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News Nuggets, 06.20.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

ECU announces long-term pact with Nike

East Carolina athletics and Nike have entered into a five-year partnership that will equip all of the school's sports programs and bring licensed ECU/Nike products to retail stores.

The deal, which will begin with the 2006-2007 school year, will provide footwear, apparel and equipment for all Pirate sports teams, according to an ECU press release.

The terms of the contract ensure that ECU teams in all sports will utilize Nike equipment and will be outfitted from "head to toe" in Nike uniforms, including practice and travel gear, said the announcement.

Pirate fans will be on the receiving end of the merchandising aspects of the accord, which contemplates the distribution of officially-licensed ECU/Nike-branded products through retail outlets including game-day souvenir booths at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and local bookstore locations.

"The agreement with Nike will be a home run for everyone associated with the Pirate family," ECU Director of Athletics Terry Holland said in a statement. "Our coaches and team members are pleased with the quality of the Nike product from head to toe and our fans will be extremely pleased with the improved availability of retail product that will allow every member of the Pirate Nation to show their true colors."

"This partnership is indicative of the respect Pirate athletics is earning in a highly competitive marketplace," Holland's statement continued, "and I truly appreciate the hard work of Lee Workman, who handles our licensing, to make this initiative a reality for us."

Workman is ECU's Assistant Athletics Director for Special Projects.

Nike, based near Beaverton, OR, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.

"Nike is truly enthused with the opportunity of partnering with the Pirates," Scott Zanon, Nike's National Manager of College Team Sales, stated. "ECU is a quality institution, both academically and athletically, and a school that Nike is proud to be associated with. We are honored to add East Carolina to the family of Nike colleges and look forward to outfitting student-athletes at ECU with the Nike swoosh for many years to come."

Pirates release women's soccer schedule

Three games against 2005 postseason participants and home contests against in-state rivals Charlotte (Sept. 3) and UNC-Wilmington (Sept. 15) highlight the 2006 East Carolina women's soccer schedule, released Monday afternoon via ecupirates.com.

The Pirates will be play six teams that were ranked among the top-15 in their respective regions by Soccer Buzz following the 2005 season — non-conference foes Charlotte, Furman (Sept. 22), Old Dominion and Western Carolina as well as Conference USA opponents Southern Methodist (Oct. 22) and Texas-El Paso (Oct. 27).

ECU will travel to Campbell (Aug. 28), Western Carolina (Sept. 1) and Francis Marion (Sept. 24) in non-conference action. The Pirates will participate in the North Carolina State Tournament in Raleigh when they face American (Sept. 8) and Georgia State (Sept. 10).

Marshall (Oct. 6), Central Florida (Oct. 13), Southern Mississippi (Oct. 15), UTEP and new conference member Colorado College (Oct. 29) will highlight the Pirates home conference schedule.

ECU will officially open the 2006 season Friday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., when they travel to Norfolk, VA, to face Old Dominion. The Pirates' first home match will be Sunday, Sept. 3, against Charlotte at 1 p.m.

Three C-USA linemen on Outland Trophy list

Conference USA has three players that have been named as preliminary candidates for the 2006 Outland Trophy. The award is presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America to the top interior lineman in college football.

Houston junior tackle SirVincent Rogers, Southern Mississippi senior guard George Batiste and Tulsa senior tackle Jeff Perrett represent C-USA on the 54-man list, according to the league web site.

The winner is selected by the FWAA's All-America Committee, which selects the association's 25-man team and picks three Outland Trophy finalists.

The 2006 Outland Trophy announcement will be made on Dec. 7 in Orlando on ESPN. The Outland Trophy presentation banquet is set for Jan. 11, 2007, in Omaha.

The Outland Trophy has been awarded annually to the best offensive or defensive lineman in college football since 1946. It is named after the late John Outland, a lineman at Pennsylvania at the turn of the century.

Additional Outland Trophy candidates may be added during the course of the season. Tackles, guards and centers are eligible for consideration.

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.

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