NFL To Use Replacement Refs; Thursday Sports News And Notes

The NFL will start the season with replacement referees; the U.S. Open Tennis championship continues and much more in our Thursday Sports News And Notes…

** With no new agreement between NFL officials and the league, it looks like the NFL will start the regular season using replacement officials as they have for the preseason games.

** The Miami Dolphins finish the preseason 0-4 with a 30-13 loss to Dallas and Tampa Bay completes its preseason with a 30-3 loss to Washington.

** Veteran Kim Clijsters has been eliminated at the U.S. Open tennis championships by 18 year old Laura Robson of Britain as Clijsters moves one step closer to retirement; she will play in doubles and then move on to another phase of her life.   Today, men’s top seed Roger Federer will play as will women’s fourth seed Serena Williams.

** The college football season kicks off tonight with a few games, most notably Vanderbilt hosting South Carolina.   UCF will also play at Akron.

** And the local high school football season kicks off tonight as Gainesville High School takes on Yulee.   Oak Hall will also be in action tonight with the rest of the teams opening up tomorrow.