East Carolina

Carolinas/Region

Conference USA

March 26, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-BVL: Rice 8, East Carolina 5 (Box Score)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Bruins end Memphis' run
� Scrimmage moves Pirates toward two-deep
� East Carolina cagers to transfer

From ecupirates.com
-ECU Drops First C-USA Game To No. 2 Rice 8-5
   Trio Of Pirates Record Two Hits On The Day
-Swann Tosses Complete Game Shutout Against Buffalo
-Softball Loses One-Run Game To Penn State
-Lady Pirates Roll Past UAB 6-1, Sweep C-USA Play

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Late ECU rally falls short against third-ranked 0wls
   Despite committing five errors, the third-ranked Rice baseball team evened its series with East Carolina on Saturday by posting an 8-5 win at Reckling Park.
-ECU beats Buffalo, falls to PSU

Rice Defeats East Carolina 8-5 Saturday To Even Weekend Series
   The Owls had to halt a late East Carolina before coming away with the program's first C-USA league win.
riceowls.com

Luna, Crow lead Rice over East Carolina
   Aaron Luna homered for the first run and doubled to start a two-run rally as second-ranked Rice earned its first C-USA victory with an 8-5 win over East Carolina on Saturday at Reckling Park.
Houston Chronicle

March 25, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-BVL: East Carolina 4, Rice 3 (Box Score)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Orsini jumps from Central Florida to SMU
� Orr walks the plank at Seton Hall
� USC's Booty sidelined, may face surgery

From ecupirates.com
-Pirates Take Down No. 2 Rice In C-USA Opener 4-3
   Jason Neitz pitched a season-high 2 1/3 innings of relief, struck out three batters and picked up his first win of the season
-Offense, Defense Even In Physical East Carolina Scrimmage
   East Carolina's offensive and defensive units battled to a draw as physical play highlighted the Pirates' first intra-squad scrimmage of the spring practice period Friday night at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
-Softball Comes Within Five Outs Of Upsetting No. 6 California
   East Carolina came within five outs of recording one of the biggest wins in school history, but Katie Vickers' bases loaded double in the sixth lifted No. 6 California to a 5-4 win here Friday night.

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-ECU men's basketball team faces wholesale changes
   Japhet McNeil, Tom Hammonds IV and Jonathan Hart have confirmed their intentions to transfer from the university, while Josh King, Quinton Goods, Nick Mattone and Jeff Robinson are also not expected back.
-Pirates light up field
   On a night when East Carolina University's Pirate Club members got to see some of the football stadium's bells and whistles, the real Pirates were ringing each others bells and hearing whistles.

East Carolina Slips Past Rice In Ninth, 4-3
   The East Carolina baseball team staged a ninth inning rally to slip past Rice 4-3 in the Conference USA opener for both teams Friday night at Reckling Park.
riceowls.com

Roundup- East Carolina nips Rice in 9th
   Failed double play decisive
Houston Chronicle

Holtz hopes scrimmages can provide answers
   What good are questions without answers?
Washington Daily News

Reshuffled C-USA leaner but meaner
   In the case of Conference USA baseball, bigger may not necessarily be better. The league was trimmed from 12 teams to nine when C-USA was reconfigured for the 2005-06 season.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

March 24, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-O'Brien: Pirate Notebook No. 266
� Big East suits starting to get it
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Western Carolina to retire LeClair's No. 23
� Memphis reaches Elite Eight, Duke bounced
� Cincinnati at hub of coaching moves
WNCT: Talk of The Town

From ecupirates.com
WCU To Retire Jersey Of Former Pirate Head Coach Keith LeClair
   The Western Carolina University Department of Athletics has announced it will retire the #23 jersey of baseball legend Keith LeClair in a special ceremony on April 11, 2006.
-Lady Pirates' Doubles Tandem Earns National Ranking
-Pirate Gameday Central

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-Tough task for ECU in C-USA opener
   The Pirates begin Conference USA competition against one of the best clubs in the nation. ECU will be the guest of the third-ranked Rice Owls for a three-game series starting tonight at 8 at Reckling Park on the Houston school's campus.
-Pinkney glad to be back in spring practice
   The view of spring football drills from the sideline is akin to the view of pond water under a microscope, or bees in a hive � it's impossible to imagine all the tasks being carried out by the hundreds of individual moving parts.

