New staff held its ground in early signing effort…Familiar faces back in Greenville as ECU assistant football coaches…VT hokey pokies around football series with ECU…Wazzu QB Gardner Minshew’s Alamo Bowl outfit has to be seen to be believed…Alabama toughest challenge for Oklahoma interim DC McNeill…USF expected to dismiss 11 suspended players, 4 assistants …Florida State hires Houston’s Kendal Briles as coordinator…Houston to ‘review and evaluate’ football program, says president…UCF QB Darriel Mack ready to face challenge of LSU in Fiesta Bowl…Navy to hire Newberry from Kennesaw State as defensive coordinator…NC State’s Keatts: ‘Don’t take Christmas for granted’…Panthers veterans can’t go out on top. Teammates lament having ‘let those guys down’…After Steelers’ loss, Ravens’ playoff path is clear: Win and they’re in

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

Football Recruiting
New staff held its ground in early signing effort Bonesville.net

Virginia Tech backs out of football games vs. East Carolina Winston Salem Journal

Virginia Tech cancels three future games with ECU The East Carolinian

VT hokey pokies around football series with ECU WITN 7

Virginia Tech football: Hokies cancel football series with East Carolina Gobbler Country

Familiar faces back in Greenville as ECU assistant football coaches  WCTI 12

Around the American Athletic Conference

UConn Downs No. 14 Cal, Tulane Defeats Texas State on Saturday theamerican.org

BCSNN

• Army Black Knights Run All Over Houston to Win Armed Forces Bowl
• Wake Forest Fights Back to Top Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl

NBC Sports

• Wazzu QB Gardner Minshew’s Alamo Bowl outfit has to be seen to be believed
• Chris Klieman continues to fill out Kansas State staff with five new additions

Florida State hires Houston’s Kendal Briles as coordinator The Associated Press

USF expected to dismiss 11 suspended players, 4 assistants Tampa Bay Times

Report: USF coach Charlie Strong expected to dismiss 11 suspended players, four assistants USA Today

Orlando Sentinel

• UCF QB Darriel Mack ready to face challenge of LSU in Fiesta Bowl
• UCF acknowledges LSU’s speed, but fast Knights still believe they are quicker Fiesta Bowl team

City 6 observations: Shizz Alston gunning for player of the year, Fresh Kimble’s shot surprises no one Philly.com

Memphis Commercial Appeal

• Memphis football: Five things to watch going into 2019 season after Birmingham Bowl loss
• Memphis Basketball: Penny Hardaway’s Tigers respond to defensive challenge

Tulsa World

• Bill Haisten: ORU needed it, but TU got it – a 10-point Mayor’s Cup victory
• TU comes on strong down the stretch to defeat ORU in Mayor’s Cup

Houston Chronicle

• Houston to ‘review and evaluate’ football program, says president
• 12-0 Houston routs Coppin State for 25th straight home win

Navy to hire Newberry from Kennesaw State as defensive coordinator Annapolis Capital

Gregg Marshall gives Echenique injury update and recap on WSU’s loss on VCU Wichita Eagle

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Charlotte Observer

• NC State’s Keatts: ‘Don’t take Christmas for granted’
• Shawn Windsor: Want college football players to play in bowl games? Make them matter

Charleston Post and Courier

• Former ACC coach serves as mentor in North Charleston High School
• Clemson’s first football Cotton Bowl trip tainted by Jim Crow-era racism

The Associated Press

• Alabama toughest challenge for Oklahoma interim DC McNeill
• The Dabo Way: Swinney keeps mood light at surging Clemson
• Wake WR Greg Dortch leaving early for NFL Draft
• Police: LSU player kills man trying to rob him, teammate
• Florida State hires Houston’s Kendal Briles as coordinator
• TOP 25 REWIND: New No. 1 expected following Kansas’ loss
• Noi, Fisher lead TCU past Charlotte in Diamond Head Classic
• Johnson, Travis lead No. 19 Kentucky over No. 9 UNC, 80-72
• No. 18 Arizona State knocks off top-ranked Kansas 80-76