In Sports from United Press International

Bellisari pleads no contest

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari pleaded no contest to a drunken driving charge today and was sentenced to three days in jail.

Bellisari will serve the jail time after the Buckeyes play in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. He also was ordered to spend three days in an alcohol diversion program.

The 21-year-old senior was arrested on Nov. 16 by Ohio State police and charged with two counts of drunken driving and two traffic misdemeanors. The other drunken driving charge and the traffic violations were dismissed today.

Bellisari's arrest came the day before the Buckeyes lost to Illinois, 34-22, in a key Big Ten Conference game. Coach Jim Tressel suspended Bellisari from that contest before reinstating him for last week's 26-20 win over Michigan. Bellisari dressed but did not play against the Wolverines.

Geo. Tech, Bos. Col. accept bowl bids

ATLANTA, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Georgia Tech and Boston College today became the latest teams to accept bowl bids as the post-season contests began to fill up.

Georgia Tech (7-4) will play in the inaugural Seattle Bowl on Dec. 27. The contest, formerly the Oahu Bowl, will take place at Safeco Field, home of baseball's Seattle Mariners. Georgia Tech will play Stanford (8-2), which accepted a bid to the game Tuesday.

Boston College (7-4) will play in the Music City Bowl in Nashville against a team from the Southeastern Conference.

Among the bowls that have already filled both berths are the New Orleans Bowl (North Texas vs. Colorado State), Las Vegas Bowl (Utah vs. USC), Liberty Bowl (Louisville vs. Brigham Young) and Gator Bowl (Virginia Tech vs. Florida State).

Porter shares qualifying lead

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Lee Porter, whose best year by far on the PGA Tour was still not good enough to ensure his return to the circuit in 2002, fired a 6-under 66 today that gave him a share of the lead after the opening day of the tour's six-round qualifying tournament.

Craig Bowden, Boo Weekley, Ben Bates, Jaxon Brigman, Eduardo Herrera and Kevin Durkin also shot 66 over the Bear Lakes Country Club course as the annual grind got underway for those hoping to advance their golfing careers.

Porter has been on and off the tour for a decade and only once has he finished among the top 125 money earners who are invited back the next season. He won $346,000 this year, but that was good only for 137th place.

Among those at 67 were tour veterans Ted Tryba and Joe Ogilvie while Gary Nicklaus fired a 68 to tie for 16th as he attempts to regain his tour card.

The top 35 finishers and ties from a field of 167 will earn playing rights for 2002.

Among those tied with Nicklaus at 68 was Andy Dillard, whose biggest splash in the golfing world came when he led the 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach after two rounds. Dillard eventually faded and the tournament was won by Tom Kite.

Writers All-America team announced

MIAMI, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Miami and Florida, ranked 1-2 in the Bowl Championship Series, each placed three players on the 2001 All-America football team announced today by the Football Writers Association of America.

The top-ranked Hurricanes placed defensive back Edward Reed, offensive linemen Bryant McKinnie and Joaquin Gonzalez on the 25-man team. Reed and Gonzalez also made the team in 2000.

No. 2 Florida also placed an offensive lineman on the team, Mike Pearson. He was joined by receiver Jabar Gaffney and defensive end Alex Brown of the Gators. Gaffney was the only sophomore named to the squad.

The quarterback was Antwaan Randle El of Indiana, who has not been mentioned prominently among Heisman Trophy contenders but averages 239.1 yards of total offense.

Oklahoma and Tennessee each had two selections. The Sooners were linebacker Rocky Calmus and safety Roy Williams.

Chargers sign Steve Christie

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The San Diego Chargers today signed veteran kicker Steve Christie, who was waived by the Buffalo Bills in September.

Terms were not disclosed, but ESPN reported the deal to be at one year for $477,000.

Christie, 34, flew to San Diego Tuesday and passed a physical before trying out for the team Wednesday.

The Bills' all-time leader in points (1,011) and field goals (234), Christie was placed on injured reserve the day before the start of the regular season with a groin injury.

The move was expected after Christie refused an injury settlement, which could have allowed him to re-sign with the team after Week 10.

Buffalo went with Jake Arians, who was released Monday after making only 12 of 21 field goals for the Bills, who have a 1-9 record.

NBA awards exception to 76ers

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia 76ers were awarded an injury exception by the NBA today following the retirement of center Matt Geiger.

Geiger, whose availability and effectiveness were severely limited by chronic knee problems, announced his retirement after being waived by the 76ers on Nov. 21.

The 76ers applied to the NBA for an injury exception to the salary cap of no more than $4.07 million, half of Geiger's salary for this season. The exception can be used until Dec. 24.

Geiger was in the fourth year of a six-year, $48 million contract and had been on the injured list since Nov. 9 with degenerative arthritis in both knees.

Iowa Start star sprains knee

AMES, Iowa, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Iowa State sophomore guard Jake Sullivan, the team's leading scorer, will be sidelined up to six weeks after spraining his right MCL on Tuesday against Savannah State.

Sullivan was given an MRI today, which revealed the sprained ligament. He could return in a month, depending on his rehabilitation.

Sullivan, the Big 12 Conference's Freshman of the Year last season, has averaged 16.0 points through five games. He went scoreless in five minutes Tuesday in a 64-39 victory before suffering the injury.

Chiefs, Eagles kick off NFL week

KANSAS CITY, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Week 12 of the NFL season gets an early start Thursday as Dick Vermeil gets another shot at his former team when his Kansas City Chiefs battle the Philadelphia Eagles.

Vermeil, 65, coached the Eagles to their only trip to the Super Bowl in 1981, a 27-10 loss to Oakland. In seven years as Eagles coach, he compiled a 57-51 record and guided the team to four straight playoff appearances.

After taking a 14-year break from coaching, Vermeil returned to the sidelines as coach of the St. Louis Rams in 1997. He faced the Eagles twice as Rams coach, losing both meetings.

Coming off a victory against Seattle, the Chiefs (3-7) are looking to put together consecutive wins for the first time this season.