COLLEGE: Georgia Tech fires Groh
Georgia Tech has fired defensive coordinator Al Groh.
Head coach Paul Johnson announced the move yesterday, two days after the Yellow Jackets (2-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) lost 47-31 to Clemson. The previous week, Georgia Tech gave up 49 points in an embarrassing loss to Middle Tennessee.
Groh, a former head coach at Virginia and for the NFL’s Jets, was in his third season running Georgia Tech’s defense. Secondary coach Charles Kelly will take over as the interim coordinator.
* Kentucky freshman QB Patrick Towles will miss Saturday’s SEC game at Arkansas after sustaining a high right ankle sprain against Mississippi State.
* Temple defensive tackle Kamal Johnson will not practice or play with the Owls after he was arraigned on charges stemming from an alleged assault Sept. 27 on his girlfriend, also a student at the university.
SOCCER: Player threatens journalist
Napoli defender Salvatore Aronica could face sanctions after hitting and threatening to kill a journalist. The incident happened Sunday after Napoli’s 2-1 victory over Udinese. According to reports, Aronica repeatedly said “I’m going to kill you” while also slapping the journalist twice and jabbing him with his elbow. The pair had to be separated by people present.
* Jozy Altidore was dropped from the U.S. roster for critical World Cup qualifiers, and Landon Donovan was among the 24 players selected despite injuring his left knee last weekend.
* FIFA has stripped Sudan of its 2-0 win over Zambia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier because one of its scorers was ineligible to play.
ETC.: Vonn wants to face men in downhill
The United States ski team says it hasn’t had any “formal discussion” yet about the possibility of Lindsey Vonn entering a men’s World Cup downhill next month.
Vonn, the women’s Olympic downhill champion, has written the International Ski Federation to ask whether she can challenge the men Nov. 24 in Lake Louise, Alberta. Vonn has earned nine of her 26 World Cup downhill victories at the Canadian track.
* Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis had arthroscopic left knee surgery and should be ready for spring training.
* DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points and John Lucas added 16 to help the Toronto Raptors beat Real Madrid 102-96 in an exhibition game. Kyrie Irving scored 10 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated Italy’s Montepaschi Siena 91-85 in their preseason opener.