East Carolina

Carolinas/Region

Conference USA

October 15, 2006
National Grouch Day
Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Day

From Bonesville.net
-BVL: Game Center: Tulsa 31, East Carolina 10
O'Brien: Ugly Tulsa much better than flat Pirates
-BVL: ECU-Tulsa Box Score/Statistics
-BVL: C-USA Standings, Scores, Schedule
-BVL: ECU Schedule, Scores, Attendance, Links
BVL Audio: Skip Holtz/Tulsa post-game comments
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Stokes convenes season's first hoops practice
� Pirate volleyball wins third straight
� ECU opens women's hoops practice at Rose

From ecupirates.com
-Pirates Fall To Tulsa, 31-10
-Swimming & Diving Teams Open Season With Wins Over Davidson

Linkmeister Note: Reigning C-USA Champ Tulsa (5-1) is off to its best start since 1982.

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Hurricane blows past Pirates
  Defending Conference USA champions drop Pirates to 2-4
-Good steps up to help fill WR void
-Pirates' offense sputters in defeat
  It's funny how the good days in football tend to make quarterbacks look even better than they are, and the bad ones make them look worse.
-ECU swim teams get wins

From the Kinston Free Press
-Pinkney�s rough day dooms Pirates
-Tulsa upends East Carolina, 31-10, at Dowdy-Ficklen

From the Washington Daily News
-Pirates left wondering �what if?�
  Nothing seemed to work. And the things that did work seemed to break down right away.
-Wilson has monster game for Pirates
  C.J. Wilson did everything he could to slow down the Tulsa Hurricane

Tulsa grinds out 31-10 win over East Carolina
  Pirates fumble four times, losing three; QB Pinkney limited to 92 passing yards
Winston Salem Journal

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Flat Pirates rocked by Golden Hurricane
  Simply put, Saturday afternoon was nothing more than an emotionless failure for East Carolina -- and there's no way to spin it.
-NOTEBOOK: PIRATES GET TWO FOOTBALL RECRUITS
  East Carolina added a pair of in-state football recruits last week -- 6-5, 240-pound defensive end Maurice Mercer of Nash Central and 6-4, 235-pound tight end Michael Byrd of Thomasville.

Tulsa stuffs ECU
  Pirates offense turns in paltry effort in Conference USA loss
New Bern Sun Journal

From the Fayetteville Observer
-Pirates lack firepower, energy in setback
  The defending C-USA champions flattened East Carolina 31-10 at a relatively sedate Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday as the depleted student section lacked its usual impact in the midst of fall break.
-Tulsa 31, East Carolina 10
-What they're saying about region's NFL players: Vonta Leach

Tulsa Topples Pirates 31-10 in C-USA Match-up
tulsahurricane.com

From the Tulsa World
-Conference USA Football- Tulsa 31, East Carolina 10- Tulsa beats East Carolina by 21
  Defense dominates as Golden Hurricane improves its overall record to 5-1.
-Hopkins helps create mayhem
  Defensive end causes a fumble, puts pressure on ECU's quarterback.
-Second-quarter springboard
  Smith's TD leap capped 76-yard drive that gave TU momentum
-Two-minute drill

Games with a swirl and heave
  ECU student Eric Frasure sets unofficial U.S. record in Highland Games competition
Baltimore Sun

October 14, 2006
Birthday - President Dwight Eisenhower (34th President)

From Bonesville.net
-Monroe: Kevin's Keys to the Game
-BVL: Updated C-USA Scores, Standings & Schedule
WNCT: Talk of the Town (guest Gary Overton)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� EA Sports video game features ECU stadium
� Pirates announce Tickets for Troops drive
� Six C-USA gridders in All-American Classic

Pirate Gameday
Tulsa @ East Carolina
Dowdy - Ficklen Stadium at East Carolina University - Greenville, NC   - 3:00 PM ET
Gameday Forecast: Tulsa @ East Carolina
TV: n/a
WNCT (Live Pregame and Postgame coverage)
Gametracker
ECU All Access
Pirate athletic events - This week

From ecupirates.com
-Volleyball Outlasts Southern Miss, Extends Winning Streak to Three
-East Carolina Men Enthusiastically Opens Basketball Practice
  East Carolina opened its 75th season of intercollegiate basketball and its second under head coach Ricky Stokes with its first practice of the new season Friday night.
-Women's Basketball Holds First Practice
-Lady Pirate Soccer Falls To UCF 2-1

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Pirates focus on ground game
-Stokes puts Pirates through three-hour practice
-Baldwin-Tener starts fifth season with ECU women

From the New Bern Sun Journal
-Pirates take on C-USA champ Tulsa
  ECU gets RB Johnson back for conference showdown
-Lee says recent kicking woes aren�t permanent
  Place-kickers need a short-term memory � and Robert Lee has one

Pirates want to hook last year�s champ
  Today, the East Carolina Pirates have a chance to take a shot at a conference champion.
Washington Daily News

ECU faces another tough test in Tulsa
  Coming into this season, it looked like East Carolina would be the prey as the Pirates adjusted to a tougher schedule.
Raleigh News & Observer

Brown�s pain is ECU�s gain
  For East Carolina defensive line coach Donnie Thompson, an intriguing sideshow has sprung up at the end of practices this season.
Fayetteville Observer

