News and Notes from East Carolina, Conference USA and Beyond

PREVIOUS NUGGETS

02.01.07: Ex-ECU coach Thompson returns to coaching ... UK makes Brooks a million dollar man ... Pac-10 games moved to Thursdays for ESPN

01.31.07: ECU's Frasure takes weight throw at UNC-CH ... ACC baseball games to be shown online ... Duke's McClure may miss Virginia game

01.30.07: C-USA player of the week a Wise choice ... Ross resigns, Army promotes Brock ... Herd, coming off Houston loss, hosts ECU

01.29.07: Powell will wear No. 23 for baseball Pirates ... ECU's Allison snares TD pass in Senior Bowl ... Lady Pirates fall short despite Young's effort

01.28.07: McCullough will manage in Gulf Coast League ... Officials' timing error aided Duke win ... Western Carolina guard recovering at home

01.27.07: Clark-LeClair Stadium featured in video game ... Rice rated No. 1 in coaches baseball poll ... Topps to feature cards of former Duke stars

01.26.07: ACC releases 2007 football schedule ... Iona only winless team left in Division I hoops ... S.C. prep star disappoints Gamecock fans

01.25.07: ECU baseball will get CSTV appearance ... Hot water getting deeper for Durham DA ... WVU's Rodriguez hires Smith, shuffles staff

01.24.07: Jackson gets honor for leading UTEP wins ... Young Kiffin selected to guide Raiders ... Duke women invade Tennessee and win

01.23.07: Golden Eagles get the roll ... Shortfall doesn't affect Rutgers assistants ... Yow returning to coaching at NCSU

01.22.07: Rowe throws West past East in Shrine tilt ... Pirates tennis underway with two wins, loss ... Mills leads Lady Pirates' triumph at Memphis

01.21.07: Fighting Irish receiver catches Cubs offer ... "Bowden Bowl" shifts to Labor Day ... No ramblin' for Ga. Tech's Gailey

01.20.07: Rice summons Bailiff to guide grid program ... Tigers, Tar Heels picked in ACC baseball ... Lady Pirates look to bounce back at Memphis

01.19.07: Amato resurfaces on Seminoles staff ... Jagodzinski gets warm welcome at BC hoops ... BC boots basketball players Williams, McLain

01.18.07: O'Brien brings Archer aboard at N.C. State ... Hokies' Foster gets long-awaited Broyles honor ... Carter named running backs coach at FSU

01.17.07: Former Tar Heels assistant gets Gopher post ... Abbate leaving Deacs for shot at pro football ... Tar Heel women overcome Connecticut

01.16.07: ECU's Graham helps Aina to Hula Bowl triumph ... Brohm announces he's staying at Louisville ... Cochran leads Lady Pirates past Rice

01.15.07: Memphis tops Southern Miss with late run ... Hokies knock off top-ranked Tar Heels ... Another No. 1, Terps women, takes a tumble

01.14.07: Golden Hurricane snatches Rice coach ... Tar Heels name Shoop offensive coordinator ... Snow makes Cowboys, Cornhuskers a no go

01.13.07: ECU guard Hinnant sidelined for several weeks ... FB thumbnails: Allison, Carter, Davis, Williams ... Hoops recruiting thumbnail: Brock Young ... Owls consensus top pick in preseason polls ... Duke retiring numbers for Williams, Redick ... Notre Dame facing void in backfield in '07

01.12.07: Smith resigns as baseball coach at Campbell ... C-USA hoops: Houston edges Lady Pirates ... Russell says adios to LSU, hello to NFL

01.11.07: Tar Heels return to No. 1 in college hoops ... Coker mentioned as candidate at Tulsa ... Tulane moves UAB start for fans to see Saints

01.10.07: N.C. prep product Leak propels Gators to title ... Tulsa's Kragthorpe in line for Louisville job ... C-USA player of the week to Memphis's Hunt

01.09.07: Petrino leaves Louisville for NFL's Falcons ... Golden Eagles dominant in GMAC Bowl ... LSU's Russell making up mind on NFL

01.08.07: Buckeyes, Gators go after BCS crown ... Police probe death of Southern Cal kicker ... Lady Pirates triumph over Central Florida

01.07.07: Bearcats win bowl north of the border ... Yellow Jackets dispense stern discipline ... Southern Miss subdues Lady Pirates at the line

01.06.07: Tide contract gets reaction from Iowa senator ... LSU, Louisville QB's put on show for NFL scouts ... Ducks knocked from unbeaten ranks

01.05.07: Baseball: "Meet the Pirates" is Jan. 27 ... C-USA soccer standouts converge on combine ... Cowher expected to resign as Steelers coach

01.04.07: Crimson Tide shows Saban the money ... Southern Miss has last bullet in C-USA gun ... Marshall's Dorris named C-USA player of week

01.03.07: Boise State inserts itself into national title picture ... Lady Pirates master Marshall in C-USA opener ... Alabama coaching search focusing on Saban ... Paterno watches Penn State win from press box

01.02.07: Bobby Knight gets milestone victory ... Gophers coach Mason axed after bowl loss ... Hurricanes hang on in Coker's last game ... Seminoles' Timmons taking talents to NFL

01.01.07: Herd shocks Hokies ... Costner leads Wolfpack to rout of UNCW ... Boston College kings for a day in Queen City

East Carolina will hold its 2007 Signing Day Fan Fest at 5 p.m. in Harvey Hall of the Murphy Center on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

The event will feature ECU coach Skip Holtz making the presentation of his third signing class to Pirate fans.

Holtz will announce the newest additions to the ECU program and comment on each signee. There will be video highlights of the new recruiting class as well as information capsules on the incoming players. Light snacks will be available.

The baseball season gets underway for Conference USA on Saturday. Central Florida is scheduled to play the league's first game of 2007 when it hosts Florida International at 1 p.m.

C-USA favorite Rice will host Central Missouri State at 3 p.m. as the Owls look to launch a return run to Omaha. The Owls are ranked No.1 in all four major polls heading into the season.

East Carolina opens its baseball season on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m. as the Pirates host Liberty at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

Billy Godwin enters his second season as coach after guiding the Pirates to a 33-26 record in 2006, which included wins over nationally-ranked Rice, Tulane, Houston and North Carolina State. For the eighth consecutive season, the Pirates won at least 30 games.

ECU returns 17 letterwinners, six positional starters and eight pitchers, while welcoming 15 newcomers.

The Pirates' weekend pitching rotation should consist of juniors T.J. Hose and Dustin Sasser and senior Jeff Ostrander. Together the trio has started 49 career games with 228 strikeouts while posting a 19-16 overall record.

Shane Mathews, a former weekend starter and freshman All-America selection in 2004, will move to the bullpen to become the Pirates closer in 2007. The right-hander posted a 5-3 record a year ago with a 4.73 ERA and a team-best 75 strikeouts.

ECU shortstop Dale Mollenhauer closed last season on an eight-game hitting streak. He batted .292 on the year with 11 doubles, two triples and 30 RBI.

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 electronic services and other sources. Copyright 2007 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.