News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

05.16.06: Former ECU slugger Tracy inks mega-deal ... C-USA announces weekly baseball awards ... Third Duke lacrosse player indicted

05.15.06: Frasure, Cotto pace ECU in C-USA track & field ... Tulsa headed to Fresno softball regional ... Texas RB nabbed with pot-filled backpack

05.14.06: Southern Cal cager shot and killed ... ECU's Hewett moves into C-USA sprint finals ... Tulsa wins softball crown on walkoff homer ... Black college football pioneer Robinson dies

05.13.06: ECU's Eric Frasure wins C-USA hammer throw ... ECU's Jake Smith in running for Bench Award ... Houston boots Pirates from softball tourney ... Illini plan major renovations of football stadium

05.12.06: Pirates still alive in C-USA softball tournament ... ECU women tied for 20th in golf regional ... St. John's receives ruling on infractions

05.11.06: Harrell makes first team All C-USA ... Danger of spearing in football cited ... Prep star says dream led him to Jayhawks

05.10.06: Vols sign multi-sport standout Mattingly ... 2006 College Football Hall class announced ... Ducks tab Casey Martin to guide golf team

05.09.06: ECU's Harrell honored on eve of tournament ... Washington's Romar to guide USA under-18's ... Cavs, Terps take aim on NCAA lacrosse title

05.08.06: Mountaineers to be recognized in Raleigh ... Towe to join Lowe at NCSU ... 'Noles edge Deacs in record setter

05.07.06: N.C. State's long hunt officially over ... ECU gains berth in C-USA Softball Tourney

05.06.06: Hoops rule committee looks at 3-point distance ... Blue chipper makes late commitment to Duke ... Colorado cage coach faces season in limbo

05.05.06: Lowe and behold, Pack fills its vacancy ... Horns, Sooners extend deal with Cotton Bowl ... Mascot lands 7th-seeded Illini on the road

05.04.06: ECU's Harrell snares another C-USA award ... 'Bama okays hefty new contract for Shula ... Downey heading from Bearcats to Gamecocks

05.03.06: ECU's Chris Moore signs deal with Saints ... NCSU represented on World Cup team ... Politics: Shuler projected to face Rep. Taylor

05.02.06: ECU's Baker inks free agent pact with Steelers ... ECU women golfers headed for East regional ... UAB's Hackney signs with Browns

05.01.06: Giants take ECU's Whimper in fourth round ... Memphis back Williams selected by Panthers ... More names popping up in N.C. State search

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

Houston junior righthander Brad Lincoln has been named national pitcher of the week for the period ending May 14 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, according to a release on the Conference USA Website.

Lincoln is the fifth C-USA player this season to earn national player of the week honors.

In a game the nation's No. 1 team, city rival Rice, Lincoln posted his second shutout of the season to end the Owls' 17-game conference winning streak. The Clute, TX, native allowed only five hits and struck out nine while walking only two in tossing his third complete game of the season. He retired the first 10 batters he faced and 20 of the first 23 in improving to 11-1 and recording his 10th straight win.

Lincoln is on the watch list for Roger Clemens Award, given annually to the national collegiate pitcher of the year by the Greater Houston Baseball Organization.

Former Virginia head football coach George Blackburn died in Dublin, OH, on Monday. He was 93, according to a release on Virginia's athletic website.

Blackburn, a native of Columbus, OH, and a 1936 graduate of Findlay College, was head coach of the Cavaliers for six seasons (1965-70). He was named Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year in 1968 when Virginia compiled an overall record of 7-3 and finished third in the ACC. It was the most wins and the first winning season for a Virginia football team since the Cavaliers had an 8-2 record in 1952. His six Virginia teams compiled an overall record of 29-32.

During Blackburn's tenure in Charlottesville, the Cavs' Bob Davis in 1966 and Frank Quayle in 1968 earned ACC player of the year honors. Virginia led the conference in total offense, scoring offense and rushing offense twice under his guidance and in passing offense once. The Cavaliers also led the conference in passing defense twice and in total defense and rushing defense once.

Three members of the Ole Miss basketball team are continuing their careers elsewhere, according to the university's athletic website. Rebel head coach Andy Kennedy announced Tuesday that Brandon Patterson, Mike Smith and Marquis Young have decided not to return to the team.

"After visiting with Brandon, Mike and Marquis, we believe it's in everyone's best interest for them to pursue their academic and athletic opportunities elsewhere," Kennedy said. "We wish them all the best in their future endeavors."

A sophomore guard from Altheimer, AR, Patterson posted 4.0 points and 1.7 rebounds per game over his Rebel career. He played in every game of his two seasons at Ole Miss with 15 starts, and as a freshman, he finished second on the team in 3-pointers made and scored in double-figures four times.

Smith, a freshman forward from Jacksonville, AR, averaged 2.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 29 games this season. Young, a freshman center from Chicago, saw action in 10 contests and turned in averages of 0.7 points and 1.3 boards.

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.