Sports News, Nuggets and Notes from East Carolina and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

02.25.04: Memphis tightens grip on first place... .. Updated C-USA standings... .. Judge guts Big East claims against ACC... .. Tulsa beefs up football schedule... .. Ticket broker guilty of fraud... .. More...

02.24.04: Bing rings up Player of Week accolade... .. West named Tennessee coach of the year... .. AP Hoops Poll... .. Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball Polls... .. More...

02.23.04: WVU football player charged with gun-dealing... .. Tar Heels coach has near-fainting episode... .. Cards' Garcia makes finalists' cut for Naismith Award... .. C-USA standings, scoreboard, schedule... .. More...

02.22.04: Race for C-USA tourney berths tightens... .. Just call him 'Coach Harbaugh'... .. Report: Honor code violations get four BYU players booted... .. More...

02.21.04: Marquette assistant progressing after lung transplant... .. Stumbling C-USA heavyweights collide... .. Saban officially hits the jackpot... .. More...

02.20.04: Rimpf recognized for off-the-field deeds... .. Wells leaving SID post... .. Bonnies sentenced to three years... .. Ex-players speak up for beleaguered Barnett... .. More...

02.19.04: C-USA basketball standings & scoreboard... .. Aggies added to revised Wake football slate... .. Little Vick faces multiple charges... .. More...

02.18.04: Cowen's group sets session with BCS big-wigs... .. TCU preps for ECU with shocker over Cards... .. Ailing Spoonhour steps down at UNLV... .. Switzer stars at Thorpe Banquet... .. More...

02.17.04: Bunn recognition caps roaring start by Pirates... .. ND alumni group calls for change... .. AP Basketball Poll... .. Baseball America Poll... .. More...

02.16.04: New Houston Bowl owners aim for BCS inclusion... .. Huggins returns to work just in time for loss... .. Pitt seeks to give Nike the boot... .. C-USA standings, schedule... .. More...

Kent State football coach Dean Pees resigned Wednesday to become a linebackers coach for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.

The school did not immediately name a replacement for Pees, who went 17-51 in six seasons.

Golden Flashes offensive coordinator Doug Martin, an East Carolina assistant from 1992-2002, is among the leading candidates to fill the vacancy.

Martin coached quarterbacks at ECU for four years before taking over the Pirates offense for the duration of his 11-year stint on the staff of former ECU coach Steve Logan.

In December, after a 5-7 season, Pees signed a one-year contract extension through 2006.

Pees has a long-standing relationship with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who interviewed Pees to be Cleveland's special teams coach in 1991.

In 2001, Pees led Kent State to a 6-5 record — the school's best mark in 15 years.

HATTIESBURG — Derrick Nix got a promotion. The former Southern Mississippi star, whose playing career ended in college because of a kidney disease, became the Golden Eagles' tight ends coach earlier this week.

Nix was a graduate assistant last year, working with the team's linebackers.

"I am excited about having Derrick on our staff as a full-time coach," coach Jeff Bower said. "He was an outstanding player and did an excellent job as our defensive graduate assistant coach last season.

"I believe he has all the qualities needed to be a successful coach — loyalty, charisma, knowledge of the game and ability to communicate. He has a bright future ahead of him."

Nix ran for over 1,000 yards three times in his four seasons with Southern Miss and finished 12 yards short of the school's career record before his career was cut short in 2002 by a rare kidney disease that eventually required a transplant.

He received a kidney from his brother last year and just a few months later he became part of the Southern Miss staff.

"This is a blessing for me personally to advance to the next level in my coaching career in just my second year as a coach," Nix said

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Seven schools formed the Great West Football Conference, an NCAA I-AA league that begins competition next fall.

Charter members of the conference, which will begin full round-robin play in 2005, are Cal Poly, UC Davis, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Saint Mary's, Calif., South Dakota State and Southern Utah.

"The formation of the Great West Football Conference will give us an opportunity to build on existing strong rivalries, aid in recruitment and expand opportunities for postseason play," Cal Poly president Warren Baker said Wednesday.

The conference submitted its application for formal recognition to the NCAA.

Cal Poly, Saint Mary's and Southern Utah will remain at-large candidates for NCAA I-AA postseason playoff consideration. UC Davis and Northern Colorado will become eligible for at-large consideration in 2007, and South Dakota State and North Dakota State become candidates the following year.

CINCINNATI — Center Robert Whaley left Cincinnati's basketball team for personal reasons Monday night, the latest twist to a troubled first season in Division I.

No. 15 Cincinnati was counting on the junior college transfer to give them an inside scoring option, but he never came close to meeting expectations. Coach Bob Huggins had played him sparingly as the season went along.

"I just need a break right now," Whaley said. "I need to get my head cleared and think about some things. I wish the team the best and hope they have a great season."

Huggins said he hopes that Whaley "gets things sorted out." Several players quit the team last season, but were welcomed back when they changed their minds.