News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

04.30.06: C-USA affiliates with new Birmingham Bowl ... UNCW, new coach Moss get contract done ... Three NCSU D-linemen are first round picks

04.29.06: NCSU's Williams to go No. 1 in NFL draft ... Duke point guard's brother commits to Heels ... Blue Devils get a lacrosse victory

04.28.06: Pirates add juco guard to recruiting class ...
C-USA players contend for Howser Award ... ECU-Tulane Sunday game time changed

04.27.06: Larranaga gets contract extension at GMU ... Breakfast of Champions to honor Hunt, Reale ... SMU captures Conference USA men's golf

04.26.06: Stanford hires Iowa AD ... Houston, Memphis tied in C-USA golf ... Another Huskie headed for NBA

04.25.06: Matt Doherty takes Mustangs' reins ... ECU's Henderson cops C-USA hitting honor ... Texas' Tucker exploring NBA option

04.24.06: Lavin reportedly offered NCSU post ... Pirates perform well in rain-shortened meet ... Southern Miss hosting C-USA men's golf

04.23.06: C-USA relief aces up for Stopper of the Year ... Mother Nature leaves Wolfpack, Heels hanging ... Freshman quarterback shines for Gators ... UCLA duo considering NBA

04.22.06: Apparent West Virginia spy nabbed at Marshall ... Veteran guard plans to leave Georgia Tech ... ECU's tennis seasons end

04.21.06: UNCW coaching search gathers Moss ... ECU women advance in C-USA tennis ... NCAA examining prep diploma mills

04.20.06: Deacs to install FieldTurf at Groves Stadium ... Zags' Morrison headed to NBA ... Walberg to guide Pepperdine hoops program

04.19.06: Krog leads Pirates to C-USA women's golf title ... UConn sophomore opts for NBA ... Another UConn cager eyes different pro route

04.18.06: Two Duke lacrosse players reportedly indicted ... ECU leads C-USA women's golf ... Tar Heels ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball

04.17.06: Pirate track team has success in Knoxville ... ECU's Salisbury wins women's javelin ... FSU's Johnson will examine NBA option

04.16.06: Houston Bowl payouts not yet fulfilled ... Simmons looking at NBA draft status ... More apparent rejections for Wolfpack

04.15.06: Calipari signs new contract with Tigers ... UAB's Davis selects staff ... NBA D- League lowers minimum age

04.14.06: Dooley withdraws from consideration at UNCW ... Redick wins Sullivan Award ... Young's death now believed accidental

04.13.06: Sooners name Capel cage coach ... Bradshaw gives back to alma mater ... Little Leaguers to have their day at ECU ... New Buckeyes threads fuel backlash

04.12.06: Calipari reportedly remaining at Memphis ... U of M grants raise, contract extension to West ... 'Bama booster killed, son in custody

04.11.06: ECU's Smith is Johnny Bench Award candidate ... Calipari visits Wolfpack ... Barnes stays but Texas star headed to NBA ... Temple names in-town successor to Chaney

04.10.06: Memphis AD focusing on keeping Calipari ... Frasure leads Pirates at Clemson ... Hodge recovering from gunshot wounds

04.09.06: Holtz laments spring game deficiencies ... Camels announce return to the gridiron ... Gonzalez to lead Pirates basketball ... The Citadel selects Conroy

04.08.06: Purple-Gold stage is set ... Davis returns to native state as UAB coach ... Army women's basketball coach dies at age 28

04.07.06: 1070 airing Purple-Gold Game programming ... SMU dismisses Tubbs ... Tulane hoops star invited to Portsmouth event ... Colorado College becomes C-USA women's soccer affiliate

04.06.06: Pirates hold final session before Purple-Gold ... Pressler resigns as Duke lacrosse coach ... Division I athletes face summer drug tests

04.05.06: Thirteen C-USA alums in big leagues ... UAB interviews Davis ... Rondo departs Kentucky

04.04.06: ECU hurler Taylor earns league's weekly honor ... Pirates prepare for Purple- Gold Game ... Wooden watches final from hospital

04.03.06: Bruins go for record 12th NCAA hoops title ... Throng watches Texas spring game ... Pirates make strong showing in Florida

04.02.06: Sendek may become a Sun Devil ... Brownell departs UNCW for Wright State ... San Diego State star opts for NBA

04.01.06: J.P., ECU air game in high gear ... Jury awards no dough in suit against Petrino ... Redick reaps AP player of the year honor ... Lightning strikes Tigers twice

East Carolina offensive tackle Guy Whimper was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft on Sunday. The Havelock native was the 129th selection overall, according to ecupirates.com.

Whimper is the seventh ECU offensive lineman to be drafted. Prior to Whimper's selection, the Pirates' most recent draft choice was tackle Brian Rimpf, who was taken by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2004 draft.

A versatile performer who made an impact at three different positions for three different head coaches during his collegiate career, Whimper originally signed with former East Carolina Steve Logan as a defensive lineman. After a stint as a tight end to close out the 2004 season under ex-ECU coach John Thompson, he was moved to the offensive tackle slot during preseason camp in 2005 by first-year head coach Skip Holtz.

Whimper started 10 of 11 games last season, which included one at left tackle and nine at right tackle, after opening the year as a reserve. In all, he participated in 712 plays and was credited with 30 knockdown blocks in helping the Pirates to a five-win season, their most successful campaign since 2001.

Whimper played a key role for an ECU offensive unit that in 2005 turned in its fourth-best passing (256.0 ypg) and 10th-best total offense (393.5 ypg) performance in program history.

Memphis tailback DeAngelo Williams was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He was the 27th pick of the draft, and the third running back chosen. It marked the third straight year, and the fifth time in the last six years that Conference USA has produced a first round draft pick, according to the league web site.

Williams, a three-time C-USA Offensive Player of the Year, holds the NCAA all-time record in all-purpose yards with 7,573. He also holds the NCAA record in career 100-yard rushing games with 34. Williams rushed for 1,964 yards last season and captured the NCAA season rushing title after averaging 178.55 yards per game.

"Today, I am very proud and happy for DeAngelo and his family," said Tigers coach Tommy West. "He has meant a great deal to the program over the last four years, and I am very happy for him."

Two more names have been circulating in the N.C. State coaching search, which is down to at least its No. 5 choice after Rick Barnes of Texas, John Calipari of Memphis, former UCLA coach Steve Lavin and West Virginia coach John Beilein have decided to remain in their present positions.

The Wolfpack is now considering Xavier coach Sean Miller, a former NCSU assistant, and Sidney Lowe, a starter on State's 1983 NCAA championship team and currently an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.