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News Nuggets, 10.09.03
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Countdown ticking towards blast off for Pirate hoops

The 2003-04 edition of East Carolina basketball is set to launch in a matter of days in grand style. Not only hoops, but also hoopla will mark the occasion.

ECU's preseason officially tips off on Friday, Oct. 17, with "Midnight Madness at Minges" — inside Williams Arena, of course. The doors will open at 10:30 p.m. with the festivities beginning at 10:45 p.m.

Admission is free to everyone. For ECU students, certain food and beverage items will also be free. The night will feature a variety of contests for students as well as performances by the ECU dance team and cheerleaders.

All students must have their ECU student ID cards to be eligible to participate in the contests.

This year's Pirates will be introduced at midnight followed by a slam dunk contest and abbreviated team scrimmage.

Thursday night's college football TV capsules

ESPN, 7:30 p.m.
Kentucky (2-3) at South Carolina (3-2).

Opening Line: South Carolina by 6.
Series Record: South Carolina leads, 7-6-1.
Last Meeting: 2002, South Carolina, 16-12.

What to Watch: The key matchup in this one could be Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen against South Carolina's pass defense. Lorenzen has thrown 9 TDs this season, and is 76-for-123. He also has had nearly two weeks to stew over the ill-advised pass he threw last week, which was intercepted to set up Florida's go-ahead TD in the Gators' 24-21 comeback win. The Gamecocks, meanwhile, are giving up fewer than 150 yards passing per game. Kentucky's running game has been effective, too, with several players in the mix. WR Derek Abney is the Wildcats' biggest playmaker. He needs one more kickoff or punt return TD to tie the NCAA record held by Johnny Rodgers and Cliff Branch. South Carolina QB Dondrial Pinkins has only completed 46 percent of his passes this season, and has four interceptions and three TD passes. RB Demetris Summers averages 6 yards per carry, and the Gamecocks occasionally throw to him out of the backfield, too. Gamecocks' DB Dunta Robinson has returned an interception for a TD and broken up seven passes this season. Through five games, Kentucky's Muhammad Abdullah leads the SEC with four interceptions. He has his eye on the conference record set by college football hall of famer Jerry Claiborne in 1949.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: Kentucky has lost its last three to the Gamecocks. ... Kentucky WR coach Joker Phillips was an assistant at South Carolina last season. ... South Carolina coach Lou Holtz is 241-122-7 in his 32nd season as a head coach. With the Gamecocks, he's 25-27.

ESPN2, 10 p.m.
Colorado State (3-3) at BYU (3-3).

Opening Line: BYU by 1.
Series Record: BYU leads, 32-26-3.
Last Meeting: 2002, Colorado State, 37-10.

What to Watch: The most dynamic player in the game might be Colorado State QB Bradlee Van Pelt. The transfer from Michigan state is a threat to pass or run. Like most running QBs, his coaches have counseled pocket patience. Lately, though, they've encouraged him to take off running, too. The results have been explosive. Van Pelt had runs of 31, 19, 36 and 27 yards and finished with 154 in the Rams' 34-1o win over Fresno State last week. He also was 17-of-28 passing for 197 yards. BYU's defense, ranked nationally in the top 20, has its work cut out. Cougars freshman QB John Beck directs an offense that averages 240 yards per game, and has only scored one rushing TD — Beck's 4-yard run last week in the Cougars' 44-36 win over San Diego State. QB Matt Berry is out because of a broken hand. Beck is 59-for-112 this season, with four TD passes. Colorado State RB Marcus Houston ran for two scores last week and caught a TD pass.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: BYU has scored in an NCAA-record 356 consecutive games. The Cougars were last shut out Sept. 27, 1975, against Arizona State. ... Beck's run was BYU's first rushing TD since Nov. 9. ... BYU coach Gary Crowton is 20-12 in his third season at BYU.

