News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

08.08.05: Charlotte, UNC- Wilmington selected to BCA field ... Former Pirates steer kids toward better FUTURE

08.07.05: Texas Tech's Knight getting real about tryouts ... Stokes' ties to Wake prodigies sway ECU recruit

08.06.05: Stokes' ties to Deacon prodigies sway recruit ... Holtz: ECU must make up ground before opener

08.05.05: "Pirate Talk" gets more time, more stations ... Pirate Radio 1250 launching expanded lineup

08.04.05: College life still suits Heisman winner just fine

08.03.05: NIT battles NCAA in court instead of on court

08.02.05: C-USA to feel impact of imported WAC teams

08.01.05: Demand swamps supply of Gamecock tickets

07.31.05: After C-USA raid, restocked WAC plows ahead

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

Fans wanting a glimpse into head coach Skip Holtz's first Media Day at East Carolina will get their chance on several occasions this week.

WNCT-AM Talk 1070 and Cable 7 Television will simulcast a preseason special on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. and Thursday at 8:00 p.m. The show debuted Monday night, but only on Cable 7.

The program is co-hosted by Patrick Johnson and Denny O'Brien, who also team up on the Talk 1070's Gameday Countdown that airs prior to the Pirate Sports Radio Network's play-by-play coverage of ECU's football games.

The hour-long show features extensive comments from Holtz and interviews with Pirate defensive coordinator Greg Hudson, receivers coach Donnie Kirkpatrick and running backs coach Junior Smith.

ECU quarterback James Pinkney, linebacker Richard Koonce, and freshman sensation Jerek Hewett are among the players who give their perspective on the upcoming season.

COLUMBIA — Two former South Carolina players who admitted taking electronics from Williams-Brice Stadium claim Coach Steve Spurrier told the team that no one would face criminal charges if the items were returned, according to court documents.

Brian Brownlee and Woodly Telfort were charged with felony grand larceny last January. Brownlee confessed to taking two laptop computers, each valued at $4,000, and two video projectors, worth about $1,675 and $850, according to an arrest warrant. Telfort admitted taking a $4,000 laptop from the stadium, according to an arrest warrant.

Spurrier issued a statement Monday night saying the university's attorney had asked him not to comment because of the pending criminal charges.

``When the time is appropriate, I'll answer any questions relative to this matter,'' Spurrier said.

About $18,000 worth of video and computer equipment and framed photographs was taken from the stadium on Nov. 22 after former athletic director Mike McGee told players they had lost out on a bowl game as punishment for an on-field brawl with Clemson days earlier.

On Dec. 8, Spurrier held a team meeting where he told players that ``no criminal charges would be brought against any player involved if all the items removed from the USC Stadium were returned immediately,'' according to the documents.

Telfort said he returned the laptop computer because of Spurrier's assurance, according to documents. Brownlee claimed he returned the items he took before the team meeting.

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.