SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock University field hockey team is No. 9 in this week’s Division II national rankings, the highest ranking in the program’s history.

SRU went 2-0 last week and is 5-3 overall this season.

WASHINGTON — The embarrassing NFL referee saga and the disputed call that gave the Seahawks a victory over the Packers on Monday night has reached the campaign for the White House, with President Barack Obama deeming it “terrible” and declaring it was time to get regular officiating crews back on the job.“I've been saying for months we've got to get our refs back,” Obama said as he returned to the White House from an appearance before the United Nations. In a tweet under his initials, Obama said: “NFL fans on both sides of the aisle hope the refs' lockout is settled soon.”In a rare moment of agreement with Obama, presidential rival Mitt Romney and GOP running mate Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin native, also said it was time to bring back the “real refs.”

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Notre Dame is opting out of its series with Michigan, meaning the last scheduled game between college football's winningest programs will take place in 2014.A letter from Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick to Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon cancelling games in 2015-2017 was obtained by The Associated Press through a Freedom of Information Act request.The Fighting Irish recently decided to move to the Atlantic Coast Conference in every sport except football and hockey.

TORONTO — The NHL and its players' union are to resume bargaining Friday for the first time since the lockout began, although the talks will concentrate on secondary economic issues.Deputy commissioner Bill Daly and NHL Players' Association special counsel Steve Fehr met in Toronto and set up the session, which will be in New York. These will be the first formal negotiations since Sept. 12, when the players and owners exchanged proposals.