CLEVELAND -- A state appeals court in Cleveland has ruled that the widow of a former Notre Dame football player can proceed with claims in a lawsuit that said her husband was disabled by and ultimately died from concussion-related head injuries suffered during his college career in the 1970s.Steve Schmitz was alive but suffering from dementia and early onset Alzheimers disease when he and his wife, Yvette, sued the NCAA and the university in Cuyahoga County in October 2014. The lawsuit alleged both institutions had shown reckless disregard for the safety of college football players and for their failure to educate and protect players from concussions.The lawsuit said the link between repeated blows to the head and brain-related injuries and illnesses had been known for decades, but it wasnt until 2010 that the NCAA required colleges to formulate concussion protocols to remove an athlete from a game or practice and be evaluated by doctors if there were signs of a concussion.Records show Schmitz, a standout at St. Edward High School in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, was a kick returner, running back and wide receiver for Notre Dame from 1974 to 1977.The lawsuit said Schmitz was diagnosed by the Cleveland Clinic in 2012 with a latent brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and suffered from severe memory loss, dementia and Alzheimers. Schmitz died in February 2015 at a hospice. He was 59.David Langfitt, one of Yvette Schmitzs attorneys, told The Associated Press on Tuesday theres no way to know many concussions Schmitz suffered at Notre Dame, but said it undoubtedly was many.We do know that CTE has only one cause and thats repetitive head impacts of any kind, Langfitt said.A Cuyahoga County judge dismissed all the lawsuits claims in September 2015. The 8th District Court of Appeals ruled last week that the judge erred in dismissing claims of negligence, fraud and loss of consortium against the NCAA and Notre Dame and a second fraud claim against Notre Dame.An attorney representing Notre Dame declined to comment when asked if an appeal was planned.Concussions and their effect on the brain have received considerable attention in recent years as researchers concluded there is a link between CTE and Lou Gehrigs disease, Parkinsons, Alzheimers and dementia. The NFL announced Monday that it would begin paying former players in the next few months from the leagues $1 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed two pending challenges.A number of class-action lawsuits have been filed this year against the NCAA and universities by former players over the handling of concussions by schools during their collegiate careers. Wholesale Puma Shoes . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. Wholesale Puma Shoes Free Shipping . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. 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Eugene Hongs 1-up victory over Matias Honkala provided the Americans with the clinching point.Among the big winners for the Americans were Lucy Li and Patrick Welch, who both have won their age divisions at the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National. Li won the Junior PGA this year at Wannamoisett.The American pros hope to follow suit.---4 p.m.Tiger Woods is new to this role as vice captain at the Ryder Cup. Or maybe he thought he was still playing.The American team gathered for its official photo on Tuesday, and Woods took his spot on the far left side of the back row. The person in charge of arranging the players pointed to the other side, so Woods went to the far right end of the players.Not far enough.He eventually realized the photo was only for the 12 players. Woods exited stage right, laughing at his own gaffe.---1:40 p.m.So much for all those Olympic races in the pool with a gold medal on the line. Michael Phelps says the most unnerving athletic moment of his life took place on land -- teeing off at a celebrity tournament ahead of the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club.Probably the most nervous Ive ever been, Phelps laughed Tuesday afternoon, just hours before teeing off in another celebrity event ahead this weekends matches. One, I didnt want to shank one and drill somebody. And then I was just, `OK, shove a tee in the ground and try to hit one on the grass. Thats all I wanted to do.He did, barely. Phelps opening tee shot four years ago never climbed higher than his waist and rolled out some 70 yards. The following year, getting serious about his game, he became the pupil for a season of The Haney Project, a TV show in which noted swing guru Hank Haney tutored celebrities like Charles Barkley and Ray Romano.The lessons proved worthwhile. Phelps said hes a 15-handicapper at the moment. But now thats hes retired from competitive swimming -- with 23 golds and 28 medals, total, hes the most-decorated Olympian of all time -- he plans to play three times a week.Its going to be an interesting journey for however long Im on this earth,, he laughed, because I will be playing golf for every one of those years.ddddddddddddPhelps was at the Ryder Cup on behalf of Omega, which also sponsors the U.S. Ryder Cup team, the PGA and Senior PGA Championships and the Ladies European Tour.---NoonThe Americans again are showing signs of a pod system that Paul Azinger made popular (and successful) in 2008, and Davis Love used in a modified way in 2012.For Tuesdays practice sessions, one foursome was Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar. Spieth and Reed were partners in 2014 at Gleneagles, while Johnson and Spieth were together at the Presidents Cup last year. Johnson and Kuchar were unbeaten in the 2012 matches at Medinah.Phil Mickelson, Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker were another group. Fowler and Walker were partners at the last Ryder Cup, while Mickelson and Zach Johnson were unbeaten at the Presidents Cup last year.The other foursome had the least experience -- Brooks Koepka, J.B. Holmes, Brandt Snedeker and Ryan Moore. Holmes played in 2008, Snedeker in 2012 and the other two are rookies.---10:55 a.m.Not to worry -- Rory McIlroy says he already has set his watch to the Central time zone.The last time the Ryder Cup was held on U.S. soil, McIlroy nearly missed his tee time on the final day at Medinah. He said he forgot that Chicago was on Central Daylight Time, and he required a police escort.He wound up winning his match, and Europe rallied to win the cup.---10:30 a.m.Europe has won eight of the last 10 times in the Ryder Cup, and Rory McIlroy says it wont have a hard time getting motivated to win another.For starters, all the Europeans see nothing but red-colored grandstands around Hazeltine National. And then there were the comments U.S. captain Davis Love III made last week in a radio interview. He referred to his squad as the best golf team maybe ever assembled.McIlroy referenced that phrase during his news conference Tuesday before the Europeans went out for the first full day of practice.He also took a dig at the Americans last week. Asked about Loves comments about the best team, McIlroy suggested they at least had the best task force ever assembled.The matches start Friday. ' ' '