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News Nuggets, 06.14.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

NYC has future gaze fixed on Big Apple Bowl

NEW YORK — New York City wants to host a college bowl game in 2010 at the proposed future home of the New York Jets on the West Side of Manhattan.

The Big Apple Bowl would be played at the New York Sports and Convention Center, which is still in the planning stages, sports officials said Sunday.

The $1.4 billion stadium would be linked to the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. It would be designed to house conventions and concerts — and the 2012 Olympics, if New York is chosen — in addition to football.

The Jets, whose lease at the Meadowlands in New Jersey expires in 2008, have committed to spending $800 million in private funds on the stadium. The city and state would add $300 million each to build a retractable roof and a deck over the existing rail yards.

But approval to build the stadium hasn't been given, and the plan faces opposition from community groups and many elected officials who are against using tax dollars for a sports facility when schools and city services are facing a budget crunch.

New York City hasn't hosted a college bowl game since the Gotham Bowl in Yankee Stadium in 1962.

If the stadium is built, its completion would be slated for 2009. Postseason bowl games are required to petition the NCAA for certification. That process would begin once the timeline for the stadium is completed.

Hornung booted from Irish broadcast booth

SOUTH BEND — Hall of Famer Paul Hornung said he won't return to Notre Dame football radio broadcasts this season because of a flap over his comments that the school should lower its academic standards to recruit black athletes.

"The reason I'm not going to be on the air for my last year is because Notre Dame does not want me there," Hornung told the South Bend Tribune for Sunday editions.

Associate athletic director John Heisler said even though Notre Dame has some input into who represents the school on the air, the final decision was up to Westwood One Radio, which broadcasts the games.

"What the university's position is, is only a part of it," Heisler said. "We don't control the talent on broadcasting. Westwood One determines that."

Westwood One sports director Larry Michael declined comment.

Notre Dame officials were highly critical of the remarks Hornung made during a March radio interview, saying they were racially insensitive.

Heisler was out of town Sunday and could not be reached by The Associated Press for additional comment.

Hornung, the 1956 Heisman Trophy winner at Notre Dame and Hall of Famer with the Green Bay Packers, has since apologized and said that he meant to say that Notre Dame should lower its academic standards to make it easier for athletes in general.

"I know I should not have said that. If they don't want to forgive me, then that's their problem. I've done as much as I can," Hornung told the Tribune. "They don't have to worry about me embarrassing them again. If they don't want me, they won't see me again."

U of L sharpshooter recovering from surgery

LOUISVILLE — Louisville junior guard Taquan Dean underwent surgery to repair a hernia.

The surgery was performed last week and repaired two partial tears in his abdominal wall, the university said in a statement.

Dean is expected to need about 12 weeks to recover. He averaged 10.8 points a game last year and led the team with 71 3-pointers for the season.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007