Carolinas/Region

Conference USA

July 15, 2007
National Ice Cream Day
Tapioca Pudding Day

From ecupirates.com
-Batts And Roller To Compete In CPL Home Run Derby
   Stephen Batts and Kyle Roller have been selected to compete in the 200 Coastal Plain League Home Run Derby league officials announced Friday.
-Nick Schnabel Named Assistant Coach At Liberty
   Former East Carolina Pirate Nick Schnabel has been named assistant baseball coach at Liberty head coach Jim Toman announced this week

Pirates' schedule a balancing act
   There's no telling what East Carolina football coach Skip Holtz said when he first saw the Pirates' 2007 schedule. Challenging?
Durham Herald-Sun

NFL: Inside the huddle, it's all about who's got your (quarter)back
CBS Sportsline

July 14, 2007
Bastille Day
Birthday - President Gerald Ford (38th President)

Golden Days Of Summer
   The 2007 East Carolina football team continued its summer workout program Thursday afternoon under the direction of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Mike Golden and his staff in preparation for the first day of camp on August 2.
ecupirates.com

ECU's strongman to stay closed, for now
New Bern Sun Journal

REPORT- Bowman Opts for ECU
SuperPrep.com

Batts' big season results in Star turn
Wilmington Star-News

Briele one back at Carolina Amateur
New Bern Sun-Journal

July 13, 2007
Embrace Your Geekness Day
Friday the 13th

From Bonesville.net
-BVL: TV Info Updated on Football Schedule Page
WNCT: Talk of the Town (Walter Jones, T. Campbell)

Bowman opts for ECU
  Michael Bowman will play football in the Carolinas, but it will not be at the school he expected to attend.
Columbia (SC) State

Sasser living out a dream
   When Dustin Sasser was younger, he would play catch with family and friends while imagining himself as a professional baseball player.
Goldsboro News Argus

Powhatan's Jones steals 6 in victory
   Corey Jones will go to Louisburg Junior College in North Carolina before heading to East Carolina University.
Athlon Sports

July 12, 2007

From Bonesville.net
-Bradsher: The Bradsher Beat
� Bucs relish Golden's wicked summer stew
WNCT: Talk of the Town (J. Maveretic, R. Holliday)

From ecupirates.com
-ECU's Roller Named To CPL National All-Star Squad
  Roller Will Start At First Base In The Mid-Summer Classic
-Stephen Batts Named CPL Rawlings Co-Hitter-of-the-Week
  Batts Collected Nine Hits and Four RBI On The Week

ECU athletics wants more facility upgrades
  If Terry Holland could simply scrawl out a picture of what he wanted East Carolina's athletic complex to look like in 10 years, the picture would be tough to recognize.
Greenville Daily Reflector

WITN to Broadcast Four ECU Football Games
witntv.com

Give me an `L,' give me an `O,' give me a `No!'
  Bowles right not to roll the dice with lottery at UNC sporting events
Charlotte Observer

July 11, 2007
World Population Day

WNCT: Talk of the Town (Dennis Mitchell)
Bonesville.net

Linkmeister Note: 100 years ago
July 11, 1907: The state board of education announced that a 43-acre, $8,000 plot of land in Greenville will be the home for the planned East Carolina Teachers Training school. Other towns in the running were Washington, Rocky Mount, Elizabeth City, New Bern, Tarboro and Edenton.

From the East Carolinian
-MLB Draft makes its presence felt
  ECU loses six players to the pros
-C-USA basketball team tabbed No. 1 by ESPN

Former MU catcher gets coaching job
  He was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for three seasons at East Carolina University, another member of C-USA.
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Around Campus: Bunch moves to provost's office as part of changes at ECU
Greenville Daily Reflector

Around Campus: An `A' for attitude
  Bowles shows results at UNC; push for public service key
Raleigh News & Observer

July 10, 2007
Don�t Step on a Bee Day

WNCT: Talk of the Town (Chip Little)
Bonesville.net

From ecupirates.com
-Four Pirate Golfers Named To All-American Scholar Team
  Bools, Hauser, Krog and Williams Take Home Scholastic Honors
-Conference USA Sportsmanship Awards Announced
  Berkowitz, Handsfield Honored
-San Jose's Witter Has Giant Night
  Adam Witter homered twice and drove in a season-high six runs Friday to power the San Jose Giants to a 12-5 triumph over the Modesto Nuts at John Thurman Field.

