NEWS » game, on Friday, we get a tips and remind

MONTREAL -- After three consecutive tournament exits against low-ranked opponents, Roger Federer pulled out of next weeks Rogers Cup without giving a reason Friday. The owner of a record 17 Grand Slam titles did recently complain about a bad back, however. Federer, who turns 32 next Thursday, made the unusual move of participating in a pair of minor clay-court tournaments in the period between playing on Wimbledons grass and shifting to the North American summer hard-court season. A loss to 116th-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round at the All England Club ended Federers streak of reaching the quarter-finals at 36 consecutive major tournaments. It also marked Federers earliest Grand Slam exit since 2003. Next came a semifinal loss on clay at Hamburg to 114th-ranked qualifier Federico Delbonis, followed by a defeat against 55th-ranked Daniel Brands in Federers opening match on clay at Gstaad, Switzerland. In addition to his bothersome back, a recurring issue, Federer was experimenting with a new, larger racket at those tournaments. Still, those results are not the sort Federer usually produces. This has been a tough season by his standards: He is 30-10 with one title in 2013. After Wimbledon, Federer tumbled to No. 5 in the ATP rankings, the first time in a decade hes been that low. Missing Montreal limits his hard-court preparation for the U.S. Open, the years last Grand Slam tournament, which begins Aug. 26. "I am disappointed not to be playing in Montreal next week," Federer said in a statement released by the tournament, which starts Monday. "It is a great tournament with amazing fans. I look forward to competing there in the future." He won the Rogers Cup when it was played in Toronto in 2004 and 2006. Federer lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2007 final at Montreal. Federers withdrawal diminishes a Montreal field that already was missing No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and former top-10 player Mardy Fish. In addition, the tournament announced Friday that Viktor Troicki and Marin Cilic wont compete. Troicki was recently suspended for 18 months by the International Tennis Federation for failing to provide blood for a drug test. He is appealing that ruling. Cilic pulled out of Wimbledon, citing an injury; he reportedly is facing a doping suspension, but the ITF has not confirmed or denied whether that is true. Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Pablo Andujar of Spain were added to the Montreal field. Cheap Lightning Jerseys . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. Lightning Jerseys China . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. http://www.customlightningjersey.com/ . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Custom Lightning T-shirts .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Authentic Custom Lightning Jersey . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a rebuilding season for Illinois, even the homecoming opponent is coming to town with a winning record and payback on its mind.For the second time in three season Illinois (2-5, 1/3 Big Ten) has lined up Minnesota as its homecoming opposition. Last time the Illini upset a Golden Gophers team that competing for a Big Ten West title, winning 28-24 on a late fumble returned for a touchdown.Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner was there, and he says it was one of the first things coach Tracy Claeys stressed to the Golden Gophers (5-2, 2-2) this week. Not that Claeys needed to, Leidner said.Guys are hungry and excited to go down there and redeem ourselves, the redshirt senior said.The Gophers are coming off a comeback win of their own, 34-32 over Rutgers, a team Illinois beat by 17.But after last weeks 41-8 los at Michigan, the Illini arent talking about their win two seasons ago or the win over Rutgers two weeks ago.We lost big, first-year coach Lovie Smith said. This isnt a week to talk about any of us, improvement weve made.QUARTERBACK QUESTIONSSmith refuses to discuss injuries with reporters, leaving everyone outside his team guessing the this week and last about who would start at quarterback with injuries to usual starter Wes Lunt (back), backup Chayce Crouch (shoulder). Third-string quarterback Jeff George Jr., the son the former NFL QB, started at Michigan and could see the field again this week. If so, Smith thinks the redshirt freshman will show he learned a lot from his 4-15, 95-yard day at Michigan.I think, traditionally, yes, you get that, Smith said. When you get out in the game you learn an awful lot about how life really is under center.HAVING HARDINThe Gophers will benefit from cornerback KiAnte Hardin being back in the starting lineup. The sophomore was out last Saturday against Rutgers, one of five players barred from TCF Bank Stadium because of a restraining order later requested by an allegedd victim of a Sept.dddddddddddd 2 incident who works at the stadium on game days. Hardin, whos tied for the team lead with two interceptions, also missed three games earlier this season during a team-issued suspension during a police investigation that produced no arrests or charges.Because the Gophers are on the road, though, Hardin will be free to play against the Illini.One of our 11 best players, and we count on him when hes available to us, Claeys said.LINING UPThe Gophers started three junior-college transfers on the offensive line last week with left tackle Donnell Greene, right guard Vincent Calhoun and right tackle Garrison Wright. Only one starter, center Tyler Moore, was in the lineup last season. But the group has not only helped pave the way for a productive rushing attack led by Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, but it has allowed only five sacks, the fewest in the Big Ten and eighth-fewest in FBS.Every single week before the game, on Friday, we get a tips and reminder sheet, left guard Jared Weyler said. And every single week, one of those bullet points is no sacks and no hits. We take a lot of pride in protecting Mitch.RUNNING PREFERREDIn a season of run-heavy offenses in the Big Ten, Minnesota and Illinois are among the teams most reliant on the ground game. The Gophers average 212.4 rushing yards a game and Illinois averages 173.7.RED ZONE PROSPECTSMinnesotas scoring defense hasnt been bad, giving up 22.9 points a game. But when Illinois finds itself in the Gopher red zone, the Illini have to like their chances. The Gophers red zone defense is the worst in the Big Ten, giving up scores on 19 of the 20 trips. Thirteen of those have been touchdowns.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP---Online:Associated Press college football coverage: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org/ ' ' '