Soaring ECU will resume C-USA schedule
Winston Salem Journal

From the Tulsa World
-Tulsa at East Carolina- At Home Away from Home
  One of Steve Kragthorpe's biggest college football victories didn't come on the field.
-TU Notebook- Prevent defense

At a glance- Saturday's East Carolina-Tulsa game
Lexington (NC) Dispatch

East Carolina Ready For Defending C-USA Champ Tulsa
WRAL.com

Lady Eagles fall to East Carolina
Hattiesburg American

Preps: Independence, McFadden find their form
  Darryl McFadden, who has committed to East Carolina, occupies the most high-profile position in North Carolina. More than just about anywhere else, Independence's success depends on the quarterback. When McFadden got the job last season, all he was doing was following Chris Leak and Joe Cox, two college quarterbacks who won 77 straight games in five seasons and established Independence as the greatest program in N.C. high school history.
Charlotte Observer

Kent taking nothing for granted against struggling Rockets
  Kent State could have problems with a statistically under-valued Toledo defense that forces opponents to contend with a different look every week. Head coach Doug Martin knows just how difficult it can be for an offense to adjust to the varying schemes of Rockets defensive coordinator Tim Rose. The two were assistants on the same East Carolina staff.
Ravenna (OH) Record Courier

October 13, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Bradsher: The Bradsher Beat
� Pieces of running game puzzle falling into place
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Pirate basketball gets national TV dates
� ECU women's hoops getting tube time, too
� East Carolina baseball to host winter camp
WNCT: Pirate Insider Report
WNCT: Talk of the Town (guest Kevin Miller)

ECU Athletics Announces Tickets For Troops Campaign
ecupirates.com

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Pirate men receive commitment
  Jamar Abrams, a 6-foot-5 small forward for Lancaster's Highland Springs (Va.) Springers, has verbally committed to play for ECU next season. East Carolina second-year coach Ricky Stokes is a member of Highland Springs Hall of Fame and played for Lancaster
-ECU's basketball teams eager to venture onto practice floor tonight
  Going to practice has probably never sounded so good to East Carolina's men's and women's basketball players.
-Simmons brothers bring tightly knit bond to Pirates
  Sticking together has been an axiom for a couple of brothers from Newton Grove who came to Greenville by the indirect route but plan on sticking around for a while.

Conference USA notebook- ECU looking for another big win
  After knocking off Virginia, Pirates turn attention to Tulsa
Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail

Notebook- Friends and foes
  Tulsa receiver Idris Moss and East Carolina running back Brandon Fractious played junior college football together at Chaffee (Calif.) College. They'll be on opposite sides Saturday when TU visits East Carolina.
Tulsa World

Pirates� hoops coach visits Washington
Washington Daily News

Springers' Abrams commits to ECU
  Highland Springs 6-5 forward Jamar Abrams has cast his lot with East Carolina and coach Ricky Stokes
Richmond Times Dispatch

Tulsa�s Coleman was a late bloomer
  Linebacker didn�t start until senior year of HS
New Bern Sun Journal

Leon Best moves on to Division I football
  There�s a dark, gnarly tattoo on Leon Best�s muscular left arm that serves to remind him of several things.
Kinston Free Press

October 12, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Myatt: View From The 'ville
� 'Professor' Logan still lecturing the establishment
WNCT: Talk of the Town (guest Caulton Tudor)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� ECU hoops scrimmages set for Homecoming
� Camels stun No. 3 UNC-Chapel Hill in soccer
� ECU picked 7th in C-USA women's hoops

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Hurricane running ahead of the pack
  In the eyes of East Carolina defensive coordinator Greg Hudson, Conference USA football is comparable to NASCAR racing � everyone gets the same equipment, and the successful ones are those who get the mileage the quickest.
-Financial aid verification plagues ECU
-Nightclubs out and plants in among proposals for Center City development

ECU hoping to use win over Virginia as platform for success
  East Carolina should be brimming with confidence after last week's 31-21 victory over Virginia. But Tulsa - the defending Conference USA champion - is coming to town, and Coach Skip Holtz said that his Pirates still have work to do.
Winston Salem Journal

Holtz relies on tool belt to determine Pirates� progress
  Throughout the season, the ECU football coach has referenced each game as a measuring stick, a way to judge how his team is coming along.
New Bern Sun Journal

Roach, Wilson, Lee- a delight to see
  While covering East Carolina football has always been enjoyable, this year is proving to be a real treat.
Washington Daily News

From the East Carolinian
-Pirates looking to make a statement against Tulsa
  ECU returns to conference play by hosting defending champs
-Keys to the Game

ECU ground game lifts Holtz to signature win signature win over
Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Women's Basketball Picked Seventh in C-USA Preseason Poll
ecupirates.com

October 11, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Hinton: Henry's Highlights
� Role of Holtz & staff in win over Hoos understated
WNCT: Talk of the Town (guest co-host Jenn Holtz)
WNCT: Tuesday Tailgate
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Dougherty gets C-USA special teams honor
� Pirate promotions abound for Tulsa game
� UCF versus Pitt on TV Friday night

From ecupirates.com
-Purple-Gold Games To Be Played Prior To Homecoming Contest
  The public will get its first look at the East Carolina men and women's basketball teams on Saturday, October 21, when ECU hosts its annual Purple-Gold games prior to the homecoming football game against SMU.
-Women's Basketball Releases Television Schedule
  Lady Pirates to be featured on CSTV and ESPN2

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Castleberry- Questions surround ECU men's hoops team as season approaches
  While East Carolina football dominates sporting interest this time of year, the Pirates' men's basketball program is indeed going to run a team out on the floor this season.
-Holtz hopes line changes continue to pay dividends
  One year ago, East Carolina football coach Skip Holtz made a decision on the fly that helped make his five wins possible in his first season with the Pirates.