Owls Begin C-USA Action This Weekend At Reckling Park
   The number-two ranked Rice baseball team (18-7) returns home to Reckling Park for a three-game Conference USA series Fri.-Sun., Mar. 24-26, against new league foe East Carolina.
riceowls.com

Rounding the bases
Raleigh News & Observer

March 23, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Myatt: View From The 'ville
� Vintage Logan provides the fire in Rhein opener
-BVL: UNC-Wilmington 14, East Carolina 6 (Box Score)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Pirates fine-tune for Friday night scrimmage
� Alford seeks to defuse Indiana speculation
� Citadel forms hoops coach search committee
WNCT: Talk of The Town

From ecupirates.com
-Hatcher And Seahawks Defeat Pirates 14-6
   Mattox Collects Three Hits
-Pirates Prep For First Scrimmage At Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
   After a rust-shaking performance Monday which followed an 11-day layoff, East Carolina responded with a sharp two-hour workout at the Cliff Moore Practice Complex Wednesday afternoon
-Lady Pirate Tennis Stops Campbell 5-2
-Softball Shut Out By NC State In Consecutive Games

From the Washington Daily News
-ECU grid coaches looking forward to first spring scrimmage
   When the East Carolina football team holds its first spring scrimmage Friday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Pirates head coach Skip Holtz is ready to pull the coaches to the sidelines and watch his football team in some real action. Well, as real as it gets in the spring time.
-Pirates stomped by Seahawks
   East Carolina won't be heading to Rice exactly on a high note.

From the Greenville Daily Reflector
-UNCW staves off sweep
   Had East Carolina's baseball team not dug itself into a hole deeper than at one of the many current construction zones in Greenville, the Pirates and UNC Wilmington would have been involved in quite a tussle on Wednesday night.
-Lineup slowly coming together for Pirate football squad
   The blinders haven't been completely removed yet, but East Carolina's football players at least have an idea now who will be lined up next to them as they go through the 2006 season.

Pirates pounded at home
   Led by Daniel Hargrave and pitcher Jeff Hatcher, UNC Wilmington avoided being swept and snapped a two-game losing streak to East Carolina
Kinston Free Press

UNCW baseball blows out ECU, avoids season sweep
   Jeff Hatcher pitched the game of his life and UNC-Wilmington routed rival East Carolina, 14-6, Wednesday night in a baseball game at Clark-LeClair Stadium.
Wilmington Star News

March 22, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Bradsher: The Bradsher Beat
� Disciples reflect on revered mentor
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Southern Miss hurler shares national honor
� Iowa State finds its man
� Sweet 16 teams sweeten the conference pot
WNCT: Talk of The Town

From ecupirates.com
-Softball Hosts NC State Wednesday Before Welcoming No. 7 California On Friday
-Pirates Finish 17th In Rain Shorten Pinehurst Intercollegiate

ECU looks to sweep Seahawks
   Scott Andrews will take the hill for East Carolina this evening, as the Pirates look to complete a sweep of the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks.
Washington Daily News

Andrews gets nod for Pirates
   Godwin plans to send out Scott Andrews first against UNC Wilmington in a shake-up of his rotation.
Greenville Daily Reflector

Seahawks face familiar foe tonight in ECU
   UNC-Wilmington has seen a lot of purple and gold � East Carolina�s colors � this baseball season.
Wilmington Star News

Pirates begin big stretch on diamond
Kinston Free Press

Wolfpack Travels to East Carolina for Doubleheader
gopack.com

March 21, 2006

From Bonesville.net
-Bailey: From The Anchor Desk
� Pirates clicking heading into big week
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� VanSant family visitation, memorial announced
� ECU makes strong start in outdoor season
� Webcasts supplement CBS tourney ratings
WNCT: Talk of The Town
WNCT: Brian Bailey Show (guest Mike Steele)

From ecupirates.com
-East Carolina Athletics Mourns The Passing Of Dr. Henry VanSant
-East Carolina Football Returns To Work After Spring Break
-Pirates Sit In 16th Place At Pinehurst Intercollegiate

