Preparations underway for ECU’s first football game…Bagwell Field back in mint condition ahead of opener…Get to ECU game early; bring a poncho …Can Western Carolina end its drought vs. FBS schools?…

Pirate Press: East Carolina Headlines

From Bonesville.net

• View from the East: Pirates prepared for wet conditions
• Nuggets & Briefs for Friday, Sept. 2, 2016

From ecupirates.com

• Gameday: ECU Hosts Western Carolina In 2016 Season Opener
• Gameday: East Carolina Hosts James Madison In Friday Matinee
• Vliegen Hoists Singles Trophy In Belgium F11 Futures Tournament
• Cross Country Begins 2016 Campaign At Covered Bridge Invitational

From the East Carolinian

• Scottie Montgomery and co. ready for first test
• WCU is not to be overlooked
• ECU soccer ready for redemption vs. JMU

Around the American Athletic Conference

From theamerican.org

• The American.org gets a new look
• American Stories: Blooming Flowers
• 2016 Football Team Preview: Houston Cougars
• Tulane Drops Season Opener At Wake Forest, 7-3
• Late Field Goal Lifts UConn Over Maine, 24-21
• Cincinnati Powers Past UT Martin, 28-7

From the Cincinnati Enquirer

• UC rallies to beat UT Martin in opener, 28-7
• UC players on win vs. UT Martin
• Tuberville on UC’s win vs. UT Martin

From the New Orleans Advocate

• Close isn’t enough: Tulane loses 7-3 at Wake Forest in Willie Fritz’s debut
• Two Tulane quarterbacks play in Wake Forest loss … and they produce three points

From the New Orleans Times Picayune

• Tulane’s defense outshines the offense in a 7-3 loss to Wake Forest
• ‘It was frustrating, but we’re going to get better,’ Tulane QB Glen Cuiellette says
• Tulane falls to Wake Forest 7-3 in season opener: live updates
• Tulane players in the NFL

From the Hartford Courant

• Painful Beginning, But A Husky Win Over Maine
• Running Room Hard To Find For Newsome, Johnson
• Angst And Anxiety Fill UConn Fans’ Hearts In Sloppy First Win
• Young Maine Coach Harasymiak, Black Bears Almost Pull Off Major Upset

Bobby Puyol field goal helps UConn edge Maine in season opener 
New Haven Register

Beer and college football: University of Tulsa opens season with new beer sales
New Haven Register

From the Orlando Sentinel

• UCF, FSU football fans urged to prep for new security policy
• UCF RB Dontravious Wilson eager to charge South Carolina State
• Can UCF football recover from a winless season? Ask these other programs

An inaugural game, an errand, and away USF football went 
Tampa Bay Times

Gladchuk confident Navy football will continue run of success
Annapolis Capital

Temple prepares for Army blitz in opener
Philly.com

Penn State to commemorate Joe Paterno before Temple game
College Football Talk – NBC Sports

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal

• Tiger coach Norvell has had plenty of help along the way
• Quick thoughts on — what else? — Big 12 expansion

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

From the Watauga Democrat

• No moral victory: Mountaineers feel they should have knocked off Vols
• App State lets one get away despite punishing defense

From the Knoxville News-Sentinel

• Vols rally to beat Appalachian State in OT, 20-13
• Vols defense bothered by patient Appalachian State
• PHOTOS: Tennessee vs Appalachian State
• Bristol Motor Speedway ‘feels like a football stadium’

From the Winston Salem Journal

• Appalachian State loses nail-biter to Tennessee in OT
• Scott Hamilton: Appalachian State’s loss explained in one word – momentum
• App Trail: Game balls from Mountaineers’ OT loss at Tennessee
• Wake Forest guts out win over Tulane

Virginia Tech football is rolling into a new era, but Bud Foster isn’t going anywhere
Washington Post

From the Raleigh News and Observer

• Finley sterling in Wolfpack’s 48-14 rout of William & Mary
• Dayes, Samuels lead NC State to win over W&M in opener
• Mack Hollins’ brief suspension creates challenges for UNC
• UNC football road trips, ranked
• Sirk, Jackson, Morris to have surgeries

From the Fayetteville Observer

• Sammy Batten: N.C. State football off to promising start
• Storm pushes back Campbell’s football season opener

Jackson’s 8 TDs lead UofL rout of Charlotte
Louisville Courier Journal

From the Charlotte Observer

• No. 19 Louisville Cardinals manhandle Charlotte 49ers in opener
• South Carolina rallies, beats Vanderbilt 13-10 in SEC opener

From the Charlottesville Daily Progress

• Ratcliffe: UVa eager to unleash new 3-4 defense
• ‘Benkert Show’ ready to make its UVa debut
• Former Virginia QB Lambert named Georgia’s starter

From WRAL SportsFan

• Pack QB pick proves worthy in 48-14 win
• 5 Things to know about college football’s opening weekend

From the Richmond Times Dispatch

• N.C. State controls home turf in easy win over W&M
• At U.Va., Richmond will try to quickly digest what Bronco’s brewing

Big second quarter sparks N.C. State to 48-14 win over W&M 
Hampton Roads Daily Press

From Columbia’s  The State

• USC defense does its job, leads the way to season-opening victory
• Gamecocks win a thriller to start Muschamp era
• T.J. Holloman, USC defense wanted Vandy RB to ‘Eat his words’

From the Charleston Post and Courier

• Fry’s late field goal lifts Gamecocks to 13-10 victory at Vanderbilt
• Orth starts at quarterback for Gamecocks, but gives way to McIlwain in opener

ODU, Norfolk State home openers could be postponed until Sunday by Hurricane Hermine 
Norfolk Virginian Pilot