Pirates get an earful from Holtz
  Coach wants team to forget about big win
New Bern Sun Journal

Wilson making big strides for Pirates
  C.J. Wilson may have been the big man on campus at Northside High School, but he�s quickly finding out that he�ll be looking up at many players in college football.
Washington Daily News

ECU rebirth could cause TU stumble
  Pirates are improving under second-year coach Skip Holtz.
Tulsa World

Notes- Eastern Alamance's Thompson commits to ECU
Durham Herald-Sun

Lackluster Cavaliers sliced up by Pirates
The Cavalier Daily (UVa)

Ex-Cat a success story at Kent State
  Former ECU assistant Doug Martin, third-year head coach at Kent State, has led the Golden Flashes to a 4-2 record, and more importantly, a 3-0 mark in the Mid-American Conference, the school's best conference start since 1986.
Lexington (KY) Herald Leader

Fundamentals in a Flash
  Offensive line coach Terry Tilghman is leading the part of the team Martin calls most improved.
Daily Kent Stater

October 10, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Bailey: From the Anchor Desk
� Tulsa is THE game
BVL Audio: Skip Holtz weekly press conference
WNCT: Talk of the Town (guest Denny O'Brien)
WNCT: Brian Bailey Show (guest Junior Smith)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Tulsa netter Brugues takes national title
� Miami (OH) reeling after sixth loss
� Pirates host unique diving competition

From ecupirates.com
-ECU's Dougherty Named C-USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week
  Dougherty Booted A Career-Long 72-Yard Punt Against Virginia
-Weekly Press Luncheon Quotes
  Head Football Coach Skip Holtz Discusses The Upcoming Tulsa Game
-Pirate Gameday Central
-ECU Announces Additional Promotions for Tulsa Game

Steve Kragthorpe Weekly Press Conference Quotes
  Tulsa goes on the road to East Carolina on Saturday
tulsahurricane.com

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Allison's injured ankle may keep him out of Tulsa game
  The high-ankle sprain was suffered during the Pirates' 27-10 loss to West Virginia Sept. 23.
-Around Campus: 'Canes fans storm trophy visit
  A rock star's welcome waited inside Hendrix Theatre on the East Carolina University campus Monday afternoon, but the main attraction wasn't wearing leather or picking a guitar.

Pirates prepare for clash with Tulsa
  ECU begins six-game C-USA stretch by hosting 2005 champs
New Bern Sun Journal

From the Washington Daily News
-ECU-Tulsa matchup features rushers
  Even with its leading rusher sitting the game out, the East Carolina offense figured out how to run the ball.
-ECU�s Roach continues to be a solid target
  Kevin Roach is hungry this season. When the ball gets thrown his way, the East Carolina senior receiver gobbles it up.

From the Tulsa World
-TU confident on the road
  When it comes to winning road football games, the University of Tulsa must be doing something right.
-TU scouting report
-Three questions

Texans add FB Leach; release TE Joppru
Houston Chronicle (AP)

East Carolina finally develops depth under Holtz
Fayetteville Observer (AP)

Balance pays off as Pirates run over Cavaliers
  Brandon Fractious runs for 102 yards in first career start
The East Carolinian

October 9, 2006
Columbus Day (observed)
Leif Erikson Day

From Bonesville.net
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Buckeyes, Trojans, Gators top Harris Poll
� Denny O'Brien's Harris Poll ballot
� Gators continue success in Swamp
� Pirates stun Memphis in volleyball
� ECU women's soccer shuts out Herd

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Pirates took important step toward making their home a real advantage
  Saturday gave the Pirates a huge recruiting victory in the coveted Tidewater region in Virginia, gave them bragging rights against an Atlantic Coast Conference team and gave 35,000 fans a reason to come back to see what happens next.
-Around Campus: ECU's work to reduce obesity recognized

From the New Bern Sun Journal
-East Carolina finds the right balance
  East Carolina finally found the offensive balance it was missing. Through four games, the Pirates boasted a strong aerial attack but were plagued with an insufficient running game.
-Fractious a factor

Undermanned Pirates sail smoothly through U.Va. defense
The Virginian Pilot

Pirates ransack Cavaliers in Greenville
Kinston Free Press

Volleyball Wins Second Straight, Defeats Memphis 3-1
ecupirates.com

Divers Host ECU Invitational To Open New Season
conferenceusa.com

October 15, 2006

From the Greensboro News-Record
-BELIEVE IT! DEACONS GO TO 6-1
  With time running out Saturday, Wake Forest's Jim Grobe did something that might send a coaches clinic to a cardiac clinic.
-Elon loses at Georgia Southern on touchdown in last 63 seconds

From the Winston Salem Journal
-Deacons bounce back- WFU wins 25-23 at N.C. State
  Wake Forest played N.C. State in football for the 100th time yesterday. The Deacons may play the Wolfpack another 100 games without having a bigger win than their 25-23 victory in front of 55,972 at Carter-Finley Stadium.
-Final 2:02 of the first half haunts Wolfpack
-Swank's long-distance kicks bag a major victory for Wake Forest
-ASU struggles past Wofford
  Mountaineers win sixth game in a row, improve to 3-0 in the Southern Conference