Stewart tabbed Mr. Basketball
   He currently has scholarship offers on the table form Middle Tennessee State, Lipscomb, Austin Peay and East Carolina.
Shelbyville (TN) Times-Gazette

March 20, 2006
Spring Begins - Vernal Equinox

From Bonesville.net
-Hinton: Henry's Highlights
� Hollands have rooting interests in Sweet 16
-BVL: East Carolina 5, Marist 2 (Box Score)
-Nuggets: Notes from ECU, C-USA and beyond
� Memphis marches on
� Former Holland aide leads team into Sweet 16
� Cowboy grapplers lasso NCAA title

From ecupirates.com
-Mathews Guides ECU To Series Sweep Of Marist, 5-2
   Dean Collects First Pirate Home Run
-Softball Falls To UAB In Series Finale
-Pirates Capture Five Titles During Season-Opening Outdoor Track Meet
-Lady Pirates Open Outdoor Track Season at Shamrock Invitational

Mathews guides Pirates in sweep of Red Foxes
   Shane Mathews picked up his first win in nearly two years, leading the East Carolina Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Marist Red Foxes.
Washington Daily News

Mathews steers Pirates to 5-2 win, sweep of Red Foxes
Greenville Daily Reflector

Pirates complete sweep of Marist
Kinston Free Press

Pirates Sweep Red Foxes With 5-2 Sunday Victory
goredfoxes.com

March 26, 2006

Topsy-Turvy- George Mason outlasts ACC powers
   The spring field is alive with jonquils, forsythia and onion weeds. The NCAA field is alive with the Big East and Little George Mason, a Virginia state university claiming 29,700 students and newfound identity as the poster child for the basketball society's lower-middle class. And those ACC folks? They're sorry anyone asked.
Winston Salem Journal

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Tigers edge Wolfpack
   Despite opportunities, N.C. State can't catch Clemson.
-Sendek needs to make changes
-George Mason carries flag

ODU pounds Tribe, goes to 22-4 in baseball
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Charlotte lands coveted recruit
   6-7 Mississippi forward also considered UConn
Charlotte Observer

March 25, 2006

Mason joins Elite
   George Mason jumps on Wichita State early and advances to the regional championship game. And now, the Final Four is within the Patriots' grasp.
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Tigers get into ACC win column
   On a chilly evening, Clemson�s bats finally found some heat Friday night. The Tigers raked N.C. State pitching for nine runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 9-5 victory over the Wolfpack
Anderson Independent

From the Columbia (SC) The State
-Linemen arrested following bar fight
   Spurrier: Freshman McKeen �probably finished� warrant issued for Lindsey
-Big league victories
   USC�s Hempy three-hits SEC foe Florida
-Gamecocks find strength in dwindling numbers

This Duke team wasn't a dominant one
   The 2005-06 Duke basketball team will not be remembered as a great one but as a very good one.
Durham Herald-Sun

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Triangle teams get tough lessons
   All things considered, the way this basketball season ended for Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State was worse than "Black Sunday." It really was.
-Pack begins search for ends
   After a mass exodus on defense, N.C. State looks for new stars to emerge.
-Duke looks for new leaders

Quarterback job at North Carolina-Chapel Hill is still up for grabs
Winston Salem Journal

From the Charlotte Observer
-Panthers' new star says all right things -- now
   Keyshawn Johnson can drip with charm when he wants to, and he wanted to on Friday.
-Johnson- No. 19 is looking out for team, not No. 1

March 24, 2006

Duke's season ends with loss to LSU
   With nine seconds still remaining on the clock but the outcome of the game already decided, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski removed seniors J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams from the floor and waited near the scorer's table to greet them with a hug.
Durham Herald-Sun

Gamecocks heading to New York again
   The Gamecocks (21-15) advance to play Louisville Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Greenville (SC) News

They love N.Y.
   USC beats short-handed Cincy to earn return trip to NIT final four
Columbia (SC) The State

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Tigers bully Devils
   With nine seconds still remaining on the clo
-Experienced Duke falls apart vs. LSU freshmen
-BC needs time to make mark
   The two guys sitting behind me on the airplane on Monday were fiddling with their NCAA Tournament brackets when one casually mentioned the "the whole Big Ten is gone and the ACC is down to Duke."
-Lowe's Motor Speedway hosting movie premiere
   Gentleman, start your ... projectors?

