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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The University of Northern Iowa’s athletic director says the school needs to make improvements to the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Troy Dannen told The Des Moines Register Wednesday that renovations to the stadium will be part of a broader campaign that is “a couple of years” away. Although it’s too early to talk about costs, Dannen says renovations to the dome, opened in 1976, would be a “low eight-figure project.”

Dannen says the stadium needs wider concourse areas, premium seating and larger restrooms. He noted there have been few changes to the dome since it opened, though $1.2 million is being spent on a scoreboard upgrade in the stadium and in the neighboring McCloud Center.

The dome’s current seating capacity of 16,300 likely wouldn’t change much.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Legal concerns have forced the University of Iowa to suspend a promotion offering free tuition to five randomly selected students who purchased football season tickets. Athletic director Gary Barta says he has decided to temporarily shutter the offer after questions were raised about whether it complies with state raffle laws.

Iowa says the free tuition package is worth roughly $8,000. The award also can be used to cover fees, books and related supplies for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. The Hawkeyes also were planning prizes such as $500 in school supplies and $1,000 gift cards to a local grocery store chain in an effort to boost lagging student ticket sales.

Iowa has seen those numbers drop from 10,000 to roughly 7,000 in less than two years.

CLASS 4-A

Wednesday Quarterfinals
Johnston 8, Waukee 3
Iowa City West 4, Dowling Catholic 2
Dubuque Hempstead 4, West Des Moines Valley 2
Southeast Polk 1, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 0

CLASS 1-A

Thursday Semifinals
Noon — Newman Catholic (35-3) vs. Don Bosco (31-3)
2 p.m. — Twin Cedars (34-0) vs. Gehlen Catholic (30-3)

CLASS 2-A

Thursday Semifinals
6 p.m. — North Polk (30-5) vs. Roland-Story (27-12)
8 p.m. — Beckman Catholic (28-13) vs. Van Meter (32-2)

CLEVELAND (AP) — A person familiar with the deal says the Cleveland Indians have traded starter Justin Masterson to the St. Louis Cardinals. Masterson, who is in the final year of his contract, was dealt for outfielder James Ramsey, said the person who spoke Wednesday to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams have not commented.

Ramsey was the Cardinals’ first-round pick (No. 23 overall) in 2012. He’s been at Double-A Springfield, where he batted .300 with 13 homer and 36 RBIs. Masterson has been a disappointment for the Indians this season. He began the year as Cleveland’s No. 1 starter but has underperformed after turning down a contract extension from the club in spring training.

On Tuesday, Masterson, who is on the disabled list, said he knew his name was in trade rumors.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is offering a year’s worth of free tuition to five randomly selected students who’ve purchased season tickets for the 2014 football season. The move is designed to boost a sharp decline in student sales since 2012. The Hawkeyes have seen those numbers drop from 10,000 to roughly 7,000 in less than two years, and any unsold season tickets allotted to students will be made to the general public as well on Friday.

Iowa says the free tuition package is worth roughly $8,000. The award can also be used to cover fees, books and related supplies for the upcoming fall and spring semesters. The Hawkeyes, who rank among the favorites to win the new Big Ten West, open on Aug. 30 against Northern Iowa.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith says that the time is approaching where he will shelve all talk about a contract extension and focus solely on football for the remainder of the season. The Chiefs have been discussing a new deal with Smiths’ representatives for months, though the sides remain far apart. Smith said after practice Wednesday that he’s yet to set a date to break off negotiations, but he acknowledged that “at some point mentally it’ll come to me.”

Smith is due $7.5 million this season, the final year of his contract, and many expect him to get an extension similar to what Colin Kaepernick received from the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million deal that includes $61 million guaranteed.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs rookie Aaron Murray was tied up in meetings Monday night, at the same time millions of people were tuning into ABC to see whether his brother would be popping the question.
No worries. Murray knew months ago that his brother, Josh Murray, would be chosen by “The Bachelorette” Andi Dorfman on this season of the reality dating show. In fact, the finale was taped the same week of the NFL draft, making it a memorable weekend in his household.

Josh Murray played professional baseball for a while before returning to college. He ultimately joined the football team at Georgia, playing safety while his brother starred at quarterback. Asked whether his brother is still engaged, the younger Murray laughed: “Yes, still engaged,” he said Wednesday. “It’s going well so far.”

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Oft-injured Chiefs safety Sanders Commings was carted off the practice field Wednesday after getting juked to the ground by running back Jamaal Charles and hurting his right ankle. Commings broke his collarbone in his first practice as a rookie and was finally getting up to speed. He was trying to tackle Charles in the open field when he whiffed, turning his ankle in such a way that he was unable to put any weight on it.

Commings was in a heated competition for a backup job, and the Chiefs hoped he would push veteran Husain Abdullah for the free safety spot that opened when Kendrick Lewis departed. Meanwhile, right tackle Donald Stephenson returned to practice after missing Monday’s workout with a left ankle injury. The Chiefs had Tuesday off.