<strong><span class="subhead">Questions surround A&M facility</span></strong></p><p>Texas A&M University is defending the safety of its $35.6 million tentlike athletic complex, despite a report by Haynes Whaley Associates &mdash; an engineering firm hired by the university &mdash; that the McFerrin Center can&rsquo;t withstand 90 mph winds, as specified by national standards.</p><p>Haynes Whaley said the facility &mdash; which has had a series of cables added to its steel frame &mdash; uses a flawed design similar to the Dallas Cowboys&rsquo; practice facility, which collapsed in May.</p><p>Texas A&M spokesman <strong>Jason Cook</strong> said the university decided not to close the facility after &ldquo;continued dialogue&rdquo; with Haynes Whaley and because it had handled high winds during Hurricane Ike last year.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Federer reaches quarterfinals</span></strong></p><p><strong>Roger Federer</strong> reached the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel by beating <strong>Andreas Seppi</strong> 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday.</p><p> Fifth-seeded <strong>Radek Stepanek</strong> beat <strong>Florent Serra</strong> 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-1) to also advance. <strong>Jeremy Chardy</strong> toughed out a 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 victory over seventh seed <strong>James Blake</strong>.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Champion Tigers recognized</span></strong></p><p>Fresh off its first regular season conference championship, the Missouri women&rsquo;s soccer program has picked up a pack of honors: <strong>Bryan Blitz</strong> is the Big 12 Conference&rsquo;s coach of the year. <strong>Crystal Wagner</strong> is the league&rsquo;s defensive player of the year.</p><p> Wagner was joined on the All-Big 12 first team by forward <strong>Kristin Andrighetto</strong>. Goalkeeper <strong>Tasha Dittamore</strong> and forward <strong>Michelle Collins</strong> were named to the second team.</p><p> Nebraska&rsquo;s <strong>Morgan Marlborough,</strong> of Lee&rsquo;s Summit, won the Big 12 offensive player of the year and rookie of the Year awards.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Adidas ending shoe deal</span></strong></p><p>Central Florida guard <strong>Marcus Jordan&rsquo;s </strong>determination to wear a pair of white Air Jordans in the Bulls&rsquo; 84-65 win in an exhibition game against Saint Leo on Wednesday night has cost the school its deal with adidas, which says it won&rsquo;t renew the contract. Jordan had said he would only wear his father&rsquo;s Nike Air Jordan shoes because they hold special meaning to his family. </p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Never too much football in Big D</span></strong></p><p>The replacement for the Cotton Bowl game has been lined up. Dallas city leaders say the Dallas Football Classic is planned for New Year&rsquo;s Day 2011. The plan calls for using teams from the Big Ten to play teams from Conference USA and the Big 12 on a rotating basis.</p><p> The Cotton Bowl game is moving to the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington this season.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Elsewhere</span></strong></p><p>&bull;<strong>Nancy Lieberman</strong> is to be introduced today as head coach of the Frisco, Texas, D-League team &mdash; the first female to hold such a job. The team, which will begin play in 2010-11, is a Mavericks affiliate.</p><p>&bull;North Carolina coach <strong>Sylvia Hatchell </strong>says <strong>Jessica Breland&rsquo;s </strong>Hodgkin&rsquo;s lymphoma has gone into remission, though it&rsquo;s still unclear whether the senior will be able to play basketball this season.</p><p>&bull;<strong>Greg Norman&rsquo;s </strong>slower-than-expected recovery from shoulder surgery will force him to miss next month&rsquo;s Australian Open.