Inside THE WEEK IN SPORTS

THE NHL
Penguins' Kovalev finally blossoms
Two-ref system: working out the kinks
Sharks' Nolan got off easy

COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Tennessee backfield in motion
Another Bowden moves up
Late signee goes to head of class

OLYMPIC SPORTS
U.S. skier Rahlves wins in worlds
Fast track for women bobsledders
Swedish swimmer splits

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Maryland's free fall
Gonzaga's unexpected rise
Western Kentucky's 7-footer with sky-high future

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY SIMON BRUTY Lean times At the Alpine skiing world championships in St. Anton, Austria, home-country hero Hermann Maier took a powder in the giant slalom, settling for fourth place.