UCLA football: Defensive end Derrick Bryant transferring

UCLA defensive end Derrick Bryant returned home to Ohio and said he is transferring.

“I enjoyed my time out in Los Angeles, but I got home sick,” said Bryant, who sat out last season as a redshirt. “I missed my family. I want to see my little sister grow up.”

Bryant, who played at Columbus Brookhaven High School, was ranked the 34^th best strong side defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com. He missed the 2010 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Bryant said he is considering several schools, with North Carolina, Nebraska and Indiana topping the list. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

-- Chris Foster

Anaheim Ducks sign Coach Randy Carlyle to contract extension

Anaheim Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle has agreed to a new contract extension through the 2013-14 season, the team announced Monday. 

Carlyle's previous contract was set to expire after the upcoming season. If he stays on through his new deal, he'll have been the Ducks' coach for nine seasons. 

"He's a good coach," Ducks General Manager Bob Murray said in a conference call. "We're always competitive no matter what kind of team we throw at him. He takes what you give him and he tries to find a way to win."

Carlyle, 55, said he and team officials have been discussing a new contract, the terms of which were not disclosed, since the season ended. He said he feels fortunate to stay with the Ducks, the team that hired him in 2005 to become its seventh head coach.

"That's probably the most rewarding thing is to work with people who view the game the same way I view it," he said in the conference call. 

Aside from leading the team to its first Stanley Cup in 2007, Carlyle's most successful season was 2008-09, when the Ducks beat No. 1 seed and President's Trophy winner San Jose in six games in the first round of the playoffs and then took the Detroit Red Wings to seven games in the conference semifinals before being defeated. 

This past season, he guided the team to the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. His teams have advanced to the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. 

Carlyle is the winningest coach in franchise history at 266-169-57, and he has compiled a .599 winning percentage in 492 regular-season games. 

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Kings' Mike Richards says L.A. 'not a bad place' to start over

Hockey star Sean Avery arrested on suspicion of batter on cop

-- Baxter Holmes

Photo: Randy Carlyle. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

UCLA football: Coach Rick Neuheisel optimistic as Bruins begin practice

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel is optimistic. So it was business as usual when the Bruins’ opened training camp Monday morning with workouts for incoming freshmen.

“We have real depth for the first time, which means there will be real competition,” Neuheisel said. “Hopefully, we can parlay that into success.”

The Bruins' first practice was scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m., but Neuheisel and players were already addressing the season during media day. That included questions about Neuheisel’s future as coach.

Neuheisel has a 15-22 record in three seasons at UCLA.

“To tell you the truth, I haven’t thought anything about that this summer,” Neuheisel said. “I can’t let it take my attention away from what I have to do.”

 

Greg Pursley, Luis Martinez ranked in August NASCAR Hunter Index

Greg Pursley, a Canyon High of Canyon Country graduate and driver from Newhall, kept his yearlong streak of being ranked in the monthly NASCAR Hunter Index alive.

He is the No. 7 driver in August's Hunter Index, which ranks the top 10 drivers in the NASCAR developmental series in North America.

Luis Martinez Jr., a driver from Long Beach, cracked the Hunter Index for the first time this season. He came in at No. 8.

Go to Haddock in the Paddock for more on the NASCAR Hunter Index for August.

Photo: Greg Pursley (26) and Luis Martinez Jr. (6) were ranked in the top 10 of the NASCAR Hunter Index for August. Credit: Jonathon Ferrey / Getty Images for NASCAR

UCLA football: Coach Rick Neuheisel optimistic as Bruins being practice

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel is optimistic. So it was business as usual when the Bruins’ opened training camp Monday morning with workouts for incoming freshmen.

“We have real depth for the first time, which means there will be real competition,” Neuheisel said. “Hopefully, we can parlay that into success.”

The Bruins' first practice was scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m., but Neuheisel and players were already addressing the season during media day. That included questions about Neuheisel’s future as coach.

Neuheisel has a 15-22 record in three seasons at UCLA.

“To tell you the truth, I haven’t thought anything about that this summer,” Neuheisel said. “I can’t let it take my attention away from what I have to do.”

UCLA football: Bruins to pick up two transfers

Cornerback Jaime Graham and offensive lineman Albert Cid are expected to join the UCLA football team this week, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not allowed to speak publicly on the matter.

Both players were to submit their final paperwork to the university on Monday and their approval is a mere formality, the source said.

Cid, a transfer from Citrus College, could join practice as soon as Tuesday. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Graham, who played three seasons at Vanderbilt, is enrolling in graduate school and may not join the team for a few days.

Both players will be immediately eligible and are at positions where depth is a concern. Cid could earn a starting spot at guard. Graham will give the defense an experienced backup at cornerback.

--Chris Foster

Joe Paterno walks away from collision with football player

Joe Paterno may be 84 years old, but he's still a pretty tough guy.

The legendary Penn State coach collided with a receiver who was running a route during practice on Sunday -- and walked away.

The school announced the incident Monday, saying Paterno spent the rest of the day undergoing tests on his right arm and hip at a hospital but was able to hold his morning coaches meeting over the phone.

"I expect to be back at practice soon," Paterno said in a statement. "I'm doing fine; tell everyone not to worry about me."

Surgery likely will not be required, Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State director of athletic medicine, said in a statement.

The Nittany Lions' football media day was supposed to take place Thursday but has been rescheduled for next Monday.

ALSO:

The Times' preseason college football countdown: No. 24 Georgia

The Times' preseason college football countdown: No. 25 Texas

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Joe Paterno. Credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images