East Carolina Preview
  After a return to the postseason in his second year at East Carolina, head coach Skip Holtz has his aim set on building the Pirates� program, not just another winning team.
Athlon Sports

Class size puts squeeze on staff
  Bowman, rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, met with the East Carolina coaching staff on Monday about enrolling at the Conference USA school.
Columbia (SC) State

Morgan Commitment Coming Soon
  My final three are South Carolina, North Carolina and East Carolina. I'm hoping to make a decision by the end of the summer at the latest.
Spartanburg Herald Journal

BASEBALL- Adam Witter finds success playing in California League
Chambersburg (PA) Public Opinion

July 9, 2007
National Sugar Cookie Day

O'Brien: Pirate Notebook No. 311
� NCAA not blogging around
Bonesville.net

100 Greatest Finishes - No. 21 to 30
  No. 26 Marshall 64 ... East Carolina 61, GMAC Bowl December 19, 2001
College Football News

July 15, 2007

From the Fayetteville Observer
-Camps, combines have great impact on recruiting
-A look at camp phenoms

Spurrier takes his game to cyberspace
Anderson Independent

USC's Richardson released on bond
   South Carolina recruit Quintin Richardson spent the night in the Richland County jail and was released Saturday morning on $2,500 bond. He was arrested and charged with marijuana possession earlier Friday.
Spartanburg Herald-Journal

A State of transition for O�Brien
Hampton Roads Daily Press

Ingram set to become two-sport star
   Ingram has been offered (basketball) scholarships by Charleston Southern and UNC Wilmington and he's being recruited by East Carolina. But he admits his lifelong dream is to play for the Wolfpack.
Kinston Free Press

Tigers' motto- Finish the job
Greenville (SC) News

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Hokie triumphs after tragedy
   Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver become the first American in 28 years to win the British Amateur golf championship and will play in this week's British Open Championship at Carnoustie with a spot in Tiger Woods' pairing.
-ACC vs. nation
   The Atlantic Coast Conference is loaded on defense but, as Caulton Tudor explains, the league may not have enough offense to field a team that can compete against the best in the country and contend for a BCS title.

Mars Hill football to play on national TV
Columbia (SC) State

From the Winston Salem Journal
-Shut Out- Orioles fans paying price for TV tussle
   Time Warner Cable and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), which owns the rights to Baltimore and Washington baseball games, can�t agree on the price and the corresponding cable channel. Their legal fistfight proceeds through the subterranean maze of the Federal Communications Commission, the case now in arbitration and the end nowhere in sight.
-East-West games survive without some big stars
-Reaching the Summit: Many consider East-West games to be the high points of their prep careers
-Going Strong- Football games draw solid crowds

July 14, 2007

Carr, Overton resign from FSU athletic department
Tallahassee Democrat

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-FSU AD is football fall guy
   Whether Bobby Bowden will be allowed to pick his successor as Florida State's football coach will remain a topic of spirited ACC speculation for a while to come, but we know that athletics director Dave Hart will not be part of the process.
-New business for Duke
   Duke decides to use some of its business sense to resurrect its football program.
-South Carolina recruit suspended after arrest

Toman Hires Schnabel as an Assistant
Liberty University Athletics

Bulls Get Attractive Home Schedule
  USF's nonconference schedule consists of home vs. Alabama-Birmingham, UCF, Cleveland State, East Carolina, St. Francis (N.Y.) and Winston-Salem State; and road games at Buffalo, Florida International, Richmond and Wake Forest.
Tampa Tribune

Letter- Support Virginia Tech's opponents on gameday
Virginia Tech Collegiate Times

WVU secondary could be defensive strength
   West Virginia University's most criticized unit last football season could turn into its most improved unit this season.
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Bud, Earnhardt part ways
Greensboro News-Record

July 13, 2007

TIME TO HEAL
   FOOTBALL TEAM HOPES TO EASE VA. TECH�S PAIN
New York Post

Summer no time for resting as excitement over Tech athletics
VT hokiesports.com

White Lightning
   It�s the most prestigious individual award in all of sports, and this year, there�s no shortage of candidates. West Virginia quarterback Pat White is next up in Athlon's 2007 Heisman Watch.
Athlon Sports

Tito catching on
   WVU's Gonzales can cut it
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Getting excited about 2007 college football
Durham Herald-Sun

Wake lands two of nation's top recruits
Greensboro News-Record

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Pack football to host Gardner-Webb
-Dooley upbeat during cancer treatment
-For Pack's Yow, award is reminder
-Francis doesn't mind sharing biggest stage

Tommy�s nine lives
  Clemson�s hope for a successful 2007 season might hinge on quarterback play
Columbia (SC) State

July 12, 2007

ACC Atlantic burning questions
Atlanta Journal Constitution

SEC commissioner leads league into era of integrity
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Pack's Yow first to win new ESPY
   N.C. State women's basketball coach Kay Yow won the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance on Wednesday night during the ESPY Awards show.
Raleigh News & Observer

WVU tailback Slaton- �Just want to be more productive�
Beckley (WV) Register-Herald

