Memphis Tigers News Archives

May 2004

Back

05/29/04		Myklebust wins discus championship at NCAA Mid-East Track & Field Regional; Two Tigers advance to NCAA Championships (GoTigersGo.com)
		BATON ROUGE, La.-Senior Gaute Myklebust (Sand, Norway), the 2004 C-USA Male Co-Outdoor Athlete of the Year, won the NCAA Mid-East Regional discus championship with a toss of 60.42m (198-03.00). Myklebust became the first Tiger in school history to win a regional championship Saturday at the NCAA Mid-East Track & Field Regional hosted by Louisiana State University at Bernie Moore Track Stadium. "My first three throws were a little off," said an elated Myklebust. "But after that, I was feeling really good. I'm very happy with the way things went today." "He is on the verge of throwing 210 feet," said Assistant Coach Kevin Robinson. "He is very close to being at his best. He did what he needed to do this weekend and won the competition. I am excited about his chances of contending for a national championship in Austin." Senior Mate Nemeth (Szekszard, Hungary) placed fifth in the 3000m Steeplechase and earned spot at the NCAA Championships with a time of 9:02.15. Nemeth entered the race as the fourth seed with a season best time of 8:45.88. Nemeth and Myklebust wll return to the NCAA Track & Field Championships for the second consecutive year. "I didn't run my best race today," said distance runner Mate Nemeth. "The humidity was tough to deal with here. But I'm happy that I have a chance to compete at nationals. That was my goal, to advance to nationals." The temperature at race time (7:30 p.m.) in Baton Rouge was 86 degrees with humidity of 96 percent. It was hot and muggy as temperatures were in the low 90's for most of the weekend. Jordan Desilets of Eastern Michigan won the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8:44.40. A pair of Ohio State runners placed second and third as Aaron Fisher ran an 8:50.10 and Brian Olinger ran a time of 8:54.95 respectively. With the 14 points scored by Nemeth and Myklebust, Memphis placed 15th of 46 schools at the regional meet on the men's side. Junior Victoria Crawford set a personal record in the triple jump with a mark of 12.57m (41-03.00). Crawford finished third in her flight, and did not advance to the finals. She entered the meet ranked 17th and placed 12th. Bernitta Johnson of Miami-Ohio had the best mark in Crawford's flight at 12.80m and the competition was won by Shelly-Ann Gallimore of Auburn with a jump of 13.65m. Crawford was the only female athlete to qualify for the post-season in 2004. She was the second Lady Tiger in as many years to compete in the triple jump at the regional as Lisa-Marie Hyman qualified and competed in 2003. "She (Victoria) had the best jump of her career in the biggest meet of her career," said Coach Robinson. "What else can you ask for as a coach? She had an excellent performance today." LSU won the women's Mid-East Region Championship with 111 points, while Arkansas won the men's title with 95 points. On June 10-13 Nemeth and Myklebust will represent the University of Memphis in the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.

05/29/04		USM eliminates Tigers in rout (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services May 29, 2004 HOUSTON - Twenty-third ranked Southern Mississippi defeated Memphis, 13-0, in seven innings to eliminate the Tigers from the Conference USA Baseball Tournament Friday at Cougar Field. Golden Eagle starter Mike Cashion struck out a career-high eight in a three-hit shutout, and second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir had three hits and four RBI as USM dealt the Tigers (29-28) their second loss of the tournament. "Obviously this is a very disappointing end to a promising start," Memphis head coach Dave Anderson said. "I think losing last night's game (7-6 to UAB) in the ninth inning with a two-run lead was one of the toughest losses I can think of. "Today their guy (pitcher) came out and we couldn't do anything against him. . . . We could not get anything going at all." Southern Miss (42-16) put two runs on the board in the first on an RBI double by Hoffpauir and a bloop single by Brad Wilcutt. Cashion held Memphis off the scoreboard in the opening frame for the first time in the tournament. Southern Mississippi, which plays UAB today, extended its lead to 13-0 on five unearned runs in the sixth inning. Leftfielder Carlos Velazquez belted a two-out grand slam in the inning. Memphis leftfielder Chad House had a single in the sixth to finish the tournament with a team-high six hits. Senior Kyle Scott doubled in the third to post the Tigers' first hit off Cashion. Catcher Kurt Welch also singled and had a pair of assists, including throwing out his seventh consecutive attempted base stealer. The Tigers concluded their season with 29 wins, marking the most for the team and the program's first winning season since the 2001 season. In another game: Texas Christian 10, East Carolina 4 - TCU broke a 4-4 tie with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and added two more solo home runs in the seventh and eighth to stun the ECU Pirates and eliminate the No. 1 seed. J.J. Estrada and Chris Neuman hit homers and Shelby Ford had four RBI for the Horned Frogs. Estrada lead off the seventh with a solo homer to left, and Neuman notched the Horned Frogs' 10th and final run with a homer to left-center. With the win, TCU advances to the semifinals and will face No. 5 seed Houston this afternoon.

05/28/04		Harris, Williams compete on day one at NCAA Mid-East Regional -- Several Tigers awaiting competition on day two (GoTigersGo.com)
		BATON ROUGE-Competition began Friday at the NCAA Mid-Eastern Track & Field Regional hosted by Louisiana State University at Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Freshman Larry Harris and Senior Ivan Williams both competed on day one. Harris finished fifth in his heat with a time of 53.11 in the 400m hurdles. He did not advance to the finals of the 400m hurdles, but ended his splendid freshman campaign with his second best time of the year. "It was a great experience for Larry (Harris) to compete here as a freshman against this quality competition, said Memphis Assistant Coach Kevin Robinson. "This was a great ending to a great season for him." Maurice Bridges of Arkansas won Harris's heat in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.78. A duo if Illinois hurdlers ran the top times as Abraham Reed-Jones (50.54) and Adrian Walker (50.61) topped the field. Harris earned a spot in the NCAA Regional when he ran a personal best 52.37 at the Mississippi Invitational on April 17. Harris became the first Tiger freshman to compete in an NCAA Regional since the NCAA moved to the format in 2003. In 2003, Istvan Kerekjarto qualified for the Tigers in the 800m and 1500m but did not compete due to a knee injury. Harris, a walk on from Cordova HS, is the fifth Tiger freshman to compete in the postseason and first since 1994. He joins Paul Bannon (1973), Reuben Fairfax (1974), Victor Lacey (1982) and Austin Dickinson (1994) as Tiger freshmen that qualified and competed in the postseason. Williams wrapped up his career as a Memphis Tiger with a time of 21.44 in the 200m. Williams (Mt. Zion, Ga.) placed fifth in his heat and failed to advance to the finals. "That was a wonderful finish to a stellar career for Ivan (Williams)," said Robinson. "This is by far the toughest region for sprinters and for Ivan to run a 21.44, not far off his personal best, is a great effort." Williams qualified for the meet when he ran a personal best time of 21.05 at the Bulldog Invitational on March 27. Arkansas dominated the men's 200m as Wallace Spearmon (20.25), Tyson Gay (20.27) and Omar Brown (20.36) ran the top three times respectively in the 200m preliminaries. On Saturday, three Memphis athletes will be in action. Senior Gaute Myklebust (Sand, Norway) will compete in the discus throw at 6 p.m. Myklebust enters the competition as the favorite with a Mid-East region best mark of 60.85m. He holds the school record in the event and will look to advance to the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row. Junior Victoria Crawford (Birmingham, Ala.) will compete in the triple jump at 6 p.m. Crawford enters the event ranked 17th with a personal best mark of 12.52m that she attained at the C-USA Outdoor Championships on May 15. Crawford is the lone Lady Tiger competing in this weekend's regional. Senior Mate Nemeth (Szekszard, Hungary) will run in the 3000m Steeplechase at 7:30 p.m. Nemeth holds the Memphis school record in the event at 8:37.53 that he ran at the Stanford Invitational in 2003. His personal best in 2004 is 8:45.88 (Cardinal Invitational, May 1). Nemeth enters the race as the fourth seed. He is trying to advance to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year. Results of the meet can be found here at www.gotigersgo.com and you can follow the meet with live scoring on www.lsusports.net.

05/28/04		No. 23 Southern Miss Eliminates Memphis From C-USA Tournament -- Golden Eagles blank Tigers with 13-0 victory (GoTigersGo.com)
		HOUSTON - No. 23 Southern Miss defeated Memphis 13-0 in seven innings to eliminate the Tigers from the Conference USA Baseball Tournament Friday at Cougar Field. Golden Eagle starter Mike Cashion fanned a career-high eight in a three-hit shutout and second baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir had three hits and four RBI as USM dealt the Tigers' (29-28) their second loss of the tournament. Southern Miss (42-16) put two runs on the board in the first on a RBI-double by Jarrett Hoffpauir and a bloop single by Brad Wilcutt. Cashion held Memphis off the scoreboard in the opening frame for the first time in the tournament. The Golden Eagles added a run to their lead in the second on a RBI-double by Beau Griffin to the gap in the right-center. Memphis reliever Michael Novarese entered the contest after a bloop single by Matt Shepherd and retired Marc Maddox on a fly out to right. Shepherd was thrown out trying to steal second on a pitch in the dirt. After 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, Novarese surrendered a three-run homer to Hoffpauir and a two-run homer to USM designated hitter Ryan Frith that put the Golden Eagles ahead 8-0 in the fifth. USM extended its lead to 13-0 on five unearned runs in the sixth. Leftfielder Carlos Velazquez belted a two-out grand slam in the inning. Leftfielder Chad House had a single in the sixth to finish the tournament with a team-high six hits. Senior Kyle Scott doubled in the third to post the Tigers' first hit off Cashion. Catcher Kurt Welch also singled and had a pair of assists, including throwing out his seventh-consecutive attempted base stealer. Griffin and Maddox each had two hits for the Golden Eagles and Cashion improved to 3-3 with the shutout. Gostkowski took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of work. The Tigers concluded their season with 29 wins marking the most for the team and the program's first winning season since the 2001 season.