Glantz-Culver Division I-A Power Index

College Football Power Index
By Keith Glantz and Russell Culver
For Oct. 8 Editions

                     CURRENT   LAST
TEAM                 RATING   RATING
Oklahoma 5-0           89       89
Miami 5-0              86       87
Florida St. 5-0        85       85
Southern Cal 4-1       84       83
Texas 4-1              83       82
Virginia Tech 5-0      83       82
Georgia 4-1            81       80
Michigan 4-2           81       82
Kansas St. 4-2         80       80
LSU 5-0                80       80
Ohio St. 5-0           80       80
Arkansas 4-0           79       79
Tennessee 4-1          79       81
Auburn 3-2             77       75
Florida 3-3            77       78
Nebraska 5-0           77       76
Purdue 4-1             77       76
Iowa 5-1               76       76
N.C. State 3-3         76       77
Pittsburgh 3-1         76       76
Washington St. 5-1     76       76
Maryland 4-2           75       73
Minnesota 6-0          75       75
Oregon St. 5-1         75       75
Texas Tech 4-1         75       73
Wisconsin 5-1          75       74
Alabama 2-4            74       76
Washington 3-2         74       75
Boston College 3-2     73       73
Bowling Green 4-1      73       73
Oklahoma St. 4-1       73       73
Virginia 4-1           73       72
Boise St. 4-1          72       74
Oregon 4-2             72       72
UCLA 3-2               72       71
Penn St. 2-4           71       71
Miami (Ohio) 4-1       70       69
Mississippi 3-2        70       69
Missouri 4-1           70       70
South Carolina 3-2     70       70
Utah 4-1               70       70
Arizona St. 2-3        69       70
California 3-4         69       69
Clemson 3-2            69       74
Colorado 2-3           69       72
Colorado St. 3-3       69       69
Notre Dame 1-3         69       69
Wake Forest 3-2        69       69
Air Force 5-1          68       71
BYU 3-3                68       67
Georgia Tech 3-3       68       66
Michigan St. 5-1       68       68
N. Illinois 5-0        68       70
Kentucky 2-3           67       67
Louisville 4-1         67       67
Marshall 2-3           67       67
Texas A&M 2-3          67       70
UNLV 4-1               67       67
Stanford 2-1           66       66
Syracuse 3-1           66       66
Texas Christian 5-0    66       66
West Virginia 1-4      66       65
New Mexico 3-3         65       65
Cincinnati 3-2         64       65
Fresno St. 3-3         64       66
Illinois 1-5           64       66
Iowa St. 2-3           64       66
San Diego St. 3-3      63       63
South Florida 3-1      63       63
Toledo 3-2             63       63
Connecticut 4-2        62       62
Louisiana Tech 2-3     62       59
Southern Miss. 3-2     62       61
North Carolina 0-5     61       63
Northwestern 2-4       61       62
Hawaii 2-3             60       67
Kansas 4-1             60       60
Mississippi St. 1-4    60       60
Houston 4-1            59       57
Memphis 3-2            59       61
North Texas 2-3        59       59
Temple 1-4             59       57
Middle Tenn. 0-5       58       59
Nevada 3-2             57       57
New Mexico St. 1-4     57       59
W. Michigan 3-2        57       57
UCF 2-3                56       60
Vanderbilt 1-5         56       57
Tulane 3-2             55       55
Wyoming 1-4            55       55
Navy 3-2               54       50
Rutgers 3-2            54       55
UAB 2-3                54       52
Akron 3-3              53       53
Ball St. 3-3           53       52
Indiana 1-5            53       53
Duke 2-3               52       52
Troy St. 3-3           52       53
East Carolina 0-5      51       53
Ohio 1-4               51       49
Arizona 1-5            50       50
Idaho 1-5              50       49
Kent St. 3-3           50       52
Utah St. 1-4           50       50
Cent. Michigan 2-3     49       49
Rice 1-4               49       50
San Jose St. 1-4       48       48
Tulsa 3-2              48       46
Baylor 3-2             46       45
SMU 0-5                45       43
Arkansas St. 3-3       43       46
Army 0-5               40       40
Louisiana-Monroe 0-6   40       38
La.-Lafayette 0-6      39       41
UTEP 2-4               37       35
E. Michigan 1-5        36       36
Buffalo 0-6            35       33

The Power Index is a numerical value indicating the relative strength of each team based on this season's performance, changes in personnel, coaching, strength of schedule and current form. The Index is purely a statistical and historical rating and does not take into account emotional factors. Add three points to the home team's rating.

Compiled by nonstopsports.com
Copyright 2003 World Features Syndicate, Inc.

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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