*COLLEGES: Northwestern will add Boston College and Rice to its non-conference football schedule beginning in 2010. The Wildcats will face Rice Sept. 18, 2010, in Houston, then play host to the Owls the following season. Northwestern will begin a home and home with Boston College in 2011, first playing in Boston, then hosting the Eagles in 2012. … Oklahoma has filed its appeal requesting the NCAA overturn an infractions committee ruling that would strip the Sooners of eight wins because of rules violations involving former starting quarterback Rhett Bomar. The university notified the NCAA in July that it intended to appeal the ruling that would take away the wins from an 8-4 season in 2005 that concluded with a victory against Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. … Mark Hollis will succeed Ron Mason as Michigan State’s athletic director.
*BASKETBALL: Dirk Nowitzki had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead Germany over Italy 67-58 and into the quarterfinals of the European Basketball Championship.Germany will face world champion Spain in the quarterfinals Thursday.
*NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mark Bell was suspended for 15 games without pay Wednesday by the NHL after his plea last month of no contest to drunken driving and hit-and-run charges. Bell is in Stage 2 of the NHL’s substance abuse program. He was suspended indefinitely Sept. 4, and the suspension will start once he’s cleared to return by the program’s doctors. The doctors also will determine what, if any, activities Bell can participate in when Toronto opens training camp Thursday. “The NHLPA sees no basis for the excessive suspension Gary Bettman has imposed upon Mark Bell,” said Ian Penny, NHL Players’ Association’s associate counsel.