05/28/04		DeAngelo Williams Named to Athlon All-American Team -- Williams and USM's Michael Boley (LB) are only two C-USA players honored (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - Athlon Sports, America's Premier Sports Annuals, announced today that University of Memphis junior tailback DeAngelo Williams is selected to the publication's All-American second team. Williams is the only Conference USA player listed on the offensive All-American squad. Southern Miss' Michael Boley was the only C-USA player named to the defensive squad. He was honored as a first-team selection. All eyes will be on Williams this season as he returns from a torn MCL that held him out of the New Orleans Bowl. Williams was named the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year last season as a sophomore after rushing for 1,430 yards on 243 carries. He ranked fifth nationally in rushing, and led the country in all-purpose yardage. A leader in the classroom, as well, Williams was named to the CoSIDA All-District Academic All-American team and was presented the New Orleans Bowl Scholar-Athlete Award. FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE QB - Jason White, Oklahoma RB - Darren Sproles, Kansas State RB - Justin Vincent, LSU WR - Mark Clayton, Oklahoma WR - Braylon Edwards, Michigan TE - Heath Miller, Virginia OL - David Baas, Michigan OL - Alex Barron, Florida State OL - Jammal Brown, Oklahoma OL - Ben Wilkerson, LSU OL - Eric Winston, Miami DEFENSE DL - Dan Cody, Oklahoma DL - Shaun Cody, USC DL - Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College DL - David Pollack, Georgia LB - Michael Boley, Southern Miss LB - Derrick Johnson, Texas LB - Kirk Morrison, San Diego State DB - Jamaal Brimmer, UNLV DB - Josh Bullocks, Nebraska DB - Antrel Rolle, Miami DB Corey Webster, LSU SPECIALISTS K - Jonathan Nichols, Ole Miss KR - Reggie Bush, USC P - Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee PR - Skyler Green, LSU SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE QB - Matt Leinart, USC RB - Cedric Benson, Texas RB - DeAngelo Williams, Memphis WR - Chris Henry, West Virginia WR - Geoff McArthur, California TE - Matt Herian, Nebraska OL - C.J. Brooks, Maryland OL - Vince Carter, Oklahoma OL - Greg Eslinger, Minnesota OL - Nick Kaczur, Toledo OL - Claude Terrell, New Mexico DEFENSE DL - Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma DL - Eric Henderson, Georgia Tech DL - Matt Roth, Iowa DL - Marcus Spears, LSU LB - Will Derting, Washington State LB - Leroy Hill, Clemson LB - Odell Thurman, Georgia DB - Brandon Browner, Oregon State DB - Thomas Davis, Georgia DB - Jim Leonhard, Wisconsin DB - Darrent Williams, Oklahoma State SPECIALISTS K - Trey DiCarlo, Oklahoma KR - DeAndra Cobb, Michigan State P - Tom Malone, USC PR - Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICA OFFENSE QB - Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson RB - Walter Reyes, Syracuse RB - Carnell Williams, Auburn WR - Derek Hagan, Arizona State WR - Ryan Moore, Miami TE - Andrew Clarke, Toledo OL - Wesley Britt, Alabama OL - Justin Geisinger, Vanderbilt OL - Rob Petitti, Pittsburgh OL - Adam Snyder, Oregon OL - Steve Subia, New Mexico State DEFENSE DL - Jovan Haye, Vanderbilt DL - Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin DL - Mike Patterson, USC DL - Justin Tuck, Notre Dame LB - Channing Crowder, Florida LB - Matt Grootegoed, USC LB - Rian Wallace, Temple DB - Darnell Bing, USC DB - James Butler, Georgia Tech DB - Travis Daniels, LSU DB - Donnie McCleskey, California SPECIALSTS K - Connor Hughes, Virginia KR - Devin Hester, Miami P - Brandon Fields, Michigan State PR - Steve Breaston, Michigan

05/28/04		UAB rallies in 9th to top Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services May 28, 2004 HOUSTON - UAB scored the winning run on a wild pitch to cap a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Memphis, 7-6, in the Conference USA Baseball Tournament Thursday. The Blazers put together a pair of two-out singles to tie the game before a fastball by Memphis reliever Bill Edwards sailed behind UAB's Daniel Hill, allowing Josh Miljavic to score the winning run on a close play at the plate. The loss sends the Tigers to the losers bracket to face Southern Miss, which Memphis beat 10-5 in the opening round, today at 3 p.m. The Tigers built their two-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth behind a 4-for-4 effort at the plate by second baseman Michael Lewis and the strong pitching of junior Derek Hankins. Lewis's two-run homer in the sixth off UAB starter Adam Price put the Tigers up 6-3. He also doubled twice and scored a run in the second. Hankins pitched eight-plus innings before giving way to Edwards in the ninth with a runner on first and a 1-1 count on Seth Rollin. Edwards struck Rollin out, then walked Zac Ward before getting Levi Patmon to pop up to Lewis for the second out of the inning. But Edwards could not get the decisive third out as Miljavic and Eugene Rodriguez each came through with clutch singles on full-count pitches to tie the game at 6. Other games: Houston 6, East Carolina 5 - Houston's Rob Johnson closed out Thursday's play with a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring Kevin Roberts from second base and giving the Cougars a victory over East Carolina. The win advances Houston to Saturday's semifinals where the Cougars are joined by UAB. Southern Mississippi 16, Tulane 4 - Beau Griffin and Ryan Frith each homered and had four RBI, and Southern Mississippi eliminated Tulane with a win in the losers bracket. Brad Willcutt added a three-run home run in a game-breaking sixth inning for Southern Miss. Tulane (38-19) awaits word of its NCAA regional destination, which will be announced Monday. After Tulane pulled within 7-4, Southern Miss iced it with six runs in the sixth on Matt Shepherd's RBI double, Jarrett Hoffpauir's run-scoring single and Willcutt's homer, which made it 13-4. Griffin's three-run blast keyed a four-run second for the Golden Eagles. TCU 4, Louisville 3 - Austin Adams hit two homers, including the game-winner in the seventh inning, to lift TCU to a victory that eliminated the Cardinals. The Horned Frogs advanced to a game tonight against East Carolina, a 6-5 loser to Houston Thursday night.

05/27/04		Wild Ending Sends Tiger Baseball To First Loss At C-USA Tournament -- UAB rallies for three runs in the ninth to take a 7-6 decision (GoTigersGo.com)
		HOUSTON - UAB scored the winning run on a wild pitch to cap off a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Memphis 7-6 in game seven of the Conference USA Baseball Tournament Thursday. The Blazers strung together a pair of two-out singles to tie the game before a fastball by Memphis reliever Bill Edwards sailed behind UAB's Daniel Hill allowing Josh Miljavic to score the winning run on a close play at the plate. The loss sends the Tigers to the loser's bracket to face Southern Miss, who Memphis beat 10-5 in the opening round, Friday at 3 p.m. The Tigers built their two-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth behind a 4-for-4 effort at the plate by second baseman Michael Lewis and the strong pitching of junior Derek Hankins. Lewis's two-run homer in the sixth off UAB starter Adam Price put the Tigers up 6-3. He also doubled twice and scored a run in the second as Hankins never let the Blazers grab the lead. Hankins pitched eight-plus innings before giving way to Edwards in the ninth with a runner on first and one-one count on Seth Rollin. Edwards struck Rollin out, then walked Zac Ward before getting Levi Patmon to pop up to Lewis for the second out of the inning. Edwards could not get the decisive third out as Miljavic and Eugene Rodriguez each came through with clutch singles on full-count pitches to tie the game at six. Both teams plated a pair of runs in the first as each starting pitcher struggled to get through the opening frame. Tiger DH Ryan Martin laced a RBI-single and first baseman Kyle Scott added a sac fly to score the Memphis runs. UAB first baseman Daniel Hill doubled in the Blazers' first run and Cole Helms added an RBI-single to tie the game at two. Memphis grabbed a 3-2 lead in the second when Lewis scored on a sharp double down the leftfield line by Chad House. The Tigers took a 4-2 advantage in the fifth when Bill Moss reached on an error and scored on a RBI-double by shortstop Brent Dlugach. UAB got a run back in the fifth on a RBI-double by Rodriguez before Lewis put the Tigers up three runs with his sixth home run of the season. The Blazers threatened to tie the game in their half of the sixth, but House made two great defensive plays to hold UAB to one run in the frame. Blazer second baseman Seth Rollin had a RBI-single in the inning, but was thrown at second on a relay throw from Dlugach after House chased down the single down the line. House robbed the previous batter Jeremy Moran of extra bases with a diving catch in the left-center field gap. The Tigers were held scoreless by UAB reliever Eric Roberts in the final three innings as he notched his fifth win of the season. Roberts limited Memphis to just three hits, but two of those came in the eighth when Lewis hit a one-out double to put runners on second and third. The right-hander ended the threat getting the final two batters in the eighth on a strike out and pop up to third. Hankins fanned nine Blazers and walked just two to earn a no decision. The junior moved to second place on the school's single season strikeout list with 114 on the season. Edwards dropped to 3-5 with the loss allowing two earned runs on two hits in the ninth.

05/27/04		Tidmore Finishes 13th at Olympic Tryout -- Tiger shooter has sights set on 2008 Olympic Games (GoTigersGo.com)
		FT. BENNING, GA. - University of Memphis sophomore Beth Tidmore finished 13th in a three-day event which could have secured her one of two open spots on the U.S. Olympic Rifle team. "I am very proud of how hard Beth worked in this competition," said coach Butch Woolbright. "She didn't make the team, but she gained a lot of valuable experience that could help her land a spot on a future Olympic team. Her sights are set on 2008, and I think that is a very realistic goal for her." Tidmore shot 390, 386 and 392 in consecutive days to finish 13th among 34 shooters.

