ECU Official Says “We’re Playing It”; Mitchelson: This decision hurts …Aiken’s RJ Felton commits to East Carolina University …Pirate Club sets up endowment in mayor’s honor …Mayor Connelly, business owners hopeful ECU students will stay in town amid campus shutdown…With Lincoln Riley biography, ‘Sooner,’ close to release, author Brandon Sneed discusses what compelled him to write it…Cincinnati and UCF Ranked in Preseason AP Poll; Memphis football starts just outside AP Top 25 poll at No. 26…Sources: Shaka Smart expected to add SMU assistant to staff…University of Cincinnati bars spectators from Bearcats football Sept. 19 season-opener; Duke won’t host fans for fall sports in 2020..NC State pauses football, athletics due to coronavirus cluster within the program…Clemson No. 1, UNC-CH No. 18 in AP football poll…It’s never too early for the Hurricanes to look to next season. Especially this year….Private Infighting Roils Owners of Washington N.F.L. Team…Ron Rivera will stand for anthem, kneel during coin toss and put John Lewis’s initials on his hat…Ravens will not host fans at M&T Bank Stadium for ‘initial part’ of 2020 season…76ers fire Brett Brown after being swept out of playoffs

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

ECU Official Says “We’re Playing It” WSAZ

WNCT 9

• 2020 Pirate Football Preview: A look at the ECU Offense
• ECU IDs clusters of COVID-19 within 2 residence halls on campus
• Mayor Connelly, business owners hopeful ECU students will stay in town amid campus shutdown
• ‘The Mike Houston Show’ debuts on September 6th on WNCT-TV

Hornets’ Felton picks Pirates Aiken Standard

Aiken’s RJ Felton commits to East Carolina University WJBF

Felton commits to East Carolina Augusta-Aiken WRDW-TV

Pirate Club sets up endowment in mayor’s honor Washington Daily News

OU football: With Lincoln Riley biography, ‘Sooner,’ close to release, author Brandon Sneed discusses what compelled him to write it OU Daily

Bojangles drafts 3 new colleges for their 2020 ‘Big Bo Boxes’ lineup; UVA’s box now available WRIC

2021 guard Russell Felton commits to ECU 247 Sports

Mitchelson: This decision hurts  Greenville Daily Reflector (sub req’d)

Around the American Athletic Conference

Cincinnati and UCF Ranked in Preseason AP Poll American Athletic Conference

Conference Preview: AAC RotoWire

247 Sports

• Why isn’t Memphis ranked in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll?
• Sources: Shaka Smart expected to add SMU assistant to staff
• Concerned optimism ensues as USF returns to campus Monday
• Brent’s Bearcat Bounce 8/21

Associated Press Releases Preseason Top 25 for 2020 Season; UCF Ranked 21st, Florida 8th Space Coast Daily

Memphis Commercial Appeal

• Memphis football starts just outside AP Top 25 poll at No. 26
• Memphis basketball notebook: Penny Hardaway weighs in on scheduling, pods, assistant coach search

Cincinnati Enquirer

• Cincinnati Bearcats football No. 20 in AP preseason top 25 poll
• University of Cincinnati bars spectators from Bearcats football Sept. 19 season-opener
• Cincinnati Bearcats going forward with football camp as conferences cancel fall season

No. 16: Cincinnati Bearcats Sports Illustrated

Temple News

• Temple Athletics face uncertain future amid COVID-19 restrictions
• Temple student-athletes combat “quarantine fatigue” with home workouts

SMU CB Eric Sutton announces he’s opting out of season, transferring from school Dallas Morning News

UH track and field team adds 26 signees to 2020-21 squad Daily Cougar

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Raleigh News and Observer

• NC State pauses football, athletics due to coronavirus cluster within the program
• Fans or no fans? How Duke football will start its season amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Duke won’t host fans for fall sports in 2020 ABC 11

Winston Salem Journal

• Racist comments prompt West Forsyth alum Jaylon McMillon to join Western Carolina football team’s protest
• Clemson No. 1, UNC-CH No. 18 in AP football poll
• Duke announces fall season will start without fans at games
• Chris Paul’s HBCU sneaker tour rolls on during NBA playoffs

UNC takes spot in unusual Top 25 football poll Fayetteville Observer

Charleston Post Courier

• Clemson ranked No. 1 in AP preseason football top 25
• Clemson slot receiver eager to follow in footsteps of Hunter Renfrow, others to wear No. 13
• Gamecocks land top QB prospect with help from former USC great Connor Shaw
• Army West Point completes Citadel’s scramble for 4-game fall football slate

Columbia The State

• Clemson ranked No. 1 in AP preseason top 25. Here’s the full poll
• Practice Report: Gamecocks veteran expects young linemen to be ‘ready to play’

Time for Power 5 football bubble and further break from NCAA Atlanta Journal Constitution

Mizzou’s Sterk “pretty dang optimistic” about football this fall St Louis Post-Dispatch