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News Nuggets, 09.10.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Fowler, Corso and Herbstreit to set up shop at West Point

With a patriotic theme and in recognition of the U.S. service academies, ESPN’s popular College GameDay will originate live from West Point, N.Y. on Saturday, September 27. The day will feature South Florida playing its first league game as a football member of Conference USA against Army at historic Michie Stadium.

While the game will not air on ESPN, it will be televised live in the Northeast by the Regional News Network at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Former East Carolina head coach Steve Logan is a part of the RNN broadcast team, which is anchored by play-by-play announcer Bob Stevens.

"In these times, it is only natural to present College GameDay from the backdrop of West Point and the tradition-rich Army football program," said Norby Williamson, ESPN senior vice president and managing editor. "This is an opportunity to honor the cadets who lay their lives on the line to protect our freedoms we enjoy, such as playing and watching college football."

West Point will mark GameDay's second trip to a college football game played in the Northeast corridor and the program's second show (out of 90 regular-season road shows) from a service academy. On Nov. 3, 2001, GameDay traveled to the Army at Air Force game in Colorado Springs, Colo. — a tribute to the academies following the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. Last year, the show originated from Philadelphia, Pa., for the Ivy League title game — Harvard at Penn.

"GameDay’s visit is a tremendous opportunity for our program. It gives us a chance to showcase a national treasure and one of the most decorated stadiums in American sports — Michie Stadium," said Army coach Todd Berry. "The GameDay crew does a terrific job and everyone interested in college football watches the program each week. Their presence on campus will enhance our ability to reach out to our national recruiting base."

Featuring host Chris Fowler and analysts Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN’s critically acclaimed College GameDay is the nation’s most comprehensive and authoritative college football studio program. It debuted in 1986. Each Saturday morning, it covers college football with game previews, one-on-one interviews, behind-the-scenes features, analysis and predictions as well as capture the passion, rivalries, personalities and traditions of the sport.

GameDay, celebrating its "10 Seasons on the Road," began traveling on the road to the site of the day’s best matchup on Nov. 13, 1993, with Florida State at Notre Dame.

Surprising Deacs roll towards Boilermakers

Before the 2003 season, Wake Forest was picked by many to finish seventh in the ACC. After their first two games, however, the Demon Deacons have their highest ranking in the AP Top 25 in 24 years. The No. 20 Deacons look to win their third straight game to open a season for the first time since 1987 when they host Purdue on Saturday.

Wake Forest began its season with a 32-28 victory at Boston College and then upset N.C. State, which was ranked 14th before the Deacons beat them 38-24 Saturday. Chris Barclay scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, Nick Burney added two scores and Cornelius Birgs scored on a 16-yard run as Wake Forest had four rushing touchdowns and gained 202 yards on the ground.

Wake Forest last appeared in the AP poll on Jan. 3, 1992, finishing 25th in the final rankings. Before that, the Demon Deacons were ranked as high as 14th in 1979 under John Mackovic.

"It's great for our kids, but it's also a little bit scary because we're such a young football team and we've been pretty comfortable in the underdog role," Demon Deacons coach Jim Grobe said. "I'm sure being ranked will put a target on our chest. It will be interesting to see how our young guys respond."

Grobe said his team has played like a group of veterans, even though he believed his squad was too young to make any kind of noise early this season.

"Generally, young guys don't play with a lot of toughness, they're generally just happy to be a part of it all," Grobe said. "But our guys have shown a little bit of grit. They have really impressed me with their maturity. Now that could change tomorrow."

Purdue began the season ranked 16th, but fell out of the poll following a 27-26 loss to Bowling Green in its opener last week. The Boilermakers had a 24-20 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, but allowed Bowling Green to go on a 10-play, 81-yard drive for a touchdown with 2:08 left.

Trailing 27-24, Purdue moved to the Bowling Green 33 with 1:10 left. But quarterback Kyle Orton missed an open Anthony Chambers near Bowling Green's 10-yard line and Taylor Stubblefield dropped a pass near the 20. The defeat was Purdue's first on opening day since 1998, and its first home-opening loss in coach Joe Tiller's seven seasons.

"We were playing a team that we were better than and we let them stick around the whole game," Orton said. "As an offense, we had three or four chances to put them away and we didn't do it. There's not much we can take away from this game other than having a lot of work to do."

Purdue leads the all-time series with Wake Forest 3-1, but the Deacons beat the Boilermakers 24-21 in their last meeting on Sept. 21, 2002. This will be the first meeting between the clubs in Winston-Salem.

Charlotte hoops recruit postpones enrolling

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte 49ers head men's basketball coach Bobby Lutz announced today that 6-8 forward Dedric Spooner (Milwaukee, Wisc.) has decided to remain at home for personal reasons due to a death in his family and will not enroll at the school this fall. Spooner, a transfer from Colby (Kan.) Community College, signed with the 49ers in April and would have been a junior in his first year with the team.

"While we're disappointed that Dedric will not be with us this fall, we certainly understand that his family and personal situation takes precedence over his college career at this time," Lutz said. "We support him in his decision and we're hopeful that he will be able to enroll in January."

Spooner, along with 7-0 freshman center Martin Iti — rated as the top post prospect in the country by ESPN.com — and 6-7 forward C.J. Pigford — a junior college all-America — was part of a strong recruiting class that revamped the 49ers frontcourt. Spooner averaged 11 points and eight rebounds at Colby. A two-time all-Jayhawk Conference selection, Spooner added 2.4 blocks and shot 51% from the floor.

The 49ers frontcourt will now be made up of returning small forwards Eddie Basden and Butter Johnson, power forwards Curtis Withers and Pigford and centers Calvin Clemmons and Iti.

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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