Football (CFL)

SURREY — Buck Pierce has been to plenty of training camps. This spring will be different. After decades as a player and on CFL sidelines, Pierce is preparing for his first season as head coach of the B.C. Lions.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jon Gruden is getting back into professional football.

TORONTO — The Grey Cup is still over seven months away but the CFL has lined up its title sponsor for the championship game's halftime show. The CFL announced Thursday a partnership with Bud Light Canada.

TORONTO — Edmonton Elks draft pick Darien Newell has been given a year-long ban by the CFL for a series of doping infractions. The Queen's defensive lineman was Edmonton's second-round pick in Tuesday night's draft.

TORONTO — Damien Alford can get back to being a football player. The Calgary Stampeders selected the Utah receiver first overall in the CFL draft Tuesday. Alford said hearing his name called was exciting but also a huge relief.

TORONTO — Australian punter Fraser Masin was the first player taken Tuesday in the CFL's global draft.

Dave Dickenson will have plenty of options in the CFL draft Tuesday night. The Calgary head coach and general manager holds four of the first 20 picks, including two in the first round (Nos. 1, 8).

TORONTO — Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor topped the CFL scouting bureau's final top-20 list Monday.

TORONTO — Stewart Johnston plans to ease into his new role as CFL commissioner. Johnston officially took office Thursday following 28 years at TSN. He'd served as the sports broadcaster's president since 2010.

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — The flyers started appearing around the Augustana University campus earlier this year, followed by the all-student email blast. A club team was forming for women's flag football, with room for all comers.