05/27/04		Tigers show whole lot of Hart (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services May 27, 2004 Former Cordova High standout Jordan Hart homered twice and tied a Conference USA Tournament record with five hits to lead the sixth-seeded University of Memphis past third-seeded Southern Miss, 10-5, in Wednesday's opener in Houston. Memphis scored its most runs in a C-USA tournament game to advance. The Tigers (29-26) will play seventh-seeded UAB, a 10-4 winner Wednesday over second-seeded Tulane, in a winner's bracket game today at 4 p.m. Defending tournament champion Southern Miss (40-16) falls into the losers' bracket, where the Golden Eagles will play Tulane at 9 a.m. The win marks the first for the Tigers against the Golden Eagles in a tournament game since defeating them in a Metro Conference contest in 1987. First-team All-C-USA right-hander Jarrett Grube (9-4) gave up three runs on 6 1/3 innings to get the win. Losing pitcher Cliff Russum (6-3) allowed two earned runs on 52/3 innings. Hart finished 5-for-5 with three RBI, and with two solo homers, he became the first Tigers player to go deep twice in a C-USA tournament game since Ronnie Barassi eight years ago. Hart also drove in a team-high three runs, while catcher Kurt Welch, DH Ryan Martin (Collierville) and first baseman Kyle Scott (Germantown) each added two RBI. "We put everything together in today's win," Tigers coach Dave Anderson said. "We got great pitching from Grube, our offense came through with some big two-out hits, and our defense was outstanding. We did a lot of little things today that led to some big innings for us and kept them from getting started offensively." Memphis put the Golden Eagles away late, scoring three runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to take a 10-3 lead. In other games: UAB 10, Tulane 4 - Cole Helms went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and Eugene Rodriguez belted a three-run homer as the seventh-seeded Blazers (29-27) defeated the No. 2 Green Wave (38-18) for the third consecutive time this season. The defeats to Tulane and Southern Miss means that the two teams who played for the championship last season will now meet in an elimination game today at 9 a.m. UAB starter Jeff Brown picked up the win to improve his season record to 6-5 after allowing four runs on 11 hits over eight innings. East Carolina 13, Louisville 2 - The top-seeded Pirates (48-9) had no trouble avoiding the upset bug, as Ryan Norwood and John Poppert each went 3-for-3 with four RBI. ECU's 48 wins are a school-record. Louisville falls to 26-29 on the season after losing in a game that was called after seven innings because of the 10-run rule. Houston 9, TCU 4 - Thanos Papavasiliou hit a three-run homer to spark the Cougars (29-27) over the Horned Frogs (33-24). Fifth-seeded Houston will take on East Carolina today. There were 58 runs scored in the four first-round games, the highest-scoring day since 1996.

05/27/04		Tiger thrower makes run at Olympic berth (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact May 27, 2004 He set the school record in the shot put last year and broke it this year. He was the Conference USA champion in the shot put last year and repeated as champion this year. And as he did a year ago, he qualified this year for the NCAA regionals in the shot put. But when University of Memphis senior Gaute Myklebust participates in the NCAA Mid-Eastern Track and Field Championships that begin Friday in Baton Rouge, La., the two-time C-USA Male Outdoor Athlete of the Year will skip the shot put competition. Myklebust, a native of Sand, Norway, also qualified in the discus and is intent on making a run at a national title and a berth on Norway's Olympic team. Myklebust (whose first name is pronounced Gow-tah) will enter the regional as the favorite in the discus. His throw of 60.85 meters (199 feet, 6 inches) is a school record that ranks first in the region and fourth nationally. "This year was different than last year," said Kevin Robinson, U of M's assistant track coach and a former Tiger record-setting thrower. "Last year we trained him as a shot putter/discus thrower. "This year we trained him as a discus thrower because he's only about 2.5 meters off the Olympic A standard (of 64 meters). Our goal all year has been to hit that standard." Robinson said if Myklebust were to complete a throw of 64 meters, he would automatically qualify for the Olympics. "That's been our goal ever since we finished the national championships last year," Robinson said. Myklebust will be one of six Tiger athletes competing in the Mid-Eastern regionals. He'll be joined by Ivan Williams (200 meters), Mate Nemeth (3000 steeplechase), Larry Harris (400 hurdles), Stein Syverson (shot put) and Victoria Crawford (triple jump). Two other Tigers - Istvan Kerekjarto and Adam Martin - qualified in their respective events, but are unable to compete. Kerekjarto (800 and 1500) returned to his native Hungary after the Conference USA Track and Field Championships to compete in international competition. Martin injured his back at the C-USA championships. Myklebust, who finished 14th in the discus and 15th in the shot at the NCAA Championships last year, said he agreed with Robinson's approach to the season. "I'm not too far away from the Olympic qualifying mark," he said. "I felt if I was going to make it, I'd have to focus 95 percent of the time on the discus." Robinson calls Myklebust "a very good shot putter who can be a great discus thrower." Robinson said he altered Myklebust's technique for the shot put this season to assist in his development throwing the discus. "When he was throwing the shot with his spin, he'd be off in the discus circle," Robinson said. "So this year we switched him to the glide - we'd never trained for it at all - but we switched to entirely focus on the discus. "I don't think it was difficult for him at all. At this stage in his career, he can be a really good guy who throws both or you can develop into a great, international-level thrower in one event." Myklebust said he'll have between six and eight events to better his distance when he returns home. He said he's scheduled to participate in meets near his home in Norway, in addition to events in Sweden, Denmark and Germany. Myklebust said he'll be pushed by two other discus throwers in Norway who have thrown similar distances. But he hopes that the extra attention he paid to the discus during his senior season will prove beneficial in NCAA and international competition. "I think my technique got (better) as the season (progressed)," Myklebust said. "I could do the same thing more easily. It definitely helped to concentrate on the discus. When you are spending 50 percent of your time on both, you are going to be average on both." Coached back home by Lars Sundt, a former SMU track standout, Myklebust said he'd like nothing more than to reach an Olympic qualifying distance during the NCAAs. "That would be good," he said. "It's going to be hard, but it would be ideal if I could (reach) it this soon." He doesn't expect, however, to retire from shot put competition this summer. He said when he's participating with his Norwegian track club - Norna-Salhus - he'll throw the shot to help his team score points in the Norwegian Championships. Robinson likely won't be as interested in what his pupil does in the shot. He's expecting memorable results in the discus. "In the discus he's 10 feet ahead of where was at this time last year," Robinson said. "He's ready to do something special." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

05/27/04		Williams likely back to N.C. (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact May 27, 2004 University of Memphis signee Richard Dorsey will graduate from Laurinburg (N.C.) Prep on Sunday, which should guarantee he'll be a Tiger next season. The future of former Hamilton High star Shawne Williams remains unresolved. But his high school coach indicated Wednesday that the Memphis recruit will likely return to Laurinburg and spend next season clearing up the academic mess that's hampered him for the past year. ''That's what it looks like is going to happen,'' said Laurinburg coach Chris Chaney. ''It's probable he'll be here next year.'' Which, of course, would mean Williams wouldn't be at Memphis, something that has long been speculated thanks to grade issues that forced his transfer to Laurinburg. Ineligible at Hamilton, Williams bolted to the prep school in February to progress academically. And, by all accounts, he has. But the proverbial hole the 6-9 wing dug has apparently proved too deep, which will affect John Calipari's recruiting class but hardly be crushing considering the Tigers have Sean Banks and Rodney Carney returning on the wings. That potential All-Conference USA duo is scheduled to be joined in Memphis within the next two weeks by Dorsey, as well as recruits Darius Washington, Kareem Cooper and Tank Beavers, all of whom are expected to enroll in summer school at the U of M. The Tigers' other signee, Waki Williams, will remain at his California junior college to take summer courses and move to Memphis in August. Even without Shawne Williams, Memphis will have the maximum 13 players on scholarship next season.

05/26/04		Walker Named National ITA/Arthur Ashe Award Winner -- Senior caps his career with national honor from collegiate tennis governing body (GoTigersGo.com)
		Senior men's tennis player Lee Taylor Walker was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's recipient of the national Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship winner it was announced by the ITA, Wednesday. Walker, who was a first-team All-Conference USA honoree earlier this season, wrapped a impressive three-year Tiger career that included being the program's highest-ever ranked singles player (No. 48) and part of the program's highest-ever rated doubles team (No. 12). Walker is currently ranked No. 109 in the nation in singles after guiding the Tigers to their first-ever Conference USA Semifinals appearance back in April. The ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award goes to a player who has exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements. An All-Conference USA performer this past season, Walker was also active off the court for the Tigers. He was a crucial part in getting a chapter of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes (FCA) back on the U of M campus after a 10-year hiatus, and served on a mission trip to Central America last summer. He also served a six-month internship at St. Jude Children's Hospital this year. Walker, who is ranked No. 109 in the national singles rankings, is from Jackson, Tenn. He is the son of Danny and Susie Walker. Walker is the first Memphis Tiger to ever earn a national award from the ITA. He guided Memphis to a 15-11 record as the team's lone senior in 2004. This year's other ITA national award winners are: ITA/Farnsworth National Senior Players of the Year - (co-winners) Brian Wilson, Illinois, and Jeremy Wurtzman, Ohio State ITA National Rookie of the Year - Alex Slovic, Washington ITA National Player to Watch - Sam Warburg, Stanford ITA/John Van Nostrand Memorial Award - Nicholas Monroe, North Carolina Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year - Ron Smarr, Rice ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year -- Shaheen Ladhani , Rice ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award -- William Barker, Rice

05/26/04		Memphis readies for NCAA Mid-Eastern Track & Field Regional -- Myklebust and Nemeth enter the meet as event favorites (GoTigersGo.com)
		BATON ROUGE, La.-The University of Memphis track team will send six athletes to the NCAA Mid-Eastern Track & Field Regional hosted by Louisiana State University at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium. Memphis qualified eight athletes in 10 events for the meet, but three Tigers will not compete in the regional. Headlining the Tigers regional qualifiers are Seniors Gaute Myklebust and Mate Nemeth. Myklebust is the favorite in the discus throw as his mark of 60.85m (a school record) ranks No. 1 in the Mid-East region. Myklebust will only compete in the discus, and not the shot put, though he qualified in both events. Nemeth will compete in the steeplechase and enters the race as the top seed with a personal season best time of 8:45.88. In 2003, both Myklebust and Nemeth advanced through regional competition to compete at the NCAA Championships. The duo looks to return to nationals this year. Tiger senior sprinter Ivan Williams will compete in the 200m, freshman hurdler Larry Harris has qualified in the 400m Hurdles. The lone Lady Tiger qualifier is junior Victoria Crawford. She qualified in the triple jump, marking the second year in a row that Memphis has a qualifier in the event. Last year, Lisa-Marie Hyman competed at the regional in the triple jump. Tiger Senior Stein Syverson will not compete in the shot put. He has returned to Europe and will compete for Norway in an international meet being held in Switzerland. In addition, Istvan Kerekjarto and Adam Martin will not compete at the regional meet. Martin suffered a back injury at the C-USA Championships and Kerekjarto has returned to Hungary to compete in international competition for his native country. Kerekjarto was qualified in the 1500m and 800m and ranked in the top-10 in both events. Martin qualified in the shot put. The top four performances in each event at the NCAA Mid-Eastern Regional will earn the right to automatically ad-vance to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas on June 10-13. Results of the meet can be found here at www.gotigersgo.com and for live scoring visit www.lsusports.net. Competition begins Friday and concludes Saturday evening.

