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News Nuggets, 11.13.03
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Pirates welcome Holcomb-Faye and Stars

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

11.12.03: Billikens bolt on heels of 49ers... .. Revived Clemson takes lesson to heart... .. Seven C-USA, Carolinas teams land in preseason basketball rankings... .. More...
11.11.03: C-USA wins academic realignment war... .. 49ers headed to A-10, Billikens set to follow... .. Coach of beleaguered UCF football program dismissed... .. More...
11.10.03: College football weekend: The good, the bad, the ugly... .. Conference USA standings, scores and schedule... .. Associated Press writers and USA Today/ESPN coaches polls... .. More...
11.09.03: Game briefs from around C-USA... .. Charlotte hoops teams invite fans 'Uptown'... .. Lengthy absence expected for Tar Heel forward... .. More...
11.08.03: Homecoming Saturday: Hoops and football from 11 a.m. 'til... .. SEC makes 11th hour change in tiebreaker... .. Army can salvage season starting now... .. Clemson vs. Florida State TV capsule... .. More...
11.07.03: Bulls' road to postseason eligibility goes through Greenville... .. Rouse leads ECU rout of international team... .. Suspensions keep on coming at UCF... .. Arkansas hogties 'Cocks, then rests... .. Reunion of Bowdens no merry affair... .. More...
11.06.03: ECU women's soccer star nets big C-USA honor... .. Pirate golfer snares tourney title... .. Gear from celebrity Frogs up for auction... .. WAC zebras sanctioned for bad calls... .. Suspensions cloud UCF's day in sun... .. More...
11.05.03: Frogs' BCS worthiness gets gut-check tonight... .. Fans of Frogs challenged in writing... .. Prolific Tulane running back sidelined... .. Bowers extends Blackwell suspension... .. More...
11.04.03: Dozen-member committee gets marching orders for AD search... .. Big news expected from Big East... .. BCS standings: Frogs hop up three notches... .. Cards spank EA Sports in preseason opener... .. More...
11.03.03: Pirate harrier breaks new ground... .. College football weekend: The good, the bad, the ugly... .. C-USA standings, scores, schedule... .. AP writers and USA Today/ESPN coaches polls... .. More...
11.02.03: Game briefs from around Conference USA... .. Preseason hoops injuries taking toll on Bearcats... .. Crain selected for Team USA baseball... .. More...

Fans might be tempted to cheer for both teams when East Carolina plays its second and final exhibition game tonight (7:00 p.m.) at Minges Coliseum's Williams Arena against the visiting Charlotte Stars.

Travis Holcomb-Faye, ECU coach Bill Herrion's first recruit upon taking the reigns of the Pirates five seasons ago, is on the Stars' 12-man roster of former college players.

A guard, Holcomb-Faye finished his ECU career last year as the program's career assists leader.

The Pirates, who defeated the World HoopStars 104-31 last Thursday in their first exhibition game, open the regular season at home on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Campbell.

Read a more comprehensive story on ECUPirates.com...


Deacs limp into Garden to face Memphis

WINSTON-SALEM — Skip Prosser thought it would be good exposure for No. 20 Wake Forest to open the season in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

He wishes he could take a mulligan on scheduling Thursday's early opener after a series of injuries have the defending ACC regular-season champions limping into Madison Square Garden against Memphis.

"We're the ones who said we would play in this," Prosser said Tuesday. "That was before a stress fracture, tendinitis and an appendectomy. It seemed like a much better idea last spring than it does now. But I can't say, `By the way, we can't play."'

So, Wake Forest, 25-6 last season, will take on the Tigers without starting point guard Taron Downey (appendicitis) and top reserve forward Chris Ellis (broken foot).

Forward Vytas Danelius will start, but he's been hobbled in the preseason by a sore knee.

This will also be the first game without Josh Howard, who is now in the NBA after being the ACC's unanimous player of the year in 2003.

"Josh was a true leader," Danelius said. "He carried us through tough times when we struggled. He always stepped up and rarely had a bad game. This year, the team is going to be more talented, we're going to have more potential, but we need to find some guys who can bring a consistent, good game very day."

Wake Forest still has plenty of talent despite the injuries and will likely start veterans Justin Gray, Eric Williams, Jamaal Levy, Danelius and freshman sensation Chris Paul.


Heisman chase still motivates Rivers

RALEIGH — Heisman Trophy voters who crossed Philip Rivers off their list after two early losses by North Carolina State may want to rethink his candidacy.

Rivers, one of the favorites coming into the season, has thrown for 3,318 yards and completed a remarkable 72.2 percent of his passes.

Behind Rivers, the Wolfpack (7-3) has won four straight and remain in contention for a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a BCS bowl.

``It's pretty astonishing that he can do that,'' Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said of Rivers' completion rate. ``It's a feat because of the number of times they throw the ball.''

No one appreciates the senior's ability to make a difference more than his own coach.

``He needs to keep doing what he's doing and we have a chance — and so does he,'' added N.C. State coach Chuck Amato. ``His numbers are outrageous, not only this year but over the last four years.''

Rivers acknowledges he remains a dark horse behind Oklahoma's Jason White and several other candidates, but season-ending wins over Florida State and Maryland could get the QB back in the race.

``With three losses that hurts. That's been all the negative I hear about the whole thing,'' Rivers told The Associated Press. ``I don't think I necessarily have to have some magical, crazy game, but winning against Florida State is important.''

The Heisman voting can often be hard to handicap. Sometimes the best player on the best team wins, while other years a player gets major consideration for career stats.

If the latter is the case, Rivers should be in the mix. The 6-foot-5 senior is fifth in NCAA history with 12,311 passing yards and holds the ACC records for passing yards, total offense, TD responsibility, TD passes, attempts, completions and 300-yard games.

He's also the only quarterback in conference history to have three 3,000-yard passing season.

``Even when we had three losses and people were saying it was done, I just said to myself to keep playing,'' Rivers said. ``I just want to say at the end I did all I could do and let it go from there.''

Even if Rivers doesn't win, he would like an opportunity to be one of the five players invited to New York for the award ceremony.

``Just to get a chance to sit up there with the top-notch players in the country would be the utmost honor,'' Rivers said. ``I know White's the favorite and well deserving. His numbers are unbelievable and they are dominating as a team.''

No matter what happens in the next two weeks, Rivers will be content with his stellar career.

``It's not an honor you expect,'' Rivers said of the Heisman. ``There is no failure.''

Rivers is well within the single-season completion percentage record of 69.5 percent, set by Heisman winner Charlie Ward of Florida State in 1993.

``That's been a big deal for me,'' Rivers said. ``That's something I've concentrated on, just being consistent. It's not the (record) that's the most recognizable, but it would mean a lot as long as this league has been around. It's attainable.''

Few knew in August that Rivers started the season on a major downer. His wife had a miscarriage two weeks before the opener.

``That was an obstacle and I haven't had many,'' Rivers said. ``I've had it pretty good. Most of the things have been great in my career, but that was kind of a different one. ``It was tough, but that was one of those things in life.''


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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