A Big 12 school has threatened to sue if Aggies leave for Southeastern Conference.

Associated PressTexas A&M running back Cyrus Gray (32) runs around SMU's Kenneth Acker (21) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Sunday in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M is trying to pull off a move from the Big 12 to the SEC.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference announced Wednesday that it will make Texas A&M the 13th team in the league but said the move is on hold because a Big 12 school has threatened legal action if the Aggies leave.

The SEC, which would become the first BCS conference with more than 12 members, said it received "unanimous written assurance" from the Big 12 on Sept. 2 that it was free to accept Texas A&M. The presidents and chancellors met late Tuesday "with the intention of accepting the application of Texas A&M to be the newest member of the SEC. "

Then the deal hit a snag.

"We were notified yesterday afternoon that at least one Big 12 institution had withdrawn its previous consent and was considering legal action," said Florida President Bernie Machen, chairman of the SEC leaders. "The SEC has stated that to consider an institution for membership, there must be no contractual hindrances to its departure. The SEC voted unanimously to accept Texas A&M University as a member upon receiving acceptable reconfirmation that the Big 12 and its members have reaffirmed the letter dated September 2."

It was not immediately known which Big 12 school had raised the legal issues. The Big 12 did not return a message left seeking comment.

In the Sept. 2 letter, released by the SEC, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe told SEC Commissioner Mike Slive that there were no legal hurdles to the SEC accepting Texas A&M, as long as it happened by Thursday afternoon.

"We both agreed it is in the best interests of each of our conferences and our member institutions of higher education to waive any and all legal actions by either conference and its members resulting from admission of Texas A&M into the SEC, as long as such admission is confirmed publicly by September 8, 2011," Beebe wrote.

However, despite the letter, Slive was informed more than once before the SEC vote Tuesday night that "maybe more than one" of the other nine Big 12 members were considering legal options against a possible Texas A&M move, according to a person familiar with the situation.

"(The SEC) thought it was clear and free without any possible issues. That is not what happened," said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of those discussions.

The Sept. 2 letter was not intended to waive the rights of individual schools to sue and that decisions like that need approval from various boards of regents and other university overseers, the person said.

"That certainly is not going to happen soon. You are not going to get all nine. You might get some," that person told the AP. "Very few, if any, are willing with the uncertainty and instability of the Big 12 at this point to release their claims."

Texas Tech president Guy Bailey in a text message confirmed that the university's board of regents would have to waive the school's right to pursue legal action. He also said Big 12 members were planning a conference call later Wednesday.

Texas A&M officials were disappointed.

"We are certainly pleased with the action taken last night by the presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference to unanimously accept Texas A&M," President R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement. "However, this acceptance is conditional, and we are disappointed in the threats made by one of the Big 12 member institutions to coerce Texas A&M into staying in Big 12. ... These actions go against the commitment that was made by this university and the Big 12 on Sept. 2. We are working diligently to resolve any and all issues as outlined by the SEC."

Texas A&M announced last week that it planned to leave the Big 12 by July 2012 if invited to join another league. The Aggies had been unhappy with the creation of the Longhorn Network at rival Texas and have made it clear they want a higher profile and more revenue.

The Aggies' intentions sparked more talk of conference realignment stretching across the country.

The Big 12 has already lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12). Oklahoma president David Boren said last week that multiple conferences have expressed interest in the Sooners and he expects a decision within a few weeks. Oklahoma State billionaire booster Boone Pickens also said he doesn't think the Big 12 will survive much longer and predicted the Cowboys will eventually join the Pac-12.

It might not be over for the SEC, either, if the league that has won the last five BCS championships in football decides to add a 14th team or even expand to a 16-team superconference. Texas A&M's move would help give the SEC a presence in the major Texas TV markets.

Not to mention a fertile recruiting ground.

"I certainly understand adding a Texas team into the conference," LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday. "A&M has a great historic following and is a traditional power that certainly brings the interest of Texas."

Plus, he added: "Texas football is great high school football ... The dynamics are significant."

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Joe Bauserman is Mr. Popularity in Columbus.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerJoe Bauserman

Ohio State quarterback Joe Bauserman is the main focus of many articles today, including this one by Doug Lesmerises of The Plain Dealer.

Lesmerises writes how Bauserman wasn't sure if he'd ever get the chance to become a starting quarterback. Bauserman gave up his stint as a minor league baseball player to get this chance.

That baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, his first chance, was over when Bauserman emailed the Buckeyes, who had recruited him years earlier, in the winter of 2007.

Back then, quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels was looking for a fourth player to go with Todd Boeckman, Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton. Four years later, the Buckeyes are bridging the gap between Pryor and freshman Braxton Miller with the guy sometimes known to his teammates as Joe Baseball.

Fox Sports has this story on how everyone in Columbus knows Bauserman's name. Last week brought the first win of the season, but fans will expect more.

 Bauserman will be a team captain this week when Ohio State plays Toledo. Like he did last week, he'll share time with Miller. Like he's been doing since the spring, he'll coach Miller up when the freshman's turn comes. It's part of the process, part of the responsibility. Whether he's actually destined for stardom, Miller has been anointed. Whatever happens from here, Bauserman is going to do his part.

Dual QBs

Ohio State isn't the only team dancing with dual quarterbacks. Toledo, this week's opponent, also has two quarterbacks who will take the field on Saturday, writes Columbus Dispatch reporter Bob Baptist.

Junior Austin Dantin started for Toledo in its opener against New Hampshire on Thursday night and passed for 161 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 58-22 victory.

On Monday, the “or” between Dantin’s name and that of redshirt sophomore Terrance Owens was missing from the depth chart. But coach Tim Beckman did not sound as though he has erased it from his game plan heading into their game at Ohio State on Saturday.

“Right now we’re going to play two quarterbacks,” he said. “We think they’re both very capable of winning football games. They’ve proven that.”