05/26/04		Tiger Baseball Thumps Southern Miss 10-5 In C-USA Tournament Opener -- Rightfielder Jordan Hart ties tournament record with five hits, smacks two home runs (GoTigersGo.com)
		HOUSTON - The sixth-seeded Memphis baseball team wasted little time serving up the first upset of the Conference USA Tournament Wednesday morning by sending third-seeded Southern Miss to the loser's bracket with a 10-5 victory in game one at Cougar Field. Rightfielder Jordan Hart led a 17-hit Tiger offense as he tied a tournament record with five hits including a pair of solo home runs. Starter Jarrett Grube did the job on the mound for the Tigers (29-26) as the first-team All C-USA selection limited the Golden Eagles to just seven hits and three earned runs in 6.1 innings. Grube fanned 10 USM batters and walked just two to pick up his ninth win of the season. Grube is the fifth C-USA hurler to reach double-digits in strikeouts in a tournament game. "We put everything together in today's win," Head Coach Dave Anderson said. "We got great pitching from Grube, our offense came through with some big two-out hits and our defense was outstanding. We did a lot of little things today that led to some big innings for us and kept them from getting started offensively." The 10 runs were the most ever scored by a Memphis squad in 12 previous C-USA Tournament games. Hart, who was the 12th C-USA player to homer twice in a tournament game, drove in a team-high three runs while catcher Kurt Welch, DH Ryan Martin and first baseman Kyle Scott each added two RBI. Memphis jumped out of the gates quickly, plating a trio of runs on three hits in the first off USM starter Cliff Russum. Chad House led off the game with his first of three singles in the contest and came around to score on a RBI-single by Welch. Martin followed with a sac fly to score Brent Dlugach and Scott drove in the third run with a single. The Golden Eagles retaliated with three hits of their own in the first, but could plate just two runs to within a run after a wild opening inning. The Tigers threatened in the second loading the bases with one out, but Dlugach hit a liner that found Russum's glove and he was able to turn the easy double play to get of the jam. Southern Miss knotted the game at three in third despite Grube striking out four batters in the frame. Hart quickly put the Tigers back in the lead blasting his first homer of the game with one out in the Tigers' half of the fourth. The Tigers would never trail again as Grube got out of jam in the fourth inducing the league's top RBI-man Jarrett Hoffpauir left two men on base as he fouled out to Scott to end the frame . Dlugach ripped a single into left to start a three-run inning for the Tigers in the seventh. Memphis would need the runs as Payne drove in what proved to be the deciding run with a double off USM reliever Adam Smith. Payne, Martin and Hart each had RBI-hits in the pivotal inning. After retiring the first batter in the seventh, Grube allowed a hit and a walk before being replaced by reliever Corey Kines. USM catcher Brad Wilcutt hit a soft-liner to Michael Lewis at second who caught the ball and quickly tagged second to retire the side on a much-needed double play. The Tigers tacked on two more runs in the eighth on a suicide squeeze play and a RBI-single by Scott. Hart added one more insurance run in the ninth with his second home run of the game. The Cordova, Tenn., native joined three other players who have posted five-hit games in C-USA tournament action. Craig House had the Tigers' last five-hit game during the 1997 season against Saint Louis. Kines surrendered a two-run homer to Marc Maddox in the ninth, but the game was out of reach at the point. Maddox and shortstop Matt Shepherd each had three hits for the Golden Eagles. Russum took the loss falling to 6-3 on the season. The Tigers will face the winner of game two between Tulane-UAB at 4 p.m. Thursday.

05/26/04		Tigers excited about C-USA tourney (Commercial Appeal)
		By Todd Vinyard Contact May 26, 2004 Playing at 9 a.m. or riding on a bus 12 hours is fine in Josh Payne's mind as long as the University of Memphis centerfielder is in the Conference USA baseball tournament. Payne and the sixth-seeded Tigers (28-26) will be making the school's sixth appearance in the Conference USA tourney and first since 2001 today in an early morning matchup against No. 3 seed Southern Miss in Houston. "We set this as a goal and it is great to be back in the tournament," said Payne, who played on the last Tiger team to be in the tournament. "Our seniors understand how special it is to be in the tournament and we're going to make the most of it." Five other players who are on the Tiger squad played in that C-USA tournament. They were pitcher Matt Fry, second baseman Michael Lewis, second baseman James Rouse, first baseman Kyle Scott and pitcher Bill Edwards. That was Tiger coach Dave Anderson's first team in 2001 and it made a run to the semifinals, defeating Cincinnati (8-5) and Charlotte (4-2) before dropping a pair of games to Tulane (7-6, 7-1). It was the only time the baseball program reached the C-USA semifinals. "We were surprised to get into the tournament that year after a few down years and it being the first year with a new coach, but we learned anything can happen in a tournament if you put a few wins together," Edwards said. A former Evangelical Christian School star, Edwards thinks solid pitching could help the Tigers make another tournament run this season. "In a tournament you've got to have good pitching and we have plenty of guys that can throw innings if we need them," Edwards said. First up for the Tigers staff is Jarrett Grube (8-4, 2.73 earned run average). After Grube, the Tigers will start right-hander Derek Hankins in the double-elmination tournament. If the Tigers are still alive, Edwards (3-2, 3.83 ERA) would probably start a third game. Although the U of M's draw is more favorable than it could have been, since the Tigers are in the other side of the bracket from top-seeded East Carolina and host team Houston, nothing will be easy. "We've got several good squads in our bracket," Anderson said. "We've beaten Southern Mississippi and Tulane each once this season. But it's going to be a major challenge starting with Southern Mississippi since they hit the ball very well." The U of M comes in playing good baseball, having won five straight before losing 8-3 at Saint Louis Saturday. "We're excited," said junior shortstop Brent Dulgach, who leads the team with a .357 average against C-USA opponents. "For a lot of us this is the first trip to the C-USA tournament and we want to have a good showing." - Todd Vinyard: 529-2343

05/26/04		C-USA baseball tournament (Commercial Appeal)
		TODAY'S FIRST-ROUND GAMES No. 3 Southern Miss (40-15) vs. No. 6 Memphis (28-26), 9 a.m. No. 2 Tulane (38-17) vs. No. 7 UAB (28-27), 12:30 p.m. No. 1 East Carolina (47-9) vs. No. 8 Louisville (26-28), 4 p.m. No. 4 TCU (33-23) vs. No. 5 Houston (28-27), 7:30 p.m.

05/26/04		U OF M NOTEBOOK (football, rifle, basketball) (Commercial Appeal)
		By The Commercial Appeal May 26, 2004 West's digs fetch fan's $100,000 The for-sale sign has been removed from Tommy West's office at the University of Memphis. The university has offered naming rights for many of its athletic facilities, and had found takers for the offices of athletic director R.C. Johnson and men's basketball coach John Calipari. On Tuesday, the university announced that longtime supporter Frank Flautt, president of Flautt Inc., had pledged $100,000 to secure naming rights to the office of head football coach West. "I am pleased that the naming rights program continues to grow here at the U of M," said Johnson. "I appreciate Frank's continued faith and support of this program. We are very fortunate to have such tremendous community support." In other developments Tidmore vies for Olympics: University of Memphis sophomore Beth Tidmore ranked 10th among 34 shooters participating Tuesday in the first day of a three-day event at Fort Benning, Ga., to secure one of two open spots on the U.S. Olympic Rifle team. Tidmore totaled 390 of a possible 400, six points behind the leading score. Calipari offers good-student discount: Memphis men's basketball coach John Calipari said Tuesday that he will offer a 10 percent discount for the first session of the John Calipari Basketball School for any boy who made his school's honor roll this past year. The Calipari Basketball School's first session will be June 14-18 on the U of M campus. To qualify for the discount, send a copy of the report card showing a grading period of all A's and B's along with an application form, or take the report card to the men's basketball office at Southern and Normal. "I want to personally encourage academic success at every opportunity," said Calipari, who will be entering his fifth year at Memphis in 2004-05. "This discount is just one small way that I can express my appreciation for those youngsters who have dedicated themselves in the classroom this past school year."

05/26/04		Three Tigers tapped All-C-USA (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services May 26, 2004 University of Memphis senior pitcher Jarrett Grube earned first-team All-Conference USA honors, while junior shortstop Brent Dlugach (Houston High) and junior pitcher Derek Hankins were named to the second team announced Tuesday. It's the first time in school history that three or more Tigers were named to postseason All C-USA teams. Grube finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and one save with a league-best 2.73 ERA. The Corunna, Ind., native was second in C-USA with 100 strikeouts, just behind Hankins (105). Hankins, from Altamont, Ill., posted an 8-5 record with a 4.59 ERA. Dlugach batted a team-leading .357 in league games and led the Tigers with a career-high nine home runs and 15 doubles. East Carolina dominated the major awards, winning Player of the Year (DH Ryan Jones), Pitcher of the Year (RHP Greg Bunn) and Coach of the Year (Randy Mazey). TCU's Chad Huffman was named the league's Freshman of the Year.

05/25/04		Trio of Tigers Named To All-Conference USA Baseball Teams -- Senior Jarrett Grube named to first team, Brent Dlugach and Derek Hankins named to second team (GoTigersGo.com)
		HOUSTON - University of Memphis senior pitcher Jarrett Grube earned first-team All-Conference USA honors while junior shortstop Brent Dlugach and junior pitcher Derek Hankins were named to the second team in an announcement made by the league office Tuesday. This marks the first year in school history that three or more Tigers were named to postseason All C-USA teams. The trio helped lead the Tigers back to the C-USA Tournament for the first time since 2001. Grube and Hankins combined to win 10 of the Tigers' school-record tying 15 league wins this season. Grube finished the regular season with an 8-4 record and one save while posting the lowest ERA in league at 2.73. The Corunna, Ind., native finished second in C-USA with 100 strikeouts just behind Hankins, who led the league with 105. It was the first time in school history that a pair of pitchers surpassed the 100-strikeout plateau in the same season. Grube also combined on three shutouts in league play and had the Tigers' only nine-inning, complete-game shutout after tossing a three-hitter against UAB. Hankins picked up three C-USA Pitcher of the Week awards during the season and finished tied for the league-lead with six wins in C-USA play. The Altamont, Ill., posted an 8-5 record with a 4.59 ERA and led the team with three complete games. His 17-strikeout performance against Murray State tied a school and C-USA record held by former Tiger Chad Harville. Dlugach held a team-leading .357 batting average in league games and also led the team with a career-high nine home runs and 15 doubles. The Germantown, Tenn., native also posted a team-leading 28 RBI in C-USA games and made just six errors at shortstop in 141 chances in league play. Dlugach is the first Tiger shortstop in school history to be named to an All C-USA team. Daniel Uggla was the first Tiger infielder to be recognized in 2001 and the last Memphis player before Grube to earn first-team honors. Memphis opens C-USA Tournament play Wednesday morning against third-seeded Southern Miss. Grube will get the start for the Tigers with first pitch set for 9 a.m.

