Pirate hoops on long and winding road …ECU “character coach” an outlet for mental health … Ahlers, others on the path to return for Tulsa game…Stephens the latest young defensive player to make first start…USF Hosts Tulsa Friday on ESPN; USF Needs To Eliminate Turnovers Friday Night Versus Tulsa …SMU-Cincinnati set for New Year’s Six elimination game; No. 9/10 Cincinnati football will play in front of 8,000 fans at SMU…TU at USF: After 20-day layoff, Hurricane ready to resume season…TU at USF: After 20-day layoff, Hurricane ready to resume season; Thomas accounts for 5 TDs, App State beats Arkansas State…Norfolk State football returns in February as MEAC unveils league schedule…CCU announces record $852,000 in athletics foundation donations…They fought with ‘class and toughness.’ Why Matt Rhule wears 2 pink ribbons; Because of COVID, Panthers may have to rely on an unproven kicker….Another edition of NFC East follies gets a spectacular finish as Eagles rally past Giants…Ron Rivera knows his decisions look ‘a little inconsistent,’ but he will stick with his gut…Falcons’ defensive line group hit hard by COVID-19

Pirate Press: ECU Headlines

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirate hoops on long and winding road Bonesville.net

ECU “character coach” an outlet for mental health Fayetteville Observer

247 Sports

• Predicting the final five games of ECU’s season
• HTC Podcast: Biggest surprises/disappointments, and a look ahead
• Stephens the latest young defensive player to make first start
• Ahlers, others on the path to return for Tulsa game

Greenville Daily Reflector (sub req’d)

• Ahlers, other players expected back by next game
• ECU expecting free application weeks to spark more interest from students
• Chancellor search committee finishes work, chairman said

Around the American Athletic Conference

Game Preview: USF Hosts Tulsa Friday on ESPN American Athletic Conference

USF Needs To Eliminate Turnovers Friday Night Versus Tulsa Sports Talk Florida

Group of Five power rankings: SMU-Cincinnati set for New Year’s Six elimination game FanSided

Cincinnati faces SMU in 2020’s best Group of 5 battle, and the Big Ten is back in college football’s Week 8 ESPN

Cincinnati Enquirer

• UC Bearcats Notebook: No. 9/10 Cincinnati football will play in front of 8,000 fans at SMU
• What UC Bearcats’ offense needs to do to match SMU and quarterback Shane Buechele

Tulsa World

• TU at USF: After 20-day layoff, Hurricane ready to resume season
• TU at USF: Storyline, matchup and player to watch
• Bill Haisten: The score of a lifetime – Shawn Jackson’s TU touchdown at Notre Dame

Tampa Bay Times

• USF receiver DeVontres Odoms-Dukes a model of persistence in portal era
• A closer look at Tulsa, which faces USF on Friday

Orlando Sentinel

• UCF football Space Game uniforms unveiled | Pictures
• UCF receivers Jaylon Robinson, Ryan O’Keefe emerge as breakout stars

Crazy high scoring in the AAC means Temple better light up the scoreboard this week and every week | Marc Narducci Philadelphia Inquirer

Memphis Commercial Appeal

• 5 things to know for Memphis vs. Temple football
• Still a work-in-progress, the Memphis basketball team’s schedule will feature 12 home games

Notebook: Ben Knutson validated Tulane coaches’ choice to move him to offensive tackle NOLA.com

Navy vs. Houston: How to watch live stream, TV channel, NCAA Football start time CBS Sports

Navy football uses creative blocking schemes, deep playbook to keep fullbacks chugging along Annapolis Capital

Basketball coach Gregg Marshall suspended at least once while at Winthrop, former AD says  Wichita Eagle

 

Regional Headlines: The Carolinas and beyond

Raleigh News and Observer

• NC State QB Devin Leary out 4-8 weeks after having surgery for broken fibula
• Saturday may be NC State’s best — or last — chance to slow North Carolina’s momentum
• Duke quarterback Chris Katrenick opts out of remainder of 2020 season
• Zac Thomas and App State went a month without playing football and unexpectedly improved
• I spent 4 days hiking the Appalachian Trail to escape the pandemic and met ‘Tarzan’
• Facing ‘deep financial’ challenges from COVID-19, UNC System sets budget priorities

Winston Salem Journal

• App State handles Arkansas State to win its conference opener
• App State defense plays strong as the Mountaineers jog some memories
• A&T gets football, men’s and women’s basketball schedules from MEAC
• N.C. A&T’s Kam Langley projected as MEAC player of the year
• WSSU football team hires Markus McElveen as its defensive line coach
• Wake Forest students won’t be permitted at Virginia Tech football game because of COVID-19 spike on campus

Norfolk Virginian Pilot

• Norfolk State football returns in February as MEAC unveils league schedule
• The coronavirus waiting game is over. Teradja Mitchell is ready to play for No. 5 Ohio State.

Fayetteville Observer

•  Three things to know as Wake Forest tries to collect second straight ACC victory
•  Get back to class: Brown lectures UNC on lessons to learn from loss

Charleston Post Courier

• CCU announces record $852,000 in athletics foundation donations
• Clemson freshman Ajou Ajou has plenty of Canadian support
• Gamecocks’ secondary shows improvement just in time for pass-happy LSU

Columbia The State

• South Carolina-LSU football prediction: Can the Gamecocks handle good fortune?
• No Higgins? No Ross? The rest of Clemson’s receivers are taking that as a challenge

Atlanta Journal Constitution

• 5 things worth knowing before Georgia Tech-Boston College
• Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari becoming a force at pressuring a quarterback
• COVID-19 considerations already altering Georgia Tech practice
• Georgia Tech’s Tristan Maxwell out with foot injury
• Georgia Tech-UGA basketball game looking unlikely
• Josh Pastner’s gives assessments of Georgia Tech newcomers

The Associated Press

• Thomas accounts for 5 TDs, App State beats Arkansas State
• On other side of an outbreak, teams can find some relief
• Week 8: Mountain West brings late show back; Big 12 showdown
• Conflict raging over ‘The Eyes of Texas’ school song