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News Nuggets, 11.01.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

AD Selmon's son seals USF overtime win over Bearcats

TAMPA — Lee Roy Selmon Jr. intercepted a pass in the second overtime to clinch South Florida's 24-17 victory over Cincinnati on Friday night.

Running back DeJuan Green had a 25-yard touchdown run in the second overtime to give South Florida (5-3, 3-2 Conference USA) the lead.

Selmon, the son of former NFL great and current South Florida athletic director Lee Roy Selmon, intercepted a pass by Gino Guidugli on the next possession to end the game.

Cincinnati (4-4, 2-3) scored on the first play of the first overtime, a 25-yard pass from Guidugli to Dennis Hart. The Bulls tied it on a 5-yard run by quarterback Brian Fisher.

South Florida's Santiago Gramatica knotted the game at 10-10 with a 30-yard field goal with 3:33 remaining, forcing the overtime.

The victory sustained postseason hopes for South Florida, which has two victories against Division I-AA teams. The Bearcats deprived South Florida of a conditional bid to the Hawaii Bowl last year by winning their season finale at East Carolina.

Cincinnati opened the scoring on a 2-yard pass from Guidugli to Mike Daniels with eight seconds left in the first quarter. The play capped a 76-yard drive that took 15 plays and more than seven minutes.

Cincinnati threatened to double the lead on its next possession, but backup quarterback George Murray was stopped in the backfield on a fourth-and-1.

South Florida, which produced only 1 yard of offense in the first quarter, had three quarterbacks combine for 11 yards passing in the first half and trailed 7-0.

The Bulls drew even on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Pat Julmiste to Elgin Hicks midway through the third quarter.

Chet Ervin's 38-yard field goal gave Cincinnati a 10-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Today's Virginia at N.C. State TV capsule

ABC, 3:30 p.m.
Virginia (5-3) at N.C. State (6-3), 3:30 p.m.

Opening Line: N.C. State by 1.
Series Record: N.C. State leads, 31-20-1.
Last Meeting: 2002, Virginia, 14-9.

WHAT TO WATCH: Virginia and North Carolina State along with Georgia Tech and Clemson are tied for second at 3-2 in the league. Virginia is coming into the game after shutting out Troy State 24-0. This week, the Cavaliers face a banged up Wolfpack team and the ACC record holder for TD passes. N.C. State's Philip Rivers had three TD passes vs. Duke for 82 in his career. The senior broke the record of 79 set by Chris Weinke at Florida State from 1997-00. On the positive side, none of those 82 TD passes have come against Virginia. The Wolfpack will be passing a lot, as the running game is nonexistent without T.A. McLendon. McLendon missed last week's game after two arthroscopic knee surgeries in a six-day span. Rivers spreads the ball around: Jerricho Cotchery (50 catches, 850 yards), Tramain Hall (49 catches, 532 yards) and Richard Washington (36 catches, 392 yards). Washington suffered two broken ribs in last week's game. Virginia's Wali Lundy was leading the ACC in rushing (now No. 2) when he hurt his foot in the Cavaliers' 30-27 OT loss at Clemson. In his absence, Alvin Pearman tied an ACC record with 16 catches in the Cavaliers 19-14 loss to Florida State, then ran for 138 yards and 2 TDs and caught eight passes for another 51 yards against Troy State. Lundy had a brief appearance last week.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES: Virginia has beaten the Wolfpack 6 of the last 8 meetings. ... Cavalier senior Almondo Curry has picked-off four passes this season, including one for a touchdown and ranks second in the ACC in interceptions with a 0.50 per game average. ... The Wolfpack, 0-3 on the road, has won all their home games this season. ... N.C. State is last in the ACC in rushing, averaging just 93.8 yards a game. ... NC State has a 14-9 lead in games played in Raleigh, including a 24-0 victory in 2001.

Bulls' board endorses cozying up to Big East

TAMPA — South Florida trustees voted unanimously Friday to back efforts by the university president to move the school to the Big East Conference.

An invitation could come as early as Tuesday when Big East officials meet in New York, president Judy Genshaft said. The university would then negotiate terms of its entry.

South Florida is a member of Conference USA. The Big East has been looking to fill vacancies created by the upcoming departures of Miami and Virginia Tech, the league's premier football schools. They will join the Atlantic Coast Conference after the current academic year ends. Boston College is also leaving the Big East for the ACC, but perhaps not until 2006.

Besides possibly South Florida, the Big East is expected to invite C-USA members Louisville and Cincinnati as all-sports members and Marquette and DePaul in all sports but football.

Big East spokesman John Paquette said an announcement is expected Tuesday on the conference's membership. He said he was not yet able to discuss specifics.

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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