05/25/04		Calipari Basketball School To Offer Discount To Honor Roll Students -- The discount is for the first summer session June 14-18 (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis men's basketball head coach John Calipari announced Tuesday that he will offer a 10 percent discount for the first session of the John Calipari Basketball School for any boy who made his school's honor roll this past year. The Calipari Basketball School's first session will be held June 14-18 on the University's campus. To qualify for the discount, send in a copy of the report card showing a grading period of all A's and B's along with an application form, or bring in the report card to the men's basketball office to enroll. The Tiger basketball office is in the Athletic Office Building located on the corner of Southern Avenue and Normal Street. "I want to personally encourage academic success at every opportunity," said Calipari, who will be entering his fifth year at Memphis in 2004-05. "This discount is just one small way that I can express my appreciation for those youngsters who have dedicated themselves in the classroom this past school year. I believe we are going to have the best basketball camp ever, and I hope that many will take advantage of this offer." The school's first session, named "Spring Into Hoops," is a day camp for boys ages 7-18, and will run from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. each day June 14-18. In addition to daily basketball instruction, campers will receive a basketball school t-shirt and a Tiger Workshop Workout Plan. The John Calipari Basketball School also offers four additional sessions during the summer. For a free color brochure and camp application, call 901-678-2346 or go to the Memphis athletics web site at www.gotigersgo.com and click on the Memphis Camps link on the right side of the front page.

05/25/04		Beth Tidmore Vying For Olympic Spot -- Sophomore in 10th place after first day in event that could secure her a spot on the U.S. Olympic Rifle Team (GoTigersGo.com)
		FT. BENNING, GA. - University of Memphis sophomore Beth Tidmore is currently participating in a three-day event here to secure one of two open spots on the U.S. Olympic Rifle team. After the first day of qualifying, Tidmore is ranked 10th out of 34 shooters after totaling a score of 390 out of a possible 400. The current leading mark is a score of 396. "I am really proud of Beth and the national exposure that she continues to bring our program," said head coach Butch Woolbright. "She still has a shot at achieving her Olympic aspirations with two more days of shooting remaining."

05/25/04		Frank Flautt Pledges $ 100,000 to Tiger Legacy Program -- Long-time supporter and U of M graduate secures naming rights to Tommy West's Office (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Athletic Department Naming Rights campaign at the University of Memphis continues to be a success. Athletic Director R.C. Johnson announced today that long-time supporter and 1963 U of M graduate Frank Flautt has pledged $100,000 for the naming rights to Football Coach Tommy West's office. At present time, naming rights also have been secured for Johnson's office as well as Basketball Coach John Calipari's office. "I am pleased that the naming rights program continues to grow here at the U of M," said Johnson. "I appreciate Frank's continued faith and support of this program. We are very fortunate to have such tremendous community support." Flautt, hotelier and president of Flautt, Inc., is an enthusiastic supporter of the University and its various sports and educational programs, including the Fogelman College and the new hotel development complex. He was honored last summer with a Distinguished Alumni Award by the U of M. Flautt also spearheaded a project that raised $2.5 million for the construction of the Athletic Office Building addition. Under the Tiger Legacy plan, offices, locker rooms and even playing fields and practice areas are available to be named after a Tiger fan or donor. In fact, if all of the available areas were sold, over $10,000,000 could be deposited in the U of M general athletic fund. For more information on the Tiger Legacy program, as well as a brochure detailing the campaign, please contact the Tiger Clubs office at 901-678-2334.

05/23/04		Baseball to Play Southern Miss in Opening Game of 2004 C-USA Tournament -- The Tigers and Golden Eagles to open tourney play at 9 a.m. (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The sixth-seeded Memphis Tigers have drawn the 2004 Conference USA Tournament opener on Wednesday, May 26. Memphis will face No. 3 Southern Miss in its first post-season appearance since the 2001 season. Game time is set for a 9 a.m. start at Houston's Cougar Field. Memphis enters the Tournament as winners of six of their last seven, while Southern Miss dropped a C-USA series to No. 4 ECU over the weekend, but has won seven of its last 10. East Carolina will be the No. 1 seed after running away with the regular season title by four games. The fourth-ranked Pirates (47-9) sport the best record in Division I and set the C-USA record for league wins with 25, against just five losses. They will face No. 8 Louisville on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Louisville earned the final spot in the tournament after sweeping USF over the weekend. Tulane, winner of the second-seed by way of tiebreak over Southern Miss, will take on seventh-seeded UAB at 12:30 Wednesday afternoon. Tulane has won four of the leagu's first eight tournament championships. The four and five seeds, Houston and TCU will play the late game on Wednesday as first pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. The 2004 Conference USA Tournament Schedule is as follows: Wednesday, May 26 Game One - 9 a.m. - (6) Memphis vs. (3) Southern Miss Game Two - 12:30 p.m. - (7) UAB vs. (2) Tulane Game Three - 4 p.m. - (8) Louisville vs. (1) East Carolina Game Four - 7:30 p.m. - (4/5) TCU vs. (4/5) Houston Thursday May 27 Game Five - 9 a.m. - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 Game Six - 12:30 p.m. - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 Game Seven - 4 p.m. - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 Game Eight - 7:30 p.m. - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner 4 Friday May 28 Game Nine - 3 p.m. Game 10 - 6:30 p.m. Saturday May 29 Game 11 - 9 a.m Game 12 - 12:30 p.m. Game 13 (if necessary) - 4 p.m. Game 14 (if necessary) - 7:30 p.m. Sunday May 30 Championship Game - 1 p.m.

05/22/04		Baseball Drops Season Finale at Saint Louis, 8-3 -- Tigers strand nine runners in scoring position as six-game winning streak is snapped (GoTigersGo.com)
		SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - Saint Louis used a pair of three-run homers to hand Memphis an 8-3 loss and avoid being swept in the regular season finale. The Tigers end the regular season with a 28-26 overall mark and 15-14 in C-USA action. Memphis jumped ahead with a single run in the first when Bill Moss scored on Kurt Welch's RBI-single to right. Tiger starter Bill Edwards struggled in the first inning, hitting Pat Steinhoff, and walking Johnny Sweeney before giving up a three run blast to Kyle Wort for a 3-1 Billiken lead. SLU plated two more runs in the second on a two-RBI double to right centerfield by Steinhoff. Welch scored a run in the sixth and drove home Chad House with an RBI-single to center in the seventh to cut the deficit to 5-3. Brad Daubach slammed a three-run home run over the leftfield fence in the home half of the seventh to put the contest away, 8-3. Memphis staged a rally in the eighth, loading the sacks with one out. However, SLU reliever Adam Schroeder was able to induce a double play to get out of the inning. Memphis laced 12 hits, but could not produce the clutch hit as nine of their 11 runners left on base were stranded in scoring position. Moss, Welch, Martin and Jordan Hart each had two hits for the Tigers. Edwards (3-4) was saddled with the loss, allowing five earned runs on four hits in three inning of work. Edwards also walked a pair and hit three SLU batters. Stephen Gostkowski came on in relief of Edwards to hold the Billikens scoreless in two innings, on just one hit while striking out three. Michael Novarese gave up three runs on five hits in two innings of relief and Josh Payne worked a perfect eighth. Ryan Bird (3-6) struck out five to cruise to his third win of the year. He scattered seven hits and retired eight consecutive Tiger batters from the fourth to sixth innings to help his cause. Memphis will return to action on Wednesday, in the opening round of the 2004 C-USA Tournament. This year's appearance will be the Tiger's first since 1999. Pairings have not yet been released.

05/21/04		Derek Hankins Throws Third Complete Game, Baseball Wins 6-1 -- Tiger baseball wins sixth straight (GoTigersGo.com)
		ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Derek Hankins struck out 10 Saint Louis batters to become the fourth pitcher in Memphis baseball history to strike out at least 100 batters in a single season as Memphis (28-25, 15-13 C-USA) cruised to a 6-1 win over Saint Louis (13-41, 4-24 C-USA). Hankins (8-5) and Jarrett Grube, who fanned nine on Thursday, became the first Tiger duo ever to strike out 100 batters each in one season. The Tigers slammed a trio of round trippers and roped 13 hits en route to winning their sixth straight game. The win was Memphis' 15th in Conference USA action, tying the 1999 Tigers for the most wins by a Memphis team in league play as a member of C-USA. Saint Louis gained their first lead of the series in the third frame when third baseman Patrick Valdez deposited a Derek Hankins offering over the leftfield wall for a 1-0 advantage. Memphis would tie the contest with a two-out rally in the top half of the fifth. Patrick Hope ignited the rally with an infield single and Chad House followed with a bunt single. Bill Moss drove Hope in with an RBI double off the leftfield wall, tying the game. Kurt Welch put the Tigers ahead, 2-1, with a solo shot over the leftfield fence, just out of the reach of a leaping Neil Graser. Hope again sparked a Memphis offensive when he belted his first home run as a Tiger in the seventh. An RBI-double by Brent Dlugach increased the lead to 4-1. Jordan Hart launched a solo shot to left in the ninth and Welch added an RBI-single to cap the scoring at 6-1. Welch had three hits for Memphis, including a homer, to lead the Tiger offense. House, Moss, Dlugach and Hope had a pair of hits each. Hankins scattered five hits to earn the win while Kris Weber (3-6) took the loss for SLU, giving up four runs on 10 hits. The Tigers and Billikens will wrap up the regular season in the series finale on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

05/21/04		Calipari Doing Fine After Thursday Hip Replacement Surgery -- The Tigers' head coach to return home to Memphis later this weekend (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis basketball head coach John Calipari underwent hip replacement surgery Thursday morning, and after a little over one day into recovery, the Tiger mentor is doing fine. "I'm all right, and the surgery went well," said Calipari, who had the procedure done at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "I'm experiencing the normal pain that comes with a surgery like this. They have put me on a liquid diet the past couple of days. "For the next six weeks, I'll be on crutches at first, and later I'll be using a cane. Again, I'm doing fine, and I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers for me and my family during this time." Calipari will return home to Memphis later this weekend.

