News Nuggets, 07.29.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

UAB-USM opener takes on 'American Idol' magnitude

BIRMINGHAM — America's Idol will come home on Thursday, Sept. 4, to help kick off two events at Legion Field. Silky-smooth crooner and Birmingham native Ruben Studdard will lend his presence and his talents to the hoopla surrounding UAB's 6 p.m. nationally-televised (ESPN2) home football opener against Southern Mississippi and the United Way of Central Alabama's 2003 Kick Off Celebration.

Studdard won the nation's heart as the "Velvet Teddy Bear" on the Fox series "American Idol," and took home the winner's title on the ratings-buster's May 21 series climax. Clay Aiken of Raleigh finished a close runner-up to Studdard in the finale of the network's blockbuster program, which ignited wildly successful career launches for both performers.

Among his activities on game day, Studdard will visit the United Way campaign kickoff's tented event at Legion Field before the game, and perform a song during the halftime show of the Conference USA battle. Studdard's appearance will be sponsored by The UAB Health System and VIVA Health.

Pool of Rebels A.D. candidates shrinks

UNLV's hunt for a new athletic director, which last week reportedly honed in on five candidates, had its focus narrowed even further before the first interview was conducted, according to both the Las Vegas Sun and the Las Vegas Journal-Review.

East Carolina A.D. Mike Hamrick, whose name is one of three the papers say is still in the mix, said that he has not been formally contacted by UNLV officials. William Muse, ECU's chancellor, has indicated that Hamrick will have his approval if he pursues the job.

UNLV representative are expected to complete extensive interviews with A.D.'s Wayne Hogan of Montana and Mike Bohn of Idaho over the next few days.  Both have openly expressed interest in filling the position vacated by John Robinson, who stepped down to focus on his job as the Rebels head football coach and to attend to family matters.

Athletic directors Doug Woolard of Saint Louis and Mike O'Brien of Toledo were on the original list of five, according to various published accounts, but both issued statements soon after their names were leaked as finalists that they had no interest in the job.

According to the Review-Journal, Woolard had also been expected to be one of three targets UNLV officials would formally invite for interviews. Now that the Billikens A.D. has taken himself out of the picture, the paper said it is unclear if Hamrick will be interviewed in his place.

Court voids limits on 'exempt' hoops tourneys

COLUMBUS, OH — A federal judge's ruling Monday overturned an NCAA rule prohibiting Division I basketball teams from playing in more than two exempt tournaments in a four-year period. U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. said the NCAA's restrictions violated federal antitrust laws and he granted a group of tournament promoters and organizers a permanent injunction.

By limiting which teams could play in such tournaments — known as exempt events — the NCAA was creating a "substantial anticompetitive effect," said the plaintiffs' Cincinnati attorney, Bill Markovits, who noted the judge's ruling does not prevent an appeal.

Spokesman Jeff Howard said the NCAA will review the ruling before making any decisions.

The suit was brought by Cincinnati-based Worldwide Basketball, Sports Tours Inc., Dorna Sports Promotions, LLC and the Gazelle Group. Those groups have organized or promoted such preseason tournaments as the Las Vegas Classic, the San Juan Shootout, the Coaches Vs. Cancer event and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Classic.

They said that if high-profile teams such as Duke, Kansas and Arizona can play in only two such events in a four-year period, then spots in tournaments must be filled by teams that attract less fan interest.

Other exempt events include the Great Alaska Shootout, Maui Invitational and Preseason NIT. Markovits said the rule forced 11 of 28 exempt tournaments to be canceled last season because there wasn't an appropriate mix of major and mid-major teams.

Each Division I school is limited to 28 regular-season games, but a team can appear in more games by playing in exempt tournaments. Each tournament appearance counts as one game against the NCAA limit, even though a team actually could play in several games.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007

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