Tigers, Wolfpack set for weekend series
Anderson Independent

From the Charlotte Observer
-Panthers add key piece in Johnson
   Receiver agrees to 4-year deal that includes $5 million signing bonus
-Keyshawn fits fine as long as he knows who's in charge

Mauk expected to start, but Grobe has options
Winston Salem Journal

March 23, 2006

Old dog, new tricks
   Jim Larranaga of George Mason shows that trying new things can help his 11-seed Patriots win.
Wichita Eagle

Tigers showed improvement once again under Purnell
Anderson Independent

Devils hoping one long run produces another
   Sean Dockery never thought he'd see the day. Tonight at the Georgia Dome, Dockery and the Duke Blue Devils will continue their run at the school's fourth NCAA championship when they take on LSU in the Sweet 16.
Durham Herald-Sun

Cincinnati presents roadblock for USC
   So far, South Carolina's inspired effort has sustained its drive to return to New York.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal

Odom wants clarity on clock confusion
   Dave Odom said Wednesday he contacted SEC officials about a timekeeping error that appeared to cost USC a chance to defeat Florida State in regulation of the second-round game in the National Invitation Tournament.
Columbia (SC) The State

UNCW assistant coach resigns
   The UNC-Wilmington men�s basketball team lost an NCAA tournament heartbreaker last week and head coach Brad Brownell lost a key staff member Wednesday. But the Seahawks could gain a player soon.
Wilmington Star News

Wake Forest baseball is off to a fast start despite injuries
Greensboro News-Record

March 22, 2006

Larranaga's Time Has Arrived at Last
   The first phone message on Jim Larranaga's cellphone in the aftermath of George Mason's victory over defending national champion North Carolina was from Terry Holland
Washington Post

Time's on USC's side
   Clock malfunction only delays USC's victory
Greenville (SC) News

Fowler says Sendek Is secure
   N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler offered another voice of support Tuesday for Herb Sendek
Raleigh News & Observer

Tigers use Elon to bust out of slump
   Clemson�s recent slump centered around poor hitting and no relief pitching.
Anderson Independent

USC offense plays waiting game against Buccaneers
   Charleston Southern starter impressive early, USC offense rallies late for win
Columbia (SC) The State

A spring of changes for Virginia Tech
   The Hokies open spring practice today with four new faces on a coaching staff that is looking for answers at several positions.
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Round of 16 not so sweet for Duke men lately
   The NCAA Tournament regional semifinal round, affectionately known as the "Sweet 16," hasn't been so sweet for the Duke Blue Devils of late.
Durham Herald-Sun

Wake Forest misses point in difficult season
   Without Chris Paul, most possessions were an exercise in halfcourt frustration.
Winston Salem Journal

March 21, 2006

From the Columbia (SC) The State
-NIT win not in the Cards for Clemson
   Cold shooting, especially at the line, does the Tigers in when Louisville gets its second wind.
-Tisby�s days at USC likely done
   Senior forward suspended for violation of team policy, coach says

Next stop for ODU- Hofstra
   The Monarchs earned a rematch with their Colonial Athletic Association brethren Monday night with a 70-66 victory over never-say-die Manhattan in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.
The Virginian Pilot

Obstinate- N.C. State coach has stubbornly clung to his ways
   Sendek, despite his successes, has made part of the Pack's fanbase howling mad
Winston Salem Journal

Assumptions needed to gauge Pack future
Raleigh News & Observer

Coach K knows how Sendek is feeling
   Duke coach defends beleaguered Pack coach
Charlotte Observer

Wolfpack loses two solid seniors
   When N.C. State seniors Cameron Bennerman and Ilian Evtimov left the court at the American Airlines Arena late Sunday evening, they did so in rare company.
Fayetteville Observer

Questions surround Wolfpack program
   Andrew Brackman knows what�s next for him. He rejoins the North Carolina State baseball team today.  The rest might be less certain following the end of N.C. State�s men�s basketball season.
Kinston Free Press

March 20, 2006

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-UNC-CH closes its books
   Third-seeded Heels lost 65-60 to 11th-seeded George Mason because it was frazzled by the Patriots' zone defense, unnerved by its inability to make shots, and unhinged when it couldn't get the ball to Tyler Hansbrough.
-Dismal end a stunner for Heels
-N.C. State sent packing
   The question now: has Herb Sendek's coaching career at State come to an end after 10 seasons?