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Bunting's days are numbered
  John Bunting could not have saved his football coaching job Saturday, but he could have lost it. Chances are, he did.
-Bulls bowl over Tar Heels
  Loss leaves UNC-CH 1-5 and feeling frustrated.
-In the pick of time
  The Wolfpack falls to the Deacons 25-23. Wake Forest becomes bowl eligible with its sixth victory and is now a major player, along with N.C. State, in the race to determine the ACC's Atlantic Division championship.
-Deacs' win just part of bigger effort

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-Agony adds up in Triangle
  If it's true that misery loves company, Triangle football today can handle all those one-liners and two-liners about just how bad it really is around here.
-Regression sets in as Duke can't handle FSU
-Heels tumble at home
  The schedule shows that half of North Carolina's football season remains. But that's only half the story.
-Kicker, safety push Deacons past Pack
  The story of Wake Forest's 25-23 victory over N.C. State on Saturday begins with Sam Swank. On a blustery fall day at Carter-Finley Stadium, the Demon Deacons' kicker harnessed the wind and booted three field goals that were longer than 50 yards to give Wake Forest a decisive advantage in a facet of the game near and dear to N.C. State coach Chuck Amato's heart.
-Hurricanes Win; Letowski Knocked Out

Cavs let one slip away
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Decision to go for it costs Cavs
Roanoke Times

Patrick�s Day
  White sets QB rushing mark, scores four TDs in WVU romp
Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail

Rutgers cruises to 34-0 win over Navy
  Navy starting quarterback Brian Hampton suffered a devastating leg injury in the first quarter
Annapolis Capital

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-Kahne sweeps up
  Kasey Kahne made it a Charlotte sweep Saturday night, backing up his Coca-Cola 600 victory in May with a win in the Bank of America 500.
-OBSERVATIONS
  Want to make an N.C. State fan mad? Ask him (or her) what's more frustrating -- losing twice in a row to North Carolina or to Wake Forest. N.C. State has a two-game losing streak against both teams
-Minter deals with his biggest loss
  Panthers' rock coping with his mom's death

Vandy stuns No. 16 Georgia
  Last-second field goal gives Commodores first victory against Bulldogs since �94
Columbia (SC) State

October 14, 2006

From the Winston Salem Journal
-Higher Intensity- Deacons, Wolfpack to collide today with a lot on the line
-NIGHT AND DAY- Grobe, Amato and their teams are a study in starkly contrasting approaches
-Stopping the run is key for ASU

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Old-school LBs anchor these 'D's
  State middle linebacker Pat Lowery and Wake middle linebacker Jon Abbate are not real big and not real fast, but they have a nose for the ball, a hunger for impact and lead with a drumbeat of bam, bam, boom....Pat's father, Buddy Lowery, played defensive end for East Carolina and named him after former ECU coach Pat Dye.
-No time for showtime
  After making big plays to beat ranked Boston College and Florida State, N.C. State will have to keep things simple today to defeat a Wake Forest team that provides unique challenges on both sides of the ball.
-Heels can't pull off QB carousel
-NHL: Whitney conjures first victory
  After Canes waste 3-0 lead, goal in final second wins it.

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-Wake and Pack both face a turning point
  Give N.C. State a win over Wake Forest today and the Wolfpack stays atop the ACC's Atlantic Division for another week.
-Heels' road to a bowl starts with win today
-Devils need another strong showing
  Name the top 10 programs in the history of college football, and just about everybody's list is likely to include Alabama, Florida State and Miami, not necessarily in that order.

UNC-CH, Bunting facing major crossroads
Fayetteville Observer

Cavs eye turnaround
Charlottesville Daily Progress

Tigers begin looking to Georgia Tech game
  Let the hype begin.
Anderson Independent

From the Columbia (SC) State
-Tigers can�t cover up problems
  As the rest of the team improves, Clemson�s kickoff coverage continues to struggle
-Slowing his roll
  USC coach Odom wants Kelley to keep his competitive nature in check, so he can keep his legs under him for the SEC

Kevin Harvick clinches Busch Series title
  Blaney wins a wild one as Harvick clinches title
Charlotte Observer

October 13, 2006

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-MEAC eyeing more games in Raleigh
  league commissioner Dennis Thomas also was considering asking other area Division I teams such as Davidson, UNC-Charlotte or East Carolina to play a MEAC team at the RBC Center.
-Friendly foes put pleasantries on hold
-Heels still draw a crowd
  Sellout expected despite struggles.
-Hickson says yes to Pack
-It's a whole different game for Brackman

Spider faces charges
  Sylla is suspended from game activity after being arrested on theft counts...Richmond opens the season Nov. 14 against East Carolina at the Robins Center.
Richmond Times Dispatch

Tom Suiter- Picks for the Weekend
WRAL.com

Tigers crush hapless Owls
Anderson Independent

From the Hampton Roads Daily Press
-Hokies give one away
-Virginia Tech is failing every test it faces

From the Charlotte Observer
-Charlotte's fall race has higher stakes, lower key
-Riggs captures pole
-Tigers mute Owls' hoot
-Winthrop is top pick, but no one's surprised

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-Devils can't kick problems on special teams
-Tar Heels battling consistency problems
-Notebook- Tar Heels prepare for "Late Night with Roy"

