Central Michigan AD Dave Heeke "has accepted" the VP/Athletics job at the Univ. of Arizona. Heeke, who has held the AD job at CMU since January '06, "will replace" Greg Byrne in Tucson after Byrne left for the AD position at Alabama (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/26).
Hooters will air its "first NASCAR commercial in 25 years" during today's Daytona 500. The spot features driver Chase Elliott, "chicken wings, beer and women" (FOXSPORTS.com, 2/25).
La Liga club FC Barcelona and EPL club Manchester United "appear to be planning a summer match" in the DC area as part of the '17 Int'l Champions Cup. The "suggested date is July 25" and the match would "take place" at FedExField (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/24).
Villanova's Pavilion yesterday hosted its final college basketball game before being "closed for renovation" until the '18-19 season (PHILLY.com, 2/25).
Boxer Deontay Wilder last night "knocked Gerald Washington down in the fifth round" to retain his WBC heavyweight title. Attendance at Legacy Arena in Birmingham was "announced as 12,346 -- the largest for a heavyweight fight in Alabama" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 2/26).
A source said that the '17 NFL salary cap is "expected to be in the range" of $166-169M (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 2/25).
