Sports News, Nuggets and Notes from East Carolina and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

11.13.03: Pirates welcome Holcomb-Faye and Stars... .. Deacs limp into Garden to face Memphis... .. Heisman chase still motivates Rivers... .. More...

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...

East Carolina has never had an Academic All-American in football but the Pirates will have two candidates up for the honor when the College Sports Information Directors of America choose the prestigious 2003 squad.

Offensive tackle Brian Rimpf and wide receiver Richard Hourigan have been named to COSIDA's first-team Academic All-District III team. The names of the two seniors, who were named second-team all-district a year ago, will automatically be placed on the ballot for the Academic All-America team to be announced Dec. 1.

A bye week is no reason not to have a game, decided East Carolina coach John Thompson and his staff, and freshman defensive back Pierre Parker made the most of the opportunity.

The former Wilson Fike quarterback had an interception, a sack and a fumble recovery Thursday to highlight the defense's 26-23 win over the offense in a midseason East Carolina scrimmage involving reserves and scout team players.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Patrick Dosh, a transfer from Florida, gained 80 yards on the ground � including a 9-yard run for the game's only touchdown � but struggled in the face of blitzing pressure to get a consistent passing game cranked up.

The scrimmage, played in cold, blustery weather, utilized a scoring system that awarded points based on first downs, turnovers and other significant events.

In its second and final exhibition tune-up before the real deal begins, East Carolina eclipsed the century mark once again Thursday night in a rout of the visiting Charlotte Stars.

Sophomores Corey Rouse and Belton Rivers led the way with 16 points apiece as the Pirates dunked, rebounded and ran to the 102-56 win over a team of former college players.

ECU defeated the World HoopStars 104-31 in an exhibition game seven days earlier. In the two exhibition games, freshman guard Japhet McNeil dished out a combined total of 23 assists.

HATTIESBURG � The Southern Miss Athletics Department and the Pine Burr Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America are joining forces for the Battle for the Bell as the Golden Eagles host Conference USA-rival Tulane at The Rock on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.

Boy Scouts, their friends and families are being offered a $10 price on tickets in the east upper deck, normally priced at $19 and $12. All participants receive a Go Gold! sticker and access to additional festivities including the Eagle Walk. Participants ages 14 and under also receive two ride tickets for Junior Eagle Funland and a special souvenir item.

Over 500 scouts and their families attended last year�s Scout Day, a 23-14 Southern Miss victory over Cincinnati.

NEW YORK � Taron Downey, playing eight days after an emergency appendectomy, scored a career-high 20 points to lead No. 20 Wake Forest to an 85-76 victory over Memphis on Thursday night in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

Downey hit three 3-pointers in a 3:15 span of the second half, the last two part of a 13-3 run that gave Wake Forest a 73-59.

Justin Gray added 12 points for Wake Forest, which won its 10th straight season opener. Eric Williams had 11 points and freshman Chris Paul, who started in Downey's place, added 10.