Starters return

Running back Jordan Hall, cornerback Travis Howard and backup safety Corey Brown will return on Saturday against Toledo. The three players were suspended for accepting impermissible benefits, writes Columbus Dispatch reporter Bill Rabinowitz.

The bigger question is whether Hall and Howard will get their starting spots back. The tandem of Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith combined for 167 yards in Hall’s absence. Dominic Clarke also played well in Howard’s spot, deflecting a pass that linebacker Andrew Sweat intercepted for the Buckeyes’ only turnover.

Tony Pashos is still out and Browns haven't decided on who will start at left guard.

Lynn Ischay, The Plain DealerBrowns right tackle Tony Pashos is still out with an injury to his left foot, lessening his chances of playing in the season opener.

BEREA -- Left guard and right tackle are still mystery starters as the Browns reach the meat of their work week for the opener against Cincinnati Sunday.

 Coach Pat Shurmur said he has not decided whether rookie Jason Pinkston will make the start at left guard. He said newly acquired Artie Hicks and John Greco are also working there.

 But Greco also has been working at right tackle in place of Tony Pashos, whose left foot is still protected in a walking boot.

 "We'll diagnose where he's at tomorrow," Shurmur said of Pashos.

 The team's injury situation brightened elsewhere. Shurmur said tight end Benjamin Watson, linebacker Chris Gocong and free safety Usama Young all were expecting to practice today.

 On other subjects from his daily briefing:

 * Shurmur said that fullback Tyler Clutts was signed off the Browns practice squad by the Bears. They have to keep Clutts on their 53-player roster. The Browns replaced Clutts on their practice squad with fullback Eddie Williams, who was cut by the Bears.

 * Shurmur said that Josh Cribbs will return to his normal duty at kickoff and punt returner. Cribbs didn't do much of either in the preseason because of a hamstring injury.
 
 Shurmur also said he'll have "that conversation" with Cribbs about curbing Cribbs' desire to return any kickoff, no matter how deep in the end zone.

 He drew a baseball analogy when he said, "Do you ask a home run hitter to take a 3-0 pitch?"

 * Shurmur said he didn't have any concern about receiver Mohamed Massaquoi stepping into a starting role after not playing in the preseason because of a chip fracture on his left foot.

Owls breezed in season opener against Villanova, provide first conference test for Zips.

View full sizeTom Milhalek, Associated PressTemple defensive end John Youboty and the rest of the Owls made life miserable for Villanova quarterback Dustin Thomas last week in a 42-7 victory. The Owls face Akron Saturday in the Zips' home opener.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Akron Zips get no reprieve this week, coming off a 42-0 road thumping at Ohio State. Next up is one of the Mid-American Conference favorites, the Temple Owls, for the Zips' home opener.

"A well-coached team, a physically team, a really talented team," Akron second-year head coach Rob Ianello said. "They run a lot of power football. Their tailback [MAC Offensive Player of the week, junior Bernard Pierce, 20 carries, 147 yards 3 TDs vs. Villanova] is a tremendous player."

For the Zips to pull off an upset, they will have to be far better than they were against the Buckeyes.

"That's not the standard of performance we are looking for," he conceded. "We gave up a lot of big play yardage in 11 plays. That's way too much."

Some of that can be deposited on Akron's youth. Eight true freshmen, five redshirt freshmen and five others new to the program made their first starts against Ohio State, so the learning curve will have to be steep, and fast, for the Zips against Temple.

Here they come: Considering how Ohio State's defenders pinned their ears back and blitzed at nearly every opportunity, Ianello said it's a good bet teams will continue that tactic until Akron proves it adapt. At the same time, he did not see it as a red flag issue, yet.

"I'm not so sure the blitz was the issue, as much as [Ohio State's] front four," he said.

The Owls will be a good test as Temple is recognized, year in and year out, as having one of the top defensive fronts in the MAC.

Quick Nix: Kent State sophomore defensive lineman Roosevelt Nix, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year, put a gleam into the eye of first-year head coach Darrell Hazell.

"Watching film [of the Flashes' 48-7 loss to Alabama], he was phenomenal," Hazell said. "I'm glad I don't have to play against him. He is as disruptive of a guy that I've seen since Dwight Freeney, when we were playing Syracuse and I was at West Virginia."

Freeney was the No. 11 pick in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

"[Nix] can take over a game up front and he'll create some open shots for [linebackers] to run through because they are so concerned about blocking him."

Wake-up call: The ongoing sideline petulance displayed by 6-3, 185-pound junior receiver Matt Hurdle, almost every time he makes a mistake, has caught Hazell's eye. "We've got to get that out of him," he said.

Hurdle, who had several drops and a personal foul called on him against Alabama, along with three receptions for 24 yards, remains No. 1 on Kent State's depth chart.

This week, Kent (0-1) plays its home opener against Louisiana-Lafayette (0-1), which is coming off a 61-34 loss at Oklahoma State.

The Buckeyes end the regular season with road games at Northwestern and Michigan State.

APJared Sullinger, right, and Ohio State will host rival Wisconsin on either Feb. 25 or Feb. 26 this season.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State will start the 2011-12 basketball season with an exhibition game against Walsh on Nov. 6, then start Big Ten play at home against Northwestern on Dec. 28.

The Buckeyes released their full schedule today.

The first Big Ten visit to Nebraska will take place on Jan. 21, while former Buckeye player and Indiana coaching legend  Bob Knight will be honored on Dec. 20 when Ohio State hosts Lamar, now coached by Knight's son, Pat.

The Buckeyes will finish the regular season with two road games at Northwestern and Michigan State before the start of the Big Ten Tournament.

Nonconference highlights include home games with Florida on Nov. 15 and Duke on Nov. 29 and a road game at Kansas on Dec. 10.

Most of the schedule was previously known, but today's release filled in the last six holes in the schedule and includes all gametimes and TV networks.

ESPN networks will broadcast the Buckeyes between 12 and 14 times while CBS will air between two and four OSU games. The rest will be on the Big Ten Network.

