Beach volleyball: Utah native Jake Gibb excited for a chance to shine in his home state

Bountiful native and former Olympian Jake Gibb practices for the upcoming AVP pro beach volleyball tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013. Professional beach volleyball is coming to Salt Lake City for the first time August 16 - 18.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — You might think that because the AVP Beach Volleyball tour is coming to town this weekend — to Liberty Park, to be specific — that beach volleyball star Jake Gibb had something to do with it. After all, the Utah native has been one of the top AVP players for the past decade.

But Gibb was just as surprised — happily surprised — as anyone when Salt Lake City was chosen as the first stop on the AVP Beach Volleyball tour, a seven-tournament circuit that runs until October.

"I'm stoked. I didn't really believe they would have it here," Gibb said Wednesday afternoon as he prepared to practice on one of the new sand courts on the east side of Liberty Park. "I've played professionally for 14 years and when they dropped Salt Lake City on me, I about lost it. I'm excited — really excited."

Gibb, a native of Bountiful, has been one of the top beach volleyball players, not only in the United States, but the world for several years. The 37-year-old has played in two Olympics and is coming off his best season when he and his partner were ranked No. 1 in the world. He and new partner Casey Patterson will be one of the favored men's teams this weekend.

So what happened to his old partner, Sean Rosenthal?

"For lack of a better word, he dumped me," Gibb said. "I got dumped after a No. 1 year. He partnered with Phil Dalhausser, (who is) the same age as him, so they could have seven great years together."

Gibb understands the reason for the breakup since he is four years older, but he would love nothing more than to beat Rosenthal and Dalhausser this week and anytime they play. (So far he is 1-2 against them.)

The Rosenthal-Dalhausser team enters as the No. 1 seed in this week's event, while Gibb-Patterson is No. 2.

"We are friends, but it makes an interesting dynamic when we get on the court. We want to beat each other so badly, it's almost palpable," he said. "It's a friendly, really strong rivalry, but once we step inside the blue lines, it's on."

Gibb is thrilled with his new partner, Patterson, a former BYU volleyball player from Southern California.

"It's been fun," Gibb said. "He's young and full of energy. He's never taken even a top 10 in the world until this year, and now we have a gold in Shanghai and two silvers. We've done well. He was a kid who just needed an opportunity, and I took a little risk on him and it's paying off."

Patterson, who didn't start playing serious beach volleyball until after college, is grateful for the opportunity to play with one of the best.

"I had the opportunity to watch him a lot when I was in college and growing up playing the game, so it's fun to get a chance to play with him," Patterson said.

Gibb is a late bloomer himself in volleyball. He played golf and basketball in high school and didn't play sports at the University of Utah, where he earned a business degree.

"I started in the backyard playing on the grass with my friends," he said. "We'd grab a garden hose and make a line and had a real droopy net and we played."

When he found he had a talent for beach volleyball in his 20s, Gibb moved to Southern California and turned pro in 2000. His career took off and, by 2005, he was the MVP of the AVP. He's been one of the top players on the circuit ever since, topped off by his 2012 season.

"It takes a long time to get the full skill set for beach volleyball," he said. "In indoor you can specialize, but in outdoor there's only two men and you have to have every skill."

Gibb acknowledges that most beach volleyball players hit their peak between the ages of 30 and 35. But then he adds, "I have a good strength coach, so I happened to peak at 36."

Commentary: The best University of Utah quarterbacks of the last 35 years

Larry Egger trieds to escape San Diego State's Brett Faryniarz and find a downfield receiver.

Tom Smart, Deseret News

The journey from WAC-also-ran to BCS buster and finally to a member of the Pac-12 has been a long and arduous one for the University of Utah football team. The roller-coaster ride the Utes have endured over the last 35 years includes six coaches and a lot of tough seasons.

It has also included a few great teams and a number of very talented quarterbacks. This list ranks the best of those quarterbacks — the ones who were a huge part of the Utes finding their way to the top of the national rankings and a home in one of the most prestigious conferences in the country.

The rankings are based solely on what each quarterback did while at the University of Utah and not what they did in the NFL.

Here are the 10 greatest quarterbacks for the Utes over the last 35 years.

Grand High football player dies; team rallies around his family

 Sam Woodruff, sophomore lineman for the Grand County Red Devils, died Saturday afternoon. His teammates are dedicating the season to him and will raise money to help cover his burial costs at their Red and White game this Saturday evening.

Courtesy of Merry Woodruff

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MOAB — Grand High sophomore Sam Woodruff was so excited about practicing in pads for the first time this football season, he couldn't sleep until after 4 a.m. Saturday.

Even with just a few hours of rest, he was one of the first boys at the high school for Saturday morning's practice.

"The glow and smile on his face was all you needed to see to know just how happy and content he was with football," said his mom, Merry Woodruff. "Football and his team really meant the world to him. It was the center of his social life."

The day he’d looked forward to for weeks ended tragically when the 15-year-old died from unknown causes Saturday afternoon at his home in Moab. An autopsy was performed, but it could take weeks for officials to learn what led to the boy’s death.

Grand Superintendent Scott Crane released a statement regarding Woodruff’s death on Tuesday.

“As a district family and community we mourn the loss of one of our students,” he said in the statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are for the family at this difficult, sorrowful time. It’s not the district’s policy to discuss student information with the media.”

Merry Woodruff said her son was somewhat timid as he began his freshman year but gained confidence, in large part, because of his participation in the school’s football program.

“He wasn’t able to complete his freshman year due to academics,” said his mom, “and this only made him more determined. His academic success improved greatly during third trimester, ensuring he’d be eligible his sophomore season. Not only did he gain focus on an education, he became more determined to better himself physically.”

Woodruff didn’t miss a single day of summer weight training or conditioning.

“His goal was to become the starting center for the JV team this year, and with continued work, be starting center for varsity his senior season,” Merry said. “Sam was so committed, every coach had his attention.”

With success in school and within the program, Woodruff, who was always a considerate, compassionate young man, gained confidence.

“He found a home away from home and really began to excel,” said Merry. “The coaches and team cared a lot about Sam, and he always reciprocated back.”

An only child, the Red Devil football players became the brothers he’d never had.

“The team welcomed Sam with open arms,” Merry said. “The last night of team camp, they hold what is called family night, where the team sits down and open up without any fear. This is the most basic of all bonding for the team. Sam poured out his heart and soul and was fully embraced by the team as any other member. The team was his family away from his family.”

Those young men will be working at the cemetery Saturday morning to help pay for Sam’s burial plot, according to the team’s Facebook page. Saturday evening at 7 p.m., the team will hold it’s Red and White scrimmage game at the high school, at which it will have cans where people can donate to the Woodruff family.