Sendek mum on job speculation
   Will he stay or will he go?
Fayetteville Observer

From the Durham Herald-Sun
-'A dream come true' for George Mason
   In the first round of the NCAA Washington Regional here on Friday, upstart George Mason shocked the fans at University of Dayton Arena and probably a few around Michigan with its upset of Michigan State.
-UNC-CH falls to George Mason

Tigers' issues taking an early toll on season
   By its very nature, college baseball is a long season, with ups and downs.
Anderson Independent

Not so sweet Sunday
   Tigers pitcher stops USC�s bid for sweep
Columbia (SC) The State

Enick leads Wake Forest past Boston College
Winston Salem Journal

March 26, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Memphis Falls Short Against UCLA
   George Mason jumps on Wichita State early and advances to the regional championship game. And now, the Final Four is within the Patriots' grasp.
-Houston Tops Marshall Baseball, 4-1
-Gomes Goes The Distance As Tulane Downs Memphis, 7-1

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Abysmal shooting puts a bitter end to Tigers' Final Four hopes
-Dreams of U of M players, supporters stall with miserable shooting
-West challenges Tiger backs deep in red zone
-Tiger football notebook

Missouri offers coaching job to Anderson
   According to reports in The Kansas City Star, ESPN.com and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri was in the process Saturday night of finalizing a deal with Anderson.
Birmingham News

From the Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger
-Bower on USM offense- 'We took a step back'
   Jeremy Young came into spring practice as Southern Miss' top quarterback.
-Eagles down Blazers with 4 runs in 7th
   Jody Blount had two hits and drove in two runs for Southern Miss, which used a four-run seventh inning to regain the lead Saturday and beat UAB 7-4 in the second game of a Conference USA series at Young Memorial Field.

March 25, 2006

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Out of the way, UCLA
   Shawne Williams will tell you this with great pride when he talks about the first time he wore a University of Memphis jersey.
-Oakland might as well be home for UCLA
-Tigers' fans showing their true colors
   Blue and gray are red-hot, bringing in lots of green
-DeAngelo flies for pro scouts

From conferenceusa.com
-Steve Orsini Named SMU's Director of Athletics
-Houston Rides Lincoln's Arm to 7-0 Win over Marshall
-Tiger Baseball Stuns No. 14 Tulane, 11-4 in Conference USA Opener
-Massey Pitches Golden Eagles To 8-2 Win Over UAB In Conference USA Opener
-UCF Suffers 2-1 Setback at TCU

UCF will move quickly on new athletic director
   While UCF President John Hitt was in Tallahassee on Thursday celebrating a new chapter in his university's academic history, one of the most prosperous eras in its athletic history was coming to an end in Texas.
Orlando Sentinel

From the Huntington Herald Dispatch
-Keyes leads revamped Herd secondary
-Depth key for Herd linebacking corps
-'We Are Marshall' script gets modest grade

`Really good' spring leaves Brown pleased
   The good feelings UAB head coach Watson Brown had on a blustery Thursday afternoon in Birmingham won't be worth any points on a steamy September day in Norman, Okla.
Birmingham News

From the El Paso Times
-Veterans, youngsters give Miners a strong mix
-Sam shows his stuff in scrimmage

Massey, Maddox pace USM
   Scott Massey gave up just two runs in eight innings of work and Marc Maddox drove in a pair of runs as Southern Miss opened its Conference USA schedule with an 8-2 win over UAB here Friday.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

March 24, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Tigers Advance to Elite Eight with Convincing Win Over Bradley, 80-64
   Rodney Carney scores 23 points to lead Memphis.
-Houston Opens C-USA Play vs. Marshall this Weekend
-Tiger Baseball Hosts No. 14 Tulane in Conference USA's Opening Weekend
-Baseball Opens C-USA Play Over Weekend At Memphis

