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News Nuggets, 04.09.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Ballard: AD door not closed yet

Incoming East Carolina University chancellor Steve Ballard broke some news of sorts Thursday regarding his plans to select an athletic director.

In a drive-time interview on Pirate Radio 1250, Ballard indicated he would not necessarily restrict himself to the three applicants put forth to him by an AD search committee.

Ballard praised the search committee for its work but told co-hosts Troy Dreyfus and Jonathan Ellerbe on WGHB-AM's Live at Five with Troy D. and Ellerbe program that he would not preclude the possibility of considering an exemplary new candidate if one applied. (Replay the archive of the interview in Windows Media Player.)

Though he discounted the likelihood of interviewing individuals other than those recommended by the search committee, he noted that new candidates could conceivably step forward now that the identity of whom their superior would be is known.

If that were the case, he said, it would be unwise for him to close the door on the hiring process.

Ballard was selected last month by UNC System president Molly Broad to succeed William Muse as ECU's chancellor. William Shelton has served as interim chancellor since Muse resigned under pressure in September after a tumultuous two-year tenure.

The school's director of athletics position, which has been filled on an interim basis by Nick Floyd, came open last August when controversy-ridden former AD Mike Hamrick, with Muse's assistance, pursued and obtained the equivalent job at Nevada-Las Vegas the month prior to Muse's ouster.

Ballard, currently the provost and a vice-chancellor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said that he and his wife plan to relocate to Greenville in May. He indicated that he expects to formally assume his new duties at ECU in June.

Patterson pact stretched out by TCU

FORT WORTH -- Texas Christian coach Gary Patterson on Wednesday got a one-year contract extension through 2008.

When Patterson replaced Dennis Franchione as Horned Frogs coach after the 2000 season, he got a five-year contract. This is the second straight year Patterson has gotten a one-year extension.

The Horned Frogs were 11-2 last season. They won their first 10 games and were No. 6 in the BCS, the highest ranking ever for a team from a non-BCS conference. The chance for an undefeated season ended with a loss at Southern Mississippi, then the Frogs played in the Fort Worth Bowl on their campus.

"For us, I want the kids in the state of Texas and other places to understand this is a place I'm going to be a while," Patterson said. "A lot of people say I'm a young head coach and am not going to be here long. This is not a stepping stone place anymore."

Patterson is 27-11 and has coached two of the Frogs' 10-win teams. He was promoted from defensive coordinator when Franchione, now at Texas A&M, was hired by Alabama. Patterson has coached four bowl games, including the 2000 galleryfurniture.com Bowl for his first game.

The Frogs open Sept. 2 against Northwestern, then play SMU and Texas Tech.

Curry felony plea triggers scholarship revocation

RALEIGH -- North Carolina rescinded a scholarship offer to JamesOn Curry on Wednesday, two days after the leading scorer in state high school basketball history pleaded guilty to drug charges.

Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said he informed Curry and his family of the school's decision Wednesday evening.

"We hope JamesOn will be successful with continuing his education and his basketball," Williams said in a statement.

Curry's home telephone number was steadily busy.

A standout guard for Eastern Alamance High School, Curry pleaded guilty Monday to six felony counts: two each of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana; two each of the sale of marijuana and two each of delivering marijuana.

He was sentenced to 36 months of probation; various fines, including $600 for lab fees to test the marijuana; $200 in court costs and 200 hours of community service.

Curry was kicked off his high school team shortly after his arrest in February. He was one of 49 students arrested that month after a systemwide undercover drug investigation by the Alamance County Sheriff's Office and the Alamance-Burlington schools. The operation was aimed at dealers and distributors, authorities said.

Curry committed to North Carolina last summer.

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007