Kingston, R.I.
  When: 1 p.m.
  Radio: WTOX (1480), 12:30
  Records: William and Mary 3-1 CAA, 6-1;
Rhode Island 0-4, 1-6
  Players to watch: W &M—RB Jonathan Grimes, 110.5 yards per CAA game, WR D.J. McAulay, 33 catches, 423 yards, 3 TDs, DE Ravi Pradhanang, 3 sacks in last 4 games. URI—QB Chris Paul-Etienne, 133 yards per game, P Tim Edger, 41.6 average punt, DE Steve Weedon, 6 forced fumbles in 7 games this year.

A “second-half team” can be defined as a strong finisher or a weak starter. Either way, those involved with the University of Richmond’s football operation would like to smooth out the ride this afternoon vs. visiting Massachusetts. The Spiders trailed at Maine 14-10 last Saturday on the way to a 38-21 win. Richmond (4-0 CAA, 6-0), the top-ranked team in the FCS, has trailed at halftime in three of six games. In its last 36 games (last two seasons and this year), Richmond has outscored opponents in the second half 25 times, including each game this season. That’s a testament to halftime adjustments, off-season conditioning and perhaps sharpened focus.

Virginia Tech basketball player Allan Chaney had surgery yesterday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Chaney, a 6-9, 235-pound forward, already is sitting out this year after transferring from Florida during the offseason. He will be eligible to play as a redshirt sophomore next season. Chaney, who is from Baltimore, is scheduled to rehabilitate in time for individual workouts in the spring, Hokies coach Seth Greenberg said in a press release announcing the surgery. Chaney suffered the injury during practice.

Charleston, S.C.
  When: 1:30 p.m. Radio: Midlothian (106.9)  Records: Liberty 1-0 Big South, 4-2, Charleston Southern 0-1, 2-4
  Facts: Liberty, which is ranked 23rd in FCS and has won 12 straight conference games, has won its past three games with Charleston Southern by a combined score of 126-30. The Flames lead the Big South in scoring (31.2 points) and scoring defense (16.7). The Buccaneers have won seven consecutive games at home.

When: Noon Tickets: Sold out On the air: TV—CSN; radio: WTOX (1480), WREJ (1540)
  Records: JMU 0-3 CAA, 2-4, William and Mary 2-1, 5-1
  Players to watch: JMU—QB Justin Thorpe, 75 carries, 332 yards, 2 TDs, 33-66 passing, 420 yards, 1 TD, 3 int., DL Arthur Moats, 50 tackles, 15 for loss, 6 sacks; W&M—QB R.J. Archer, 127-203 passing, 1,321 yards, 9 TDs, 3 int., RB Jonathan Grimes, 107-483, 4 TDs, LB Jake Trantin, 43 tackles.

“We have a new cafeteria that is the most incredible eating facility you’ve ever seen on a college campus,“ Larranaga said. “You walk in, pay one price and there’s a salad bar, a fruit bar, a hamburger and hot dog grill, a pizza place, wraps. It’s got a cappuccino machine. “My wife and I went there for Sunday brunch, and they not only serve omelets, they make them right there.“

INDIANAPOLIS - Fewer than 25 percent of all major collegiate athletic departments made money in 2007-08. That finding was released yesterday by the NCAA, which surveyed all 119 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. Of those, 25 reported overall profits for the fiscal year ending June 2008, up from 19 in 2006. More than half of all football and men’s basketball programs finished in the black. Only one women’s basketball team had a profit.

Fewer than 25 percent of all major collegiate athletic departments made money in 2007-08.

INDIANAPOLIS - James Isch wants to fulfill Myles Brand’s unfinished goals at the NCAA. For now, that’s Isch’s job. He was named Brand’s interim replacement yesterday, less than a week after the NCAA president died of pancreatic cancer at age 67. Isch had been serving as the NCAA’s vice president for administration and chief financial officer, overseeing the budget for the premier governing body of college athletics. “We will continue to focus on academic reform, the fiscal stability of our organization and, most importantly, continue to emphasize the student-athlete,“ Isch said.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The men’s Final Four in 2011 will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, the NCAA said yesterday. The 2012 Final Four will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans and in the following year - the 75th anniversary of the event - it will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The NCAA also chose most of the host sites for the early rounds in 2011-2013:

The NCAA has put the brakes on composite bats. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel last week affirmed a decision made in July to put an immediate and indefinite moratorium on the use of the often-tampered piece of hardware. It will keep examining the issue to see if the moratorium can be lifted. But high schools and youth leagues, where composite bats also are prevalent, aren’t ready to take such decisive action.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said yesterday that his program has abided by NCAA rules, despite allegations from anonymous players and former players who say the team has practiced far beyond the time allowed. At a news conference in Ann Arbor, Rodriguez became emotional and had to gather himself several times with glassy eyes as he denied any wrongdoing.

Bobby Bowden knows missed tackles, fumbles or superior opponents could send the Florida State Seminoles to defeat. But he never thought a course in music history would cost him so many victories. In the fall of 2006 and spring and summer of 2007, 61 Florida State athletes from 10 sports cheated in their course work. Twenty-five were football players.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, who proposed sports betting to help solve a budget shortfall, signed legislation authorizing it this year.

In mirrorlike fashion, Ole Miss returned the favor. With Mississippi all but headed for a series-clinching victory, a costly error in the eighth inning opened the door for Virginia to claim a 4-3 come-from-behind victory in the Oxford Super Regional yesterday. The win, which included ninth-inning heroics on the mound, kept Virginia’s season alive and evened the best-of-three event. The Cavaliers (47-13-1) need one win to make their first trip to the College World Series.