News Nuggets, 02.29.04
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Pirates launch LeClair Invitational in style

Though the First Annual Keith LeClair Invitational started a day late because of wintry weather, the outcome of the first day's action turned out sunny and clear for the host team.

Ryan Jones had three hits including a home run to help East Carolina break open a close game and subdue Georgia Southern 7-1 Saturday afternoon, and pinch-hitter Drew Costanzo delivered an 11th inning home run to seal a 3-2 upset win over No. 11 Clemson in the night game.

The wins extended the Pirates' unbeaten season-opening start to 10-0 and initiated the tournament in a fashion sure to have satisfied the event's namesake, ECU Hall of Famer and former head coach Keith LeClair, whose birthday happened to coincide with Saturday's dramatics.

Clemson blanked Georgia Southern 4-0 in the first game of the round-robin competition which is sponsored by Trade Mart Stores and Wachovia Bank.

The tournament will conclude Sunday with three more matchups. The Tigers and Eagles will meet again at 10 a.m. in the first of the final day's pairings, followed by repeat matchups between the Pirates and Clemson at 1 p.m. and ECU and GSU at 4 p.m.

Both of Sunday's games involving East Carolina will be broadcast live by Pirate Radio 1250 AM and the station's audio feed will be simultaneously streamed over the Internet via the technology resources of Bonesville.net.

Following are the first day's results and Sunday's schedule:

Saturday, Feb. 28
   Clemson 4, Georgia Southern 0
   East Carolina 7, Georgia Southern 1 [Box Score]
   East Carolina 3, Clemson 2 (11) [Box Score]

Sunday, Feb. 29
   10 a.m. Clemson vs. Georgia Southern
   1 p.m. East Carolina vs. Clemson
   4 p.m. Georgia Southern vs. East Carolina

Ex-ECU assistant takes over U of L defense

LOUISVILLE — Mike Cassity has been named defensive coordinator at the University of Louisville, replacing Mike Gillhamer, who has been named a defensive assistant in the secondary for the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League, announced head coach Bobby Petrino.

Cassity served on former East Carolina coach Bill Lewis's defensive staff in 1990-91.

Cassity, a former defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Illinois, has spent 19 years as a defensive coordinator and has 28 years of total coaching experience. He was hired in December to assist in the secondary after serving the last three seasons with the Fighting Illini, but now takes over a defense that returns eight starters. He will also coach the safeties this season.

An experienced defensive mind, Cassity has spent his entire career on the defensive side of the football. He turned around a struggling Illinois defense into one of the top units in the Big Ten. Before Cassity's arrival, Illinois ranked 11th in the Big Ten versus the run and allowed 232.5 yards per game on the ground. In 2001, Cassity's troops ranked fourth in the Big Ten in rush defense and allowed 147.0 yards per game, an improvement of 85.5 yards a contest.

Cassity came to Illinois from Oklahoma State where he served as defensive coordinator for the Cowboys for two seasons. Cassity's defense held opponents to only 126.0 rushing yards per game in 2000, and he guided a defense that was ranked ninth in total defense in 1999.

After a two-year stint at OSU, Cassity, served two seasons as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary at Baylor. He coached the secondary at Wisconsin in 1995-96, leading the Badgers to a Copper Bowl title in 1996. He has been a defensive coordinator at Cincinnati (1994), Georgia Tech (1992-93), East Carolina (1990-91), Northeast Louisiana (1989) and Western Kentucky (1983-88).

Houston jockeys to drop LSU for Oklahoma

BATON ROUGE — The University of Houston is asking out of its Sept. 11 game against LSU in Tiger Stadium, but will be released only if LSU can get a replacement.

The Cougars want to play on that date at Oklahoma.

"There's a team on the table," said Dan Radakovich, LSU's senior associate athletic director who handles football scheduling. He declined to name the school.

OU officials have also been talking with Oregon State officials about a possible two-game series with the Ducks playing at OU on Sept. 18.

If both deals are reached, Houston and Oregon State would replace Florida A&M and Arkansas State on the Sooners' 2004 schedule.

If LSU can replace Houston, the Cougars will not be required to pay the $175,000 buyout in the current contract between the schools, Radakovich said.

Houston Athletic Director Dave Maggard said he understood LSU was "99 percent" done with securing a replacement for the Cougars.

Earlier this month, LSU signed Oregon State to play in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 4 in the season opener for both teams. Oregon State replaced Virginia Tech, which asked to postpone its visit to Baton Rouge until the 2007 season.

Sycamores retire Larry Bird's No. 33

TERRE HAUTE — No player has worn Larry Bird's No. 33 since he left Indiana State 25 years ago. It was officially retired Saturday.

Bird starred for Indiana State from 1976-79, leading the Sycamores to a 33-1 record and runner-up finish in the 1979 NCAA tournament. Then-Indiana State President Richard Landini declared shortly afterward that no one would wear Bird's number at the school again -- a declaration that was made official with Saturday's ceremony before the Sycamores' game against Northern Iowa.

Bird was named national college player of the year for the 1978-79 season and went on to a Hall of Fame NBA career with the Boston Celtics. He coached the Indiana Pacers for three seasons and now is the team president.

Bird ranks first in scoring at Indiana State and fifth on the all-time NCAA Division I list with 2,850 points. He also holds the Indiana State rebounding record with 1,247.

"We had a special team. We played together, played to win and everyone knew their roles ... Everyone knew I was going to take all the shots," Bird joked.

The Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the 1979 championship, a loss that has haunted Bird ever since.

"I've always been heartbroken that I couldn't bring the championship back to Terre Haute," he told the 7,000 fans in attendance.

Former Indiana State coach and player Duane Klueh's No. 54 was also retired Saturday. He won a school-record 182 games as coach of the Sycamores from 1955-67.

Both jerseys were framed and hung on the wall at the Hulman Center.

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News Nuggets are compiled periodically from staff, ECU, Conference USA and its member schools, and from Associated Press and other reports. Copyright 2004 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007