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News Nuggets, 10.23.03
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Cops dampen assault on goal posts in Morgantown

MORGANTOWN — Police used pepper spray on fans who tried to tear down the goal posts after West Virginia's 28-7 win over No. 3 Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.

Many in the crowd of 56,319 stormed the field after the Mountaineers' first victory over a team ranked as high as the Hokies. But State Police and dozens of yellow-shirted security personnel surrounded the goal posts and kept fans at bay.

Outside the stadium, thousands of WVU fans were partying immediately after the game. At first it appeared most were heeding pre-game pleas from coach Rich Rodriguez and local officials to avoid starting bonfires, which has become something of a Morgantown tradition.

But more than an hour after the game, fire officials reported four fires on Grant Avenue, including two large bonfires. In the first hour after the game, city fire officials reported three small fires, all of which were quickly put out.

A light rain began falling about 45 minutes after the game, which officials hoped would dampen the hopes of potential fire starters.

Fire and police officials had spent two days before the game removing garbage and couches from citizens' front porches, especially in the Sunnyside neighborhood heavily populated by students.

Police inside the stadium tried to disperse rowdy fans with pepper spray, which also blew into the stands and caused discomfort to bystanders. Brad Anderson of Chester said he was hit by the pepper spray when he ran down onto the field.

"We can't breathe. We're hacking up our lungs, but it was worth it," Anderson said. "It was a hell of a win."

Fans retaliated by throwing debris at the workers. Some fans tried to use the sideline benches in an attempt to get to the goal posts before another round of pepper spray sent fans running.

It wasn't immediately known whether anyone was arrested or seriously hurt.

"I got pushed down and got pepper sprayed," said student Josh Harper, coughing and rubbing his eyes in the south end zone. "I got pushed to the ground by the crowd."

Thirty minutes after the game ended, Rodriguez got on the public address system to tell fans to clear the field and go home. The field was then quickly cleared.

At a press conference shortly after, Rodriguez said, "Hopefully they'll all go to bed early and go to class tomorrow."

Starting QB position up for grabs at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG — Southern Mississippi head coach Jeff Bower said Wednesday that a starting quarterback for this week's game against South Florida has yet to be named, and a timetable for the decision is not yet set.

Three quarterbacks — Micky D'Angelo, Dustin Almond and Damion Carter — have been battling for the starting spot over the past week-and-a-half, since D'Angelo returned to practice after suffering a concussion in the Memphis game.

Bower did say that two of the quarterbacks, Almond and Carter, have been taking the majority of snaps in practice, but D'Angelo is still in the mix.

"There is no decision yet," Bower said. "We have worked Damion and Dustin for the most part. But Micky's been out for six weeks. He has done some good things and his conditioning is good, but it's not what it should be. He's still not back down to his playing weight.

Bower said the quarterbacks will continue to be evaluated for the remainder of the week and it could come down to a "game-day decision."

Golden Eagles offer cut-rate tickets at Wal-Mart

HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss ticket sales representatives will be at the Wal-Mart located on Highway 49 South, on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 4-6 p.m. During that time, fans can purchase discounted South Florida football tickets as well as discounted tickets to the homecoming game on Saturday, Nov. 1 against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Basketball season tickets will also be available at the Wal-Mart ticket promotion. As an added incentive, those who purchase basketball season tickets will receive a free "GO GOLD" t-shirt.

Championship-winning Houston coach passes

HOUSTON — Harold Lahar, Houston's head football coach from 1957-61, died Monday in Dallas at age 84. He posted a 24-23-2 record in five seasons for UH, winning two Missouri Valley Conference titles during his tenure.

Lahar was twice the football coach at Colgate University after a brief career as a pro player. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma and spent one season with the Chicago Bears as a guard before serving with the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II.

After leaving the service in 1945, Lahar played for the Buffalo Bills of the All-American Conference from 1947-49 before beginning his college coaching career as an assistant at Arkansas in 1950.

Lahar went to Colgate in 1952, serving as both head coach and athletic director before moving on to Houston. Colgate rehired Lahar in 1962 as both athletic director and coach, making him the first man to return to a Division I head-coaching job after leaving for another school. In 11 seasons as Colgate coach, Lahar went 53-40-8.

Lahar was also assistant commissioner of the Southwest Conference. He worked at the now-defunct SWC from 1973 until his retirement in 1983. He is survived by his wife, Dottie, two children, three grandchildren and a sister.

49ers conduct own 'World Series'

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte 49ers baseball team hosts its annual end of fall practice intrasquad world series at Tom and Lib Phillips Field, October 23-25. The first game of the series will be Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 pm. The second game of the series is Friday, October 24 at 7 pm. The series and fall practice concludes with the open house, Saturday, October 25 at 1 pm.

The 49ers return 13 letterwinners including six senior starters from last season. Joining those returning letterwinners are 17 talented newcomers.

The pitching staff is paced by seniors Justin Brown and Zachary Treadway. Brown finished the 2003 season with a team-best 4.38 ERA in 17 appearances. Treadway led the 49ers with eight wins and 89 strikeouts.

The offense is led by seniors Thomas Bowker, Randall Poplin, Jamie Rusco and Brian Scafe. Poplin is the team's leading returning hitter as he finished second on the team with a .323 average last season. He also led the team with 48 RBI.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2003 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007