Sam’s death was announced on the team’s Facebook page on Aug. 11, and community members, parents and former players expressed their love and support for the Woodruff family and the young men who will now dedicate the season to Sam.

“He was a hard worker and an inspiration to the team,” the team’s Facebook page said the day after Sam’s death. “We will be dedicating this years state championship to Sam. We will miss you buddy.”

Woodruff’s funeral will be held Friday at 4 p.m. in the Grand High auditorium. A viewing will be held Thursday, Aug. 15, from 6-8 p.m. at Spanish Valley Mortuary.

High school football: 5 teams expected to contend for Region 5 title

4A football semifinal, Mountain Crest vs. Highland, at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.

Laura Seitz, Deseret News

It’s quite common to find a league where two or maybe even three teams are expected to be strong contenders for a championship.

But five teams? No way.

That’s the case in Region 5 football this year, however, as all three Cache Valley schools — defending league champion Mountain Crest, along with Logan and Sky View — all figure to be in the hunt, as well as Box Elder and a resurgent Roy High team.

Picking a favorite is like pulling teeth — coaches stammer and squirm at the prospect of trying to decide which one of those five teams will wind up as the top dog in a region that also includes Bonneville and league newcomer Ogden.

“I think it’s loaded,” said Box Elder coach Robbie Gunter, whose team has been picked by some experts as the one to beat. “I think it’s a great region this year. The three Cache Valley schools, who knows which one is the best, but they are all excellent. And Roy is probably as good as they’ve been in a long time with great young kids and they’re competing.

“I don’t know that I’d pick a favorite. I think that they’re all pretty good.

“Mountain Crest has won it the last few years, so you’ve gotta give it to them going into it — you’ve gotta knock them off,” Gunther said. “Just because Mountain Crest has done it so many times (five titles won or shared over the last six seasons), you have to say that they’re the favorite. They always seem to put it together.”

However, Mountain Crest coach Mark Wootton isn’t so sure about his own team's title contention.

Yes, the Mustangs are the defending league champs and were within one play of winning the 4A state championship last November, dropping a dramatic double-overtime heartbreaker to Timpview in the title game.

But he lost a lot of great players off that team, and he claims his young squad might be too inexperienced to take home another title this year.

“There are five or six teams that can win it,” Wootton said. “There’s not any clear-cut favorite. There could be a few teams that are really happy at the end — and a lot that are really disappointed. It’s just that close, and it could be a little disappointing because I think everybody will play everybody else tough.

“I just kinda hope that the tradition keeps our kids playing at a high level. Our expectations for the kids is real high. We’re pushing them very hard, and we coach our kids up to win. When you lose great players and have to fill a lot of spots, you hope that when kids get that opportunity they play real hard and get after it.”

Logan High coach Mike Favero certainly knows a little bit about playing hard, getting after it and bringing home a championship, as his teams have taken four state titles over the last 14 years.

And he sees this year’s Region 5 race as a five-team dogfight.

“Mountain Crest, Box Elder, Roy and Logan are probably very, very similar teams this year, and you can throw Sky View into that group as well,” he said. “Mountain Crest’s younger programs are outstanding and they will be right there — they’ve got too many kids not to (contend). And Sky View’s got a lot of talent coming back.

“Roy’s junior class was probably the strongest in the region. Their biggest thing is, mentally, can you turn the program around? They’re talented but, if the kids haven’t experienced success at a high level, sometimes they can be held back by that. I think the most talented team in the region is Box Elder; they’re tough.

“With those five teams, it’s going to be a very, very, very tight race,” Favero said.

High school football: Deseret News 2013 preview schedule (Updated Aug. 14)

2012 Deseret News Mr. Football Austin Kafentzis poses for a portrait on the Jordan High School football field, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012.

Ben Brewer, Deseret News

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Beginning Sunday, Aug. 4 with Class 1A and continuing through Aug. 20 with Region 1, the Deseret News will publish previews for all 16 regions in the state.

From Aug. 5 to Aug. 20, in-depth previews for all 103 teams playing varsity football will be published.

Listed below is the complete publication schedule for these 119 preview stories.

In case you missed it, check out the Deseret News class-by-class preseason rankings, our statewide top 25 rankings and complete schedules for every team in the state.

Region 1 Preview (Aug. 20)

Fremont (Aug. 14), Davis (Aug. 15), Northridge (Aug. 16), Syracuse (Aug. 17), Layton (Aug. 18), Viewmont (Aug. 19), Weber (Aug. 20).

Region 2 Preview (Aug. 19)

Cottonwood (Aug. 5), Granger (Aug. 6), Hillcrest (Aug. 7), Hunter (Aug. 8), Taylorsville (Aug. 13), West (Aug. 15).

Region 3 Preview (Aug. 17)

Alta (Aug. 14), Jordan (Aug. 15), Bingham (Aug. 16), Brighton (Aug. 17), Copper Hills (Aug. 19), West Jordan (Aug. 20).

Region 4 Preview (Aug. 16)

American Fork (Aug. 6), Herriman (Aug. 7), Lehi (Aug. 8), Lone Peak (Aug. 9), Pleasant Grove (Aug. 10), Riverton (Aug. 12), Westlake (Aug. 13).

Region 5 Preview (Aug. 15)

Logan (Aug. 14), Mountain Crest (Aug. 15), Box Elder (Aug. 16), Ogden (Aug. 17), Bonneville (Aug. 18), Roy (Aug. 19), Sky View (Aug. 20).

Region 6 Preview (Aug. 14)

Bountiful (Aug. 5), Cyprus (Aug. 6), Kearns (Aug. 7), Woods Cross (Aug. 8), Highland (Aug. 9), Clearfield (Aug. 10), East (Aug. 12).

Region 7 Preview (Aug. 13)

Corner Canyon (Aug. 6), Mountain View (Aug. 7), Murray (Aug. 8), Olympus (Aug. 9), Orem (Aug. 10), Skyline (Aug. 12), Timpanogos (Aug. 13).

Region 8 Preview (Aug. 12)

Maple Mountain (Aug. 13), Provo (Aug. 14), Salem Hills (Aug. 15), Spanish Fork (Aug. 16), Springville (Aug. 17), Timpview (Aug. 19), Wasatch (Aug. 20).

3AA North Preview (Aug. 10)

Tooele (Aug. 5), Bear River (Aug. 6), Juan Diego (Aug. 7), Park City (Aug. 8), Ben Lomond (Aug. 9), Stansbury (Aug. 10), Uintah (Aug. 12).

