News Nuggets, 09.02.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Capsule: TCU withstands all-out charge by Wave

NEW ORLEANS — Tye Gunn completed two crucial third-down passes, then scored on a 4-yard bootleg as No. 25 Texas Christian held off a furious comeback by Tulane for a 38-35 victory Monday night.

Gunn orchestrated the 11-play, 61-yard drive that lasted 5:33 after Tulane had scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns — the last on a 35-yard fumble return — to pull within 31-28 with 7:39 left. After Gunn put TCU up 38-28, Tulane drove 77 yards for a touchdown with 24 seconds left, but could not recover the onside kick in the season opener for the Conference USA teams.

Lonta Hobbs scored three touchdowns on short runs for the Horned Frogs, while Ricky Madison added an 80 touchdown on a short swing pass from Gunn. Madison finished with 206 total yards, 115 on the ground. Gunn was 17-of-27 for 243 yards and Hobbs ran for 62 yards.

J.T. to hook up with fans in Cyberspace

The official web site of the East Carolina Pirates will host an online 'Instant Interview' with Pirate football coach John Thompson today at 10 a.m.  The live moderated chat forum, on ECUPirates.com, will allow Thompson to read and respond to participants' questions in real-time. Fans may submit their questions during the chat session or in advance, according to guidelines previously posted on the site by the ECU sports information office.

Wave, Wolfpack QB's up for Unitas Award

Tulane's J.P. Losman and N.C. State's Philip Rivers are among 26 quarterbacks announced Wednesday as candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The award is presented annually to the nation's top college quarterback by the Frank Camp Chapter of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation.

The award is named for Hall of Fame quarterback Unitas, who played at Louisville before his 18-year NFL career with the Baltimore Colts. Unitas died Sept. 11, 2002, at 69. The nominees were selected by a committee of football experts from across the United States. The committee will choose five finalists on Oct. 22. The winner will be announced during an award presentation in Louisville on Dec. 12.

Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer won the award last year. This year's candidates, who are judged upon citizenship, academics, leadership and athletic accomplishments, include:

J.P. Losman, Tulane; Philip Rivers, North Carolina State; Eli Manning, Mississippi; Cody Pickett, Washington; Craig Krenzel, Ohio State; Jared Lorenzen, Kentucky; Tate Bennett, Weber State; Casey Clausen, Tennessee; Ryan Dinwiddie, Boise State; Ryan Flanagan, Cal-Davis; Adam Hall, San Diego State; Josh Harris, Bowling Green State; Robert Kent, Jackson State; Asad Abdul Khaliq, Minnesota; Chris Lewis, Stanford; Scott McBrien, Maryland; Luke McCown, Louisiana Tech; Jon Navarre, Michigan; Scott Rislov, San Jose State; Ell Roberson, Kansas State; Rod Rutherford, Pittsburgh; Matt Schaub, Virginia; Ryan Schneider, Central Florida; Jim Sorgi, Wisconsin; and Bradlee Van Pelt, Colorado State.

Additional candidates could be added at a later date if their performance dictates such inclusion.

Deceased coach remembered fondly

Former Texas Christian and Minnesota football coach Jim Wacker was remembered as an inspirational leader during a service that drew an overflow crowd of more than 1,500 people. Wacker died last Tuesday at age 66 of complications from cancer.

At the service in Evans Auditorium on the Southwest Texas campus, speakers described Wacker, the son of a Lutheran minister, for an exuberant personality and the ability to motivate others. "Coach Wacker came into my living room one night and talked for 45 minutes straight," said Roosevelt Collins, who played for Wacker at TCU. "Later my mom asked if he was a coach or a preacher. My dad said, 'Whatever he is, it was a heck of a sermon.' "

The Rev. Roland Martinson held a football as he started his sermon. "Jim Wacker was fully alive," Martinson said. "He had compassion, courage and integrity and lived more life than you would ever think was imaginable."

Wacker's wife of 42 years, Lil, received a two-minute standing ovation.

Wacker won back-to-back national championships in NAIA with Texas Lutheran in 1974-75 and Division II Southwest Texas, now Texas State, in 1981-82. His '82 team went 14-0, earning him the College Division Coach of the Year honors by the American Football Coaches Association. He jumped to Division I TCU the next year, where he quickly embarked on cleaning up a renegade program which had been arranging payments to players.

In Wacker's first year, depleted by school and NCAA sanctions, the Horned Frogs went 1-8-2, but they improved to 8-4 the next season and played in the Bluebonnet Bowl. In nine seasons at TCU, Wacker was 40-58-2. He coached at Minnesota from 1992-96, going 16-39. His career record was 160-130-3.

Many of Wacker's former players were in attendance, including Mike Miller, the quarterback on Wacker's first national champion at Southwest Texas in 1981; Ron Jacoby, the quarterback on the undefeated 1982 team; and D.W. Rutledge, who played for Wacker at Texas Lutheran University and went on to lead Judson High School to four Class 5A state championships.

Wacker was buried at the San Marcos City Cemetery.

Labor Day Weekend scores of interest

Games listed involve teams from Conference USA and the Carolinas, as well as other teams that appear on East Carolina's 2003 schedule:

Monday:
Cincinnati 40, East Carolina 3
Texas Christian 38, Tulane 35

Sunday:
Louisville 40, Kentucky 24

Saturday:
Alabama 40, South Florida 17
California 34, Southern Miss 2
UAB 24, Baylor 19
Memphis 40, Tennessee Tech 10
Houston 48, Rice 14
South Carolina 14, UL-Lafayette 7
Florida State 37, North Carolina 0
Georgia 30, Clemson 0
Wake Forest 32, Boston College 28
N.C. State 59, Western Carolina 26
Virginia 33, Duke 0
Wisconsin 24, West Virginia 17

Thursday:
Miami 48, Louisiana Tech 9

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

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