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News Nuggets, 03.03.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Former Pirate Doll departs LSU staff for NFL

BATON ROUGE — LSU assistant coach Kirk Doll, an East Carolina alumnus who played on the Pirates' 1972 Southern Conference championship team, resigned to take a position with the Denver Broncos, Tigers head coach Nick Saban announced on Monday.

"Part of the reason that I'm getting this opportunity is because of Coach Saban and the success we've had here at LSU," Doll said. "Everything that I've experienced at LSU has been wonderful."

Doll, who just completed his second season at LSU, was among a handful of final candidates to become ECU head coach after former Pirate skipper Steve Logan was dismissed after the 2002 season.

After John Thompson was hired to succeed Logan, Doll stayed on at LSU and assisted Saban in coaching the Tigers to a share of last season's national championship

Doll will serve as a defensive assistant and special teams coach for the Broncos. At LSU, he served as assistant head coach and linebacker coach.

"Kirk did a great job for us at LSU," Saban said. "To coach in the NFL is a great opportunity for Kirk and his family. We wish him the best of luck."

49ers star Withers hit with DWI charge

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte star Curtis Withers was charged with driving while impaired, and the school is reviewing whether he should miss playing time.

Withers, 19, was arrested by university police Sunday.

The sophomore forward averages 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, both team highs.

Charlotte (18-7, 10-4 Conference USA) plays at Houston (9-16, 3-11) Wednesday night.

``We certainly take these charges seriously,'' athletic director Judy Rose said. ``We will continue to gather information and take action at the appropriate time.''

Charlotte guard Demon Brown was suspended for one game after being arrested last month when three people claimed he flashed a gun at them.

USM football receives practical donation

Rental Service Corporation, a national company that rents construction and industrial equipment and has offices throughout the South Mississippi area, recently donated a gift that will be especially beneficial to the Golden Eagle football program.

Southern Miss received a 41-foot scissor lift from RSC, a piece of equipment that will help the program continue its success.

"This is a big benefit," Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower said. "In the past, we have had to rent and pay a monthly rate to use a scissor lift. This helps our program because it allows us to video our practices, at no cost, and that video helps us be better teachers."

Cory Simmons, general manager of the Hattiesburg RSC on Highway 49 South, and sales representative Ernest Bethea — who double as Southern Miss fans — wanted to find a way to support the university and the athletic department.

"We wanted to do something for the university because it does so much for the community," Simmons said. "We had rented this piece of equipment to the football program over the years, and we figured it would save the school money."

The 41-foot lift has been painted in the Southern Miss gold and black colors. The lift, if purchased new, would come with a price tag between $40,000-45,000.

For RSC, the donation was just another way to support a football program that continues to be a source of pride for everyone in South Mississippi.

"That’s why we did it," Bethea said. "It was important to us to give back to the university. We only do so much a year as far as giving back, and this is certainly the first time we have done anything like this."

NCAA considers standardizing guidelines for recruiting visits

The head of an NCAA panel on athletic recruiting said at a Denver meeting last week that steps may be taken to standardize on-campus visits.

David Berst, NCAA vice president of Division I, said the goal will be to give recruits at each campus common experiences by which to judge each school.

"There seems to be an interest in re-centering the recruiting regulations in an attempt to ensure that there is a national standard that can help regulate conduct," said Berst, who is the group's chairman and the former head of enforcement for the NCAA.

The task force was formed in the wake of the scandal involving allegations by three women who say they were raped by football players or recruits at or just after a 2001 off-campus party.

Some of the major athletic conferences also say recruiting will be discussed during conference meetings where all teams are present.

Greg Sankey, associate commissioner for compliance for the Southeastern Conference, said while recruiting policies will be discussed, any action is unlikely until after the NCAA completes its report.

"I think that the story has developed rather quickly over the last three to four weeks, so I think it's a little early to predict outcomes at either the campus, conference or national level," Sankey said.

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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