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News Nuggets, 12.21.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

AutoZone replacing AXA as Liberty Bowl sponsor

MEMPHIS - The Liberty Bowl Football Classic and AutoZone, Inc., have signed a five-year agreement which will make the Memphis-based auto parts retailer the new title sponsor of the Liberty Bowl game beginning in 2004.

Effective January 1, 2004, the official name of the bowl game will be the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The agreement will run through the 2008 game, which will mark the Liberty Bowl's 50th Anniversary.

The official announcement was made this week by Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the Liberty Bowl Football Classic, and Steve Odland, Chairman, President and CEO of AutoZone at a press conference and luncheon at the Peabody Hotel.

Liberty Bowl and AutoZone officials indicated they believe the combined energies of their organizations will enable the Liberty Bowl to take a leap forward as the bowl positions itself for the future in the ever-changing landscape of college football.

AutoZone, a FORTUNE 300 company headquartered in downtown Memphis, will succeed AXA Financial, Inc. as the bowl's title sponsor. AXA has been the bowl's sponsor since 1997. AXA will remain the bowl's title sponsor through the 2003 game.

The Liberty Bowl is college football's seventh oldest bowl game. It was founded in Philadelphia in 1959. The Liberty Bowl moved to Atlantic City in 1964 and then to its current home of Memphis in 1965.

The 2003 AXA Liberty Bowl will be played Wednesday, December 31, at 2:30 pm, and will be televised by ESPN. The game will pit Conference USA champion Southern Mississippi against Mountain West Conference kingpin Utah.

Prominent agent with Logan ties passes

COLUMBIA � Craig Kelly, the attorney and sports agent for some of college football's top coaches, died Friday of cancer. He was 56.

Kelly's wife, Cheryl, told The Associated Press that he was diagnosed with the disease less than three weeks ago and died at Lexington Medical Center. ``It was very bad and it was very quick,'' she said.

Kelly's clients included former East Carolina coach Steve Logan, Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer, Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione, Virginia's Al Groh and Florida's Ron Zook.

``He kept a very low-key approach,'' Cheryl Kelly said. ``I'm sure they appreciated that.''

Bowl results/TV schedule for C-USA teams

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16
New Orleans Bowl
Memphis 27, North Texas (Sun Belt) 17
(ESPN 2) 7:00 pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18
GMAC Bowl
(14) Miami (OH) (MAC) 49, Louisville 28

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl
(19) Texas Christian vs. (16) Boise State (WAC)
(ESPN) 7:30 pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25
Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Houston vs. Hawaii (WAC)
(ESPN) 8:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31
AXA Liberty Bowl
Southern Miss vs. (25) Utah (MWC)
(ESPN) 3:30 pm

All times Eastern.

UCLA honors its most famous coach

LOS ANGELES � UCLA honored John Wooden and his late wife Nell by naming the Bruins' Pauley Pavilion basketball court for them Saturday, 28 years after Wooden retired from coaching with a record 10 national titles.

Wooden, 93, coached the Bruins from 1948-75. During that time, UCLA won seven straight national championships, an NCAA record 88-game winning streak, and four 30-0 seasons.

"I'm glad that they did this in a timely way because we take it for granted that he's going to be around forever," said Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, known as Lew Alcindor when he starred for UCLA in the late 1960s. "He can enjoy it and we can enjoy him and the day."

More than 70 of Wooden's former players � many with gray hair and heavier than their playing days � were on hand. They included Bill Walton, Mike Warren, Rafer Johnson, Walt Hazzard, Marques Johnson, Gary Cunningham, Lynn Shackelford, Sidney Wicks, current Southern California coach Henry Bibby, and Jamaal Wilkes.

"I know what made this day possible, it's those young men down there," Wooden said, turning to look at his former players seated off-court. "I'm extremely proud of all of them. Many never had the opportunity to play in Pauley Pavilion."

Wooden stalked Pauley's sideline holding his ever-present rolled up program during the final 10 years of his career.

Seven of Wooden's 12 great-grandchildren helped pull two pieces of blue velvet away to reveal the words 'Nell and John Wooden Court' in blue on the floor of Pauley Pavilion. Wooden's 12th great-grandchild was born Saturday.

Abdul-Jabbar recalled Nell Wooden as a woman of few words.

"She was like everybody's aunt," he said. "It was always about a smile. We won so often, there wasn't much occasion to be sad."

Clutching his cane, Wooden was helped to center court by his two children, James and Nancy. Nell Wooden died in 1985 after 53 years of marriage.

"I am thankful to see so many of you here today," Wooden said. "I hope to see you every game. And I hope you'll all really back our team with a lot of enthusiasm. But at the same time, let's be gracious to our opponents, too."

Wooden made his way to his usual seat in the stands a few rows behind UCLA's bench to watch the Bruins play Michigan State. Wooden remains in relatively good health with a sharp mind that can recall details from games and events that occurred decades ago.

Abdul-Jabbar said Wooden downplayed being in the spotlight during a pregame luncheon with his former players.

"He sees himself as a little gear, but he's the master wheel," he said.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of UCLA's first title under Wooden, the Bruins wore replica jerseys similar to those used in the 1963-64 season. However, their shorts were baggy, unlike the short, tight shorts worn in Wooden's era.

He is the first person to be inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. The Martinsville, Ind., native played guard on Purdue's 1932 national championship team.

Since Wooden's retirement, the Bruins have won just one NCAA title, in 1995.

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.

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