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News Nuggets, 05.20.04
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NOTES FROM ECU AND BEYOND...

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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU, UNC-CH visions sail through early tests

Most observers have predicted East Carolina University's planned Cardiovascular Diseases Institute and UNC-Chapel Hill's proposed Cancer Center will sink or swim together in this year's N.C. General Assembly deliberations.

The two projects floated easily past the first two obstacles that could have sunk them when the Senate on both Tuesday and Wednesday voted almost unanimously to fund the undertakings with $240 million.

It was a stark contrast to the parochial maneuvering in the waning stages of the last session of the legislature, when the Senate brushed aside ECU's request and attempted to squeeze through a $180 million appropriation for the medical center in Chapel Hill.

Wednesday's 44-1 tally came on the heels of Tuesday's 46-1 vote, which approved funding the Chapel Hill project as well as providing $60 million for ECU's heart center, which would be headed by renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Randolph Chitwood.

ECU Interim Chancellor William Shelton, who attended the deliberations with Incoming Chancellor Steve Ballard and a delegation of school supporters, said in a Monday e-mail message sent to Purple Alert members that the balance of the projected $210 million cost for the cardiovascular facility would be underwritten by private resources.

Purple Alert is an ECU-connected advocacy initiative with more than 1,200 members.

The $60 million sought by ECU from the legislature would be used for a research and treatment center, Shelton noted, with the additional $150 million funded by University Health Systems for a 120-150 bed heart hospital.

The Associated Press reported that the Senate bill would finance the projects with certificates of participation, which do not require statewide voter approval.

A number of hurdles remain, particularly in the House of Representatives, before appropriations for the two medical complexes are assured. A number of House members had already indicated they would have strong reservations about financing mechanisms such as the one envisioned in the Senate bill.

View Bonesville.net stories about Purple Alert.

C-USA maps out new alignments

A press release from the Conference USA office indicated that C-USA's annual spring meetings are taking place this week in Destin, FL, with a distinctive focus on the future. Representatives from all 12 of the schools in the realigned Conference USA are taking part in the meetings, which have focused on planning the league's new structure for the fall of 2005 and beyond.

"We have had very productive meetings," said Commissioner Britton Banowsky. "It is great to see so many coaches and administrators enthusiastic about the future of the league and working hard to address our planning issues."

Among some of the key items that are being discussed, noted the announcement, are divisional alignment, a potential football championship game, scheduling philosophies and the potential sites of future basketball tournaments.

The league's athletic directors will recommend to the league's Board of Directors a two division format for football. Houston, Rice, Southern Methodist, Tulsa, Tulane and Texas-El Paso would compete in the Western Division, with East Carolina, Marshall, Memphis, Southern Miss, UAB and Central Florida comprising the Eastern Division.

Potential divisional alignments for basketball and other sports were not finalized.

There was discussion regarding a potential football championship game, but no decisions were made.

In football scheduling, a recommendation was made for all teams within a division to play all other division teams once per season to account for five games. Three cross-over games per year against members of the other division would result in eight total league games.

Additional details relating to this structure, such as frequency of rotation against non-division opponents, will continue to be examined before a final model is approved. Potential divisional alignments and scheduling models for other sports, including men's and women's basketball, were discussed but not finalized.

In a unanimous vote, the ADs decided to recommend exploring an extension of the relationship with the Memphis Sports Authority to hold future men's basketball tournaments at the FedEx Forum, the site of the 2005 C-USA Tournament.

All of the items discussed or recommended would take effect beginning with the 2005-06 athletic season.

USM-Cal game shifts to Thursday for ESPN

HATTIESBURG — The California-Southern Mississippi football game will be played on Thursday before a national television audience.

Southern Miss will play host to the Golden Bears at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Sept. 16. The game will be televised by ESPN.

"This is another great opportunity to showcase Southern Miss on the national stage," Southern Miss athletic director Richard Giannini said Wednesday.

The Cal-Southern Miss game originally was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18.

Cal beat Southern Miss 34-2 last season in Berkeley, CA.

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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