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News Nuggets, 08.09.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Lou's book says Skip was promised USC job

Had his career at South Carolina unfolded as planned, Lou Holtz would have stepped down after the Gamecocks’ second Outback Bowl victory over Ohio State and handed off the coaching reins to his son, Skip, according to a story by Joe Person published by The Columbia (SC) State.

The story came from a new book by Lou Holtz, and Skip Holtz confirmed that there was an agreement for him to follow his father as coach at USC. Skip Holtz is entering his second season as East Carolina's coach.

Holtz said former USC athletics director Mike McGee, ECU's football coach in 1970, persuaded him to stay and that McGee and other school officials later reneged on the promise to hire Skip Holtz.

Although Lou Holtz devotes only the final chapter — 16 pages — of his 318-page autobiography, “Wins, Losses and Lessons” (William Morrow, $25.95), to his six-year stint at USC, he provides a behind-the-scenes look at the awkward arrangement for his son to succeed him.

Humid weather doesn't dampen ECU drills

After preparing for its initial full-pad workout with four introductory sessions to open preseason camp, the Pirates put on full gear for the first time in the 2006 campaign and responded with a spirited two-and-a-half hour practice at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex on Tuesday afternoon, according to a release from the East Carolina athletic media relations department.

Despite heat indices that eclipsed the triple-digit mark, second-year head coach Skip Holtz was pleased with his squad's intensity while it completed another phase of preseason work. ECU wrapped up the practice with another 30-minute team session which included situational work such as third-and-long and redzone efficiency drills.

"I loved the intensity and energy," Holtz said. "We've still got a ways to go but today I felt a sense that we're starting to come together. We were able to get speed on speed, ones against the ones which will give us some good film to evaluate."

One of the highlights of the Pirates' third-and-long drills was a 60-yard scoring pass from redshirt freshman Brett Clay to senior running back Brandon Fractious. The Pirates utilized many offensive formations during the detailed team session which included a four-wide receiver set and a standard two-back, one tight end alignment among others.

"Our focus, especially considering the heat and humidity we've worked through, has been good," Holtz added. "With that said, now it's time to move ahead to our two-a-day schedule where the challenges only become greater."

The Pirates will work in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets during the scheduled two-hour morning session before returning to full gear in the afternoon. In addition to Wednesday's double action, ECU also plans to turn in a pair of workouts on Monday, Aug. 14 and Monday, Aug. 21.

The Pirates will have an intra-squad scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The contest, closed to the public, will be followed by the first off day of the preseason on Sunday.

Freshman defensive lineman Jay Ross appeared to have suffered the program's first significant injury of camp after going down with an undetermined knee ailment in the latter half of the practice. He is expected to undergo further testing and evaluations Wednesday morning before his status is determined.

Senior Eric Graham (T), freshman Terence Campbell (T), junior Josh Coffman (G), junior Matt Butler (G) and senior Thomas Wingenbach (C) all competed as members of the No. 1 offensive line during Tuesday's work.

'Bright House' will be home for Golden Knights

Bright House Networks has acquired naming rights to Central Florida's new football stadium slated to open next year, the university and cable provider announced today in an on-campus ceremony, according to a release on the Conference USA website.

UCF has begun construction on "Bright House Stadium," which is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2007 home opener against Texas. According to the agreement, UCF will receive $15 million over 15 years for naming rights to the Golden Knights' stadium.

The 45,000-seat stadium will be in the intercollegiate athletics complex in the north end of the East Orlando campus. The complex includes the Convocation Center, which also is scheduled to be completed in fall 2007; the Nicholson Fieldhouse; the Wayne Densch Sports Center; other athletics fields; student housing; and retail space that will include restaurants and shops.

The estimated $47 million stadium is part of a total $60 million project that includes financing costs, reserve requirements, infrastructure, roads, parking and practice fields for football, soccer and baseball.

Construction and operation of the stadium will be funded through naming rights, revenues from suites and club seat leases, ticket and concessions sales, donations, corporate sponsorships and advertising. No public money or tuition will be used to build or run the stadium.

The university has raised about $29 million in private donations for the stadium, including Bright House Network's support and sales of the 25 suites and 800 club seats. The suites and club seats have already sold out.

Bright House Networks is the region's leading provider of home entertainment and information and serves more than 800,000 customers in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, Flagler, Marion, Sumter and Lake counties. The company's fiber-optic network offers digital cable, HDTV, digital video recorders, iCONTROL Video On Demand and Premium On Demand, digital phone and multiple high-speed Internet services.

Bright House Networks, which is owned by Advance/Newhouse Communications, also exclusively provides Central Florida News 13, the region's only 24-hour local news channel.

UCF has played at the Florida Citrus Bowl stadium near downtown Orlando since the football team's inaugural season in 1979. This past December, the Golden Knights hosted the inaugural Conference USA Championship at the Citrus Bowl. Nearly 52,000 fans attended.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:50 PM