From the Winston Salem Journal
-One Tough Tank- Wolfpack defender has been dominant the last two games
-ON A ROLL- Apps have been dominating last 5 games

For USC, NIT stands for Not Interested Tourney
  Odom says he would be disappointed if Gamecocks again miss NCAA tourney
Columbia (SC) State

October 12, 2006

From the Charlotte Observer
-Low turnout expected for Clemson-Temple
  Raycom Sports president and CEO Ken Haines, whose company is promoting the game has only one other game under contract for Charlotte after tonight - the East Carolina vs. Virginia Tech to open the 2007 season.
-Clemson-Temple Gameday

From the Hampton Roads Daily Press
-Virginia Tech receiver suspended for Thursday's game
-The ACC's five-year plan
  Atlantic Coast Conference football coaches are in favor of a proposal that would give players a fifth year of eligibility.

Hokies receiver Hyman suspended for game after DUI arrest
Virginian Pilot

Tigers� ticket sales unexpectedly low
  Fewer than 30,000 tickets have been sold for tonight�s game between Clemson and Temple.
Columbia (SC) State

Bowden seeks fan help in Charlotte
  While he realizes that traveling to Charlotte during race week can be challenging, "our fans have responded well in the past."
Greenville (SC) News

QB Sewell taking his lumps for UVa
Washington Times

Purnell optimistic as basketball season nears
Anderson Independent

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Nonrevenue sports find new niche
  With webcasts, ACC's underexposed sports take spotlight.
-Canes fall flat again
-Peppers validating draft
-Concussions end Morgan's season

Wake Forest to miss DE
Greensboro News-Record

Hokies hoping to keep a Thursday hot stretch rolling
Winston Salem Journal

Duke's 'Stable' may have turned tide against Alabama
Durham Herald-Sun

October 11, 2006

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-Brackman chooses baseball
  N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe talked about the door remaining open. Forward Ben McCauley said a window was cracked.
-UNC not ready to panic -- yet
  North Carolina's football team is 1-4 in a season that it began with high expectations. As the Tar Heels prepare to play South Florida on Saturday (noon, ESPNU) at Kenan Stadium, should they panic or not panic? It might as well be an episode of "Deal or No Deal."
-Canes will try for first win tonight
  The Carolina Hurricanes will try to escape from their early-season doldrums tonight at 7:30, when they visit the Southeast Division rival Florida Panthers in the second of a seven-game road trip.

From the Virginian Pilot
-The feathers won't fly at William and Mary
  After thinking about suing to keep its athletic logo intact, the college instead will phase out two feathers, which the NCAA says insults American Indians.
-There's no more fun in games as the Cavaliers' losses pile up
-Va. Tech notebook- Defense needs to stand up, dust off and redeem itself

UVa Notebook- Groh says fans don't understand what coaches do
Lynchburg News and Advance

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Pack's Brackman to play baseball only
  Two-sport star Andrew Brackman, a right-handed pitcher, will not play basketball for the Wolfpack this season in order to focus on baseball and getting prepared for June's major league draft.
-Lowe off cue on his entrance

From the Charlotte Observer
-Doubters, doomsayers bring out Bear in Amato
-Spurrier's worst call was calling out coach
-Bunting- Now's not time to think out of the box
-Legends to lend hand for race week kickoff

From the Winston Salem Journal
-Firing Up the Fans- Amato wants Wolfpack to follow Hurricanes' lead
  Amato attributes much of the noise during State's win over Florida State to the fact that 25,000 towels were handed out to fans before the game.
-Ground game worries Grobe
  Deacons may give Adams, a freshman, chance to carry ball
-Elon's win over Western is a step forward
-IN HIGH DEMAND- Web sites devoted to four sports conferences composed of historically black colleges are going strong

Loss to USF should lead to Bunting's resignation
Wilmington Star-News

From the Fayetteville Observer
-Camels pull off stunner
  In the soccer staredown between No. 3 North Carolina and host Campbell on Tuesday night, it was the Tar Heels who finally blinked.
-Jimmy V charity event heading to Pinehurst
-Recruit snubs Wolfpack for Hoyas

Deacons may unveil hotshot freshman
Greensboro News-Record

October 10, 2006

No time to panic about Groh
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Cavs defense on the ropes
Examiner.com

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Heels missing recruits
  Hunter is still enrolled at UNC-CH but is not on the team. Defensive end Mitchell left the program in July and transferred to East Carolina...
-Pack's Tyler says outbursts over

From the Winston Salem Journal
-'Pack sees tough foe
  N.C. State players impressed by Deacs
-Silent Rule- Basketball coaches can't talk about prospects

Two straight wins boost morale at State
Fayetteville Observer (AP)

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-Duke-UNC-CH game not what it used to be
  Reliable sources already have informed me tickets will be available for the North Carolina-Chapel Hill at Duke football game Nov. 25 at legendary Wallace Wade Stadium.
-Duke's Nichols could be out for the season
  Duke coach Ted Roof likes what he's seen from his trio of fifth-year starters on defense, progress that has helped validate his determination to redshirt more true freshmen.
-Pack's Tyler making amends for earlier trouble
  Since being ejected from N.C. State's blowout loss at Southern Miss on Sept. 16 for spitting at an opponent in front of the officials, Tank Tyler has spent most of the last month trying to make amends.

