Second Half Blitz Propels SMU Past ECU…Kirkpatrick credits Riley for growth as OC…Dana Holgorsen’s Hiring at Houston a Sign of the Group of Five’s Rising Ceiling…Reports: UC’s Luke Fickell is candidate to replace Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia…A bigger college football playoff faces series of obstacles…USF men win 7th in a row, end 6-year drought against UConn…College of Charleston AD accused of lying, deleting evidence in lawsuit by former coach…U.Va.’s Tony Bennett says 300 career victories is no big deal. But it is….‘Mean Gene’ Okerlund, Hall of Fame pro wrestling announcer, dead at 76

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

Bonesville.net

• The Bradsher Beat
  ECU women rally together for new leader
• Basketball News
  Mustangs pull away from ECU in AAC opener

Second Half Blitz Propels SMU Past ECU ecupirates.com

Pirates fall to SMU in league opener Greenville Daily Reflector

SMU blitzes ECU to open American play, 82-54 WNCT 9

McMurray scores 20 points, SMU tops East Carolina WITN 7

247 Sports

• ECU routed in AAC opener at SMU
• SMU crushes East Carolina in AAC opener, 82-54
• Kirkpatrick credits Riley for growth as OC

East Carolina Opens AAC Play With a 82-54 Loss at SMU Rivals.com

Dallas News

• SMU shakes off holiday rust before rolling in AAC opener vs. East Carolina
• 3 takeaways from SMU’s 82-54 win over East Carolina: Mustangs cruise in AAC opener
• Photos: SMU basketball stays hot, opens AAC conference play with win over ECU

 

Around the American Athletic Conference

Associated Press

• McMurray scores 20 points, SMU tops East Carolina
• USF wins 7th straight by beating UConn 76-68
• Davis scores 21 points, No. 19 Houston beats Tulsa 74-56
• Taylor scores 24 points, hits key free throws in UCF victory
• UC opens AAC title defense with 93-61 romp over Tulane
• Collins adds Burton, Popovich to new Georgia Tech staff
• Houston hires coach Dana Holgorsen away from West Virginia

Dana Holgorsen Makes the Move from WVU to Houston Official BCSNN

Houston hires WVU’s Dana Holgorsen as new head coach

Dana Holgorsen’s Hiring at Houston a Sign of the Group of Five’s Rising Ceiling SI.com

Houston Chronicle

• Dana Holgorsen officially hired as UH football coach
• Where Dana Holgorsen’s UH salary ranks among football’s richest
• Everything you should know about UH’s new coach Dana Holgorsen
• University of Houston names new football coach
• UH remains unbeaten with win over Tulsa in AAC opener

TU drops league opener at No. 19 Houston, 74-56 Tulsa World

USF men win 7th in a row, end 6-year drought against UConn Tampa Bay Times

South Florida’s second-half surge sends UConn men down to defeat, 76-68 Hartford Courant

Temple falls to Central Florida in AAC opener Philly.com

UCF tips off AAC schedule with 78-73 win over Temple Orlando Sentinel

Cincinnati Enquirer

• UC trounces Tulane by 32 in conference opener
• UC football coach Luke Fickell doesn’t appear to be on move anywhere
• Reports: UC’s Luke Fickell is candidate to replace Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia

Memphis Commercial Appeal

• Penny Hardaway’s first season at Memphis will be defined by AAC play because he said so
• Memphis DL coach Paul Randolph reportedly leaving, Deke Adams in line as successor

Wichita State headed to Memphis ‘with some urgency’ for AAC opener Wichita Eagle

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Raleigh News and Observer

• North Carolina locks Harvard down on defense in the second half, and wins 77-57
• NC State opens ACC play on the road hoping to avoid recent pitfalls
• Why it’s a waste of time to argue about expanding the College Football Playoff
• Freshman QBs have struggled in title games. Trevor Lawrence isn’t a normal freshman

Wake Forest ready — or not — to enter ACC slate after blowout of Cornell Winston Salem Journal

Norfolk Virginian Pilot

• Column: U.Va.’s Tony Bennett says 300 career victories is no big deal. But it is.
• Winners of eight straight, ODU opens Conference USA play Thursday vs. Marshall

Charleston Post Courier

• Sapakoff: Clemson in Santa Clara must match Alabama’s Sugar Bowl anger edge
• Clemson’s offensive line still haunted by performance against Alabama a year ago
• College of Charleston AD accused of lying, deleting evidence in lawsuit by former coach

The Associated Press

• Expand playoff to get the guess work out of the game
• Should the CFP expand? FBS athletic directors respond
• A bigger college football playoff faces series of obstacles
• Clemson carrying memories of year’s loss into title game
• Johns Hopkins football coach Jim Margraff dies at 58
• Tickets for CFP title game available for cheap