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News Nuggets, 08.02.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Kragthorpe lassoes new pact, new transfers

Tulsa football Coach Steve Kragthorpe has signed a new six-year contract through the 2011 football season.

Tulsa athletic director Bubba Cunningham indicated that the contract includes a financial incentive payable at the conclusion of the contract. Cunningham did not disclose other details of the contract.

Kragthorpe has posted a 21-17 record in three seasons as the Hurricane head coach, and has taken Tulsa to two bowl games in the last three years. Kragthorpe's 21 career victories is the most for a Tulsa coach over a three-year period since Henry Frnka posted a 24-4-1 from 1941 to 1943.

Last season, Kragthorpe led Tulsa to an overall 9-4 record and a 6-2 league mark. Kragthorpe led the Hurricane to the Conference USA West Division title and captured a victory in the inaugural Conference USA championship game with a 44-27 win over Central Florida. He led Tulsa to a 31-24 victory over Fresno State in the Liberty Bowl.

Since his arrival, Hurricane football has been high-powered on offense and opportunistic on the defensive side of the ball. In 38 games as head coach, his teams have scored over 30 points 23 times and in the 21 victories have averaged nearly 40 points per game.

Tulsa also announced that four transfers will join the Hurricane roster.

Three junior college transfers including receiver Nick Henderson, linebacker Jeph McAlester and deep snapper John Warren, as well as Arkansas transfer Zach Snider, a tight end, will come in as sophomores.

Henderson, McAlester and Warren are eligible for the upcoming season. Snider is expected to sit out this season after his transfer, but is awaiting the possibility of an NCAA waiver allowing him to participate this season. All four players will have three years of eligibility remaining with the Hurricane.

ACC champ to Orange; makeup policy defined

The ACC has formally implemented a football rescheduling policy for games postponed by hurricanes or other factors and reworked its bowl lineup for the 2006 season.

The league's hurricane policy, enacted in response to more than a dozen games rescheduled due to hurricanes throughout college football each of the last two years, allows for the game to be replayed at the original site on any date throughout the season provided it gives each team a sufficient amount of days off between games.

Any postponed games may also be played at a neutral site or at the visiting school, with proceeds going to the original host team, or may be played on the date of the ACC championship game if it does not affect who qualifies to play in the title contest.

The conference agreed to four-year deal with the Orange Bowl to send its conference champion to the game in Miami unless that team qualifies for the national championship game.

The new bowl policy states that any bowl affiliated with the ACC must choose the team with a higher conference standing or a team within one game of the higher ranked team. Last season, the Meineke Car Care Bowl passed over Boston College, which finished with five conference victories, in favor of local North Carolina State, which finished with three.

Blazers launching prep baseball league

Starting this month, newly-appointed UAB baseball coach Brian Shoop is set to host the first annual UAB Fall Baseball League, providing area high schoolers a chance to stay sharp during the off-season. The 16-team league will play all its games at Young Memorial Field, and will run from August 28th to October 5th, with an All-Star game to close out the season.

"We are pleased to provide a fall baseball league for area high school players at beautiful Young Memorial Field," said Shoop. "We started this league at the request of our outstanding local high school coaches who were looking for a place for players to continue working on their baseball skills during the off-season. We will provide them the opportunity to play on a Division I baseball facility, while interacting with our players and coaches who will assist with their skill development."

The league is open to anyone in grades 9-12. Each team will play six games, with UAB players serving as coaches for the teams. Before regular season play, the Blazer staff will provide detailed instruction in a mini-camp session in late August. All participating players will attend the camp and have to chance to work alongside current Blazers.

The league will be comprised of two divisions, the Gold and Green. The Gold Division will consist primarily of seniors and juniors, with the Green Division showcasing upcoming freshmen and sophomores. Players will be selected on a first-come, first-serve basis, according to a release from UAB's media relations department.

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 other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:50 PM