MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis must vacate its record 38-win men's basketball season from 2007-08 after the NCAA rejected its appeal.

The NCAA announced Monday its Infractions Appeal Committee ruled against Memphis, which was found to use an ineligible player, believed to be Derrick Rose. The Tigers lost in overtime to Kansas in the national title game that season.

The NCAA originally ordered Memphis to vacate the season and to forfeit money on Aug. 20. Memphis had appealed, arguing the penalties were unprecedented and that the school was held to a strict liability when Rose was ruled retroactively ineligible for an SAT score that was invalidated by the Educational Testing Service in May 2008.

TORONTO — NHL players are looking to tweak the proposed rule on blindsided hits to the head in an effort to get it in place this season.Competition committee member Jason Spezza Monday said in Montreal that the NHL Players' Association is looking to make a counterproposal to the rule drafted by general managers earlier this month. However, the players aren't seeking any major changes.The NHLPA first expressed a desire to see a head-checking penalty in March 2009.After meeting earlier this month in Florida, the league's 30 GMs proposed one that would give referees the ability to call a minor or major for any blindside hit where the primary point of contact is the head. It was intended to be implemented next season, but a series of recent incidents has prompted the league to look at fast-tracking the process.

HOUSTON — Tom Penders resigned Monday as men's basketball coach at Houston, ending a six-year tenure that culminated in the Cougars' first trip to the NCAA tournament since 1992.The Cougars qualified after winning the Conference USA tournament, but lost to Maryland 89-77 in the first round Friday night.He insisted he has no retirement plans, saying it was simply time to find another challenge.The 64-year-old Penders became just the eighth coach to take four different schools to the NCAA tournament. He had also led George Washington, Rhode Island and Texas there.

OAK BROOK, Ill. — Michelle Wie has signed an endorsement deal with McDonald's, with an advertising campaign that will be launched next month in five languages.Wie is one of the most popular players in women's golf, especially after the 20-year-old from Hawaii won her first LPGA Tour event last year in Mexico. She spends part of her time as a student at Stanford.The commercial is to be available in two dialects of Chinese, English, Korean and Taglish.

SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock University softball and baseball teams each had a player earn a league honors.Jessica Kortz, a senior catcher for softball team, was named PSAC West Player of the Week after hitting .727 (8-for-11) with five home runs and 16 RBI in five games. SRU went 3-2 in those contests.Jamison Walck, a freshman infielder for the baseball team, received the same honor, hitting .500 (7-for-14) with six RBI and five runs scored in four games against Clarion, all wins.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Amy Halls and Casey Quinn each scored five goals in the Slippery Rock University women's lacrosse team's 16-11 victory over Edinboro Monday night.Goalie Ashley Winkelspecht made 15 saves for The Rock (4-1).