SPORTS UPDATE 12/18/12

College Football:   News Channel 5-Nashville reports on its web site that University of Tennessee offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James plans to return for his senior season. James said on Twitter Monday night he felt blessed to have another year to get better and to win a championship.

James is one of four starting linemen that will return next season. That group allowed only eight quarterback sacks in the 2012 season. James had been considering leaving to enter the NFL draft.

NFL: The Kansas City Star reports former Kansas City Chief Jovan Belcher told a secret girlfriend he “would shoot” Kasandra Perkins month before he shot her and took his own life December 1^st.

The 25-year-old Belcher’s mother said she moved in with her son and mother of his infant two weeks before the shootings because of financial issues which was causing relationship problems. The report also indicated if Belcher left Perkins she would take all of his money and their daughter.

The Dallas Cowboys are banning nose tackle Josh Brent from the sidelines for the rest of the season.  ESPN reports team and NFL officials were unaware that Brent would be on the sidelines this past Sunday and both agree it is inappropriate while he is facing charges of intoxication manslaughter.  Brent is currently on the reserve/non-football illness list following the car accident that killed teammate Jerry Brown earlier this month. 

The 24-year-old had his bond lowered from 500-thousand-dollars to 100-thousand-dollars during a brief court hearing today.  A judge has ordered Brent not to consume alcohol or drive until he has a valid Texas license.  He must also wear an ankle monitor.

College Basketball: Yahoo Sports reports Butler University is keeping its options open about joining the seven Catholic schools that announced their intentions last week to split from the Big East and form their own conference.

Butler officials are remaining tight lipped about the potential move, but reports indicate they and Xavier, currently members of the Atlantic 10, are reportedly the next schools on the list the Catholic 7 are targeting to join their league.

It was quite a moving end to a press conference last night after Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim got his 900^th career win. With his wife Juli and young children close by, he closed his remarks remembering two of the students killed in the Newtown, Connecticut shootings last Friday. He said if we can’t get the people representing us to do something about firearms, we are a sad, sad society.