05/21/04		Stadium upgrades to be modest (Commercial Appeal)
		By David Williams Contact May 21, 2004 The City Council will be asked to approve $12 million to $15 million over about three years for Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium improvements. "The mayor's under the opinion that this amount will suffice to put cosmetics and necessities back into the stadium," said Pete Aviotti, special assistant to Mayor Willie Herenton. The city-owned stadium actually could use more than $115 million in upgrades, according to a study by national stadium architectural firm HOK, working with Memphis-based consulting engineers Ellers, Oakley, Chester & Rike. Scott McCormick, chairman of the council's parks committee, said the report suggested improvements estimated to cost $115.6 million to $146.8 million, or a new stadium costing $175 million to $195 million. But Aviotti said, "I think the mayor's already spoken - he's not going to spend $100 million on that stadium." That's a nod to the local sports facilities landscape. As the city and county approach the opening of the $250 million FedExForum, they're seeking a new use for The Pyramid, on which about $32 million in debt service remains. McCormick likewise said a major renovation of the stadium wasn't workable "given the nature of everything else that's going on." The stadium report will be presented at the parks committee's June 1 meeting. The next day, council members will tour the stadium. Stadium improvement is an ongoing process. Upgrades for the 2004 season include numbering of seats, repairs to concrete, painting of the concourse and replacing the fencing around the stadium. For the 2005 season, the grass field is expected to be replaced with artificial turf.

05/20/04		Tiger Baseball Outlasts Saint Louis, 6-4 -- Jarrett Grube hurls five and two-thirds no-hit ball (GoTigersGo.com)
		ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Jarrett Grube became just the third pitcher in Memphis history to record 100 strikeouts in a single season as he fanned nine Saint Louis batters in seven innings of shutout baseball to lead Memphis (27-25, 14-13 C-USA) to a 6-4 win at Billiken Sports Center. Grube held the Billikens to just a single hit and improved his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 19 and two-thirds as the Tigers outlasted SLU (13-40, 4-22 C-USA) to their fifth straight win. Memphis broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with an unearned run. Kyle Scott drew a two-out walk and Adam Amar followed with a lined single to rightfield. SLU rightfielder Jon Greenwich misplayed the ball and it to rolled to the wall allowing Scott to score from first. Amar advanced to third on the play. The Tigers touched up Billiken starter Dave Guntorius for three runs in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. Second baseman Michael Lewis led off the frame with an infield single. Chad House successfully bunted him over to second and Bill Moss drove him in with a double off the leftfield wall. Brent Dlugach followed Moss with his team-leading ninth home run of the year; a towering blast to left that gave Memphis a four-run advantage. Dlugach broke his previous career-high of eight homers with his two-run blast. The Tigers put the game away in the eighth when Kurt Welch drew a walk and leftfielder Ryan Martin followed with his sixth homer of the year to increase the lead to 6-0. Saint Louis made things interesting with four runs in the ninth on three doubles by Steinhoff, Johnny Sweeney and Greenwich and a two RBI-single by Patrick Valdez. Steinhoff had two of the Billikens five hits on the evening. Grube (8-4) increased his strikeout total to 101 to move into third place on Memphis' single season strikeout list. The righthander no-hit SLU through five and two-thirds innings, before Pat Steinhoff blooped a single to center. Corey Kines came on in the ninth to sit down a pair of Billikens to record his fourth save. Guntorius (3-8) was the hard-luck loser in the contest, striking out a career-high 10 Tigers in a valiant seven and one-thirds innings of work. He gave up six hits. Adam Amar was the lone Tiger with more than one hit in a 2-for-3 effort, while both Dlugach and Martin posted a pair of RBIs. The Tigers and Billikens will continue the series with game two on Friday evening. First pitch of game one is slated for 7 p.m.

05/20/04		Tickets On Sale For C-USA Baseball Tournament -- Tigers Are Houston Bound (GoTigersGo.com)
		CHICAGO - Tickets for the 2004 Conference USA Baseball Tournament in Houston, Texas are now on sale through the University of Houston Athletic Ticket office. Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling (713) GO-COOGS (462-6647). The Conference USA Baseball Tournament will be played from Wednesday, May 26 - Sunday, May 30. All games will be played at Cougar Field on the campus of the University of Houston. All-Session reserved tickets for all five days are priced at $50.00, while All-Session general admission tickets are available for $ 40.00. Only All-Session Tickets will be available until the first day of the tournament. Based on availability, single day tickets will go on sale Wednesday, May 26. Single-Day tickets will be priced at $15.00 for all reserved seats and $10.00 for Single-Day adult general admission and $5.00 for Single-Day youth general admission. The tournament schedule is as follows: Wednesday, May 26 Game One 9:00 a.m. Game Two 12:30 p.m. Game Three 4:00 p.m. Game Four 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27 Game Five 9:00 a.m. Game Six 12:30 p.m. Game Seven 4:00 p.m. Game Eight 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 28 Game Nine 3:00 p.m. Game Ten 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29 Game Eleven 9:00 a.m. Game Twelve 12:30 p.m. Game Thirteen (if necessary) 4:00 p.m. Game Fourteen (if necessary) 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 30 Championship Game 1:00 p.m. All Times are Central. For more information on the 2004 Conference USA Baseball Tournament visit http://www.conferenceusa.com/sports/baseball/champs

05/20/04		U of M NOTEBOOK (baseball, track) (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact May 20, 2004 Tigers to handle last series with care Having clinched a spot in next week's Conference USA baseball tournament, the University of Memphis will use a closing league series at Saint Louis to prepare. And according to Tiger coach Dave Anderson, that involves not overthrowing his weekend starters: Jarrett Grube, Derek Hankins and Bill Edwards. Grube, Hankins and Edwards will pitch, but may not approach the 100 pitches they did in last weekend's sweep of Cincinnati that secured the Tigers' first C-USA Tournament appearance since 2001. "We are going to try and win as many as we can in St. Louis," Anderson said. "But we're going to be smart, too. We'll let (Grube, Hankins and Edwards) get their pitches in, but we'll limit their pitches a bit so they'll be strong at the conference tournament." The tournament begins Wednesday at the University of Houston's Cougar Field. Memphis's opening-day opponent will be determined after the three-game series against Saint Louis, which begins tonight at 7. The Billikens are last in C-USA with a 4-22 league record. "We can do all kinds of stuff," said Tiger second baseman Michael Lewis, a former Germantown High standout. "You can throw your starters two, three or four innings and let them get their work in and then go to your bullpen and let those guys who haven't gotten a lot of work get some work in. "You can let guys who haven't had a lot of at-bats, get their at-bats in. And that's important because you'll need them in the tournament." Grube, who will start tonight's game, said the Tigers would like to end the regular season with another C-USA sweep and ensure a top-six finish. "It's nice going to Saint Louis with no pressure," Grube said. "You still go out and play as hard as you can, but you're in the tournament. "There will still be pressure on us from the coaches to finish sixth." The Tigers are 13-13 in league play, 21/2 games behind TCU (16-11) and one game ahead of South Florida (12-14), which has yet to clinch a tournament berth. Track-scratch fever Distance runner Istvan Kerekjarto and thrower Adam Martin will not compete in the NCAA Mid-Eastern Track and Field Regional next week at Baton Rouge, La. Kerekjarto had qualified for two events - the 800- and 1500-meters - and Martin had qualified in the shot put. But Kerekjarto returned to his native Hungary after competing in last week's C-USA Track and Field Championships to participate in an international event. It marked the second straight year Kerekjarto has qualified, but been unable to participate in regional competition. He missed the 2003 regionals because of a knee injury suffered at the conference tournament. Martin, a senior from Monett, Mo., was a regional qualifier in the hammer throw last year. He re-injured his back at the C-USA championships last year while warming up for the hammer throw. Habit forming Victoria Crawford, a guard on the women's basketball team, helped the Lady Tigers earn a postseason berth in the Women's National Invitation Tournament in March. Next week, she'll return to the postseason, this time as a member of the women's track team. Crawford qualified for the NCAA Mid-Eastern regional in the triple jump. She is the only member of the women's track team advancing to the postseason. While she said she was secretly looking forward to beginning her summer when school ended earlier this month, she's intent on improving her personal-best triple jump in the regional. "After the season, everybody expected me to run track, so I did," she said. "I didn't want to let anybody down, especially my dad (Roger). He wanted me to run track. He was in Louisville (for the C-USA championships) and he'll be in Baton Rouge for the regionals." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

05/20/04		Memphis gains slight edge for C-USA division decision (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact May 20, 2004 DESTIN, Fla. - The good news came for the University of Memphis early Wednesday, when a subcommittee was appointed to handle scheduling for basketball. This is the group that will, for the most part, decide whether there are one or two divisions in hoops, and if it plays 14 or 16 league games, both of which are crucial to John Calipari. ''And the chair of that subcommittee is the AD from the University of Memphis,'' said R.C. Johnson, the AD from the University of Memphis. So that should be great for the Tigers' desires for no divisions in basketball and just 14 league games, right? ''We'll see,'' Johnson answered diplomatically. ''We'll see.'' The third day of the Conference USA Spring Meetings ended with its first bit of real news. In addition to Johnson being named chair of the basketball scheduling subcommittee, other significant things that happened were: C-USA has agreed to begin negotiating with Memphis for its men's basketball tournament in 2006 and 2007, which means FedExForum will likely host the event for at least the next three years. ''We'll now meet with the Memphis Sports Authority and talk about extending our agreement for a couple more years,'' said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky. ''So as long as we can reach an agreement on the business terms, I think it will happen.'' The athletic directors recommended there be divisions in football, which will be drawn down geographic lines with Tulsa, Tulane, SMU, Rice, Houston and UTEP in the west and Memphis, East Carolina, Southern Miss, UAB, Central Florida and Marshall in the east. The presidents' approval is the only thing lack ing to make the divisions official, but that's considered a mere formality. As for a championship game in football, that's still being debated but is probably going to happen. ''I don't see the purpose in having 12 schools if we're not going to have a championship game,'' said Central Florida coach George O'Leary. ''The perception is that that's why we went to 12 schools, so we should have it. "Otherwise, why do we have all these teams in the league?''

