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News Nuggets, 04.22.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Midshipmen get personal salute from President Bush

WASHINGTON — President Bush hailed Navy's football team Wednesday for winning the Commander-In-Chief's trophy for the second year in a row.

``Coach (Paul) Johnson told me last year, he said `Don't worry about it, Mr. President, we'll be back,''' Bush said. ``I like a man who keeps his word.''

Recognizing the president's re-election, Johnson told Bush: ``It's also an honor to have you back. You kept your part of the deal as well.''

The trophy goes each year to the team with the best record in games between the three service academies. Navy finished the year with a school-record tying 10 victories, marking the first time in 99 years that Navy has won 10 football games in a single season.

Navy beat Air Force 24-21 and Army 34-6.

``You won more games than any Navy team in 99 years,'' Bush said. ``That's a long time. The last time a team of Midshipmen won 10 games, the commander in chief was Theodore Roosevelt.''

Bush spoke in the Rose Garden where the team assembled for the presentation of the trophy.

``This team is tough,'' he said. ``It is talented and you knew how to win. You whipped the Air Force Academy on the field goal in the last minute.''

Bush, who was in the Texas Air National Guard, added: ``I was there when you beat Army.''

NCAA refuses to recertify Silicon Valley Bowl

SAN JOSE, CA — The Silicon Valley Football Classic won't return next season, ending a five-year run.

NCAA spokesman Kent Barrett confirmed the organization's decision not to renew the bowl's certification. Executives at the Silicon Valley Football Classic were disappointed by the cancellation, though they're exploring reviving the bowl in 2006.

``I don't know what the rationale was,'' said Dan Fenton, president of the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau. ``We're very proud of what we've done. For San Jose in particular, the bowl was an important piece of a bigger picture.

"We're going to explore all of our options, but we don't know what they are yet.''

Five members of the Silicon Valley bowl's executive committee, including WAC commissioner Karl Benson and San Jose Sharks owner Greg Jamison, made a presentation to the NCAA on Tuesday. The bowl has generated more than $32 million in economic benefits for San Jose over the past five years, according to officials with the bowl and local government.

In each of its first four seasons, the bowl featured Western Athletic Conference power Fresno State against a high-profile opponent, producing moderate-size crowds and entertaining matchups.

But last season, the bowl matched Northern Illinois and Troy because the WAC and the Pac-10 didn't produce enough bowl-eligible teams to fill their contractual slots. With two unfamiliar opponents and an 8 p.m. local start time, the small crowd was drenched by an uncharacteristic rainstorm.

``We thought there were a lot of great things that happened last year,'' Fenton said. ``We felt strongly about what we presented in terms of our plan. Other than the perfect storm that happened, we felt good about where we were.''

The Silicon Valley bowl's executive committee will meet next week to discuss 2006, Fenton said.

Heels' near-term hoops future to be revealed

RALEIGH — Fans of the North Carolina Tar Heels will find out Friday what type of team they'll cheer for in 2005-06.

The school scheduled a news conference for players Sean May, Raymond Felton and Marvin Williams to announce their plans for next season. Guard Rashad McCants already has declared for the NBA draft, and Jawad Williams, Jackie Manuel and Melvin Scott completed their eligibility.

If May, Felton and Marvin Williams join McCants in leaving early, the national champ Tar Heels will lose their top seven scorers from this past season.

May was adamant immediately after the season that he would be back, but he has backed off a bit recently. He was magnificent during the NCAA tournament, averaging 22.3 points and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 67 percent.

Felton, a speedy point guard who scored 13 points per game, made his decision last week but wanted to wait to announce it.

``It was difficult, but I think it's what's best for me,'' Felton said then. ``It's something I wanted.''

Chris Monter, who publishes an NBA draft newsletter and also edits a Web site devoted to college basketball, lists Felton third among point guards, behind Wake Forest's Chris Paul and Illinois' Deron Williams.

Marvin Williams never started as a freshman for North Carolina and averaged 11 points in a reserve role. He likely would have been a lottery pick had he entered the NBA right out of high school, and a few mock drafts on the Internet have him listed as the No. 2 selection, after Utah's Andrew Bogut.

``I would think he's going to be a top-five pick, you kind of wonder if he would really want to come back after winning a national title, particularly if the others leave,'' Monter said.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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