3AA South Preview (Aug. 9)

Payson (Aug. 13), Pine View (Aug. 14), Cedar (Aug. 15), Desert Hills (Aug. 16), Dixie (Aug. 17), Hurricane (Aug. 19), Snow Canyon (Aug. 20).

3A North Preview (Aug. 8)

Grantsville (Aug. 6), Union (Aug. 7), Carbon (Aug. 8), Emery (Aug. 9), Judge (Aug. 12), Morgan (Aug. 13).

3A South Preview (Aug. 7)

Manti (Aug. 12), Delta (Aug. 13), Juab (Aug. 14), North Sanpete (Aug. 15), Canyon View (Aug. 16), Richfield (Aug. 19).

2A North Preview (Aug. 6)

ALA (Aug. 5), Gunnison (Aug. 6), Layton Christian (Aug. 7), Millard (Aug. 8), North Summit (Aug. 9), South Summit (Aug. 12), Summit Academy (Aug. 15).

2A South Preview (Aug. 5)

Beaver (Aug. 13), Enterprise (Aug. 15), Grand (Aug. 15), North Sevier (Aug. 16), Parowan (Aug. 17), San Juan (Aug. 19), South Sevier (Aug. 20).

1A Preview (Aug. 4)

Altamont (Aug. 8), Duchesne (Aug. 9), Milford (Aug. 12), Kanab (Aug. 15), Rich (Aug. 15), Monticello (Aug. 16), Monument Valley (Aug. 17), Whitehorse (Aug. 19), Diamond Ranch (Aug. 20).

High school football: Grand Red Devils 2013 preview

Koi Cook

Courtesy Grand Co. High School

Note: Grand County finished with a 7-4 overall record in 2012 and tied for second place in 2A South with a 5-2 record. It lost to Manti 58-15 in the 2A semifinals.

MOAB — The Grand County football team is sitting in a pretty good position.

Not only are the Red Devils coming off a year that saw them win five more games than they had the previous season and advance to the semifinals, but they also have many of their primary contributors from a year ago back on the gridiron.

On top of that, the cohesive group is ready to give their all for the sake of the team.

“This group is a tight-knit family,” said assistant coach Ron Dolphin, who has coached the upperclassmen since they were in elementary school.

“They all care about each other; they are all leaders; they are all excited when somebody does something good,” Dolphin continued. “They all want what’s best for the team — it’s not about the stat.”

The all-for-one attitude was especially visible last season when quarterback and defensive back Jacob Francis was sidelined for a few games due to injury and Koi Cook, an all-purpose athlete who was No. 14 on the Deseret News top 20 prep football players list, stepped in to fill the hole.

That versatility is common across the Red Devils roster, and is not limited only to football.

“We spread the Moab kids thin,” Dolphin said, adding that many of the boys on the team are involved in multiple sports, student government, the school musical, and working jobs.

“Everyone is doing 50 different things. They are involved in everything,” Dolphin said. “It is amazing what we get out of these kids.”

That same versatility allows the team to spread its weapons around the field.

A year ago, Francis, now a senior, had 988 passing yards, 765 rushing yards, 16 total touchdowns, 44 tackles, two interceptions, two field goals and 24 PATs. Cook added 1,162 more offensive yards, 14 scores, a team-high 129 tackles and three interceptions.

Other key returners include seniors Cameron Taylor and Layton Call along with juniors Koby Sobremesana and Ronnie Dolphin.

“We have a lot of guys who can attack,” coach Dolphin said. “(Opponents) can’t just key in on one kid this year; we will be able to keep the defense honest.”

The Red Devils boast three key returning full-time linemen in Edgar Gomez, Austin Day and David Bentley. They will lead a group of juniors — which includes Tanner White, Adam Flanders, Josh Harris and Charlie DeMars Conoly — who the coaching staff expects to make a big impact.

“We have greater depth on the line,” Dolphin said, “which is something we missed last year.”

After watching this group of juniors and seniors grow up, the coach feels the greatest growth he has seen is in their size.

“They have always been a solid group of kids,” he said. “They have turned into a great group of young men. We are excited to see what they can do.”

Grand County kicks off with three straight home games before hitting the road in the second week of September. Dolphin said that, after the semifinal run last season, the coaching staff and their players are utilizing the experience but are avoiding getting “destination disease” and will take this season one game at a time.

“2A is pretty wide open. It’s anybody’s game,” he said. “We are striving to be there. We are working hard and hoping to have a little luck on our side when we meet the opportunity.”

High school football: Jordan Beetdiggers 2013 preview

Utah State High School 5A Football semifinal between Lone Peak and Jordan in Rice-Eccles Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012.

Ben Brewer, Deseret News

Note: Jordan finished with a 12-1 overall record in 2013 was first in Region 3 with a 5-0 record. It beat Syracuse 58-2 in the 5A state championship game.

SANDY— The planets aligned in 2012, and Jordan's football team delivered one of the best seasons the state of Utah has ever witnessed en route to drubbing Syracuse in the 5A state championship game.

It was a perfect storm, but as is always the case — every storm eventually subsides. The Beetdiggers lost all five of their offensive linemen up front along with their entire receiving corps. Accordingly, the defending champions enter the season as the No. 4-ranked team in the Deseret News 5A poll.

However, with the top two offensive players returning (quarterback and running back), coupled with a ferocious defense, Jordan has every reason to believe it will return to the 5A semifinals for the fourth-consecutive season.

“It’s tough,” Jordan coach Eric Kjar said. “The main thing is to just work hard. I don’t know if you expect each team to be like another team. I think we’re going to be a little bit different, but you still expect them to work hard, and make sure they’re bringing it at practice.”

The Beetdiggers have already put their rings in the jewelry box. Last season is a distant memory, and this group is striving to create its own identity.

“It’s much different,” Kjar said. “We still have a few captains back, but we have some new leaders. Hopefully it comes out and works well for us.”

Back in the fold is reigning Deseret News Mr. Football Austin Kafentzis. The Wisconsin commit carries the honor and burden of being the most recognizable name in Utah high school football.

In only two years, Kafentzis has been named Deseret News first-team all-state as a freshman; Mr. Football as a sophomore; National Freshman and Sophomore of the Year by MaxPreps; and second-team All-America by USA Today in 2012.

“He’s worked a lot on his speed, so I think that part he’s got a lot better on,” Kjar said of Kafentzis. “He’s definitely a lot faster than he was last year. He’s working on his reads and understanding the game better, so I think he’ll improve there, too.”

It’s conceivable that in two years Kafentzis will have rewritten every significant passing and rushing record in state history. He’s currently 4,906 yards and 47 touchdowns behind the high passing marks of Mountain Crest’s Alex Kuresa, and only 3,803 yards behind Kuresa’s total offense record. On the ground, he’s 2,597 yards behind the record of Granger’s Fahu Tahi and 26 touchdowns behind the record of Grantsville’s Alan Mouritsen.

