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News Nuggets, 11.20.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Papa Bowden advises Clemson to fish or cut bait

The Clemson administration is mum on Tommy Bowden's future with the school heading into this weekend's regular-season finale against rival South Carolina, but father Bobby Bowden had plenty to say Wednesday about his son's tenuous coaching situation with the Tigers (7-4).

"The heart and soul of winning is recruiting," the elder Bowden said. "As long as there is doubt, it affects recruiting. They would be wise if they would say, `Yes, you're the man' or fire him and go get somebody else. If they don't do that they are going to keep losing recruiting class after recruiting class after recruiting class."

Tommy Bowden has led the Tigers to four bowl games in his first four years and has Clemson in line for another postseason bid. However his record in the postseason is 1-3 and his ACC mark the last three years is just 13-11.

"If you give him one more year that's not going to help because all of your opponents are going to tell kids, `Hey, don't go to Clemson, he ain't going to be there but another year," Bobby Bowden said. "At some point you have to endorse him or do him a favor and fire him."

To add more controversy to the situation, South Carolina this week extended the contract of Lou Holtz. "It was very wise for them to do that," Bowden said. "The kids see that South Carolina is serious about this guy."

Clemson's last ACC title came in 1991, the year before Florida State joined the conference.

Tonight's TCU at Southern Miss TV capsule

ESPN, 7:30 p.m.
No. 10 Texas Christian (10-0) at Southern Mississippi (7-3)

Opening Line: Southern Miss by 3.
Series Record: TCU leads 3-1.
Last Meeting: 2002, TCU, 37-7.

WHAT TO WATCH: TCU's chance at a Bowl Championship Series and the Conference USA title are on the line. The Horned Frogs, the only other undefeated team in Division I-A (Oklahoma), are trying to become the first team from a non-BCS conference to make one of the four major bowls. They'll have a good shot if they can stop Southern Miss, though it could be their toughest conference game yet. TCU, the nation's 12th-best rushing defense, has to stop Anthony Harris (33 carries for 111 yards last week). If the Horned Frogs stop Harris, they'll also have to watch out for QB Dustin Almond. The Golden Eagles have won their past four games with him as a starter, though he's completing barely 50 percent of his passes. TCU QB Brandon Hassell will almost certainly start, his seventh game of the season. Tye Gunn has missed the past three because of a groin injury, and has been bothered by other injuries all season. Hassell has been efficient, but TCU's running game has come through in recent weeks. The Horned Frogs have rushed for 1,006 yards in their past four games. RBs Robert Merrill and Lonta Hobbs have carried most of the load.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES: With a win, the Frogs would have only to beat winless SMU for the second undefeated season in school history. The other was 1938, when TCU won the national title. ... Southern Miss won three of the first four Conference USA titles. TCU joined C-USA two years ago and has beaten Southern Miss both times since. ... The BCS was started five years ago to create a national title game without a playoff. Champions of six conferences - the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC - qualify for a BCS game, and two at-large teams are selected to fill out the field. The previous at-large bids have gone to the six conferences with automatic bids. ... TCU has won 12 in a row, dating to last season.

Holiday Saturday full of sports in store for Pirate fans

Thanks to a three-event combo deal, fans of the East Carolina Pirates won't have a problem occupying their time in quality fashion for an economical price on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The school's athletic department is offering a special package that will include admission to the season's final football game and to both a women's and men's basketball game.

For $20, adults will receive tickets to the ECU-Southern Mississippi football game at 2:00 p.m., a 6:00 p.m. ECU women's basketball game in the Lady Pirate Invitational, and the 8:00 p.m. hoops clash between the ECU men and Coastal Carolina. The price for tickets to all three contests for children 12 and under is $10.

Anyone who has already purchased a ticket for the football game can acquire a ticket to both of the basketball games for $5 by presenting by presenting the football ticket at the Minges Coliseum ticket office after 9:00 a.m. on the day of the game.

Tickets may be ordered in advance by calling 1-800-DIAL-ECU (inside North Carolina only) or 252-328-4500, or they can be purchased at the ticket office on the Saturday morning prior to the football game.

Read a more comprehensive story about this special promotion on ECUPirates.com...

Thundering Herd handles depleted UCF

ORLANDO — Marshall quarterback Graham Gochneaur ran 49 yards for a touchdown with 1:44 left, sealing a 21-7 victory Wednesday night for the Thundering Herd and ruining the coaching debut of Central Florida's Alan Gooch.

Butchie Wallace and Earl Charles also had TD runs for Marshall (7-4, 5-2 Mid-American Conference). The Golden Knights' only touchdown came on a 55-yard run by freshman quarterback Steve Moffett in the fourth quarter, and they were held to just 170 yards of offense.

Gooch took over as interim head coach when Central Florida (3-8, 2-5) fired Mike Kruczek a week ago. Kruczek was forced out in the midst of off-the-field problems which have so far resulted in eight players being suspended.

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