IN BRIEF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Gators' Spikes to sit out full game vs. Vanderbilt

With all the negative attention "weighing heavy on his heart," linebacker Brandon Spikes asked to serve a full-game suspension for apparently trying to gouge the eyes of a Georgia running back.

Coach Urban Meyer obliged Wednesday, saying it was in the top-ranked Gators' best interest that Spikes sit out Saturday's game against Vanderbilt.

Meyer had faced criticism for only suspending his star defender for the first half of the Vandy game. The Southeastern Conference accepted the original punishment.

Also: A Hartford, Conn., man was charged with lying to police investigating the recent stabbing death of Connecticut player Jasper Howard.

UConn Police Lt. Andrew Fournier said De'Quan Muhammad, 18, was arrested Monday and charged with making a false statement, hindering prosecution and interfering with an officer.

University of New Mexico president David Schmidly said an attorney representing an assistant football coach sent a letter offering "continued media silence" in exchange for a $500,000 settlement in a dispute with coach Mike Locksley.

Schmidly said the overture was rejected. "I outright refused it," Schmidly said during a news conference.

Julian Haffner, a lawyer in Bethesda, Md., who is representing receivers coach J.B. Gerald, didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment. Gerald claims he was punched and choked by Locksley.

HOCKEY

Thrashers goalie has second back surgery

Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen is expected to miss six to eight weeks after having a second surgery on his back.

Lehtonen has not played this season after having surgery July 20 to repair a herniated disk.

Also: After two straight road wins over the Ontario (Calif.) Reign -- 4-3 on Friday and 2-1 on Sunday -- the Wranglers (4-3-0) return home to take on the Bakersfield (Calif.) Condors (4-4-0) at 7:05 p.m. today and Friday at the Orleans Arena.

Goalie Michael Ouzas is 4-1-0, and forwards Ned Lukacevic and Josh Prudden each have eight points for Las Vegas, 2-3-0 at home.

Natalie Darwitz scored twice to help the United States beat Sweden 3-2 and set up a final against Canada in the Four Nations Cup in Vierumaki, Finland. Canada beat Finland 4-2 in the other game.

MISCELLANEOUS

Gorman's Winder will play basketball for BYU

Bishop Gorman High School boys basketball star Anson Winder has given an oral commitment to Brigham Young.

Winder, a senior guard, chose the Cougars over scholarship offers from UNR and Idaho. He visited all three schools, including BYU the weekend of Oct. 24.

"The visit was excellent," Winder said. "The team was really close. They get the most out of their players."

Also: Toyota is pulling out of Formula One racing. The world's largest automaker announced it needs to cut costs and focus on its core business.

Toyota follows Honda Motor Co. as the second major Japanese automaker to withdraw from the sport in the last 11 months.

Real Madrid said Cristiano Ronaldo's ankle injury has not improved. The soccer superstar, sidelined by a right ankle injury for nearly a month, had a medical review that showed no progress.

Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland, by beating Andreas Seppi of Italy, 6-3, 6-3.

The Frys.com Open is leaving Scottsdale, Ariz., to a temporary home at CordeValle Resort in California, putting the PGA Tour event closer to the title sponsor's corporate headquarters in San Jose, Calif.

The Fall Series event again will be in October in 2010.