Meanwhile, star Clay Moss also returns at running back after scooting for 1,111 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2012. As the new additions on offense acclimate to the speed of varsity competition, Jordan will rely heavily on Moss' production.

“Really important,” Kjar said of Moss when asked about the early portion of the season. “It’s nice having him back, and just the experience and what he brings physically. It helps a ton.”

Jordan Beetdiggers at a glance

Coach: In four years, Eric Kjar has a 38-13 record with three semifinal appearances and a state title with Jordan. He’s a graduate from Kemmerer High in Wyoming and Wayne State (Mich.).

Offense

(4 returning starters; spread offense)

Replacing one of the best starting front fives in history is obviously the main point of emphasis going forward. Right now, several players are contending for opening night roles, but Kjar highlighted Alex Kabwere (left tackle), Spencer Hallings (right tackle) and Parker Williams (center).

High school football: North Sanpete Hawks 2013 preview

Here's an in-depth look at the North Sanpete Hawks football team heading into the 2013 season.

Note: North Sanpete finished with a 5-6 overall record in 2012 and tied for second in Region 12 with a 3-2 record. It lost to Dixie 35-6 in the 3A first round.

2012 North Sanpete statistical recap

MOUNT PLEASANT — North Sanpete’s football program is officially out of helmets and shoulder pads, and coach Matt Roberts couldn’t be happier.

In his second season as head coach at his alma mater, Roberts has 30 more kids coming out for football than he did last year. For a 3A school that hasn’t had a winning record since 2007 (6-5) and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2001, that’s a huge boost to the program.

Along with the increased participation comes higher expectations, something Roberts isn’t shy about reminding his players of.

“We understand if we go .500 this year that’s not acceptable,” said Roberts.

Last year’s 5-5 regular-season record and then first-round playoff loss to eventual champ Dixie was nothing to be ashamed of — far from it, in fact. The up-and-down campaign was a great first step for Roberts in his quest to get North Sanpete back on the map.

There are several reasons to believe the program is heading in the right direction, including being lumped into the smaller 3A classification in the UHSAA's realignment.

The smaller classification doesn’t necessarily make the regular season any easier; it just makes success in the playoffs more attainable. But region foes Delta, Juab, Richfield, Canyon View and Manti are all thinking the same thing, which should make for very competitive Friday nights in September and October.

“Manti is going to be tough; they return a lot. The good thing about our region, week in and week out it kind of reminds me how it was down in St. George. Week in and week out you didn’t know who was going to win. It was a battle every week,” said Roberts, who was an assistant coach at Desert Hills before taking over at North Sanpete.

Two additional factors have Roberts believing North Sanpete will be right in the thick of the region race all season. The first is the progression of junior quarterback Brady Wheeler. The second is the presence of two outstanding move-ins.

Offensively, it starts with Wheeler. As a sophomore last season, Wheeler looked awkward at times and only completed 37 percent of his passes for 574 yards, four TDs and six interceptions.

A year later, he’s a new man.

“Now he’s one of the fastest kids on the team. He’s put the weight room work in, the speed and agility work out. He’s been the first one there and the last one to leave,” said Roberts.

Wheeler participated in camps at Utah State, BYU and Utah to help hone his skills.

“Anything you can do to get better he’s done. Hopefully he has a breakout season because of all the work,” said Roberts. “He’s got this offense down as good as any quarterback I’ve seen both at Desert Hills or here.”

Defensively, without any returning starters, North Sanpete’s coaching staff was always going to experience some anxiety about this season. That all changed when a couple of defensive linemen moved to Mount Pleasant.

Garrett Turpin is a transfer from Provo High, and the junior will be a huge asset at 6 foot, 240 pounds.

“He’s just a mean, hard-nosed kid. From day one he came in with a work ethic, and that’s something these kids respect,” said Roberts.

The other addition is Hunter transfer Mark Out, a big, athletic nose guard who can also catch and block on the offensive side if necessary.

U.S. soccer: Jozy Altidore's hat trick leads US to 4-3 win vs Bosnia

U.S. Soccer vs. Bosnia highlights

Trailing 2-0 at halftime, their record winning streak in jeopardy, the Americans never panicked.

There was no need to, not with Jozy Altidore on their team.

Altidore led an impressive comeback Wednesday, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist on the other goal as the U.S. rallied to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-3 in an exhibition in Sarajevo and extend its record winning streak to 12 games. It was the first come-from-behind win on European soil for the Americans.

"We came in (at halftime) and said, 'Listen we can beat this team,'" said Altidore, who has scored in five straight games, a first for a U.S. player. "We came in and said, 'We have more weapons, we're just as confident as they are. We just have to put more passes together and be more confident.' And you saw that in the second half."

The 12-game winning streak is the longest in the world right now, and three shy of the record set by Spain in 2009. The win over 13th-ranked Bosnia was the second over a top-15 team during the run, following a 4-3 victory over No. 2 Germany on June 2 that started the streak.

Edin Dzeko scored his second goal in the 90th minute. But it wasn't enough for the Dragons, who lost for the first time in 10 games.

"We absolutely deserved the win," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "This is good for the guys to see that we're going to come to Europe and play eye to eye. We're not here to defend or counterbreak. We're here to play."

The U.S. winning streak, the longest currently in the world, appeared to be jeopardy after the Americans fell behind 2-0 before halftime.

The Bosnians quickly pounced on a Johnson turnover in the eighth minute and fed it to Dzeko. His first shot, from just inside the penalty area, deflected off Tim Howard, but Dzeko was right there to collect the rebound and put it in the net for a 1-0 lead. Vedad Ibisevic, who spent part of his childhood in St. Louis and still has immediate family there, doubled Bosnia's lead in the 30th on a header.

But the U.S. was beginning to create chances even before the half, and Klinsmann told his players in the locker room that the game was still very much up for grabs.

"Jurgen has always said, even if we go down a goal, keep responding," Altidore said.

Respond they did. Resoundingly.

Altidore set up Johnson's goal in the 55th minute, controlling a long chip shot from Michael Bradley with a slight touch of his left foot. The ball fell right at Johnson's feet and, with goalkeeper Asmir Begovic out of the net to block Altidore, Johnson neatly tapped the ball into the empty net to cut Bosnia's lead to 2-1.

Four minutes later, Altidore evened things up.

