News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

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

Wake Forest will install FieldTurf at Groves Stadium in time for the 2006 season, according to an announcement on the university's athletics web site.

The new FieldTurf will replace the natural grass that is currently in place in the stadium. FieldTurf is in use in more than 30 NCAA Division 1-A football stadiums including Kansas State, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. Wake Forest will become the second Atlantic Coast Conference school to play its home football games on FieldTurf, joining Boston College.

Wake Forest's first game on the new surface will be the team's September 2 season opener against Syracuse.

"FieldTurf is an excellent product that is being used by numerous NFL and top college teams," said Ron Wellman, Wake Forest athletic director. "It will give us consistently good playing conditions in all weather. We installed FieldTurf on one of our practice fields last year and the coaches and players really liked it. The new field, along with structural repairs, electrical and water pressure upgrades, is the next step in renovating Groves Stadium over the next several years."

"We've had the opportunity for the past couple of years to practice on FieldTurf and we really like it," head coach Jim Grobe said.

Gonzaga University junior forward Adam Morrison made official Wednesday what has been speculated for months — he'll forego his final season of eligibility to enter the National Basketball Association draft, according to the university's athletics web site.

"It was a tough decision," Morrison said. "I've loved every moment I've experienced at Gonzaga, but I feel I'm ready to take on the challenges of something I have always dreamed about."

Morrison, the nation's leading scorer this past season at 28.1 ppg and a consensus All-American, said he leaves Gonzaga with many fond memories.

Vance Walberg, who was named the 12th head coach in the 68-year history of the Pepperdine basketball program on Tuesday, will be formally introduced at a Thursday press conference, according to the university's athletics web site.

Walberg, who will be introduced along with his wife, Rose, comes to Pepperdine after spending the previous four years as head coach at Fresno City College where he compiled a 133-11 (.924) record, including a perfect 34-0 mark and the California State Championship in 2005. He replaces Paul Westphal, who left the program in March after compiling a 76-72 record in five seasons.

In addition to posting an undefeated season and winning the 2005 state championship, Walberg's Fresno City College teams won four straight Central Valley Conference (CVC) titles, made four consecutive trips to the Northern California Playoffs, advanced to the Final Four of the California State Championships three times and appeared in the state title game in 2003 and 2005.

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.