05/19/04		Tiger Notes: Golf, Baseball (Commercial Appeal)
		By From Our Press Services May 19, 2004 Campbell assistant will coach Lady Tiger golf The University of Memphis has hired Jenny Bruun to coach women's golf. Bruun will replace Sheryl Maize at the helm of the Lady Tiger program. Bruun has spent the past two seasons as the assistant golf coach at Campbell University, where she has helped the Campbell men's and women's teams to four tournament victories, including the 2004 Atlantic Sun Women's Championship. "We are very pleased to have Jennifer Bruun join the University of Memphis athletic family," said athletic director R.C. Johnson. Bruun was a three-year starter on the Golden Gopher golf team and played in 32 events during her collegiate career at Minnesota. Bruun takes over a Memphis women's golf program that last appeared in the NCAA Regionals in 2001-02. Other developments: Tigers win home finale: Catcher Kurt Welch homered and posted a career-high five RBI as the University of Memphis baseball team claimed a 9-2 victory over UT-Martin Tuesday at Nat Buring Stadium in the Tigers' final home game of the season. The Tigers (26-25) extended their winning streak to four games overall and seven in the series with the Skyhawks (15-36). Third baseman Bill Moss and centerfielder Chad House each had three hits and a RBI for the Tigers as they pounded out 16 hits off three different Skyhawk hurlers. Five Tiger pitchers combined to hold the Skyhawks to just five hits as senior Matt Fry (1-0) notched the first win of his career. Fry went three innings allowing two runs on two hits.

05/19/04		C-USA NOTEBOOK (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact May 19, 2004 Lots of talk but little action as schools get acquainted DESTIN, Fla. - Two days of discussions at the Conference USA Spring Meetings, and still no formal action has been taken on any significant subject. Instead, the meetings have been filled with debate, with everybody seemingly intent on weighing each decision before taking action. ''We've accomplished a lot, maybe not legislatively but in terms of getting to know people,'' said University of Memphis athletic director R. C. Johnson. ''We've had two great days.'' If there is any legislation taken this week the first will probably be to set Eastern and Western Divisions that are expected to be drawn along geographical lines. Also, the consensus is there will be a championship game in football and one division and just 14 league games for basketball. But again, everything remains debatable. ''I think we'll end up (with one division and 14 league games in basketball) but time will tell,'' said Tulane coachShawn Finney. ''I know (John Calipari) is really pushing for no divisions, and obviously last year it proved good for our league." Cal and Eustachy Last year when Larry Eustachy resigned from Iowa State after acknowledging he was an alcoholic, he received a call from University of Memphis coach John Calipari, who invited the troubled coach to Memphis. Once in town, Calipari spent a lot of time with Eustachy and sort of took him in, which was surprising considering the two weren't necessarily friends before then. ''Cal was just an acquaintance at the time,'' Eustachy said. ''He didn't have to extend his friendship to me but he did and we've stayed in touch and he's become a very good friend. Busy season One of the busiest ADs in the league lately has been Southern Miss's Richard Giannini. Since the end of basketball season he has hired two coaches, Eustachy and Joye Lee-McNelis, who should revitalize USM's programs. By his own admission, Giannini recognized the need for improvement, both in coaching and facilities that will also get an upgrade soon. ''We know we can be at the top in football but we had to do something to get better in basketball,'' he said. ''I think the two hires that we've made will allow us to compete for championships.''

05/18/04		Tiger Baseball Hammers UT-Martin 9-2 In Home Finale -- Memphis gets career-high five RBI from catcher Kurt Welch (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - Catcher Kurt Welch homered and posted a career-high five RBI as the University of Memphis baseball team claimed a 9-2 victory over UT-Martin Tuesday at Nat Buring Stadium in the Tigers' final home game of the season. The Tigers (26-25) extended their winning streak to four games overall and seven in the series with the Skyhawks (15-36). Third baseman Bill Moss and centerfielder Chad House each had three hits and a RBI for the Tigers as they pounded out 16 hits off three different Skyhawk hurlers. Moss was just a home run shy of the cycle as he singled, doubled and tripled in the contest. Senior Josh Payne doubled and homered in his final home game for the Tigers. Five Tiger pitchers combined to hold the Skyhawks to just five hits as senior Matt Fry (1-0) notched the first win of his career. Fry went three innings allowing two runs on two hits. Stephen Gostkowski, Zach Cook, Andrew Christie and Daniel de Armas combined to hold UT-Martin scoreless in six innings of relief. Cook struck out a season-high three batters in two innings. The Memphis offense jumped on Skyhawk starter Adam Ledlow in the first plating three runs on four hits. Welch provided the big blow sending a three-run homer over the leftfield wall. It was the senior's career high fourth home run of the season. Ledlow took the loss to fall to 0-3. UTM catcher Brett Spivy took his turn with the long ball leading off the second with a solo home run to cut the Memphis lead to 3-1. A wild pitch by Memphis starter Matt Fry forced in another run to put the Skyhawks within a run. Ledlow allowed a leadoff double to Payne in the second and he was quickly replaced by Mickey Dobson. Dobson did not fair much better as Payne came around to score on House's second single of the game. Moss followed with his second hit of the game scoring House, who had stolen third. Welch then drove in his fourth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-2 contest. Payne blasted a solo home run to deep left off UTM reliever Casey Estill in the third inning to extend the Memphis lead to five runs. Moss tripled to lead off the sixth and scored on Welch's fifth RBI of the game as he singled sharply through the left side. Patrick Hope entered the game in the fifth and went 2-for-2 at the plate. The sophomore doubled in the seventh and scored on a double by rightfielder Jordan Hart to put the Tigers up 9-2. The Tigers take on Saint Louis this weekend in their Conference USA regular season series. First pitch of game one is slated for Thursday at 7 p.m.

05/18/04		Bruun Named Women's Golf Head Coach -- Former University of Minnesota standout to take over Lady Tiger golf program (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS - The University of Memphis has recommended Jenny Bruun for the Head Women's Golf Coach. Bruun will replace Sheryl Maize at the helm of the Lady Tiger program. Bruun has spent the past two seasons as the Assistant Golf Coach at Campbell University, where she has helped the Campbell men's and women's golf teams to four tournament victories, including the 2004 Atlantic Sun Women's Championship. "We are very pleased to have Jennifer Bruun join the University of Memphis athletic family," said Athletic Director R.C. Johnson. "She has an outstanding resume as both a player and young coach and I'm sure she will have the same success at Memphis that she has had at Campbell." Bruun, a former University of Minnesota standout, spent the last two seasons at Campbell assisting with both the men's and women's teams. The 2004 women's team won the Atlantic Sun Championship and qualified for their second straight NCAA Regional, finishing 14th in the team competition and having an individual golfer finish 12th overall. During Bruun's first year with the Fighting Camel program, Campbell won four tournament titles, had six players earn all-conference honors and had senior Sharon O'Neill named the A-Sun Conference Women's Golfer of the Year. In 2004, eight CU golfers were named all-conference while head coach John Crooks was tabbed as the A-Sun Women's Coach of the Year. Bruun was a three-year starter on the Golden Gopher golf team and played in 32 events during her collegiate career. She earned Minnesota's Patty Berg Academic Award in each of her four years and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She was the team's low player in four tournaments in 2001, including the NCAA Central Regional. Named Minnesota's Outstanding Female Athlete in 2001, Bruun earned her B.S. in kinesiology that same year, before graduating from Minnesota with an M.Ed. in physical education in July of 2002. Also a solid prep basketball player, Bruun chose a golf scholarship at Minnesota over a basketball scholarship at Iowa State. Bruun takes over a Memphis women's golf program that last appeared in the NCAA Regionals in 2001-02. The Lady Tigers finished in eighth place at the Conference USA Championships in April, where senior Jennifer Jaszek capped her Lady Tiger career tied for 16th. "The Lady Tiger golf program has had a history of participating in the NCAA Tournament and I am certain that Coach Bruun will return the team to that lofty status," Johnson said. Bruun is anticipated to begin at the U of M, June 1st.

05/18/04		Old C-USA members meet league newbies (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact May 18, 2004 DESTIN, Fla. - At about 3 p.m. Monday the door to the Hilton Sandestin Beach and Golf Resort's Emerald Ballroom No. 2 closed. That's the moment Conference USA's Spring Meetings officially began. But first . . . "We went around the room and everyone had to introduce themselves," commissioner Britton Banowsky said. "It's remarkable. We've had so much change that everyone had to do that." And so it was on the opening day of this gathering of C-USA's realigned members. The most crucial part was the introductions. Not extensive introductions, mind you. Just state-your-name-and-school introductions, which were necessary, considering the unfamiliarity that encompasses this league these days. Memphis. Southern Miss. Tulane. Houston. East Carolina. UAB. Those are the veterans. They're all here. Marshall. SMU. Tulsa. Central Florida. Rice. UTEP. Those are the newbies. They're all here too. In the next three days, representatives from each of the 12 members will exchange ideas about the direction C-USA should go come 2005-2006, which should create some interesting give-and-take. But before that could happen, everybody had to, well, give and take names. So, Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson stood and introduced himself. And so did UAB basketball coach Mike Anderson. And so did Central Florida football coach George O'Leary. And . . . you get the point. "I didn't know everybody, so it was a good start," Johnson said. "Those who are coming in are really excited about being here, and those of us who have been here since the beginning are adjusting. So I think everybody is enthusiastic and happy to be together right now." Which was the consensus Monday, from athletic directors to football coaches to basketball coaches to everybody. After Banowsky gave a brief speech, the C-USA brethren enjoyed a hospitality hour of sorts that lasted well into the night, as the sun set on the shore, not to mention the old league and format. Over drinks and snacks, some talked about yesterday, and even wished for it, it's safe to assume. But because this week is built around the future, it seemed appropriate that few seemed interested in dwelling on the past and were instead focused on making this league the best it can be even without Louisville and Cincinnati. "I think the sense is that we've lost some really powerful schools, but they've been replaced by some very good schools," said Larry Eustachy, the new Southern Miss basketball coach. "So I think it's far more equal now from top to bottom, and people are excited about that." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

05/17/04		Tiger Baseball To Wrap Up Home Schedule With UT-Martin -- Memphis hosts Skyhawks Tuesday at 7 p.m. (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS - The University of Memphis baseball team will wrap up its home schedule with a non-conference game against UT-Martin Tuesday at Nat Buring Stadium. First pitch between the Tigers and Skyhawks is slated for 7 p.m. Memphis won the first meeting between the two schools earlier this season taking a 7-4 decision from UT-Martin on March 9. The Tigers are 22-3 all-time against the Skyhawks and have won six straight in the series. The teams enter the contest heading in different directions as the Tigers (25-25) swept Cincinnati last weekend to clinch a berth in the C-USA Tournament and improve to 13-13 in league play. The Skyhawks dropped three straight at Samford to fall to 6-18 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Senior Matt Fry will make his first-career start for the Tigers while the Skyhawks will counter with Adam Ledlow. The Tigers will concluded C-USA play this Thursday-Saturday at Saint Louis taking on the Billikens in a three-game series at the Billiken Sports Center. The C-USA Tournament is scheduled to begin in Houston on May 26.

