VIEW THE MOBILE ALPHA VERSION OF THIS SITE

News Nuggets, 07.24.04
----------
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

Previous Day Nuggets...             Next Day Nuggets...

Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Tulane, Florida A&M pair up for Superdome extravaganza

NEW ORLEANS - The football teams from Tulane University and Florida A&M University will play the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. (CDT) in the Louisiana Superdome.

FAMU President Fred Gainous and Tulane President Scott Cowen were joined by other university and New Orleans dignitaries, as well as alumni, at a recent luncheon held at the Superdome to announce the event.

"This partnership between Florida A&M and Tulane is one that we believe will be very fruitful," said FAMU Athletic Director Dr. Joseph P. Ramsey. "With the strong support of the alumni and supporters of both institutions throughout Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, we are looking forward to a great weekend in New Orleans."

"We think the Emerald Coast Classic will provide a great kick-off to our 2004 home season for Tulane fans, college football fans and for the community," said Tulane Director of Athletics Rick Dickson. "Florida A&M has been an enthusiastic partner in putting together this game, and we think it's a matchup that will benefit both our institutions, as well as the City of New Orleans."

The contest between host Tulane and FAMU, a Historically Black College and University, promises to have a significant impact on the economy for New Orleans and the surrounding areas due to the strong fan, student, and alumni base for both institutions. Traditionally, Florida A&M fans from across the country, as well as their home base of Tallahassee, Fla., have gathered at Rattlers' "classic" contests in locations such as Miami, Atlanta and Detroit.

The contest will be the first of six home games in the 2004 season for Tulane.

Other planned activities for the weekend include a job fair, a corporate village and a pregame "Battle of the Bands" competition featuring local high schools.

In addition, the FAMU Marching 100, one of the country's most-famous and accomplished collegiate marching bands, will take part in the weekend activities as well as perform at halftime of the contest.

ECU harrier coach hired by Longhorns

AUSTIN, TX - University of Texas head women's track and field coach Bev Kearney announced Thursday the hiring of Len Klepack, a heralded distance coach who has spent the past six years at East Carolina University, as assistant coach of the Longhorns' track and field program. Klepack also will serve as UT's head women's cross country coach.

At East Carolina, Klepack spent the previous six years as the Pirates' men's cross country head coach, as well as directing the women's squad the past five seasons. During the track seasons, Klepack served as an assistant coach, primarily working with the development of ECU's middle-distance and distance athletes.

"Len Klepack brings a level of experience and expertise to our distance events that will help elevate our program's total quality on the conference and national level," Kearney said.

This past season, Klepack led the Pirates' men's and women's cross country teams to a combined five team titles. He also guided Kyle MacKenzie to the C-USA cross country title, as he became the first ECU male athlete to win an individual conference crown.

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