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Tigers blitz Bradley for spot in Elite Eight
   Rodney Carney scored 23 points and Darius Washington added 18 as the top-seeded Tigers moved within one game of their first Final Four in 21 seasons.
-Tiger backers pack sports bars with long-distance dedication
-High-flying Tigers are stats crews' nightmare
-D-Wash bullies way out of slump
-Sweet to Elite
   Tigers run all over upstart Braves
-Tiger baseball has tough schedule coming up
-DeAngelo set to show off for scouts today

UCF athletic director takes job at SMU
   UCF Athletics Director Steve Orsini is expected to be named Southern Methodist University's new athletic director today at a news conference in Dallas, a university source said late Thursday.
Orlando Sentinel

USM seeks rebound against Blazers
   It's not the way Southern Mississippi wanted to enter Conference USA play.
Biloxi Sun Herald

From the Birmingham News
-Blazers open C-USA schedule with USM
   The UAB baseball roster includes several new players, so it would be nice if the Blazers could ease into Conference USA play.
-Anderson says he hasn't discussed vacancy
   UAB men's basketball coach Mike Anderson planned to board a plane on Thursday afternoon. But his plan was to leave Birmingham in search of players for the UAB program instead of interviewing for a new job.

USM's Johnson makes splash
   Toddric Johnson was not in the starting lineup when Southern Miss opened the baseball season on Feb. 15 against Nicholls State.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

March 23, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-USM's Best Named National Co-Pitcher of the Week By NCBWA
-No. 21 Virginia Blanks Herd Baseball in Charlottesville
-Texas Slips Past Rice, 3-2
-Tulane Clinches WOW Caf� & Wingery Cup With 4-3 Win Over UNO
-UCF Visits the Lone Star State for Three Games at TCU
-Memphis Held to Four Hits in 5-3 Loss at Arkansas State

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Tigers making a run for it
-Top-seeded Tigers have no time for sentimentality on their journey toward Final Four
-Scrimmage gives West fresh look

Calipari Gets Chance to Groom Carney
   As soon as John Calipari arrived at Memphis six years ago, he earned a reputation for recruiting some of the biggest prep stars in the country.
Greenville Daily Reflector

Missouri asks to talk to Anderson
   The University of Missouri has requested permission to talk to UAB men's basketball coach Mike Anderson about the school's head coaching vacancy.
Birmingham News

Price wants local officials to get involved in Conference USA
   "We're trying to get (El Paso officials) as much work as we possibly can," Price said. "(But) there aren't many colleges around here where they can work. It's a rough road for our officials in this part of the country, to get in the WAC or Conference USA."
El Paso Times

Owls drop ninth in a row to Longhorns
Houston Chronicle

Spring drills prepare players
   Southern Miss' football team continued its spring season with a two-hour practice on Wednesday, at the Joe P. Park Practice Fields.
Biloxi Sun-Herald

March 22, 2006

Owls Face Texas Wednesday Night In Austin; Begin C-USA Action This Weekend At Home
   The Owls return home to Reckling Park for a three-game weekend series Fri.-Sun., Mar. 24-26, against new Conference USA foe East Carolina.
riceowls.com

UAB can't keep up with No.1 Bulldogs
   Zac Ward had two hits and Danny Sawyer extended his team-high hitting streak to 14 games but the Blazers still fell to No.1 Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field Tuesday in college baseball.
Birmingham News

Drug charges against Herd recruit dropped
   Drug possession charges against Marshall University football recruit Kirby Watson have been dropped by the Florida State Attorney's Office.
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Charges against MU Florida recruit dropped
   Kirby Watson may be coming to Marshall after all
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Tigers may not face power until Final Four
   Should the top-seeded Tigers (32-3) defeat 13th-seeded Bradley (22-10) in Thursday's 6:27 p.m. (CST) regional semifinal in Oakland, they will move on to the Elite Eight without having faced a single team from one of the so-called power conferences.
-5 Tiger questions answered
-Ex-Tiger returns to help Williams, Avery
-1957 Tigers captured heart of city with NIT runnerup finish to Bradley