2011-12 Ohio State Men's Basketball Schedule

Shelley Duncan hit two two-run homers for the Indians, who carried a 4-2 lead into the seventh. But the Tigers scored five off three pitchers to take a 7-4 advantage in the seventh.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerTony Sipp shows the frustration of allowing a grand slam to Detroit's Victor Martinez in the seventh inning Wednesday at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- First baseman Shelley Duncan hit two two-run homers off Justin Verlander in support of Justin Masterson -- and the Indians still lost.

It has been that kind of fall from AL Central contention for the Tribe.

Former Indian Victor Martinez capped a five-run seventh inning with a grand slam as the Tigers rallied to win, 8-6, Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field. Detroit (81-62) swept the three-game series and lead the third-place Indians (70-70) by 9 1/2 games in the Central.

Verlander (22-5, 2.44 ERA) won his 10th straight start. He gave up four runs on three hits -- all for extra bases -- walked two and struck out eight in six innings. He threw 113 pitches. Ryan Perry relieved to begin the seventh.

Carlos Santana led off the bottom of the second with a four-pitch walk. Neither Santana nor Verlander thought the fourth pitch was a ball, but umpire Brian Gorman did. Jim Thome laced a 2-2 fastball into right-center, where Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson ran it down.

Duncan stepped in. Verlander's 0-1 curve bounced in front of catcher Alex Avila and skipped away, enabling Santana to move to second. The count eventually went to 2-2. Verlander threw a fastball down and in that Duncan spun on and lined onto the home-run porch. It was Duncan's first career homer off Verlander.

The Tigers tied the score in the fourth. With one out, Miguel Cabrera singled up the middle and advanced to third on Martinez's double to left. Left fielder Trevor Crowe, playing his first game in the majors this season, threw to third when he should have thrown to second.

Avila hit a sacrifice fly to right. Wilson Betemit lined the first pitch to right for an RBI double. Don Kelly flied to left.

Duncan's second-inning homer was the only hit allowed by Verlander through three. With two outs in the fourth, Thome doubled off the wall in left-center. Duncan managed to get good wood on Verlander's 0-2 pitch above the belt and ripped it over the left-field wall for the 4-2 lead.

Duncan owns two multihomer games in four days. He hit two at Kansas City on Sunday in a 9-6 victory.

Masterson worked out of trouble in the fifth. After the Tigers put runners on second and third with one out, Masterson whiffed Andy Dirks. Cabrera walked. Martinez hit a soft liner to second.

The Indians threatened in the sixth. Santana drew a two-out walk and stole second. Thome was caught looking at Verlander's 98-mph fastball.

The Tigers erupted in the seventh. Jackson singled and Will Rhymes reached on an error by Duncan. Dirks' attempted sacrifice bunt turned into a hit when third baseman Chisenhall's throw was late.

Joe Smith relieved Masterson. Cabrera hit an 0-1 pitch into the hole at short for an RBI single. Tony Sipp relieved Smith, and Martinez hammered the first pitch, an 89-mph fastball on the inner half at the knees, into the left-field bleachers. Martinez has 10 RBI in the series and 15 against the Tribe this season.

Martinez owns two career slams -- both against the Indians.

Masterson allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings. He walked three and struck out six.

The Tigers tacked on one in the ninth.

Jose Valverde earned his 42nd save in 42 opportunities.

"Going into this season, there is no way anyone would have even thought we'd be playing relevant baseball past May or June, at best. They played better than they are for a long time and it made for an unexpectedly fun baseball summer. It gives us a lot to look forward to for the next couple of years, if they can complete the puzzle in the offseason and add a few more pieces." - wesbrown

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerWhile it looks like the Indians won't play in October this year, they have given fans quite a ride.

In response to the story Tigers rally to defeat Indians, 8-6, cleveland.com reader wesbrown isn't disappointed with the Tribe's finish. This reader writes,

"Going into this season there is no way anyone would have even thought we'd be playing relevant baseball past May or June, at best. They played better than they are for a long time and it made for an unexpectedly fun baseball summer. It gives us a lot to look forward to for the next couple of years, if they can complete the puzzle in the offseason and add a few more pieces."

Be sure to log on every Thursday at 10 a.m. for Browns Insider Live, The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com's new live, weekly interactive show that's all about the Browns.

Watch Browns Insider Live on cleveland.com Thursdays at 10 a.m.

Are you ready for some Browns football?

Be sure to log on every Thursday at 10 a.m. for Browns Insider Live, The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com's new live, weekly interactive show that gives you the experts' view of the Browns.

Each week, join Dennis Manoloff along with guests such as Tony Grossi, Mary Kay Cabot, Bud Shaw, Terry Pluto and Bill Livingston as they preview Sunday's game. Get involved by posting your comments and questions in our live chat room, or tweeting us @cdotcombrowns. You can also send in your video questions ahead of time.

Can't make the live show? Come back later to watch an archived version.

Thursday's show kicks off a season-long effort of Browns Insider programming. This  Sunday, join Dennis Manoloff for an in-game chat and post-game show. Then, on Monday, Tony Grossi is back for his live weekly podcast at noon, followed by a fan call-in show. Stay tuned to cleveland.com/browns for more info in the days ahead.

LYNDHURST, Ohio - Brush's football team suffered another setback Wednesday when it learned star defender Kevin Houchins Jr. is out for the season with a torn ACL. Houchins, a Louisville cornerback recruit, suffered the injury while working on punt returns Tuesday during practice.

Brush star defender Kevin Houchins Jr. is out for the season after tearing his ACL on Tuesday in practice. - (Special to The Plain Dealer)

LYNDHURST, Ohio - Brush's football team suffered another setback Wednesday when it learned star defender Kevin Houchins Jr. is out for the season with a torn ACL.

Houchins, a Louisville cornerback recruit, suffered the injury while working on punt returns Tuesday during practice.

"He's OK," said Brush coach Rob Atwood, whose team is 0-2 heading into Friday's game against Kenston. "He's got a pretty strong faith so he feels everything happens for a reason and he's had a pretty positive attitude."

Houchins (6-0, 175) also played halfback and safety for the Arcs. He was No. 16 in The Plain Dealer's Top 50 player rankings heading into this season and a three-star prospect by Scout.com.

"Last year Browns fans thought we would be 2-0, but we lost two close games against teams that turned out to be a lot better than we thought they would be. This will not be the case with the Bengals. If our West Coast passing game can outscore Cedric Benson running the ball, we win." - deerhuntdave

View full sizeWill Colt McCoy walk off the field victorious on Sunday?

In response to the story Cincinnati Bengals looking for better chemistry with fewer stars: Tony Grossi's Scouting Report, cleveland.com reader deerhuntdave thinks this year will start differently from last. This reader writes,

"Last year Browns fans thought we would be 2-0, but we lost two close games against teams that turned out to be a lot better than we thought they would be. This will not be the case with the Bengals. If our West Coast passing game can outscore Cedric Benson running the ball, we win."

Plain Dealer's Cleveland Browns beat writers Tony Grossi and Mary Kay Cabot preview the Browns season opener for the Browns as they play the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. Watch video

A calm Colt McCoy is all business as he prepares for the season opener Sunday against the Bengals.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain Dealer"We're moving some guys around trying to figure out what's the best lineup, where do we get the best explosion off that front line," Browns quarterback Colt McCoy said of preparations for Sunday's season opener against Cincinnati. "It's just football. Somebody goes down, somebody's got to step up. The good thing is we have options. They'll be OK."

BEREA, Ohio -- Nothing seems to be ruffling Colt McCoy as he heads into his first season opener as the Browns' undisputed field leader.

"It's been like that since we came back [from the lockout]," McCoy said after Wednesday's practice. "I'm really honestly past that. I understand it's my job to go out and play well and lead my team."

Not even uncertainty at two positions on the offensive line is a concern.

The starters at left guard and right tackle remain in flux. Rookie Jason Pinkston continued to take sidelined stalwart Eric Steinbach's spot at left guard, though coach Pat Shurmur wouldn't name him the starter Sunday against Cincinnati. At right tackle, starter Tony Pashos missed another day with his left foot in a walking boot. Newcomers Artis Hicks and Oniel Cousins are competing there. John Greco could show up at either spot.

"We're moving some guys around trying to figure out what's the best lineup, where do we get the best explosion off that front line," McCoy said. "But there's some secure guys on that front.

"[Center] Alex [Mack] makes a lot of calls, does a great job. [Left tackle] Joe Thomas, obviously. Shawn [Lauvao] is in there now [at right guard]. Hopefully we'll have Tony, but we'll see. It's just football. Somebody goes down, somebody's got to step up. The good thing is we have options. They'll be OK."

McCoy's calmness is another reassuring sign that he is in total control as the real season draws near. He will be the Browns' 10th different opening-game starter at quarterback in 13 years.

"I think the players have responded to him pretty well," Shurmur said. "That's a natural part of his personality, to take charge. But you can't take charge unless you know what you are doing. I think he has displayed to his teammates that he knows what he is doing and I think that's where the confidence continues to build."

Shurmur said the one thing he's learned about McCoy while coaching him the past six weeks is that he tries so hard "to do everything right." He cited McCoy's initiative in organizing the workouts with teammates during the owners lockout and his visit in Mississippi with former Packers quarterback Brett Favre. When training camp finally opened, McCoy "was trying to gobble it all up the best he could."

"I think that's important when you're learning a new offense," McCoy said. "So many things go into each day. We're still putting things in. You can't afford to make the same mistake twice. It sets you back. Today we put in some new things. Then it should be ingrained in your mind. That's part of being the quarterback. These guys don't want to see me messing up the same play twice."

Another example of McCoy's work ethic was the way he progressed during camp.

"You saw him in practice a little bit rusty, and then he'd fix some errors," Shurmur said. "Then he got an opportunity to go in and be pretty efficient in the first preseason game. He went through the process of training camp and basically did what we wanted. Now the next step is to do it for 60 minutes in a regular-season game.

"He's kind of been passing the tests in my mind as we've gone along and so Sunday will be the next test."

The first reaction among Browns faithful is that Cincinnati is a safe opponent to springboard a fast start. But McCoy looks over the Bengals' defense and sees an aggressive scheme, athletic linebackers, experienced cornerbacks -- and no rookies.

"They're veterans across the board. When you look at tape, you can tell. They don't bust coverages. They don't mess up," he said.

When McCoy was given his NFL baptism by fire as a rookie last season, he opposed some of the sport's most accomplished quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Tom Brady were the first three. For the first time in his short NFL career on Sunday, McCoy will be the older, more-experienced QB on the field. Rookie second-round draft pick Andy Dalton will be making his NFL debut for the Bengals.

Both are Texas natives and grew up too far away in that huge, football-mad state to meet in high school. But after McCoy enrolled at Texas and Dalton at Texas Christian, they opposed each other in a game in 2007. It was Dalton's second career start.

"I was a sophomore, he was a freshman," McCoy remembered. "They came to us and we beat them pretty bad [34-13]. I think it was close at halftime."

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Breaking down this weekend's four-game series against the White Sox in Chicago.

View full sizeAP fileIt's not true that White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko is batting .700 with 20 homers and 40 RBI against the Indians in 2011. It only seems that way.

When: Thursday through Sunday.

Where: U.S. Cellular Field, Chicago.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio Thursday, Friday and Sunday; WJW/Fox 8 on Saturday; WKYC/Ch. 3 on Sunday; WTAM AM/1100.

Series: White Sox lead, 7-3, this season. They lead, 1,031-989, all-time.

Pitching matchups: Indians LHP David Huff (2-3, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Floyd (12-10, 4.45), Thursday at 8:10; RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 4.11) vs. LHP Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.34), Friday at 8:10 p.m.; RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (2-2, 5.27) vs. RHP Phil Humber (9-8, 3.45), Saturday at 4:11 p.m.; and RHP Fausto Carmona (6-14, 5.18) vs. RHP Zach Stewart (2-3, 4.56), Sunday at 2:10 p.m.

Indians update: They have lost three in a row and are 48-60 since May 8. ... Against the White Sox this season: C Carlos Santana is 11-for-39 (.282) with one homer and five RBI in 10 games; Carmona is 1-2 with a 10.47 ERA in three starts; and relievers Chris Perez, Rafael Perez, Vinnie Pestano, Tony Sipp and Joe Smith have combined to allow zero earned runs in 18 innings. ... Carmona will be coming off Tuesday's start against Detroit in which he gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings of a 10-1 home loss.

White Sox update: They entered Wednesday at 60-47 since May 7. ... Against the Indians this season: 1B Paul Konerko is 12-for-37 (.324) with one homer and eight RBI in 10 games and LF Juan Pierre is 12-for-43 (.279) with eight runs in 10 games.

Injuries: Indians -- RF Shin-Soo Choo (left oblique), RHP Josh Tomlin (elbow) and DH Travis Hafner (right foot) are on disabled list. OF Michael Brantley (right hand) and RHP Carlos Carrasco (elbow) are out for season. White Sox -- OF Carlos Quentin (left shoulder) and C Ramon Castro (right hand) are on DL. RHP Tony Pena (elbow) is out for season.

Next for Indians: Trip continues with three games in Texas beginning Monday.

"Having gone through what I have this season makes me appreciate putting on a big-league uniform that much more," says Tribe infielder Jason Donald.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerIt's been a long summer of struggling to get back to the major leagues for Jason Donald, but the Indians infielder can't hide his excitement of being on the big-league roster once again.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Baseball seems to have it in for Indians infielder Jason Donald this season, throwing him a handful of curve balls -- and some hard stuff at the left hand.

Instead of feeling snake-bit, though, Donald said he is thankful and grateful. For all of the challenges faced since March, Donald is healthy and playing for the Tribe in September.

"Having gone through what I have this season makes me appreciate putting on a big-league uniform that much more," he said. "The motivation all along was to be in this clubhouse. And I'm here, so I'm not going to complain."

Donald went 1-for-3 at second base Wednesday afternoon in an 8-6 loss to Detroit. He is hitting .294 in 25 games. He has reached safely in 11 of his last 13, batting .354 (17-for-48).

Donald was competing for the third-base job in spring training when White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd plunked him on the left hand. Donald opened the season on the disabled list because of a fracture. Early in his rehab at Class AAA Columbus, Donald tweaked a groin muscle on a wet field. He had recovered from the fracture and the injured muscle by April 29 --but was optioned to Columbus upon being activated.

On May 10, Charlotte Knights second baseman Gookie Dawkins wiped out shortstop Donald with a slide at second. Donald's left knee absorbed the punishment.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," he said. "The slide was late and high. It was more of a jump-slide into me. I wasn't happy about it at all, and it still bothers me."

Donald feared the worst as personnel tended to him.

"It was very scary," he said. "At first, I thought I'd torn the MCL and was done for the year. It was tough to swallow because I'd come a long way with the hand. I'd said, 'OK, I can get going now on the season.' Then that happened."

Donald said he was "numb" until he was diagnosed with a sprained MCL. He spent a month recovering at the Indians' spring-training facility in Goodyear, Ariz.

"You feel alone out there, away from teammates in the middle of a season," he said.

On July 30, the Indians traded second baseman Orlando Cabrera to San Francisco. The next day, they recalled Donald. On Aug. 28 against Kansas City, Donald injured the tip of his right index finger while fielding a grounder. He was a late scratch from the lineup Aug. 29 but returned Aug. 30. In September 2010, an injury to a different part of the index finger had ended his season.

On Monday against Detroit, Donald stepped into the box against right-hander Doug Fister in the third inning. Fister drilled him on the left hand. Donald winced and shook the hand.

"Initially, I thought, 'Here we go again,'" he said. "But as I walked down the line, I knew it was in a different area. It was a different pain."

Donald stayed in the game and played through the bruise.

"Injuries are part of sports," he said. "Everybody deals with them at some time or another. You just hope you get lucky and avoid the big ones."

Good company: On Aug. 26, Donald felt as if he hit the jackpot. That was the day he found out clubhouse kingpin Tony Amato had placed newly acquired Jim Thome in the locker between him and Travis Hafner.

"When Jim first got here, I asked him if it would be OK for me to ask him questions," Donald said. "He said he'd be more than happy to do so. Since then, I've tried to learn as much as I possibly can. He's been great. You see why he's known as a fantastic teammate."

Thome has struggled at the plate in his second stint with the Tribe, going 7-for-38 with one homer -- his 602nd. But his work ethic remains relentless.

"His passion at this point in his career is unbelievable," Donald said. "The energy, the intensity – off the charts. I asked him about a week ago: 'Do you still get nervous before games?' He said, 'Every game I have the butterflies, the anxiety, the jitters that come with getting ready to compete.'

"I thought that was the coolest thing. After all the big games he's played in, all the numbers he's put up, he still gets the butterflies before competition."

Struggling All-Star: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Wednesday, his average dropping to .273 in 137 games. In his last 18 games, Cabrera is 11-for-71.

On Twitter: @dmansworldpd

In the Golf Digest survey, Cleveland and Portland, Ore., tied as the 10th-best places in the country for public golf, in front of Phoenix, San Diego, Chicago and near-by Columbus.

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerThe abundance of quality courses and reasonable prices in Northeast Ohio make the Cleveland region one of the best for recreational golfers, says a Golf Digest survey.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thanks to a survey commissioned by Golf Digest, the rest of the country is about to learn what golfers in Cleveland have known all along.

We live in a great place for public golf.

In the survey of America's 50 most populous cities, Cleveland and Portland, Ore., tied as the 10th-best places in the country for public golf, in front of Phoenix, San Diego, Chicago and near-by Columbus. The article, which will appear in the October issue of the magazine, is written by Peter Finch, senior editor for special projects.

"Our coverage of golf courses often focuses on destinations -- places you might take a family vacation or a buddies trip," Finch writes. "This month we turned our attention to the courses in our readers' backyards: Which American cities, we wondered, offer the best all-around golf environments for their residents?"

The magazine hired a company called Longitudes Group, a business management consulting firm in Portland, to collect and analyze data on five criteria:

1. Climate (average temperature and rainfall, number of playable days);

2. Cost of public golf (average greens fee in high and low seasons);

3. Amount of public courses;

4. Quality of public courses (based on the magazine's list of Best Places to Play reader rankings); and

5. Accessibility (number of active golfers versus the number of courses).

Each city was ranked in each category. The lower the ranking, the higher the finish in the overall ranking. Cleveland ranks 34th in climate (there's a real shocker), 12th in cost, 20th in amount of public courses, 15th in quality of public courses and 31st in accessibility. The results drew opposite reactions from two of the area's experts on the game. Dominic Antenucci, executive director of the Northern Ohio PGA, said the region remained underappreciated. Scotte Rorabaugh, executive director of the Northern Ohio Golf Association, said he was not surprised Cleveland fared as well as it did.

"Given the number of outstanding public facilities we have in the area, and the affordability of those facilities, I'm surprised we're not ranked higher," said Antenucci. "Other than the climate, I would rank our area higher. In the last five years we have had seven private clubs turn into public facilities. That means public players are getting the private club experience and very reasonable rates."

Cleveland obviously takes a hit in the climate ranking. What could be debated is the quality of public courses. Accessibility? All that proves is that Cleveland has an abundance of people playing golf in relation to the number of places to play. That's kind of a positive negative. In a brief telephone interview, Finch said he felt it was a positive.

Rorabaugh, whose organization is a regional arm of the United States Golf Association and governs amateur golf in Northeast Ohio, felt the ranking is accurate.

"I am not surprised at all," Rorabaugh said. "As far as cost, Cleveland is one of the cost versus quality places in the country. You can play some very, very good golf courses for anywhere between $35 and $50. You would pay twice that in other parts of the country. We obviously are not going to rank high in the climate category."

Into the halls: Two members of the Mozingo family of Akron will be inducted into separate halls of fame in the span of 37 days.

Former Cuyahoga Falls golf and volleyball coach Mary Mozingo will be inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace Hall of Fame on Oct. 15 after watching her daughter, Cari Mozingo Hetler, a former two-time Plain Dealer All-Star golfer, enter the Coventry High hall on Friday.

Mary Mozingo was a pioneer in women's collegiate sports, competing before the creation of Title IX while attending BW from 1968-1972. She earned four letters in volleyball and represented the college in golf at the AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) regional tournament at Ohio State and AIAW nationals in Atlanta, Ga. She went on to coach and teach health and physical education in the Cuyahoga Falls system for 32 years. She initiated the first 18-hole tournament for girls in the area and was the 1995 Metropolitan League boys golf coach of the year in 1995.

Cari Mozingo Hetler earned 10 letters in basketball, volleyball and golf at Coventry and was named to The Plain Dealer all-star girls golf team in 1998 and 1999. She finished fifth in the state in 1999 and was named all-Ohio. She went on to play four years at Ohio University and competes at the local, state, and national level, qualifying for the U.S. Women's Amateur in 2003. She followed in her mother's footsteps and is a teacher in the Lake school district.

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

Larger groups representing both sides will attend the next session as sides seek to reach a new labor agreement.

Associated PressNBA commissioner David Stern isn't saying if it's a "positive or negative" that next Tuesday's talks between owners and players will include more participants.

NEW YORK, New York -- NBA owners and players completed another day of meetings Thursday and plan to have larger groups attend a session Tuesday, with negotiations at what commissioner David Stern said is "getting to be an important time."

The sides met in small groups for the second consecutive day, again for about 5½ hours.

Though Stern and leaders from the players' association have said they like working in small numbers, Stern said they think it's "a good idea to have larger group meetings at this point."

"At some point, before you can try and make any attempt at any large progress, you have to involve all the respective members that are ultimately going to make the decisions, so we felt it was best to try to do that at this time and Tuesday we'll give (it) a shot," players' association president Derek Fisher of the Lakers said.

Stern said there was nothing yet to show the larger groups, which would include members of the owners' labor relations committee and the union's executive committee. Nor would offer any insight into what it meant that the number of attendees would be increasing after all the meetings since the lockout began July 1 included just the leadership from each side.

"I don't really know that it's positive or negative, I just think it's time to bring the parties into the room who are ultimately responsible for either making a deal or deciding that there shouldn't be a deal," Stern said.

The two sides could again meet for consecutive days next week in New York, then both will update their members on the state of the talks next Thursday -- not long before a decision would have to be made if any changes in the NBA calendar are in order.

Vinnie Pestano's funky motion has helped him strikeout 75 batters in 55 2/3 innings as one of the AL's top relievers.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerVinnie Pestano has become an important part of the Indians strong bullpen.

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Right-hander Vinnie Pestano was the only rookie to make the Indians 25-man roster coming out of spring training. He's pitched anything like a rookie.

Pestano is 1-1 with two saves and a 2.43 ERA in 60 games. He has 75 strikeouts in 55 2/3 innings. The 75 strikeouts tie him for the fourth most in the AL with Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon.

"It's tough to pick up the ball off of him," said manager Manny Acta. "He comes from a funky angle and the ball is not straight. He's got that explosive fastball. You don't see it on the radar gun. He's not in the high 90s, but he has that giddy up on the last 10 feet that make it tough on hitters."

In his last 15 games, Pestano has allowed one earned run in 15 2/3 innings.

Acta started the year wanted to ease Pestano into the late innings. Pestano, however, dove head first into the set up role.

"He just grabbed a hold of the job a lot earlier than we expected," said Acta. "He was probably the last guy to make this club coming out of spring training. He has been one our toughest guys out of the bullpen the whole season."

The opposition is hitting .197 (40-for-203) against Pestano. Lefties are hitting .302 (26-for-86), while righties are hitting .120 (14-for-117).

Tonight's lineups:

Indians (70-70): CF Grady Sizemore (L), RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), DH Jim Thome (L), C Carlos Santana, 2B Jason Kipnis (L), 1B Shelley Duncan (R), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), LF Trevor Crowe (S) and LHP David Huff (2-3, 2.81).

White Sox (71-70): LF Juan Pierre (L), 1B Brent Lillbridge (R), DH Paul Konerko (R), RF Dayan Viciedo (R), SS Alexi Ramirez (R), CF Alex Rios (R), C Tyler Flowers (R), 3B Brent Morel (R), 2B Gordon Beckham (R), RHP Gavin Floyd (12-10, 4.45).  

Umpires: H Brian O'Nora, 1B Alfoso Marquez, 2B Ed Hickox, 3B Ed Rapuano.  

Lefty vs. righty: Lefties are hitting .333 (7-for-33) and righties are hitting .225 (20-for-89) with two homers against Huff. The White Sox have eight righties in the lineup.

Lefties are hitting .275 (100-for-364) with 12 homers and righties are hitting .222 (61-for-275) with six homers against Floyd. The Indians have eight lefties in the lineup, including three switch-hitters.

Quote of the day: "You can't let any team awe you. If you do, you'll wind up a horse(bleep) player," White Sox Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling.

Next: Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, 2-0 since replacing injured Josh Tomlin in the rotation, takes on Chicago's veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle on Friday night at 8:10 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Field. STO/WTAM will carry the game.

UPDATED: For the second straight game the Indians' bullpen gives up the long ball at the wrong time as Chicago scores seven runs in the seventh inning on the way to an 8-1 victory over the Indians.

View full sizeNam Y. Huh, Associated PressIndians relief pitcher Frank Hermann walks back to the dugout after being pulled during the seventh inning. Moments earlier Herrmann had given up a three-run homer.

CHICAGO, Ill. — The race for first place in the American League Central Division may be over for the Indians and White Sox, but there's always second place.

Right now that belongs to the White Sox after they beat the Indians, 8-1, with a seven-run seventh inning Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field. For the second straight game, Indians relievers gave up home runs at the wrong time.

Brent Morel hit a three-run homer off Frank Herrmann in the seventh for a 4-1 lead. Paul Konerko followed with a grand slam off rookie Josh Judy to finish the big inning and ruin a fine start by David Huff.

On Wednesday it was Tony Sipp surrendering a grand slam to Detroit's Victor Martinez to key an 8-6 come-from-behind victory. Martinez hit Sipp's first pitch, and Morel did the same to Herrmann. Konerko showed a little more patience, lifting Judy's 0-1 pitch into the bleacher seats in left field.

The slam was Konerko's 10th, tying Robin Ventura for the club record.

"For David's sake and the team's sake I wanted to come in there and get a double play and get out of the inning," Herrmann said. "David deserved a better fate. I left a pitch out over the plate and he got on top of it."

Morel hit a 95 mph fastball into the seats.

"He got ambushed," Acta said. "He was trying to get ahead with a first-pitch fastball."

After Gordon Beckham walked and Juan Pierre singled, Judy relieved. He hit Brent Lillibridge, breaking his right hand, to load the bases. Konerko followed with the slam.

"David pitched his butt off," Judy said. "It's unacceptable of me to go in there and do something like that."

Huff (2-4, 3.05) left in the seventh with the score tied, 1-1. There was one on and two out.

"It's baseball and this stuff happens," Huff said about being charged with the loss. "I talked to Frank as soon as he came off the field and told him to keep his head up."

Acta said he went with Herrmann and Judy in the seventh because his front-line relievers had pitched a lot in the previous two series against the Tigers and Kansas City Royals.

Detroit kicked Chicago and the Indians out of the race for first place in the Central with nearly identical three-game sweeps. Chicago, however, leads the Indians by 1 1/2 games in the race for second. They lead the season series, 8-3.

"We're going to have to get ready and win a ballgame before we even think about chasing the teams in front of us," Acta said.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the first. Asdrubal Cabrera started the two-out rally against Gavin Floyd with a single. He stole second and scored on Jim Thome's single to left.

Cabrera, with 22 homers and 17 steals, needs three more steals to become the first Indians infielder since Robby Alomar to go 20-20 -- at least 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. It would be the third straight season the Indians had a 20-20 man. Shin-Soo Choo did it in 2009 and 2010.

Huff's teammates nicknamed him Rain Man because when he starts, rain is almost sure to follow. The tarp was on the field before the game, but the game started on time. A light rain, at times resembling a mist, fell on and off throughout the game.

"After baseball, I think I might become a weatherman," Huff said.

Huff, true to his nickname, handled the rain well.

After Morel's homer, only three of the next 14 batters reach bases. Juan Pierre singled in the third for his 2,000th hit. Alexei Ramirez walked in the fourth and Gordon Beckham hit a two-out single in the fifth.

Huff lost his edge in the seventh. He walked Ramirez to start the inning and gave up single to Alex Rios. He struck out Flowers as Herrmann relieved.

The Indians created scoring chances, but couldn't take advantage of them. Floyd went 5 2/3 innings. Four relievers held the Indians scoreless over the last 2 1/3 innings. Lefty Matt Thornton (1-4) was the winner.

To reach this Plain Dealer Reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Tweet: @hoynsie

After his introduction to football included his father showing him videos of former OSU safety Jack Tatum making hits, Oliver wouldn't have wanted a career anywhere else.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerFifth-year senior Nate Oliver is a special teams contributor for the Buckeyes.

"Teammate" is probably the best way to describe Oliver's role with the Buckeyes, though they don't usually list that on the roster. He reached 100 on-field minutes for his OSU career last week in the opener against Akron, and you will see his No. 20 on the field with the Buckeyes' special teams against Toledo on Saturday.

But it's as a bridge between a Super Bowl champ like Malcolm Jenkins, who mentored a young Oliver, and a potential star like freshman Curtis Grant, whom Oliver has taken under his wing, where he will leave his mark. A high school star at St. Edward and the first commit in Ohio State's 2007 recruiting class, Oliver hasn't reached the on-field goals he, and others, may have expected. But if he wasn't here now, the Buckeyes would know it.

"One thing I can say about Nate, he takes his relationships with everyone here very seriously," OSU senior special teams player Nate Ebner said.

"He's a great friend to everybody on this team. Everyone on the team would have nothing but good things to say about him. I know he would do anything for me."

Oliver's move to linebacker reflected that. The Buckeyes are stacked in the secondary with young talent but a little thin at linebacker. Oliver joked that he played at a "starving" 217 pounds at safety, so he feels more natural playing as an undersized 225-pound linebacker. In the end, the coaches were looking for a way to get a guy who did his job more of a shot.

"He seemed like he was a good leader in the off-season with lifting and running and those sorts of things, so we wanted to try to find a spot where he could take on a little bit of a leadership role," defensive coordinator Jim Heacock said. "He's done a good job with that."

Sidelined by injuries at times in previous years, Oliver isn't listed among the first two teams on the depth chart, and will almost certainly leave Ohio State without starting a game. But after his introduction to football included his father showing him videos of former OSU safety Jack Tatum making hits, Oliver wouldn't have wanted a career anywhere else. He plans to finish a degree in sports management in March, and he said he's considering coaching after he graduates.

He knew he would be a Buckeye from the moment his scholarship was offered and made an oral commitment as a high school junior Feb. 1, 2006, even before the Buckeyes had locked in the recruiting class of those high school seniors.

"I set goals back in '06 when I committed," Oliver said this week. "I haven't matched all of them, but I'm a three-year letter winner, hopefully four. And I haven't lost to Michigan and I don't plan on doing that. I won multiple Big Ten championships with this team.

"So my team goals I accomplished. As far as individual goals, I haven't accomplished the ones I want, and I probably won't. But the experiences I've had at Ohio State, I wouldn't trade that for the world."

Friends have asked in the past why he didn't go to another school where he would have had a better chance of playing. Maybe he could have started in the MAC, hoping to play against the Buckeyes. Oliver never considered it, so he's back for this last year, one of four fifth-year Buckeyes remaining from the small 15-player class of 2007 that included Cameron Heyward and other current NFL rookies like Jermale Hines, Brian Rolle and Dane Sanzenbacher.

Still at Ohio State are two players in the midst of five-game suspensions, running back Dan Herron and defensive end Solomon Thomas; backup defensive lineman Evan Blankenship, who also changed positions this season; and Oliver.

"I know everyone has a role, and mine is on special teams," Oliver said. "I accept that role, and that's fine with me. I don't care -- I'll do whatever I can to help this team win."

Can the Browns actually rise to respectability when defending the run this season? They need to, Terry Pluto writes.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerHere's hoping changes implemented by new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron, above, will improve the team's dismal run defense.

I want to believe, I really do.

I want to believe that this is the season that the Browns' defense finally stops the run. OK, maybe not shut it down. Maybe not send fear into opposing running backs.

How about a little mediocrity when it comes to defending the run?

Yes, mediocrity . . . something like a ranking of 20th out of 32 teams.

If the Browns somehow rank in the top 16, then Dick Jauron should be the NFL's defensive coordinator of the year.

That's because the Browns have never been even respectable against the run since they returned in 1999.

It's always dangerous to use words such as always and never. Because, almost never is something always a certain way.

But when it comes to the Browns' defense against the run, it's always bad.

Unless it's awful.

The Browns ranked 26th against the run last season, and that was their second-best ranking since the team returned in 1999.

The top was 22 in 2003.

That's right, the Browns have never been higher than No. 22 since the team returned a dozen years ago.

Their average ranking since 1999 is No. 28.

Here are the rankings for the past eight years: 26-29-28-27-29-30-32-22.

Stopping the run does matter. Yes, last season's Super Bowl champion Packers were a blah No. 18. But the other teams in the NFL's final four: Steelers (No. 1), Bears (No. 2) and Jets (No. 3).

To the credit of General Manager Tom Heckert, he has drafted defensive players with his top two picks in his first two years with the Browns.

In 2010, it was cornerback Joe Haden and safety T.J. Ward. This summer, it's defensive tackle Phil Taylor and defensive end Jabaal Sheard.

He also traded for Chris Gocong and Sheldon Brown, both considered reliable tacklers. D'Qwell Jackson seems healthy for the first time since 2008, and he appears to have a clue about defending the run.

Jauron is the ninth different defensive coordinator since 1999.

Yes, nine different defensive coordinators since 1999. Maybe that has something to do with the Swiss cheese of a run defense. He is changing from the 3-4 defense of the past six years to a 4-3. That means four linemen and three linebackers.

Jauron talked about the game being for "big people" when it comes to defenses dealing with the run. He believes he has two of them in tackles Ahtyba Rubin (330 pounds) and Taylor (335 pounds). He also has two very inexperienced defensive ends in Sheard (a rookie) and Jayme Mitchell (zero pro starts in five years).

A key will be the linebackers. The trio of Scott Fujita, Jackson and Gocong all can defend the run reasonably well. But will they stay healthy? Gocong missed nearly all of training camp with a pinched nerve in his neck.

Jauron has been a head coach for 10 seasons with two different teams, and been a defensive coordinator for two other teams covering six more years.

In his past six years at Buffalo (head coach, 2006-09) and Detroit (coordinator, 2004-05), Jauron's team's rankings against the run were 29-21-24-27-23-14. Of course, he also has been with two of the NFL's least talented teams in the past dozen years.

Obviously, he knows something to continually secure good jobs, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

With rookie head coach Pat Shurmur also serving as his own offensive coordinator, it's critical the Browns have what amounts to a head coach running the defense. Jauron should be able to fill that role.

Now we'll see if he can find the right guys to fill the holes in the Browns' defense.