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PREVIOUS NUGGETS |
07.30.05: BCS
pushing for instant replay in all 28 bowls |
07.29.05: Bower
suspends two players, bids adieu to 4 more ... S.C. prep
coaches blast Spurrier scholarship moves |
07.28.05: Pirate
Radio Network evolves to 27 stations ... Acquittal leads to
reinstatement of UC assistant |
07.27.05: At
East Carolina, Saturday is all about the ladies ... ACC
stockpiling future postseason destinations |
07.26.05: BCS
faces challenge from shadow poll of VIP's |
07.25.05: Players
still learning the ropes of redefined ACC ... Huggins
assistant acquitted of DUI charge |
07.24.05: CIAA
trophy to be named after 'Big House' ... ECU hoops mirror
reflects Herd, Wave, Knights |
07.23.05: East
Carolina alum Mike Sutton taken off respirator
... Jury slaps recruiting guru with $30 million verdict |
07.22.05: Big
Ten stirs the pot of shifting bowl alliances |
07.21.05: Cal,
AF, road trip to Memphis on Vols' 2006 slate ... Mississippi
Valley State hires former USM coach |
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News Nuggets, 07.31.05
— — — — —
NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...
Previous Day Nuggets...
Next Day Nuggets...
Compiled from staff reports
and electronic dispatches
After C-USA raid, restocked WAC plows ahead
RENO, NV — Nick Holt shaved his head on
a golf course recently, auctioning his locks to raise a quick $2,000 for the
Idaho football program.
The spontaneous gesture was sure to get
the locals talking about the coach's attempt to resuscitate the Vandals.
With all the challenges facing Idaho, New Mexico State and Utah State during
their debut seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, Holt can testify
that such dramatic acts sometimes seem quite necessary.
``I was going bald anyway, so that's
why I kept it like this,'' Holt said, rubbing his clean dome Thursday at the
WAC's media day. ``I saved some money on shampoo. When I first shaved it, I
looked like an egg ... but when you get a tan and you're naturally
good-looking, you can wear any hairstyle.''
The WAC changed its lineup for the
fourth time in eight years this summer after the defections of UTEP, Rice,
Southern Methodist and Tulsa to Conference USA. The net result is a
nine-team league that's leaner and more Western — but just as tough,
according to the coaches charged with making a name for themselves for
something other than their hair choices.
Though the three new squads generally
are expected to finish at the bottom of the WAC this season, the men in
charge know they've moved up in the world. The conference provides bigger
opportunities for recruiting, revenue and television exposure while cutting
down on travel and building new rivalries.
``I think everybody agrees it's a step
up in leagues,'' New Mexico State coach Hal Mumme said. ``It gives us a
chance to recruit better players, and geographically it's great for our
fans. Nothing against the league we were in, but a lot of those teams, our
fans didn't know where they were.''
Mumme probably wouldn't have agreed to
take over New Mexico State's program if the long-struggling Aggies hadn't
shown their commitment to big-time football by leaving the Sun Belt for the
WAC.
Mumme, who ran his inventive offenses
at Kentucky and Valdosta State before building Southeastern Louisiana's
program from scratch in the last two years, said coaching in the WAC is
``something I've always aspired to.''
``I think the WAC is the most exciting
and the most innovative conference in the land,'' he continued. ``A lot of
the coaches that have coached in this league have influenced the entire
world of college football.''
Indeed, Mumme could cite anyone from
Lavell Edwards to Fisher DeBerry among the WAC's great innovators of seasons
past. Boise State's Dan Hawkins and Fresno State's Pat Hill have built
consistent powerhouse programs earning frequent national rankings in recent
years, with Hawaii and coach June Jones not far behind.
All three of the league's new coaches
are rebuilding their programs on the foundation of recent failures, though
Mumme and Utah State's Brent Guy face the double challenge of being rookie
coaches at their schools.
Holt is only slightly more comfortable
in his second season at Idaho after going 3-9 last year in a season
containing 12 straight games without a bye while featuring nearly enough
road miles to circumnavigate the globe.
``It's already helped our
(recruiting),'' Holt said. ``Being able to sell the WAC, especially in the
regions that we recruit, we (get) better student-athletes. They know about
the conference. They know it's competitive, and it's going to be better.
It's just got to take some time.''
Guy left his job as defensive
coordinator at Arizona State to return to Logan, where he was an assistant
from 1992-94. Utah State has wandered through Division I football in recent
years, spending time as an independent in between stints in lower-tier
leagues.
``It's a challenge, but this is where
we wanted to be,'' said Guy, who won't even have a full complement of
scholarship players this season. ``We're going to have to earn the respect
and earn our way to the top of this league. There are three teams that have
clearly been dominant in this league, and we're going to be anxious to
compete and see how we measure up to those teams.''
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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