From the New Orleans Times Picayune
-Dickson remains committed to Tulane
   Tulane athletic director Rick Dickson said Tuesday he has removed his name from consideration for the same position at Southern Methodist University.
-Wave's rare rally sinks Privateers

From the El Paso Times
-UTEP linebackers a strength despite loss of Howard
-Walk-ons try to make names for themselves
-Globetrotters to honor Haskins

O'Leary looks to keep Knights focused
Orlando Sentinel

USM's Singleton too good to ignore
   Southern Miss sophomore receiver Joe Singleton isn't trying to show anybody up, put anybody down or bump anybody out of a job.
Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger

Former Eagles try to impress pro scouts
   Thirteen is supposed to be the unluckiest number.
Hattiesburg American

March 21, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Houston Drops 60-59 Heartbreaker to Missouri State
-Tulsa Falls 71-67 to No. 13 DePaul in NCAA Second Round
-Southern Miss Ranked As High As No. 22 in Latest Polls
-Baseball Notebook
-Softball Notebook

From the Houston Chronicle
-Houston's NIT run comes to unhappy end
   The University of Houston came here seeking a win and a dose of respect. But after a 60-59 loss, all they got in their NIT second-round game against the Missouri State Bears was respect.
-RICE NOTEBOOK- Women rise above season of injuries

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Washington, Allen both playing well as Tigers advance in NCAA
-Tigers go to their 'beast' for win
-Adios to Kansas, Vols; Hello, little ol' Memphis
   For the first time since Penny Hardaway's team made it to Kansas City in 1995, the Tigers are one of 16 college basketball teams with a chance to win the NCAA champ-ionship.

From the New Orleans Times Picayune
-TU's hopes blown away
   Several times during his career Dave Dickerson came close to landing his first head coaching job. Then last year Dickerson got that chance, being chosen the Green Wave's basketball coach on April Fool's Day.
-Wave AD Dickson interviews at SMU
   Tulane confirmed Monday that Green Wave athletic director Rick Dickson has been in contact with officials at Southern Methodist about its athletic director vacancy.

Southern Miss looks to even the score
   Golden Eagles want revenge against Jaguars
Biloxi Sun-Herald

Price shakes up coaching roles
   UTEP head coach Mike Price announced a few defensive coaching changes Monday.
El Paso Times

"We Are�Marshall" Movie Block Party April 1
   The movie will follow the rebuilding of the Thundering Herd program, beginning in 1971 with the �Young� Thundering Herd, who won the first home game following the crash on a last-second play, through the dark days of the 1970s, the re-birth of the program in the 1980s and very recent successes of bowl wins
goherd.com

March 20, 2006

From conferenceusa.com
-Memphis Tigers Advance to Sweet Sixteen
   The top-seeded Memphis Tigers outscored Bucknell, 15-2, for a cushion they rode to a 72-56 victory
-Weekend Baseball Roundup
   UCF was one of six Conference USA schools to go unbeaten over the weekend.
-Owls Shut Out Islanders 3-0 Sunday At Reckling Park
   Face Texas Wed. In Austin
-Scelfo's Swings Lead Baseball Past South Alabama, 7-2
-Five-Run Seventh Moves UCF Past Siena, 10-3

Around Conference USA-Basketball
USA TODAY

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal
-Tigers' quickness, athleticism may have made believers of Bucknell
   After each practice, they gather at center court. Every player raises an arm. Every hand touches another hand.
-Tigers replay

From the Houston Chronicle
-Rice coasts past A&M-Corpus Christi
   Rice will host Texas on Wednesday and East Carolina this weekend. "The hitting comes and goes, but it looks like there's a potential for offense there," Rice coach Wayne Graham said.
-UH leaps into instant rivalry with Missouri St.
   Like the Cougars, Missouri State hot over being in NIT
-Memphis displays top-seed attitude

Murphy, Stieger homer to lead Herd past Vikings
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Miners determined to erase last season's collapse
   the Miners will look to "wipe the windshield" clean of 2005's disappointing home stretch, in which UTEP lost to Alabama-Birmingham, SMU and Toledo in the GMAC Bowl.
El Paso Times