Fabian Johnson slalomed through a crowd of Bosnian defenders, chipping the ball to Altidore. He took one shot and buried a left-footed shot from 16 yards that the diving Begovic had no chance to stop. It was Altidore's fifth goal in as many games, breaking the previous mark he'd shared with Eddie Johnson, William Looby, Eric Wynalda, Brian McBride and Landon Donovan.

He wasn't finished, either.

The Americans were awarded a free kick in the 84th minute when Edgar Castillo was tripped by Miroslav Stevanovic. Altidore lifted the ball over the wall of Bosnians and into the back of the net. Two minutes later, he finished off his second career hat trick with a shot from about 8 yards out.

"We see a Jozy that is enjoying himself," Klinsmann said of his striker, who has seven goals in the last five games. "He went through a lot of maturing elements over last couple of years ... But he really understands now how to zoom in when it counts. He makes everyone around him a better player. It's real enjoyable, it's really fun."

Utah State football: First-team offense shines during Aggies' second scrimmage of fall camp

Defensive back Devonta Glover-Wright defends Travis Van Leeuwen during Utah State Aggies football practice Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Logan

, Tom Smart, Deseret News

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LOGAN — Utah State head coach Matt Wells inherited a stout defense at USU, but the former offensive coordinator’s high-powered offense was the talk of the team after the Aggies’ second scrimmage of fall camp Wednesday evening.

Quarterback Chuckie Keeton was in midseason form, surgically picking apart the defense during his reps. The junior threw for 172 yards on 12 of 20 attempts and tossed three touchdowns.

“Explosive plays by the offense,” Wells said when asked about the highlights of the scrimmage. “That is what we are used to around here. That’s the standard and that will be the expectation every Saturday.”

Big plays included a 25-yard touchdown strike to Travis Reynolds, a 42-yard toss to Hayden Weichers, and several nice plays by Bruce Natson, including a touchdown catch of his own.

Keeton also finished as the third-leading rusher for the Aggies with 13 yards on five carries. He would have had many more had it not been for quick whistles from officials looking to protect the quarterback from onrushing defenders.

Although the first-team offense supplied many of the fireworks, USU had plenty to be happy about from the defensive side as well.

“I thought both defenses at the end of the two-minute drill ... studded it up against the offense,” Wells said. “The (first-team) defense absolutely shut down the (second-team) offense in their side of the two-minute drill.”

The strength of USU's defense lies in a talented linebacker corps that goes six or seven deep, according to defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Kyler Fackrell did most of the damage, finishing with three sacks, while Tavaris McMillian and Nick Vigil each added one of their own.

McMillian, in particular, showed the strength and versatility of the linebacker unit. The junior from Miami can play all four linebacker positions, but has been spending a lot of time opposite of Fackrell in the Aggies' base defense during camp.

“Depth is valuable, especially against pace teams where guys can rotate in and out,” McMillian said. “It plays into our hands.”

At cornerback, the Aggies have been trying several players opposite Nevin Lawson. Rashard Stewart, along with his teammates Tay Glover-Wright and Quinton Byrd, have all been seeing first-team snaps.

“Me and Tay (Glover-Wright) are like brothers,” Stewart said. “We learn from each other. The main thing I like is the DB group is all in competition. All these guys make me try and play harder.”

Stewart has worked hard to improve his consistency over the summer, going as far as to cut out his offseason rapping hobby to focus more on football. The effort has paid off, as Stewart has been one of the standouts of camp so far. The junior corner even registered a sack on Keeton coming off a corner blitz during the scrimmage.

“Chasing him is like chasing a rabbit,” Stewart joked. “I just like to watch a lot of D-linemen during their one-on-ones so when it’s time for me to rush I can steal their technique.”

AP Source: 76ers hire Brett Brown as coach

By DAN GELSTON — AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — Four months later, the Philadelphia 76ers have a new coach.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday the Sixers have hired San Antonio assistant Brett Brown to replace Doug Collins, who resigned in April.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move has not been officially announced.

New general manager Sam Hinkie took quite a while looking for a replacement before choosing Brown, who was part of three NBA title teams with San Antonio. The 52-year-old Brown was an assistant under Gregg Popovich since 2002. He also coached the Australian men's national team from 2009-12, and played a key role in helping Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker develop into All-Stars with the Spurs.

Brown is the franchise's 24th coach and eighth since Larry Brown resigned in 2003.

Brett Brown inherits a team completely rebuilding. Hinkie, who was hired away from Houston, traded All-Star guard Jrue Holiday to New Orleans on draft night for the rights to Kentucky center Nerlens Noel. Hinkie also drafted Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams with the 11th overall pick in the first round.

Collins stepped down after the Sixers went 34-48, a year after advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals. A season that began with promise after the acquisition of former All-Star center Andrew Bynum unraveled quickly, and Bynum never played a game in a Sixers uniform because of knee problems.

Collins left with one year remaining on his original four-year deal worth $4.5 million. He led the Sixers to the playoffs his first two seasons.

Bell or Knight? QB mystery at Oklahoma

By MURRAY EVANS — Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — Less than three weeks before Oklahoma's season opener, coach Bob Stoops seems unconcerned that he hasn't yet named a starting quarterback.

Stoops gave no indication that his decision will come any time soon and he told reporters he hasn't ruled out using both Blake Bell and Trevor Knight when the Sooners host Louisiana-Monroe on Aug. 31, saying "there's always that chance."

The last time Stoops waited this long to decide on a starting quarterback was 2007. He waited until that Aug. 21 to pick then-redshirt freshman Sam Bradford over Joey Halzle and Keith Nichol.

Bradford, of course, went on to win the Heisman Trophy in 2008 and returned to Oklahoma for the 2009 campaign, only to have his season shortened by injury. His backup, Landry Jones, ascended to the top job and held it through 2012.

Bell appeared to be Jones' heir apparent, as he saw considerable playing time last season as part of the Sooners' "Belldozer" power-running offensive set. Still, Stoops declared the job to be an open competition between Bell, Knight and Kendal Thompson. Thompson fractured his right foot on the opening day of preseason practice and fell out of the race, at least temporarily.

Stoops said he saw no drawbacks in waiting to name a starting quarterback.

"They're both being prepared to play, as well as (current third-stringer) Cody Thomas as well," Stoops said Monday. "But at the end of the day, I keep saying this, this isn't our first rodeo. We've done this a lot. We've won eight Big 12 championships with six different quarterbacks, so it hasn't really hurt us a lot. We're trying to get them all ready to play."

Stoops also said there's no guarantee that whoever is the starter against Louisiana-Monroe would keep the job the entire season, saying the quarterback position is just like any other. He said a second-teamer could become a starter "if you played better than the other guy or if you have a better week of practice and the other guy junks it up. They can always change. In this (team meeting) room, that's not the case. No one is treated differently than anyone else."

