Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL Michigan players allege violations

Several Michigan football players claim the program regularly violates NCAA rules limiting how much time they can spend on training and practice sessions, according to a published report. Players from the 2008 and 2009 teams told the Detroit Free Press for a story published on the newspaper's Web site Saturday that the amount of time they spend on football activities during the season and in the off-season greatly exceeds the limits. The players spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions from coaches. Coach Rich Rodriguez and the university's compliance director, Judy Van Horn, denied that the football program was violating NCAA rules. "We know the practice and offseason rules, and we stay within the guidelines. We follow the rules and have always been completely committed to being compliant with all NCAA rules," Rodriguez said in a written statement to the newspaper. Van Horn said her department conducts "in-person spot checks of practice during the academic year and summer. We have not had any reason to self-report any violations in this area with any of our sports." NCAArules allow eight hours a week for mandatory workouts during the off-season. However, players told the newspaper that they spent two to three times that amount on required workouts. The players also said the amount of time they spent on football activities during the season exceeded the weekly limit of 20 hours and often exceeded the daily limit of four hours.

Southern California receiver Ronald Johnson will be out six to eight weeks after breaking his collarbone during the No. 4 Trojans' mock game. Johnson was the Trojans' third-leading receiver last season with 33 catches for 570 yards and eight touchdowns. The junior was expected to start for USC this season alongside Damian Williams (Springdale). Johnson was hurt Saturday during the second series of the mock game at the Coliseum in Los Angeles when he was tackled after catching an underthrown 34-yard pass from freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. Coach Pete Carroll says the injury is "just a crusher." Williams, the Trojans' leading receiver last season,will take Johnson's spot on the offense, and junior David Ausberry will move into the starting lineup.

TENNIS

Verdasco wins Pilot Pen title

Spain's Fernando Verdasco won the Pilot Pen tournament Saturday, beating American Sam Querrey 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the final tuneup for the U.S. Open. The second-seeded Verdasco, 25, fought off four second set points from the hardserving Querrey, three of them in the tiebreaker, to win his first title of the season and third of his career. Caroline Wozniacki won her second consecutive Pilot Pen women's championship, beating Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-4 in the final. It is the 19-year-old's sixth tournament title, and third this year. Verdasco beat Igor Andreev of Russia 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) in Saturday morning's semifinal. Querrey used 11 aces in a 6-3, 6-4semifinal victory over Argentina's Jose Acasuso, who grew so frustrated in the second set he repeatedly smashed his racket on the court.

BOXING Huck takes cruiserweight title

Marco Huck of Germany won the WBO cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision over Victor Emilio Ramirez of Argentina on Saturday in Halle, Germany. The judges were overwhelming for Huck by 116-111, 115-112 and 116-111, but Ramirez (15-2) walked out of the arena visibly upset by Saturday's decision.

CYCLING

Cancellara wins first stage

Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won the opening stage of the Spanish Vuelta, a 3-mile time trial on the AssenMoto GP circuit in the Netherlands on Saturday. The Olympic time trial champion clocked 5 minutes, 20 seconds to edge Tom Boonen of Belgium by 9 seconds. American Tyler Farrar was third in 5:32. Alexandre Vinokourov, back after serving a ban for blood doping during the 2007 Tour de France, finished seventh, 18 seconds behind Cancellara. Defending champion Alberto Contador skipped the race after winning this year's Tour. Rival Lance Armstrong, third in the Tour, also withdrew.

David Zabriskie won his fourth consecutive U.S. Cycling time trial title Saturday in Greenville, S.C., and Floyd Landis was eighth as he tries to make a comeback from a doping suspension. Zabriskie finished the 20.7-mile course in 39:37, beating Tom Zirbel by 44 seconds.

MOTOCROSS

Pedrosa takes MotoGP pole

Spain's Dani Pedrosa had the fastest motorcycle all weekend at Indianapolis. On Saturday, he was rewarded with a pole-winning time. Pedrosa produced a fast lap of 1 minute, 39.730 seconds in ideal weather to outduel fellow countryman Jorge Lorenzo and win the top starting spot for today's Indianapolis MotoGP.

Matt Goerke became the sixth first-time winner, taking the 450 Class on Saturday at the penultimate round of the AMA Pro Motocross in Southwick, Mass. Justin Barcia also earned his first career victory, winning the 250 Class while teammate Jessica Patterson won the WMX Class.

TRACK & FIELD

Olympic medalist fatally shot

David Laut, who won a bronze medal for the United States in the shot put at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, was shot to death after confronting intruders outside his Oxnard, Calif., home, authorities said Saturday. He was 52. Laut was gunned down early Friday when he went outside to check on a noise in the yard, Oxnard Police Sgt. Ken Klopman said. Police on Saturday hadn't made any arrests or identified suspects. Born in Ohio and raised in Southern California, Laut won two NCAA titles at UCLA and a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games, in addition to his Olympic medal.

FOOTBALL Alabama's Saban signs 3-year extensionTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama Coach Nick Saban has signed a three-year extension to his original contract, Athletic Director Mal Moore announced Saturday.

When Saban came to Alabama in 2007, he signed an eight-year contract. This extension would keep him at the helm of the Crimson Tide football program through the 2017 season.

"Coach Saban has impressively led the Alabama football program back to national prominence in a short period of time," Moore said.

"That success has beenevident in all facets - on-field results, his embrace of Alabama's athletics and academic culture, recruiting, and community service," Moore added. "In every way, Coach Saban has positioned our program among college football's elite."

The contract extension is subject to approval by the compensa tioncommittee of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama System. The committee is expected to meet soon to discuss the extension.

Saban is about to begin his third season with the Tide with a season opener in Atlanta against Virginia Tech on Saturday.

"Terry and I are pleased andhappy that the University of Alabama has offered us an extension to our original contract," Saban said, referring to his wife. "Our acceptance of the extension expresses our commitment to the University of Alabama for the rest of our coaching career."

Saban credited Moore, university President Robert Witt, the university community and fans for their strong support and commitment to rebuilding the school's football program.

In two seasons, Saban has led the Tide to 19-8 record, including a 12-2 record last season that included a SEC Western Division title and a trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl.