Sports Briefs

August 29, 2008 10:46 am

— USM football team moves off campus
HATTIESBURG (AP) — The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team has moved off campus into a nearby apartment complex.
Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini told the Hattiesburg American that the facility is better for the team than the aging Vann Hall. He says the university plans to build new dorms, but work won’t begin until 2010.
Officials say the school is allowed to apply the most expensive rate for an on-campus dormitory — or $1,950 a semester for rooms in sorority village — to the off-campus private apartment complex.
The rate per semester for students that live in Vann Hall is $1,610.
Four football players live in each one of the two-bedroom units.
Brown, Henne strong in 14-10 Miami win over New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ronnie Brown returned from a thumb injury in good enough form to make a case for sharing carries with Ricky Williams this season.
Brown rushed 12 times for 47 yards and powered his way into the end zone on a 1-yard run to help the Miami Dolphins win their third-straight preseason contest, 14-10 over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.
Former Michigan quarterback Chad Henne also solidified his backup role behind starter Chad Pennington, completing 16 of 20 passes for 137 yards and an 8-yard touchdown to Sean Ryan, his former New York Jets teammate.
Saints fans hoping to finally see tight end Jeremy Shockey’s debut for New Orleans were disappointed as coach Sean Payton made the former Giants star a late scratch for the second week in a row.
Trying to work his way back from a broken left leg last December, Shockey will enter the regular season next week without having played a snap for his new team.
The Saints also sat out a number of other regulars, including Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston.
Deuce McAllister, however, got his most work of the preseason, rushing 11 times for 30 yards and catching two passes for 2 yards. Coming back from his second knee reconstruction in three seasons, McAllister appeared to be victimized by poor blocking on several short losses.
Still, the Saints’ career-leading rusher looked strong on a 9-yard run and on a swing pass in which he faked Andre Goodman to the turf in the backfield before surging ahead for a 7-yard gain to set up a score.
Cornerback Mike McKenzie, making his second straight start after an offseason of rehabilitation from a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, looked strong. He stopped a running play for no gain, did not allow a completion and nearly intercepted a pass along the sideline.
Mark Brunell, who started for New Orleans, was 6-of-9 for 31 yards and a 2-yard TD toss to Lance Moore, which put New Orleans ahead 10-0 early in the second quarter.
Saints third string quarterback Tyler Palko played the rest of the way, but struggled mightily and went 4-of-14 for 36 yards.