When Stoops decides to name a starter, he said he'll meet with Knight and Bell but won't announce it to the team, figuring other players will "start realizing who's getting all the No. 1 reps." He said that making an announcement to the team would improperly elevate the quarterback position over other positions.

"We don't tell them who's going to start at (defensive) end or at linebacker or at wide receiver, so there's no sense in doing it with (the quarterbacks)," Stoops said.

Stoops said no one on the team is too worked up about the current situation. Two of his players said as much before the coach arrived in the room, although they appeared to carefully choose their words.

"We get a lot of reps with all of them," sophomore wide receiver Sterling Shepard said. "I wouldn't say that I needed to know right now."

Added senior offensive lineman Bronson Irwin: "I can't say a whole lot about them, but both those guys have looked good. . To me, it doesn't affect me. I'm just going to prepare and be ready to be the best at my job. We have two guys that are capable of playing high-level football and whichever one ends up being the guy, that's going to be beneficial for us and we'll do all right."

Braunschweig back in Bundesliga 28 years later

BERLIN — Eintracht Braunschweig isn't letting one defeat spoil the joy of returning to the Bundesliga after 28 years in the wilderness.

A third-division side just four seasons ago, Braunschweig dominated the second half against Werder Bremen on Saturday, but a moment of inexperience allowed the visitors to steal in for the winning goal with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Yet the Braunschweig fans stayed long after the final whistle, singing, chanting, jumping up and down in appreciation of the effort made by their side, buoyed with the joy of being back in Germany's top division.

Also known as Brunswick, the small northern city east of Hannover has a population of around a quarter of a million people.

Saturday's loss was a bittersweet moment for supporters at the sold-out 23,000-capacity Eintracht Stadium, where a large banner proclaimed "Something was missing for 28 years" before kickoff.

"For many players and for me it was the first game in the Bundesliga," said Braunschweig coach Torsten Lieberknecht. "The loss hurts, but this day has shown that we want to meet this incredible challenge, and that we can meet it, too."

Braunschweig, promoted as runner-up in the second-division last season, hadn't played in the Bundesliga since June 8, 1985, losing then — like Saturday — 1-0 at home, albeit to champion Bayern Munich.

Braunschweig has made several important contributions to German soccer since it was founded as Football and Cricket-Club Eintracht Braunschweig on Dec. 15, 1895.

It was one of the founding members of the German Football Federation in 1900, went on to win the North German Football Championship twice (1908 and 1913), and the succeeding championships on several occasions, culminating with the club being asked to take part in the newly formed Bundesliga in 1963.

Braunschweig won the Bundesliga in 1967, its only national title to date, but became caught up in a game manipulation scandal in 1971, when several players accepted third-party payments to improve their performances — prohibited under league rules. Playmaker and West Germany international Lothar Ulsass was among those suspended.

The club is best known, however, as the first to introduce jersey sponsorship to the league in 1973, when Braunschweig sported the Jaegermeister logo. The shirts became ubiquitous in Germany.

Based in the nearby city of Wolfenbuettel, the company behind the alcoholic drink paid Braunschweig 100,000 German marks to carry the deer's-head logo that year, though it didn't prevent relegation on the last day of the season — its first from the Bundesliga.

Braunschweig bounced back the following season and the sponsorship continued until 1987. Today, because it has an alcohol content of over 15 percent, such sponsorship would not be allowed.

Guenter Mast, chief executive of the family-run Jaegermeister company, was clearly a Braunschweig fan. He made possible the club-record 1.6 million German mark deal to buy West German international Paul Breitner from Real Madrid in 1977. Breitner did not settle in the team, however, and returned to Bayern Munich the following season.

Braunschweig was relegated again in 1980, re-promoted again the following season, but arguably its darkest period came after the third relegation in 1985, when the years were spent between second- and third-division soccer.

Braunschweig was facing the prospect of fourth-tier soccer in 2008, but Lieberknecht was appointed with three games remaining and he helped the side clinch 10th-place with the last game, enough for a place in the newly formed nationwide third-division the following season.

The affable coach is widely credited with Braunschweig's resurgence in the years since, winning the third-division to gain second-division promotion in 2011 and then securing Bundesliga promotion last season.

"After 28 years back in the Bundesliga, every game is a highlight. Every opponent is a challenge," the 40-year-old Lieberknecht told Kicker magazine earlier this month.

According to the Braunschweiger Zeitung newspaper, Braunschweig's overall budget is just $49 million — the same amount Bayern Munich paid Borussia Dortmund for Mario Goetze in the offseason.

The club's budget for player wages is $20 million, the lowest in Germany's top-division. Bayern's players reportedly earn $186 million.

"We were still in the third-division four years ago. Now I'm talking about clubs that are in a whole other world for years," Lieberknecht said.

Some 36 years later, Breitner's transfer in 1977 remains the club record for the equivalent of about $1.1 million.

German-born defender Lars Christopher Vilsvik was expected to become Braunschweig's new record signing for about $1.3 million from the Norwegian team Stromsgodset, but he was reportedly unable to agree personal terms with the club.

Lieberknecht knows his club is the firm favorite to be relegated at the end of the season.

"We in Braunschweig try to contribute more to the romantic part," he said. "But we have something in our chests and we want to surprise."

Canes, Cards change signing rules for fan events

By TIM REYNOLDS — AP Sports Writer

The fallout from the Johnny Manziel autograph allegations prompted Louisville and Miami to announce changes to their signing policies Monday.

At Miami's annual CanesFest on Saturday, the Hurricanes will be signing only school-issued posters and nothing else. And when Louisville has its Fan Day on Sunday, players won't be permitted to sign anything in response to what Cardinals coach Charlie Strong called "a national problem."

Both schools said the moves are being made because of ongoing concerns about college athletes and autograph sales, and neither mentioned Manziel by name. ESPN reported earlier this month that Manziel, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is being investigated by the NCAA amid allegations that he took money in exchange for signing memorabilia.

If true, Manziel's eligibility and Heisman standing would both be jeopardized.

"We have monitored the situation closely, and we decided to protect the eligibility of our players and operate under the principle that it not permissible to accept any type of compensation for their autograph or the sale of memorabilia," Strong said in a statement released through the school. "I know this will disappoint a lot of our fans, especially the young children who look up to our players, but I strongly feel this is the best decision for our football program."

Other schools, including South Carolina and Ohio State, have acknowledged in recent days that they have looked into whether some of their star players — such as Jadeveon Clowney for the Gamecocks and the Buckeyes' Braxton Miller — broke any NCAA rules by signing memorabilia that others are selling on eBay and in other manners.

