sports digest thursday

Oswalt will miss at least one start with groin strain

SAN FRANCISCO -- Houston Astros rookie sensation Roy Oswalt will miss at least one start because of a strained right groin, the NL Central leaders said Wednesday.

Oswalt left Tuesday night's game against the San Francisco Giants after the second inning. Manager Larry Dierker said the right-hander first felt the injury during pregame warmups.

Oswalt (14-2) was scheduled to start Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. Instead, the Astros will start Ron Villone against the Cubs on Friday, Shane Reynolds on Saturday, and Tim Redding in Oswalt's place on Sunday.

Oswalt was replaced by Redding Tuesday night and did not earn a decision in the Astros' 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Giants.

Oswalt has won five straight starts and six straight decisions. His last loss was July 23 against Chicago.

MU reschedules game with Kansas State

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri and No. 12 Kansas State have agreed to delay their Nov. 17 Big 12 regular-season finale by a week.

The schools made the switch to Nov. 24 so the Wildcats can make up their game against Louisiana Tech, which was postponed following last week's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The Missouri-Kansas State game will still be played in Manhattan, Kan. Game time is tentatively set for 1 p.m.

This is the second switch Missouri has made because of the attacks. The Tigers' game against Michigan State, also scheduled for Sept. 15 and postponed last week, will be played Dec. 1 in East Lansing, Mich.

That is the same date as the Big 12 Championship game. The game against the Spartans will not be played if Missouri wins the Big 12 North division, qualifying for the title game.

Home of Heisman closed indefinitely

NEW YORK -- The Downtown Athletic Club, around the corner from the site of the World Trade Center and the home of the Heisman Trophy, will be closed indefinitely as inspections determine its stability.

Following last week's terrorist attacks, medical personnel from the DAC administered to those in the immediate area of the collapses.

"As a result of this tragedy, the Downtown Athletic Club will be closed until we can be 100 percent sure the building and surrounding areas are safe," DAC president Jim Corcoran said Wednesday. "The DAC has lost a number of members in this tragedy and our hearts are deeply saddened."

This year's Heisman Trophy presentation is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the DAC.

The Heisman Trophy has been presented to the nation's outstanding college football player annually since 1935. More than 900 media members and former winners are among the voters.

FAA grants no-fly zones over several stadiums

Blimps and small planes flying over college football stadiums pulling banner advertisements will be rare sights this weekend.

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted requests for several schools, including Clemson, Michigan and Penn State, to bar flights within a mile radius of their stadiums and up to an altitude of 3,000 feet.

On Wednesday, the FAA approved the requests on a "no-fly zone" for Saturday's Virginia-Clemson and Wisconsin-Penn State. On Tuesday, Michigan received permission for its Saturday home game with Western Michigan.

Notre Dame, which plays host to Michigan State on Saturday, was awaiting word on its request for a "no-fly zone."

FAA southern region spokesman Christopher White said similar 'no-fly zones" will be in effect for Thursday night's South Carolina at Mississippi State game. Other games with "no-fly zones" include Florida at Kentucky, Arkansas at Alabama, Florida State at North Carolina and VMI at Furman, White said.

-- From wire reports