of 32 games - or 34 percent.

AUTO RACING

Two Penske cars damaged in fire

INDIANAPOLIS - Roger Penske's IndyCar team is scrambling to replace its two cars for this weekend's California race after they were damaged in a transporter truck fire.

Team spokesman Dan Passe said the fire occurred yesterday outside Cheyenne, Wyo., en route to Sunday's race at Sonoma, Calif. There were no injuries.

Penske had two other cars already in Sonoma because the team was testing there last week. The team is now trying to get those cars into race condition.

Donnie Wingo, crew chief for Sprint Cup driver Reed Sorenson, was fined $25,000 by NASCAR for an improperly attached weight on the No. 41 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge. The violation was found by inspectors following Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway.

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

Japan reaches international finals

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Ryohji Kimura hit a three-run homer to spark a six-run second inning that gave Japan an 11-4 win over Willemstad, Curaco, to clinch a berth in the international finals of the Little League World Series.

ELSEWHERE

Theo Ratliff returned to the Philadelphia 76ers seven years after he was traded from the team during its run to the NBA Finals. Ratliff, 35, played 26 games for Minnesota and Detroit and appeared in 12 of the Pistons' 17 playoff games. Terms of Ratliff's deal with the Sixers weren't disclosed.

AROUND THE STATE

Virginia Commonwealth University's Gerson Dos Santos and Old Dominion's Trevor Banks were named co-players of the year on the preseason all-Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer team. A senior, Dos Santos has been an all-CAA performer every year of his career with the Rams. - From Staff and Wire Reports