Miami's decision to limit player signings to posters that the school will distribute — one per fan who shows up Saturday — would figure to at least slow down anyone who planned to attend CanesFest solely to get autographs for resale. Miami fans have brought items such as photos, shirts, footballs and helmets for players to sign at past events like CanesFest.

"As part of the University of Miami's commitment to NCAA compliance and in light of recent national news, student-athletes will only sign the" poster that will be handed out, the Hurricanes said in a statement.

Strong said he's offering fans something else instead of autographs: Sunday's planned full-pads practice will be open to spectators.

Cowboys set to celebrate new training home

The Associated Press

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are ready to celebrate with Frisco officials a day after overwhelming approval of a $115 million deal to build an indoor stadium and team headquarters in the Dallas suburb.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his son, executive vice president Stephen Jones, were making a quick trip home from training camp in Oxnard, Calif., for a news conference Tuesday to discuss the new practice facility expected to open by 2016.

Frisco is about 30 miles north of Dallas and ranks among the fastest-growing cities in the country. It is home to FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, a minor league affiliate of baseball's Texas Rangers and the training facility for hockey's Dallas Stars.

The deal will end a four-decade relationship between the Cowboys and the suburb of Irving.

Darvish fans career-top 15 in no-hit try vs Astros

HOUSTON — With every swing and miss, this looked as if it might be the day Yu Darvish pitched a no-hitter against the overmatched Houston Astros.

And then with one out in the eighth inning, Carlos Corporan ended Darvish's latest bid with a home run.

Darvish once again neared perfection versus Houston, striking out a career-high 15 and permitting only one hit in eight innings as the Texas Rangers won 2-1 Monday for their season-high eighth straight victory.

"A win's a win," Darvish said through a translator. "I'm just glad I was a big part of this win."

Texas won for the 13th time in 14 games and headed home atop the AL West.

In early April, Darvish (12-5) was one out away from a perfect game at Minute Maid Park before Marwin Gonzalez singled between his legs. Darvish joined Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in team history to have more than one start of at least eight innings with one hit or less.

Darvish became the first pitcher to have two no-hitters broken up in the eighth inning or later since it happened to Justin Verlander in 2011.

Outfielder Alex Rios chased Corporan's drive to the wall, but had to watch as it sailed about five rows into the stands. Darvish simply looked around, and then wiped his brow with his arm before preparing to throw his next pitch.

"Well, I'd like to see it happen of course," manager Ron Washington said. "But those are professional hitters over there, too, and Corporan caught one."

Until the homer, Houston's lone runner came when rookie Jonathan Villar drew a two-out walk on a full count in the sixth. Texas catcher A.J. Pierzynski was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Ron Kulpa about a 2-2 breaking pitch he called low — Pierzynski was tossed after Villar walked.

"Was it a strike? I don't know," Pierzynski said. "Obviously I thought it was and Ron didn't, and I was upset we walked the guy and I said a bad word and I was ejected."

Darvish was perplexed by the actions of his catcher.

"When he got ejected, I thought, 'What is he doing?" Darvish said with a laugh.

The two-time All-Star ace from Japan was sharp all game, retiring the last two batters in eighth and exiting after increasing his major league-leading strikeout total to 207.

"He used everything today: slider, curveball, cutter, fastball," Washington said. "He moved it around, kept them off-balance. When they were looking for breaking balls he was throwing fastballs and cutters and when they were looking for cutters he was throwing breaking balls."

"I was pretty locked in," he said.

Darvish struck out 14 in four prior games this year, including his earlier gem at Houston. His 15 strikeouts on Monday matched his career-high from his professional career in Japan.

He is 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 37 strikeouts in three starts in Houston this season, and is 4-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 50 strikeouts in five starts since returning from the disabled list.

Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 35th save.

The AL West-leading Rangers took a quick lead over the last-place Astros. With two outs in the first, Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre doubled and Pierzynski hit an RBI single off Brett Oberholtzer (2-1).

Oberholtzer yielded seven hits and two runs with six strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings for his first loss in three major league starts.

The Houston hitters had no such luck with Darvish.

Darvish was strong from the start relying mostly on a four-seam fastball, sliders and a cutter against the Astros' inexperienced lineup.

"He doesn't just have control. This guy has command," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "He can throw every pitch the way he wants to throw it, even out of the strike zone. Which, when you have that kind of repertoire, you're going to be up against it."

He struck out the side in the first inning before getting two fly outs and a ground out in the second.

The 26-year-old righty fanned two each in the third and fourth innings, struck out the side in the fifth and the first batter of the sixth inning. His strikeout of Chris Carter to start the fifth was his 200th of the season, giving him a team record for fewest games (23) needed to reach the mark.

In the sixth, Darvish started walking off the mound after his close pitch to Villar. Pierzynski also began heading to the dugout, but Kulpa said it missed.

Pierzynski didn't like the call. After the walk, started yelling in Kulpa's face and was quickly tossed. Geovany Soto took over at catcher.

Darvish, a two-time MVP in Japan, flirted with perfection last Sept. 3, too, retiring the first 17 batters at Kansas City.

NOTES: Injured Texas DH Lance Berkman is getting Monday off and will DH for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be re-evaluate him after that. ... Neftali Feliz, who was expected to throw Saturday for Round Rock but did not pitch as a precaution because of mild right arm triceps tendinitis, has been shut down. Feliz has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. ... Darvish set rookie franchise records for wins (16) and strikeouts (221) last season. He finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind winner Mike Trout and Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

Detroit Lions' secondary still banged up

By NOAH TRISTER — AP Sports Writer

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Chris Houston sat out because of a migraine and Louis Delmas is still nursing a balky knee.

The Detroit Lions hope their secondary will be much improved this season — but first, they need their top players healthy and on the field together.

"You'd like to have continuity," coach Jim Schwartz said. "That can be an issue at times."

Houston and Delmas both missed practice Monday, and although there were plenty of other defensive backs eager to take their place, the Lions are well aware that it's important for cornerbacks and safeties to develop chemistry before the season starts. That's not easy when key players are sidelined.

Detroit re-signed Houston, a cornerback, and Delmas, a safety, in the offseason. The Lions also signed free agent safety Glover Quin and drafted cornerback Darius Slay in the second round. Some stability would be welcome after Houston was the only Detroit defensive back to start more than nine games last season.

"If we have a healthy secondary, I think we can be the best secondary in the NFL," Slay said.

The Lions don't need to have the best secondary in the NFL. If this group can be solid behind a defensive front that includes Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, Detroit's defense could be stout.

Houston has been productive, starting 42 games over the last three years. Delmas has also been a mainstay, but he was limited by left knee problems and played only eight games last season. Delmas didn't play in Detroit's exhibition opener Friday against the New York Jets.

