News Nuggets, 08.22.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Bearcats offer incentives for fans to attend ECU game

CINCINNATI — The University of Cincinnati is offering a special ticket discount for the Bearcats' Labor Day Monday (Sept. 1) football home opener with East Carolina. For $100, fans may purchase eight game tickets and will also receive $10 in vouchers for food and drinks at Cattitude on the Commons, UC's pregame rally and party. Tickets must be purchased in advance of game day and those purchased after Aug. 25 will need to be picked up at will-call. Tickets may be purchased on-line via www.UCBearcats.com or by phone (513-556-2287). There will be a give-away of a limited edition Bearcat ball caps to the first 5,000 who enter the stadium.

Cattitude on the Commons is free and opens at 9:30 a.m., two and half hours before the Bearcats and Pirates kick off their nationally-televised (ESPN) Conference USA contest. It is held on Sigma Sigma Commons, the green space area north of Nippert Stadium and immediately adjacent to several parking garages.

UC students are admitted to all home football games free by presenting their valid student identification card. The opener will also be Band Day with the Mason High School Band headlining a list of area high school bands. The Mason band will perform a post-game concert.

Pirate offense percolates, QB battle heats up

GREENVILLE — The offense started clicking Thursday as East Carolina engaged in its third and final situational scrimmage of preseason camp. In particularly timely fashion after the announcement that veteran running back Art Brown would redshirt this season because of a knee injury, true freshman Robert Tillman carried 18 times for 144 yards.

First-year head coach John Thompson considered Thursday's scrimmage important from an evaluation standpoint. "We got a lot accomplished today," he said. "We wanted to put them under the gun and in some pressure situations and the way things worked out, I couldn't be more pleased. We had some guys who really stepped up and did some things. Our offense moved the ball down and both teams did a great job in the two-minute [drill]. Our defense played hard and did some good things, but we have to tackle better. We've accomplished a lot and I think we know where we are right now."

The battle for ECU's starting quarterback role produced a day of glowing stats from both Desmond Robinson and Paul Troth. Robinson completed 16 of 21 passes for 197 yard and one touchdown while suffering one interception. Troth was 8-of-13 for 103 yards and no turnovers.

"We're going to really look at this scrimmage hard and see what happened," said Thompson. "From the sideline, I thought both of them really played well. They did some good things and converted some third downs and protected the football. We'll go back and study it and if [a starter] comes out of that, fine; if not, we'll keep rolling. I have confidence in both these guys. If we name a starter, I still think the other one will play against Cincinnati, also."

Senior wide receiver Terrance Copper contributed heavily to the success of the passing game, hauling in six catches for 106 yards, including receptions of 33 and 27 yards.

Aside from some bobbled snaps and holds, the kicking game also looked effective. Punters Ryan Dougherty and Woody Schmidt both averaged about 41 yards per punt while seeing extensive action. Dougherty also accounted for two touchdowns as he scored on a fake field goal call by rushing up the middle early in the scrimmage, then salvaged a bad placement later in the afternoon by rolling out and completing a scoring pass to fullback Vonta Leach.

Four kickers saw action with junior Cameron Broadwell appearing to have the edge on the starting job, according to Thompson. Defensive highlights of the day included a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown by sophomore cornerback Jared Brogden, a sack and a tackle for loss by senior tackle Damane Duckett, and a fumble forced and recovered by sophomore linebacker Chris Moore.

Cincinnati player penalized for unapproved game

CINCINNATI — Forward James White, who transferred from Florida to Cincinnati last season, received a one-game suspension Thursday for playing in an unsanctioned basketball exhibition. White violated an NCAA rule by participating in the unapproved event in Cincinnati last month. The university reported the infraction to the NCAA, which agreed that a one-game suspension was merited. White had to sit out for one year after transferring. He will become eligible to play for the Bearcats when the fall quarter ends in December, and will serve the suspension immediately.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007

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