USC�s dream season or total nightmare?
  After making gradual progress in his first two seasons at South Carolina, Steve Spurrier is thinking big for Year Three.
Columbia (SC) State

From the Hampton Roads Daily Press
-Catching up with Tech's Seth Greenberg
-Anthony Grant is "excited" to be at VCU

Carolina Hurricanes release schedule
New Bern Sun Journal

From the Charlotte Observer
-Wallace scores 6-year deal
  Sources say Bobcats, free agent reach agreement for $57 million
-Curry excited about new role
-Latin QB commits to Heels

National: NCAA takes away Oklahoma's eight '05 wins
Houston Chronicle

July 11, 2007

Florida State appears to be forcing out AD Hart
Savannah Morning News

From the Anderson Independent
-Recruiting starts to matter now
  Remember back in February when I said I wasn�t interested in recruiting?
-Four Tiger football players hurting with injuries
  Clemson officials announced Tuesday that four players � including at least two projected 2007 contributors � have sustained injuries that will limit them until fall practice begins and possibly beyond.

Backup catchers ask for release from Clemson
  Two more Clemson baseball players have decided to transfer, guaranteeing at least one-third of last year�s roster will not carry to next season.
Columbia (SC) State

Big East football scheduling lineup gets pumped up
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Seminoles may not get even with Deacs
   Old habits die slowly in the world of college football preseason rankings. Exhibit A, this year, is the ACC.
Raleigh News & Observer

From the Greensboro News-Record
-Lowe's NBA connections help N.C. State attract big man
-NC State will play Gardner-Webb in football in 2009

Current role keeps Diener content
  Virginia assistant basketball coach Drew Diener doesn't view the next couple of months as a tryout for a promotion.
Hampton Roads Daily Press

From the Charlotte Observer
-France family hit again as plane crash kills 5
-Davidson adds UCLA to schedule
-Dominoes pushing Wallace back to Bobcats
-Bowles brings new tone, urgency
  UNC system leader's business approach helps win over former foes

UConn gets early commitment
  East Carolina recruited him last season, but never offered a scholarship.
Middletown (CT) Press

SEC's Slive to head Men's Basketball Committee
YAHOO! Sports

July 10, 2007

Hart might be forced out
  The Florida State AD says he received the news in a letter from the school's president.
Florida Times-Union

Wingate names Allen Osborne baseball coach
  New Bulldog mentor has spent time at Memphis, East Carolina and Georgia
Wingate University Athletics

Radford turns to alumnus
  Ex-Highlander Joe Raccuia is expected to succeed Lew Kent as head baseball coach.
Roanoke Times

Hard-luck WVU quarterback a battler
Charleston (WV) Daily Mail

Georgia DE Hearing From USC
  Smith has offers from Ole Miss, Indiana, Arkansas, Boston College, UAB, Buffalo, Louisiana Tech, East Carolina and Marshall.
Spartanburg Herald Journal

From the Raleigh News & Observer
-Southeast defender commits
  Demetrius Hartsfield, who is ranked among the top high school football prospects in the state, has committed to Maryland.
-Wolfpack's new course gets the Palmer touch
-New Canes jersey, $350; 1st exhibition game, free

Arnie�s newest course opens at N.C. State
  N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger said discussion of building a golf course on campus has been ongoing for more than two decades. In a couple of years, the university�s teams no longer will be golfing gypsies.
New Bern Sun Journal

From the Columbia (SC) State
-Spurrier eager to see Garcia
-USC�s top halfback coming for a visit
  Clemson is showing interest in defensive lineman Klinton Ruff (6-4, 297) of Norview, Va., and he hopes to visit later this summer. He has offers from Virginia, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Connecticut and Oklahoma.

Spurrier's early indicators give S. Carolina optimism
Charlotte Observer

BCS giving way to regular season
  In a sports world filled with controversy, I�m becoming scared. College football fans, writers and talking heads usually spend the doldrums of summer contemplating how great a national playoff system would be.
Anderson Independent

Gibbons' invention invades The Golf Channel
Greenville Daily Reflector

Preview 2007 - Virginia Cavaliers Preview
College Football News

July 9, 2007

An ideal AD for C of C
  The College of Charleston should take a page from the Vanderbilt playbook and try life in 2007 A.D. without an AD.
Charleston (SC) Post Courier

USC�s top halfback coming for a visit
  Clemson is showing interest in defensive lineman Klinton Ruff (6-4, 297) of Norview, Va., and he hopes to visit later this summer. He has offers from Virginia, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Connecticut and Oklahoma.
Columbia (SC) State

Army and Navy Targets of Big East "Idea"
  Add two more institutions to a list that already consists of Central Florida, East Carolina, Memphis, Massachusetts, and likely every other school with a football team and zip code east of the Mississippi.
AOL Sports

