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News Nuggets, 09.21.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

USM sells cut-rate tickets for matchup with Huskers

With a nationally-televised visit by Nebraska only days away, Southern Miss has taken extra steps in an effort to fill M.M. Roberts Stadium for the long-anticipated showdown.

Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini decided to release a limited number of discounted south end zone tickets for the Thursday, September 25 game for sale on Friday and Saturday through special promotions.

South end zone tickets, originally held back to accommodate the students, their families and their guests, were available for $20 each. The students' ticket demand has passed, and radio stations Rock 104 and B-95 were offering the remaining student ticket allotment at lower-than-usual prices.

Limited quantities of $40 game tickets in the sideline areas were also still available to the general public. Southern Miss student tickets and guest passes could be picked up at the Ferlise Center.

TCU names football field for Texas oil baron

The W.A. "Monty & Tex" Moncrief Field at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth was officially dedicated during halftime of No. 20 Texas Christian's 30-14 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. The naming of the field came following a $3 million donation by "Tex" Moncrief to the TCU football program. The field is named in honor of the well-known oil family and one of the Lone Star State's first families of philanthropy.

"TCU is indebted to the Moncrief family for their generous giving throughout the years," said TCU Athletics Director Eric Hyman. "They have stepped up to the plate time and time again, not only for athletics, but for the entire university. TCU wouldn't be where it is today without their tremendous support."

"I've been a Frog fan since I was a little kid, maybe 8 or 9 years old," said the 83-year-old Moncrief. "We lived over on Ryan Place, which is not far from TCU, and I started going to TCU games then. My favorite player of all time was Red Oliver. I guess he was a halfback in those days and I think his number was 33. He was some player. Even when I went to the University of Texas in 1937, I remained a Frog fan."

Tex's father, "Monty" Moncrief, the legendary Texas oilman, instilled the rewards of philanthropy and much more into his son at an early age.

"I owe everything to my dad," said "Tex" Moncrief. "He taught me the oil business, how to live and how to do right and I've always tried to do that. Live right, think right, do right, be God-fearing - that's a pretty good way to live.

"Everything the Moncriefs had was started by my dad. I followed my dad and we were together, always, from 1945 to the day he died in '86. I continued everything (he was doing) and added to it. I literally adored my dad and listened to him. Still do."

A generous donation to TCU is nothing new for the Moncrief family. They have long been supporters of the university, not only in athletics, but on the academic side as well.

"(Former TCU chancellor) Dr. Bill Tucker talked my dad and me into giving several things to TCU," said Moncrief. "I've given some chairs in physics, geology and engineering and we built Moncrief Hall (to house student-athletes).

"I remember telling coach (Jim) Wacker that if he didn't produce a winner, we were going to put physics and geology students in there instead of football players." Moncrief chuckled. "It gives me a lot of pleasure and a warm feeling to make this donation. It's nice to have a field named after us. There are still a few people left who still know us."

Athlon picks 49ers No. 2 in C-USA hoops behind Cincinnati

East Carolina's closest Conference USA rival is projected by a national magazine to be one of Conference USA's best teams in the upcoming basketball season. Athlon Sports College Basketball, one of the first of the 2003-04 preseason publications to hit the newsstands, picks Charlotte to finish second in C-USA and to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Citing the 49ers overall depth and the team's combination of size, outside shooting, defensive ability and athleticism, Athlon refers to Charlotte as "C-USA's deepest team (and maybe its best)."

The publication, which picks Cincinnati as the league favorite, names Charlotte senior guard Demon Brown as a preseason first-team all-C-USA selection and lists junior swing Eddie Basden as the league's "Best Defensive Player".

"There's every indication that Charlotte will greatly improve this season, maybe even to a championship level", states the magazine. "Charlotte appears to have all the necessary ingredients. They also have an X-and-O master in (head coach Bobby) Lutz, who possesses the most attractive options in his head coaching career."

"We really have a lot of options now," Lutz told the publication. "We've won the (C-USA) Tournament, but we've never won the regular season. This is the type of team that can get right back in the (C-USA) top four."

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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