A&T should play Elon and not run scared
Greensboro News-Record

October 9, 2006

Virginia's learning curve slumps downward
  Virginia faces another veteran quarterback this weekend, as the Cavaliers continue to ask redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell to learn on the job.
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Groh- Sewell learning quickly
Roanoke Times

Sports Focus- U.Va. Football
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Sewell still growing as QB
Charlottesville Daily Progress

From the Columbia (SC) State
-Add Gamecocks� thriller instinct to Spurrier�s behavioral hit list
  Inability to blow out teams poses obstacle to coach�s drive to change attitudes
-You can�t outgamble Spurrier
  Kentucky knew USC would use double reverse but was still unable to stop it
-Tigers problems merit special attention
  Bowden opens kicker�s job, plans changes on punt returns and kickoff coverage

Spurrier looks for Gamecocks to step and take control
Anderson Independent

From the Greensboro News-Record
-Deacons must prove resilience
  After a fourth-quarter collapse against Clemson, Wake Forest will play at resurgent N.C. State.
-Love's Greensboro encore
-The end of another era
  This much we know: The 67 GGOs that preceded it will not resemble the 68th.
-Champion defends Forest Oaks layout to the end

From the Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail
-WVU needs to be impressive on field as well as scoreboard
-Rodriguez unfazed by drop in polls

Panthers break down Browns
Charlotte Observer

After 2 weeks of improvement, 1 Giant step backward for Skins
The Virginian Pilot

Canes fighting mad
Raleigh News & Observer

October 15, 2006

Weekend Football Roundup
  SMU and Tulsa each won for the fourth time in five games, as both schools posted Conference USA victories on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs downed Marshall, 31-21, while Tulsa registered a 31-10 road win at East Carolina.
conferenceusa.com

From the Dallas Morning News
-Mustangs regain their focus
  After a week of turmoil, SMU put an end to the madness and put the focus back on the field Saturday.
-QB puts 'mistakes' behind him
  Just a week earlier, Justin Willis had followed his team's progress on the Internet at his parents' Denton home, 640 miles from SMU's loss at UT-El Paso.
-SMU's Lowery atones for mistake
-Adversity only fuels Doherty's tenacity
  After his forced 2003 resignation at North Carolina, Matt Doherty responded as he always has when confronted with an issue. He analyzed it. Then he attacked it. Now the coach who retooled himself takes over a program long due for an overhaul.
-Will chance for closure be an opportunity lost?
  Next Feb. 10 seems to be an opportunity for Matt Doherty to gain closure from his nasty April 2003 split from the University of North Carolina.

SMU rallies past Marshall
Ft Worth Star Telegram

From the Huntington Herald Dispatch
-Marshall falls in second half against SMU
-Mistakes doom Herd
-Where does Marshall go from here?
-Byron Tinker a bright spot in Marshall loss
-Marshall game stats
-GAME NOTES
-Snyder took over the reigns of an already stumbling program

From the Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail
-Herd falls apart down stretch, slips to 1-5
  When Bernard Morris� pass to Cody Slate ricocheted right to Marcus Fitzgerald for a go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter Saturday, it looked like the football gods were smiling on Marshall for once this season.
-Marshall football notebook
  Things turned ugly for Herd QB in second half

Late turnovers doom Marshall in loss to SMU
Beckley Register-Herald

From the Houston Chronicle
-Southern Miss hands UH 3rd-straight loss
-UH-SOUTHERN MISS NOTES- Cougars struggle against run
-Rice takes advantage of second chance to top UAB
-UAB-RICE SUMMARY- Rice linebacker Davis injured

Young delivers as Golden Eagles edge Houston
  Quarterback keys 31-27 victory that puts USM in tie for CUSA division lead
Mobile Register

A golden rebound
  USM holds off Houston rally
Biloxi Sun Herald

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Arkansas State's last-gasp touchdown pass leaves stunned Tigers with another loss
-Tiger 'D' has solid half, except ...
-Tigers' Dorsey arrested after traffic violation
  Joey Dorsey, a junior forward on the University of Memphis basketball team, was arrested early Saturday morning after a police officer pulled him over for running a red light and discovered he was driving on a suspended license.
-Tigers' tough guy
  Hunt's happy return means Calipari won't have to hunt for senior leadership

From the El Paso Times
-Miners finally keep large lead
  Tulane appeared to have the Miners right where it wanted them. Smack in the crosshairs. UTEP led Tulane 17-3 in the closing minutes of the first half and, as any Miner fan knows, that is scary territory.
-UTEP's special night
-Barbee era begins at UTEP
  The spotlight for UTEP men's basketball this season almost certainly will be on new head coach Tony Barbee's frenetic, warp-speed offense.

Miners feast on Wave errors
  If there's one thing Chirs Scelfo has come to understand during his seven-plus years as Tulane's coach is that a good performance one week doesn't mean the same is going to happen the following week.
New Orleans Times Picayune

October 14, 2006

Conference USA Scoreboard
cstv.com

From the Orlando Sentinel
-Fright Knights
  It would have been nice to blame everything that went sour in UCF's humbling 52-7 loss to Pittsburgh on bad luck. Just a Murphy's Law kind of day that somehow couldn't have been avoided.
-Mistakes doom Knights from the opening whistle
  It's Friday the 13th, and whether or not it's a coincidence, there is a kind of weird feeling circulating around UCF's football team at this point in 2006.