Houston says his migraine problems are hereditary and have bothered him since he was young, although they don't seem to have affected his career much. He's hoping the Detroit secondary can become the type of cohesive unit that can help the Lions grow into an elite team.

"In Seattle, those guys have got chemistry together. They've been playing together for two, three, four years. Same thing in San Francisco," Houston said. "You trust each other on the field, you know how each other plays, and you hold each other accountable. It's like a brotherhood."

The Lions beat the Jets 26-17, but when Schwartz reviewed the game, he found a few areas that needed improving for the secondary.

Detroit defensive lineman Ziggy Ansah intercepted a screen pass and returned it for a touchdown, but aside from that, Jets quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith looked fairly comfortable, going a combined 16 of 20 for 172 yards and a touchdown.

"When you get done with the game, you're happy because you won the game. The old saying is, it's never as good as you think it was and it's never as bad as you think it was," Schwartz said. "I think this was definitely one of those cases where it wasn't as good as we thought it was. Couple of plays that you saw we had bad leverage and missed some tackles in the secondary. That's critical. You can't do that. We had a couple plays on third down where they made plays into the strength of our defense. We didn't play physical enough at our corner position when it came to man-to-man coverage."

It's hard to read too much into the first exhibition game, since starters don't play a lot, but for the Lions, secondary depth is crucial. Cornerback Bill Bentley, a third-round pick in 2012, started three games as a rookie. Safety Don Carey started six games last season, and he could be an important player for Detroit if Delmas isn't at full strength.

"It's life in the NFL," Schwartz said. "There's always going to be times when you're not able to get them all on the field at the same time."

GA college reaches football ticket sales milestone

The Associated Press

KENNESAW, Ga. — Kennesaw State University officials say they've reached a milestone for football ticket sales since the school announced it was launching an NCAA Division I program earlier this year.

Spokesman Al Barba says Kennesaw State University has sold more than 1,000 season ticket deposits for the school's inaugural 2015 season at Fifth Third Bank Stadium.

Barba says the sales account for nearly a third of all available seats in the team's stadium, and a total about 3,600 seats are available for sale.

Director of ticket sales and operations Bob Lindsey says the tickets were sold in just over three months.

Jones moving past banana-throwing incident

Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jones, right, passes third base coach Bobby Dickerson after hitting a three-run home run off San Francisco Giants' Barry Zito in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013, in San Francisco.BEN MARGOT — AP Photo

The Associated Press

PHOENIX — Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is moving on a day after tweeting a fan in San Francisco threw a banana onto the field near him during a game.

"It's unfortunate that things happen like that, but it ain't going stop me, myself and the Orioles," he told reporters before Monday night's game against Arizona. "We have games to win. It's mid-August. I've got a bigger concern in my head than someone's ignorance or act of whatever. You know what I mean?"

Jones, who is black, homered in the top of the ninth and had four RBIs in the Orioles' 10-2 win over the Giants on Sunday. He didn't say anything about the incident after the game, but posted a tweet with an expletive that a fan had thrown a banana onto the field during the ninth inning.

A Giants fan told the San Jose Mercury News on Monday that he threw the banana, but said it was out of anger at the Giants and not racially motivated. The Giants told the newspaper they were not able to verify the fan's claim.

The Giants issued an apology to Jones and the Orioles.

"We were extremely disappointed to learn about the incident involving Adam Jones at AT&T Park yesterday," the statement said. "The Giants have a zero tolerance policy against this type of behavior, which results in immediate ejection from the ballpark."

"While we have been investigating the matter since we learned of the situation, unfortunately we have been unable to identify the person responsible. We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Adam and the entire Orioles organization for this unfortunate incident. The inappropriate actions of this individual in no way reflect the values of our organization and our fans," it said.

Little League to introduce drug education program

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Little League Baseball plans to introduce an educational program for coaches and volunteers intended to raise awareness about the use and dangers of performance-enhancing drugs among young players.

Working with the Taylor Hooton Foundation, Little League hopes to have an online program ready for the 2014 season. The youth sports organization had been in discussions with the foundation for more than a year about such a program, well before Major League Baseball announced suspensions recently for more than a dozen players following a lengthy investigation into a Florida anti-aging clinic accused of distributing PEDs.

The most recent batch of suspensions handed down Aug. 5 came less than two weeks before the start of the Little League World Series, which is scheduled to begin Thursday. Thousands of coaches, along with young players and their families are expected to visit South Williamsport during the 11-day tournament, and foundation president Don Hooton plans to attend, too, to spread his awareness message in person.

"This is a teachable moment. Ever parent, every coach should take the opportunity of all these suspensions to sit down and talk to your kids about why they shouldn't be involved in performance-enhancing drugs," Hooton said in a recent phone interview.

His 17-year-old son Taylor — a cousin of former big league pitcher Burt Hooton — committed suicide in July 2003. Doctors attributed Taylor's behavior to depression that occurred when he stopped using performance-enhancing drugs.

More than 2.4 million boys and girls play Little League baseball and softball, according to the organization that also has roughly 1 million volunteers.

The Hooton Foundation works with Major League Baseball, as well as local athletic leagues. A program with Little League would give the foundation an even broader audience.

"We are extraordinarily excited about this," he said. "As much work as we've done over the past 10 years, this offers the largest single audience to our message, to reach out at one time."

Citing various studies, Hooton has estimated 1 million to 1.5 million adolescents in the United States have used steroids.

A separate study released in May jointly commissioned by the foundation, the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society said that American adults ranked steroid use among adolescents as less of a problem than alcohol, bullying, marijuana and sexually transmitted diseases.

The survey of 1,002 adults conducted by The Gallup Organization last fall found that 97 percent of the respondents believed steroids caused negative health effects, while just 19 percent thought steroid use was a big problem among high school students. The study developed by University of Massachusetts researchers had a margin of error of 4.3 percent.

Little League President Stephen Keener said the recent surveys helped stir interest.

"What was discovered ... was a huge amount of ignorance on the subject among parents and even coaches at the high school level and below," Keener said. "As an organization that is interested in the development of children beyond the game ... perhaps we have some obligation to educate parents and Little League coaches."

The key, Keener said, is telling the truth to children if they have questions about the discipline announced for players including Milwaukee Brewers star slugger Ryan Braun.

Young players should be told that what was done "is wrong and here are the consequences of it. You are seeing highly visible, high-profile baseball players jeopardize their own health and paying a huge price from their livelihoods and how they are perceived publicly."

The Little League World Series begins with an opening ceremony Thursday before Panama and Puerto Rico play the first game of the 2013 tournament.