KWVT 52 announces 2006 Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival: Timken Grand Parade

The game airs on August 17th at 5:00 PM.

(CANTON, Ohio) - It is an All-American time in an All-American city. Join the Enshrinee Class of 2006 as they march on the streets of Canton, Ohio on their way to immortality at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hosts include Dan Dierdorf, former ABC Monday Night Football announcer, and a Hall of Famer will return for an 8th consecutive year along with longtime co-host Wilma Smith.

Marching bands, giant balloons, celebrities and dozens of Hall of Famers representing every era will join this year’s class in the Timken Grand Parade.

Volcanoes Howard, Walker to Coach Blanchet High School Baseball Team

Well-known team owner plans to teach the high school players a few things.

(SALEM) - Jerry Walker, co-owner of the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes has been named the varsity head baseball coach at Blanchet Catholic School.

Walker has been a minor league executive for 18 seasons.

This is Walker’s 10th season in Keizer with the Volcanoes.

Walker ran the Bellingham Giants and Bellingham Mariners prior to moving to franchise here and building Volcanoes Stadium in 1997.

Winter Hawks Memorial Cup Champion Named Head Coach of NHL Calgary Flames

(PORTLAND) - Former Portland Winter Hawks defenseman Jim Playfair was named head coach of the NHL Calgary Flames Wednesday.

Playfair was a member of the 1982-83 Winter Hawks' Memorial Cup championship team. He played some of his best hockey in a Hawks' uniform during that tournament and was a first round NHL draft choice of the Edmonton Oilers.

Darryl Sutter relinquished head coaching duties of the Calgary Flames to focus completely on duties as a General Manager. Playfair was promoted from his position as assistant coach of the Flames to head coach.

Former President Gerald Ford Receives Enberg Award for Distinguished Service

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) last weekend named former U.S. President Gerald Ford as the 2006 recipient of its Dick Enberg Award.

The award, presented by the group since 1997 and named after the longtime television sportscaster, annually recognizes one individual committed to promoting the values of education and academics while furthering the meaning of the student-athlete.

As a football star at the University of Michigan in the 1930s, Ford earned three varsity letters from 1932-1934 and participated on back-to-back undefeated and Big Ten title teams in '32 and '33. In 1934, Ford was named team MVP as starting center, and played in both the East-West Shrine Game and an All-Star game against the NFL champions Chicago Bears following the season.

August Camp Dates Set

(CORVALLIS) - The Oregon State University football team officially begins preparation for the 2006 season Fri., Aug. 4th with the first day of practice. The Beavers open the season Thurs., Aug. 31st against the Eastern Washington Eagles at Reser Stadium in Corvallis.

Sixteen starters return from the 2005 club, including Outland Trophy candidate Jeremy Perry (OG), Rimington Trophy candidate Kyle DeVan (C), Nagurski Award candidate Sabby Piscitelli (SS) and 2005 Lou Groza Award recipient Alexis Serna (PK). In addition, senior tight end Joe Newton returns after being sidelined all of last season with an injury.

All practices are open to the public, but fans are reminded that OSU football personnel are cognizant of the safety of student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans when on the field.

OSU’s Taylor Set to Play for England’s Nordic Cup Team

(CORVALLIS) - Jodie Taylor, a standout on the Oregon State women’s soccer team, will be playing for her native England at the Nordic Cup, which begins this weekend. The Nordic Cup, held in Norway from July 16th-22nd, is an eight-team event that is the top annual competition for under-21 women’s teams.

This is Taylor’s third stint with England’s U-21 team this year. She previously traveled home for camps and friendlies in January and May.

England is in Group B and will play Finland on July 16th, Sweden on July 18th and Germany on July 20th. The championship, third-place game, fifth-place game and seventh-place game will all be held on July 22. Group A consists of the United States, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.

Northwestern Names Former LB Pat Fitzgerald as Head Coach

(CHICAGO) - Former two-time Nagurski Award winner Pat Fitzgerald, who helped lead Northwestern to the 1996 Rose Bowl as a standout junior linebacker, was the named the Wildcats 29th head football coach on Friday.

Fitzgerald replaces Randy Walker, the seven-year NU head coach who died suddenly of a heart attack on June 29th.

At 31 years old, Fitzgerald becomes the youngest head coach in Division I-A and takes over a team that finished 7-5 in 2005 and secured a spot in the Vitalis Sun Bowl against UCLA, a game they lost 50-38.

Emeralds Celebrate The Fourth of July by Beating The Volcanoes 7-4

A franchise-record 5,628 packed Volcanoes Stadium.

(KEIZER) - The Eugene Emeralds are on a two game winning streak, unfortunately those wins are coming against what was the hottest team in NWL baseball the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

Before a franchise record crowd of 5,628, the Emeralds scored first and never looked back beating the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 7-4 on what was a clear, but very windy night at “The Crater.”

Eugene shortstop Nick Kliebert had a double and scored three runs.

Kliebert and Chad Huffman had RBI doubles and Luany Sanchez added a two-run double in the third inning to put the Emeralds (9-7) on top, 4-0.

AquaSox Beat Volcanoes 5-1

Salem-Keizer catcher Henry Gutierrez went 3-for-4 on the night.

(EVERETT, Wa.) - The Everett AquaSox moved to within one game of first place after beating the first place Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 5-1 Friday night at Everett Memorial Stadium.

Sox second baseman Dean Zorn led the way going 3-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI.

Everett third baseman Leury Bonilla went 1-for-4 hit a two-run homerun in the fourth.