Six Conference USA Players in the All-American Classic
conferenceusa.com

From the Birmingham News
-CONFERENCE USA PREVIEW
-Blazers continue to play with pain
  The downward spiral of UAB's football season could have begun about the same time Mississippi State quarterback Omarr Conner tumbled into the end zone to provide the winning points in an overtime victory over the Blazers on Sept. 23.
-BLAZER BUZZ

From the Huntington Herald Dispatch
-Quarterbacks the key for both teams
  Quarterback play will go a long way toward deciding Marshall's fate today.
-Herd needs win, SMU unlikely to help need
-Road game a time to catch up with family
  Most fans can choose only so many road trips, and West Virginia, Tennessee and East Carolina are the popular 2006 choices.  Longtime Thundering Herd supporter John Barr, however, circled SMU first on his away calendar.
-Coach Snyder merits patience from Herd fans

From the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail
-Herd tired of serving itself as road kill
-Marshall coach encouraged by progress of Oglesby
-Clearing up the Marshall TV picture
  WSAZ will televise the Nov. 11 Herd game at East Carolina, through a WSAZ agreement with a sister station in Greenville, N.C.

Marshall tries to end road misery
   Last win in opponent�s home stadium came in 2004
Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail

Preview- Marshall at SMU
Dallas Morning News

USM-Houston on tap today
Hattiesburg American

USM looking to rebound
   Southern Miss looks to rebound from a road loss at Tulsa in a classic defense vs. offense challenge with Houston today at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Biloxi Sun Herald

From the Houston Chronicle
-UH hopes to put past behind it
-HOUSTON AT SOUTHERN MISS
-UAB AT RICE

From the Jackson Clarion Ledger
-Eagles need Young to have a big night
  Southern Miss quarterback Jeremy Young may not be 100 percent recovered from a turf toe injury.
-Look out for...
-3 Keys for Southern Miss

Relieved Green Wave rolls into El Paso
El Paso Times

Tulane's Scelfo stresses looking ahead
  Tulane Coach Chris Scelfo has drilled into his team that it can't savor victories and it can't dwell on losses.
New Orleans Times Picayune

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Tigers need to move ball on ground for chance at another bowl
-Calipari's mission for preseason drills- Find replacement talent

October 13, 2006

FRIDAY GAMEDAY: Knights hope to stay in the black
  It's Friday the 13th, and whether or not it's a coincidence, there is a kind of weird feeling circulating around UCF's football team at this point in 2006.
Orlando Sentinel

Weekend Preview
USA Today

In the Cross Hairs - Predictions
Lyndy's Sports Annuals

Midseason Report - Conference USA
College Football News

From the Jackson Clarion Ledger
-Police- USM student shot by players
  Former Southern Miss defensive backs Cornelius McGee and C.J. Bailey were removed from the football team after police alleged the two wounded a student on campus with an air-powered BB gun fired from Bailey's car.
-Precise passing game part of Kolb's resume
-Notebook- USM must block out distractions

Eagles must find way to contain Cougars' Kolb
Hattiesburg American

From the Houston Chronicle
-Southern Miss coach not looking to take a bigger job
-Owls get rare home game
  Rice has played only 14 of its last 40 football games on campus

SMU QB Willis reinstated
  SMU reinstated quarterback Justin Willis to the football team Thursday after the conclusion of a university investigation. Coach Phil Bennett said backup Corey Slater would start Saturday against Marshall, but that Willis will play.
Dallas Morning News

From the Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail
-Marshall begins centennial hoops season tonight
-Marshall, SMU much different since 2005 game

From the Huntington (WV) Herald Dispatch
-Morris could have big day at SMU
-Herd looks to improve on third downs
-New look Herd takes to the court

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Can this season be saved?
  Like an anticipated summer vacation trip, every football season has its midway point, allowing one to step aside for a moment, take a deep breath and continue toward an ultimate destination.
-Get a grip
-U of M enters preseason with talented point guards

From the Birmingham News
-Blazers' man in the middle
  Sitting in the stands is generally not the best way to judge the impact that UAB nose tackle Clarence Respress has on a football game.
-Davis' first Blazers team features new point guard
  Mike Davis, whose first season as the UAB men's basketball coach officially tips off practice today, is not ready to predict what his starting lineup will be on opening day.

October 12, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Rice Tabbed As Preseason C-USA Women's Basketball Favorites
-UAB Continues to Work Towards First C-USA Road Game in Wednesday's Practice
-Wednesday UH Football Practice Report
-Golfers of the Week

From the Tulsa World
-The right decision
  Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe shared hugs and high fives with his football team after last year's Liberty Bowl triumph.
-Tulsa Men's Basketball- Media Day- Fresh start for Hurricane

Blazers' offense hard to predict
  His team pushed Oklahoma and was beaten soundly at Georgia. His team dominated Troy and provided the lone bright spot in a dismal season for Mississippi State. His team squeaked out Conference USA wins over East Carolina and Memphis.
Birmingham News

Bailey dismissed
  Cornerback C.J. Bailey and sophomore defensive back Cornelius McGee were arrested on campus Tuesday night for aggravated assault involving an air-powered BB gun being fired from a vehicle...Both were dismissed from the Southern Miss football team, coach Jeff Bower said Wednesday.
Biloxi Sun Herald

From the Jackson Clarion Ledger
-Chanove's start at RB caps rise up depth chart
  Conrad Chanove realizes he's just keeping the seat warm for a short spell.
-USM's McGee, Bailey dismissed for BB gun incident

