VIEW THE MOBILE ALPHA VERSION OF THIS SITE

News Nuggets, 11.29.03
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Previous Day Nuggets...             Next Day Nuggets...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

U of L win over Bearcats helps Petrino change the subject

CINCINNATI — Louisville coach Bobby Petrino had a much easier time explaining this one, while Rick Minter had no explanation for the process that will determine if he will keep his job.

Stefan LeFors threw a 54-yard touchdown pass with 70 seconds remaining Friday, giving the Cardinals a 43-40 victory over Cincinnati that represented a milestone for their embattled coach.

Louisville (9-3, 5-3 Conference USA) blew a 21-point lead before rallying for a victory before a sparse Nippert Stadium crowd. The win enhanced the Cards' bid for a sixth consecutive bowl appearance and also made Petrino the first Louisville coach to win nine games in his first season.

Petrino put the school in the national spotlight on Wednesday, when he acknowledged a secret meeting with Auburn officials about their head coaching job. He conceded he "probably made a mistake" by initially denying that he had contact with Auburn.

Petrino, who has four years left on his contract, was delighted to be able to explain the dramatic comeback instead of his awkward interview with Auburn.

"That's all I'm going to talk about, and that's how happy I am to talk about it," Petrino said.

Auburn made up its mind to keep coach Tommy Tuberville soon after the talks with Petrino were revealed, sparing Louisville players from a prolonged uncertainty.

The Bearcats had a last chance, but Gino Guidugli's desperation pass from midfield went out of bounds as time ran out.

Cincinnati (5-7, 2-6) ended its first losing season in four years with a coach under fire. School officials have declined to discuss the future of Rick Minter, who has been targeted by disgruntled fans. A banner from the upper deck of the stadium said, "Minter Please Step Down."

"I'll be here until someone tells me different," said Minter, who has been at Cincinnati for 10 years. "They fire coaches for not winning. They fire coaches who are winning. That's how insane this business is."

Only 11,993 fans — slightly more than one-third of the stadium's capacity — showed up on a cold, snowy afternoon to see the Bearcats rally from a 28-7 second-quarter deficit.

Exams complicate Frogs' postseason plans

Texas Christian athletic director Eric Hyman is concerned about the possibility of the Horned Frogs getting an invitation to the GMAC Bowl because the game conflicts with the school's final exams.

The No. 19 Horned Frogs (10-1) have not been asked to play in the Dec. 18 game in Mobile, AL, but GMAC officials get the second pick from Conference USA. Southern Mississippi beat TCU 40-28 last week and can clinch the C-USA title and Liberty Bowl berth with a victory Saturday at East Carolina.

Final exams at TCU are Dec. 15-19. "This is pure and simple an academic issue," Hyman said. "They want you down there on the 13th. It's a disservice to our student-athletes."

Hyman said he told C-USA and bowl officials of his concerns a couple of weeks ago. Until the loss to Southern Miss, the Frogs were undefeated and in contention for one of the four big-money games that make up the Bowl Championship Series. TCU reached as high as sixth in the BCS rankings, and was eighth before its loss.

The Frogs would still be in contention to play in the Liberty Bowl if Southern Miss loses. Game officials could then pick from the co-champions for the Dec. 31 game in Memphis, Tenn. TCU plays its season finale today at Southern Methodist (0-11).

Last year, the Liberty Bowl took the Frogs over Cincinnati after the two tied for the title, even though the Bearcats had beaten TCU during the season.

The other of the five bowls with C-USA ties are New Orleans (Dec. 16), Fort Worth (Dec. 23) and Hawaii (Dec. 25). The GMAC Bowl, which has a payout of $750,000 per team, has already invited Miami, Ohio (10-1) of the Mid-American Conference.

The Frogs have played twice in Mobile, both games coming a week after final exams were completed. LaDainian Tomlinson led TCU to a 28-14 win over No. 20 East Carolina in the bowl's inaugural game in 1999. The following year the No. 13 Frogs were upset by Southern Miss 28-21.

Updated C-USA standings, scores and schedule

Maryland at Wake Forest Saturday TV Capsule

ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
Maryland (8-3) at Wake Forest (5-6).

Opening Line: Maryland by 6½.
Series Record: Maryland leads, 37-13-1.
Last Meeting: 2002, Maryland, 32-14 .

WHAT TO WATCH

Maryland goes into the game having already accepted an invite to the Gator Bowl. The Terrapins can finish their season with wins in nine of their last 10 if they beat the slumping Demon Deacons, however. After a 3-1 start, things sort of fell apart for Wake Forest, which might not receive a bowl bid even with an upset over Maryland. Terrapins QB Scott McBrien has had a resurgence over the past three games, throwing for 783 yards, seven TDs and one interception. For Wake Forest, RB Chris Barclay is on the verge of a 1,000-yard season, and can get the ninth in school history with 51 against Maryland. Deacons QB Cory Randolph has completed 64 percent of his passes over the past five games, but Wake Forest has only won two of those. The main problem - Wake Forest can't seem to stop anyone. The Deacons are yielding 447 yards per game, 13th worst in the country, and ahead of only North Carolina's obscene 505-yard average.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES

The teams have met every year since 1971. ... Maryland has won four in a row. They won six straight from 1980-85. ... Wake Forest P Ryan Plackemeier is leading the ACC with 45.8 yards per punt. The figure is also sixth-best in the nation. ... In the Gator Bowl, the Terrapins will almost certainly face West Virginia in a rematch of their Sept. 20 game. Even if West Virginia wins the Big East, the Mountaineers probably won't finish high enough in the BCS rankings to get the Big East's automatic bid.

Central Florida player goes down with spinal injury

ORLANDO — Central Florida linebacker Antoine Poe was taken off the field in an ambulance after injuring his spinal cord against No. 15 Miami of Ohio on Friday. Poe was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center and had some movement in his limbs.

Poe was hurt while defending a screen pass midway through the second quarter of the Golden Knights 56-21 loss. "He is going to be in the hospital for a bit," UCF interim coach Alan Gooch said after the game.

After the play, a cart carrying a backboard came on to the field, followed by an ambulance moments later. Following 15-minute delay, Poe was lifted into the ambulance to a round of applause from the sparse crowd attending UCF's season finale.

Poe entered the game with 108 tackles, including a team-best 16 for losses. He also had three sacks, another high for UCF.

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