From the Anderson (SC) Independent
-History not in favor of new football league
-Tigers will be good, not great in 2007

Wake Forest 2007 Preview
Fox Sports

It�s a wrap- Bobcats finish up minicamp
New Bern Sun Journal

Room at the inn for football and friends
  Blue Devils take time to be good Samaritans at Durham Rescue Mission event.
Raleigh News & Observer

McMurray wins Pepsi 400 by a nose
Charlotte Observer

July 15, 2007

Buzz about good season can motivate donors
Hattiesburg American

From the Jackson (MS) Clarion-Ledger
-USM's athletic director controls fund-raising
   Richard Giannini wears two hats within the Southern Miss athletic department.
-Eagles fans look eager
   Southern Miss has received plenty of positive press this summer, with most preseason football magazines calling for the Golden Eagles to be the class of Conference USA.

Open house- TU moves into its multi-million dollar facility
Tulsa World

Herd narrows recruiting focus
   Marshall has dozens of scholarship offers spread throughout its usual recruiting grounds -- the Tri-State, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Mississippi and New Jersey.
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Wolken- Separating fact from Tiger tales
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Blogs from the Houston Chronicle
-UH: B-Mid speaks
-Rice: Weight room warriors

July 14, 2007

From conferenceusa.com
-2007 UCF Football Preview
-Matt Doherty Names Milton Barnes As Associate Head Coach

No. 24 Southern Miss
Sporting News

111 play in Bower tourney
Hattiesburg American

Marshall football opponents - RICE
Charleston (WV) Gazette

USM's Merrill shapes up for senior season
Biloxi Sun-Herald

July 13, 2007

From conferenceusa.com
-2007 Houston Football Preview
  Can history repeat itself in 2007? University of Houston head football coach Art Briles sure hopes so.
-Conference USA to Host Youth Football Clinic in New Orleans
-Rice's Savery and UH's Floyd Named C-USA Athletes of the Year

Conference USA Selects XOS Replay as Official Football Instant Replay System
sportsfeatures.com

Season-ticket sales still short of UCF's goal
Orlando Sentinel

USM's Merrill shapes up for senior season
Biloxi Sun Herald

MSU's Thornton transfers to UAB
Birmingham News

WVU fans plan invasion
Huntington Herald-Dispatch

SMU fortune might be riding on 7
  Doherty's freshman class wants to revive basketball at SMU
Dallas Morning News

Game Plan for Nutrition- TU players advised on eating strategies
Tulsa World

July 12, 2007

2 UTEP football players charged with felonies
  The arrest of five UTEP football players over the weekend took place during a rowdy situation involving about 100 people in which a police officer was allegedly head-butted and a player was subdued after being shocked with a Taser, police documents detailed.
El Paso Times

From the Huntington Herald-Dispatch
-New West tests await Herd
  Just when Marshall University football had settled into Conference USA play, in comes a batch of new opponents.
-"We Are Marshall" misses out on ESPY

From the Charleston (WV) Gazette
-Marshall Game 7- Southern Mississippi
-Bernard Morris- Ready to bring cheer

UT must be wary of USM
scout.com

Paris DB commits to SMU
Dallas Morning News

Dorsey to give international game a whirl
Memphis Commercial Appeal

TU hires women's tennis coach
New Orleans Times Picayune

July 11, 2007

Preview 2007 - Southern Miss Golden Eagles
  One decade after the formation of Conference USA, Southern Miss stands alone as the league�s most consistent, successful and recognizable member, a reputation it�s poised to enhance in 2007.
College Football News

Line key to USM's success
Hattiesburg American

Five UTEP players arrested in Downtown fracas
El Paso Times

Departures, dismissals and ineligible players slice into roster
  An already thin UAB football roster has been cut even thinner since spring practice ended in April.
Birmingham News

Reseating unnerves Tiger fans
Memphis Commercial Appeal

July 10, 2007

From conferenceusa.com
-Conference USA Sportsmanship Awards Announced
  Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky today announced the five student-athletes and one group who were selected as recipients of the 2007 C-USA Sportsmanship Awards. The conference sportsmanship awards are presented to student-athletes, coaches or teams that perform an individual act of sporting behavior or generally conduct themselves with a high degree of good sportsmanship.
-Athletes In Action Storms Past Japan

It's time for Turner
Hattiesburg American

Marshall Opponents, Game 9- UCF Knights
scout.com

Top USF football recruit arrested
  The short-lived rivalry between USF and UCF might be coming to an end.
cstv.com

July 9, 2007

When WVU's gone, will ticket sales trend continue?
  Perspective lends itself well toward the progression of Marshall University football.
Huntington Herald-Dispatch