Young's toe getting better as Houston contest nears
Hattiesburg American

Injuries force UH lineman Akeroyd into a tough position
Houston Chronicle

From the Charleston (WV) Daily Mail
-No more excuses for MU
-Marshall coach must assume suspended QB will play

From the Huntington (WV) Herald Dispatch
-Herd looks to stretch the field
-Corners to begin press coverage

From the Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail
-SMU gets many happy returns
  If you think Southern Methodist doesn�t have a little speed to burn, just send your kickoff deep.
-Southern Methodist defense catches Snyder�s attention

Green Wave puts disaster in the past
El Paso Times

C-USA conference roundup, standings, player and game of the week
collegefootballnews.com

Dunn-less defense not getting it done
Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Scoring early is key to UCF's victories
Orlando Sentinel

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Calipari plans to share the wealth
-U of M Notebook- West shifts defensive personnel

October 11, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Conference USA Men's Basketball National Television Schedule Announced
  More Than 40 Games on the Slate for 2006-07 Season
-2007 C-USA Women's Basketball TV Schedule Announced

Win over BCS foes build credibility for C-USA
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Houston stumbles, but still has edge in West
  Blows 2nd-half lead; Southern Miss is next
-Tiger receiver nukin' em
  'I knew one day I'd have a big role,' says Calhoun
-Tigers-Arkansas State Notebook

SMU prepares for Marshall without Willis
  SMU quarterback Justin Willis is still suspended from the football team pending further investigation. That means sophomore Corey Slater is the Mustangs' starting quarterback for Saturday's crucial Conference USA game with Marshall.
Dallas Morning News

Southern Methodist defense catches Snyder�s attention
Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail

From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch
-Keyes focused on fundamentals
-Snyder sees improvement over last year's Herd team

It's homecoming week
  Southern Miss would like to be locked and loaded with every weapon available when the Houston football team arrives Saturday with its arsenal of offensive firepower. The Cougars have the No. 1 scoring offense (32.2) and total offense
Hattiesburg American

UH NOTEBOOK- Defense fights for identity
Houston Chronicle

Injuries might hobble Eagles
  Southern Miss, at least on the offensive side of the football, resembles the walking wounded heading into Saturday's Conference USA battle with Houston at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Biloxi Sun Herald

USM employs linebackers by committee
Jackson Clarion Ledger

Thomas showcases versatility from tailback spot
El Paso Times

Goosby adjusts to fill role at LB for ailing Wave
  When the season started five weeks ago, Tulane defensive coordinator Eric Schumann was certain junior defensive back Joe Goosby would get more than one opportunity to show what he could do.
New Orleans Times Picayune

October 10, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Football Notebook
  Friday Night Football gets this week's action started when UCF welcomes Pittsburgh to the Florida Citrus Bowl (8 p.m. EDT, ESPN). That contest leads into a full schedule of five Conference USA matchups on Saturday. The CSTV matchup (6:30 p.m. CDT) features East Division leading UAB going to Rice
-Southern Miss - Virginia Tech Football Game To Be Televised on ESPNU
-Owls To Host UAB On Saturday
-Tiger Basketball To Hold An Open Practice Thursday
-Women's Soccer Notebook

SMU's Willis disputes hate crime
  On the same day a police report revealed that a male SMU student accused quarterback Justin Willis of a hate crime, Willis denied the allegation and apologized for his action.
Dallas Morning News

Under pressure under center
  SMU�s QB had rough start in loss to UTEP
Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail

From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch
-Off-field issues dogging Marshall, SMU
  Both Marshall and SMU are dealing with issues beyond football Xs and Os while preparing for Saturday's clash.
-Binswanger steadies Herd's kicking game

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-West's defense slow to sink in
-Notebook- Blood pressure issue briefly sidelines West
-Touring the college football nation

Chanove gets start at RB for Golden Eagles
  Junior Conrad Chanove will start at running back for Southern Miss in the Golden Eagles' home game with Houston on Saturday night, USM coach Jeff Bower said Monday.
Biloxi Sun Herald

Tulane looks to build on win
  Heading into this week's game with Texas-El Paso, the season's halfway point for Tulane, Green Wave Coach Chris Scelfo said his team has made some improvements, but there are areas the team needs to improve.
New Orleans Times Picayune

October 9, 2006

Potential pitfalls ahead
  In the East Division, defending champion Tulsa has the toughest trek the next few weeks with road games against East Carolina and Memphis before returning home to face UTEP and then visiting UH on Nov. 4.
Houston Chronicle

Coaching Great Nolan Richardson and Three Former Athletes to Receive Induction into TU Athletic Hall of Fame
tulsahurricane.com

Blazers step up rushing game in Memphis win
  UAB head coach Watson Brown knew his team's running game was capable of putting up big numbers. He also suspected it might take the Blazers a while to show that ability.
Birmingham News

Miners seek attitude adjustment
El Paso Times

This week for Southern Miss
  USM (3-2, 1-1 C-USA) gained a season-low 243 yards offensively while allowing a season-high 453 yards in a 20-6 loss at Tulsa Tuesday night.
Jackson Clarion-Ledger

Herd staring down a 1-6 start
Charleston (WV) Gazette Mail

From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch
-Captains keeping Marshall focused
-Herd honing its 'road focus'
  Marshall's football team has had its share of long trips home this season.

Too-big man joins Calipari's fit club
Memphis Commercial Appeal