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News Nuggets, 11.28.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Today's Louisville at Cincinnati TV capsule

ESPN2, 11:00 a.m.
Louisville (8-3) at Cincinnati (5-6)

Opening Line: Louisville by 3.
Series Record: Cincinnati leads 26-15-1.
Last Meeting: 2002, Cincinnati, 24-14.

WHAT TO WATCH:

Cincinnati needs a win to become bowl-eligible for the fourth year in a row. Louisville almost certainly will go to its sixth straight bowl. The Cardinals are coming off a 66-45 win over Houston in which they piled up a school record 779 yards and topped 60 points for the first time since 1998. Louisville also rushed for 445 yards. The Cardinals will be hard-pressed to duplicate that output against Cincinnati, which has the 18th-ranked defense in the nation, allowing 315 yards of total offense per game. Much of the credit for Louisville's offensive outburst this season - the Cardinals are sixth in the nation in total offense - can go to the offensive line. In addition to Louisville's 220-yards-per-game ground attack, the Cardinals front five has allowed QB Stefan LeFors to throw for 2,710 yards and 13 TDs and just six interceptions this season. The Bearcats' defense is sixth in the country with 18 interceptions this season. Cincinnati QB Gino Guidugli, a 55 percent passer in his three seasons at Cincinnati, is completing nearly 60 percent of his fourth-quarter passes.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES:

The annual matchup for the Keg of Nails dates to 1927. ... Cincinnati's win last season stopped Louisville's four-game winning streak in the series. ... The Cardinals lost their past two Thanksgiving week games. ... Cincinnati has blocked five FG attempts this season.

Big East wants Miami legal action suspended

MIAMI — The Big East Conference has requested a stay, or even dismissal, of the lawsuit filed by the University of Miami last month claiming that the school lost money by staying in the league. The request for the stay was filed Tuesday with U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages.

The conference asked that the Miami suit be put off until the conclusion of a Big East lawsuit filed earlier against Miami in Connecticut.

The Big East last week moved the Miami lawsuit from Florida Circuit Court to federal court. Ungaro-Benages scheduled an initial hearing on the civil action for Feb. 27.

Big East lawyers asked that if the Miami case can't be delayed, it be dismissed as an attempt to "forum shop."

"This litigation is merely an opportunistic bid by Miami to seek refuge in what it perceives to be a more favorable venue," Ungaro-Benages was told.

UM spokesman Mark Pray said he had not seen the request and could offer no comment.

In addition to the conference, league members Connecticut, West Virginia, Rutgers and Pittsburgh are named as defendants by Miami. Miami still has the option of asking the judge to move the lawsuit back to local courts.

The Connecticut lawsuit alleges Miami was involved in a conspiracy with the Atlantic Coast Conference to weaken the Big East, costing the member schools millions of dollars.

Miami and fellow Big East member Virginia Tech are leaving the league to join the ACC after the current academic year ends. Boston College is also leaving the Big East for the ACC, but perhaps not until 2006.

Auburn execs beat hasty retreat after visit with Petrino

After a covert rendezvous with a potential new head coach became public, embarrassed Auburn officials have back-peddled and thrown their continued support behind current coach Tommy Tuberville.

School president William Walker decided Wednesday to retain Tuberville, who came under fire late in the Tigers' disappointing season. "If Coach Tuberville elects to do so, he will continue as Auburn's head football coach next year," Walker said in a statement. "I sincerely hope he chooses to remain at Auburn."

The Tigers went 7-5 after entering the season ranked sixth nationally and picked to win the Southeastern Conference.

Walker said he will meet next week with Tuberville and athletic director David Housel to discuss how to meet the program's goals "and to ensure coach Tuberville's success in the 2004 season and beyond."

Neither Walker nor Housel had told Tuberville that his job was in jeopardy, but they flew to Kentucky to speak to Louisville coach Bobby Petrino about the job two days before the Alabama game. Auburn won the game 28-23.

Petrino said Wednesday he was staying put.

Walker said his actions put Tuberville "in an awkward and uncomfortable position." Gov. Bob Riley and others criticized Walker and Housel for taking such a trip when Tuberville's fate had not been decided.

Tuberville, who signed a new five-year contract in February, did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday. Under the deal, it would have cost the university $4 million to fire him.

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