05/17/04		Men's Soccer Signs Three for 2004 Season -- Pair of freshmen and goalkeeping depth added to Tiger squad (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis soccer head coach Richie Grant announced the signing of transfer midfielder Stephen Cooling, in-coming freshmen defender Afif Najjar and goalkeeper Gavin McInerney. Grant and the Tigers have now signed 10 recruits in preparation for the 2004 season. Najjar is a decorated athlete who can also play in the midfield. As a senior at Francis Howell Central High School, he garnered all-conference first team honors, as well as being named Second Team All-State and St. Louis Metro Select honorable mention. His father, Hannibal Najjar, is a former Trinidad & Tobago National Team coach. "Afif possesses the strong qualities of being a coach's son," Grant said. "He is a quick defender that has excellent technical skills. I have a great deal of respect for his father's knowledge of the game and we are excited about adding him to strengthen our defense for next year." McInerney comes to the Memphis program from Colaiste Ide. Prior to playing at Colaiste Ide, the goalie played for Dublin City Football Club in the Eircom League. "Gavin played against us in the spring and is the reason why I think we didn't score more goals." Grant said. "He has exceptional communication skills and great fundamentals. With Sebastian (Vecchio) going into his senior season, it is important that we sign good goalkeepers this year." Cooling, also an Irish native, transfers to Memphis from Dublin City University in Ireland. He played club soccer for Raheny United Futbol Club of the Amateur Union League (AUL) in Ireland. "Stephen brings a bit of experience because he comes to us as a transfer," said Grant. "We expect him to have a quick impact on our team because he is mature and has played at a high club level in Ireland."

05/17/04		Walker Named ITA/Arthur Ashe, Jr. Award Recipient for Region III -- Senior adds to an already long list of honors (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Senior Lee Taylor Walker received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Sportsmanship and Leadership it was announced by the ITA, Monday. Walker, who was also a First Team All-Conference USA honoree, was one of three C-USA men's tennis players to earn a regional award. Tulane's Michael Kogan was named the Region III Senior Player of the Year, while TCU's Alex Menichini was the regional honoree for the John Van Nostrand Memorial Award. All regional award winners will now be considered for the national honor, which will be announced May 26th. Walker wrapped his three-year Tiger career with a pair of All-Conference USA honors, including a first team honor in 2004 and a second team honor in 2003. The only senior on a Memphis squad that featured five newcomers for 2004, Walker helped Memphis make its first-ever appearance in the Conference USA Semifinals before the Tigers fell to eventual conference champ, Tulane. A native of Jackson, Tenn., Walker capped his Tiger career with a number of Memphis firsts. He and then-doubles partner Ben Stapp were the highest-ever ranked doubles team in Tiger history when they were ranked No. 12 in the country in 2003, and Walker became the program's highest-ever ranked singles player in 2004 when he started the spring season ranked No. 48 in the country. He finished the season ranked No. 109 after a stellar 15-10 mark at No. 1 singles. All but one of his 10 losses came to a nationally-ranked singles players. Walker finished with a 49-28 mark in dual singles, and with a 54-43 overall singles mark in three years as a Tiger after transferring from Clemson. The 2004 team captain, Walker was also active off the court for the Tigers. He was a crucial part of getting a chapter of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes (FCA) back on the U of M campus after a 10-year hiatus, and he served on a mission trip to Central America last summer. Walker also served a six-month internship at St. Jude Children's Hospital this year. The ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship is awarded each year to one player in each region who has exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements. Walker is Memphis' first men's ITA regional honoree. On the women's side, Sabrina Lindemann received the Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award (the women's equivalent of the Arthur Ashe award), last season. Walker will now compete against Georgetown's Dennis Cravedi, Georgia Tech's Scott Schnugg, Illinois' Phil Stolt, Tulsa's Tom Murray, Rice's William Barker Utah's Roeland Brateanu, Boise State's Guilaume Bouvier and San Francisco's Pablo Pires De Almedia for the national award. All the above mentioned individuals, plus Brown's Benjamin Brier, Tulsa's Tom Murray and Washington's Alexander Vlaski are all also candidates for the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award, which is awarded to one player each year who demonstrates sportsmanship, character, excellent academics and has had outstanding tennis accomplishments. No Memphis player has ever won an ITA National Award outside of Scholar Athlete Awards.

05/17/04		Tigers top 'Cats, clinch C-USA bid (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg Contact May 17, 2004 Dave Anderson never saw it coming. The University of Memphis baseball coach, always prepared for the next move on the field, didn't see the ceremonial bucket of ice water about to be dumped on his head minutes after the Tigers beat Cincinnati, 5-4, Sunday at Nat Buring Stadium. Distracted by catcher Kurt Welch, Anderson got doused several strides out of the Tiger dugout as his team celebrated clinching a spot in the Conference USA Tournament. Memphis's victory Sunday, which completed a three-game sweep of the Bearcats, put the Tigers (25-25 overall, 13-13 in C-USA) in the eight-team tournament, which will be played May 26-30 at Houston. Memphis has four games remaining - a non-conference game Tuesday night at 7 against UT-Martin, and a three-game C-USA series at Saint Louis beginning Friday. "We knew if we took all three from Cincinnati - and had a little help from some other (conference) teams - we'd get in," said Michael Lewis, who went 2-for-4 with a key home run Sunday. "That's big because you go into (this) weekend and all we have to worry about is getting ready for the conference tournament." Memphis earned its first C-USA Tournament berth since 2001, Anderson's first season as coach. The Tigers clinched a spot by rallying from a late-inning, 4-2 deficit. After taking a 2-0 lead behind starter Bill Edwards through six innings, the Bearcats (13-38, 5-22) struck for four runs in the seventh off reliever Corey Kines, who had been so effective in the opening game of the series. But in the bottom of the seventh, Lewis led off with his fifth homer, a blast that struck the bottom corner of the scoreboard in left-center, about 380 feet from home plate. Chad House reached on an infield single and James Rouse was hit by a pitch. Both moved up on a wild pitch. Welch followed with a run-scoring groundout to tie the game and Ryan Martin ripped a base hit to center to score the game-winner, which gave Anderson his 100th career victory. "We never felt we were down too much," Lewis said. "We were up 2-0 and we just kind of sat on that lead for a while. They came back and got four and then we came right back with three." Reliever Michael Novarese (2-2) got the win by pitching three scoreless innings. And not only did Novarese step up, but seldom-used freshman Rouse filled in for injured third baseman Bill Moss and reached base three times. Rouse, who hadn't played since April 4, entered the game with a .108 average (15-for-138). But he rapped an RBI-single in the bottom of the third to score Josh Payne, and handled several difficult chances defensively. Rouse took over for Moss, who was struck on the helmet by a pitch in the first inning and left the game for what Anderson termed "precautionary measures." ''I hadn't played in a while, so it really felt good to come and help out the ball club,'' Rouse said. ''This means a lot to me.'' - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

05/17/04		By any name, Tiger golfer is Metro champ (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin Contact May 17, 2004 The first name is Clayton now. Not Clay. And, most certainly, not Mud. Yes, that's what the folks at the Country Club of Frayser - also known as Davy Crockett - called young Clayton Ellis when he learned the game chasing after his father, who everybody knew as 'Dirt' Ellis. "Nobody calls me that anymore," Clayton says. After his performance in a soggy but complete Metro Tournament of Champions, you can certainly call him a mudder. Ellis, 21, shot a 1-under par 69 Sunday at Galloway, which was soggy but not nearly as soaked as the tracks Ellis conquered on Friday and Saturday. The three-day total of 2-under-par 212 gave him a three-stroke victory over hard-charging David Jeans and David Apperson. The Metro invites the champions and top finishers from local amateur and club tournaments from the previous year. "I've always wanted to win a city tournament," said Ellis, a former White Station golfer. "It was definitely on my checklist to get done." The University of Memphis sophomore had built a lead worthy of Preakness winner Smarty Jones, the horse that won the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby on sloppy tracks, by firing a 72 last Friday at Windyke and a 71 on Saturday at Chickasaw. That gave him a five-shot lead headed into Sunday's final round, and helped him withstand low rounds from Jeans, a U of M teammate, and Apperson, a former Metro champion. "Windyke played so hard on Friday it was unreal," said Apperson. "I thought that 72 was unbelievable." Jeans played that first round, which was postponed and then delayed because of rain, in the same pairing with Ellis. "His biggest obstacle was playing well on Friday," Jeans said. "Chickasaw and Galloway just set up perfect for him. When he did that at Windyke, he was the man to beat." Apperson nearly caught Ellis on Sunday. He birdied the par-5 15th and got word that Ellis had made bogey. But then a missed 1-footer on No. 17 created a bogey, and Apperson also missed a 6-footer for birdie on 18 to finish with a 64. "These college kids are hard to beat," Apperson said. "They are in midseason form." Ellis attributed his strong play to a putting lesson he took from Ridgeway pro Sam Kern. "I'd been up and down all season and I got a putting lesson from Sam Kern," Ellis said. "It's coming back. I've been hitting the ball consistently good." Winning the Metro's Bobby Hall Perpetual Trophy, with names like Tim Jackson and Casey Wittenberg inscribed, could mean even more if the tournament continues to grow and prosper. Jimmy Darr, owner of Mid-South Golfer magazine, made sure all 53 participants received entry gifts and the top 18 finishers received cash awards up to the USGA maximum of $750 in merchandise awards allowed for amateurs. "We finally got in some good weather and a lot of good golf," said Darr, a former champion. "I think everybody thoroughly enjoyed it." - Zack McMillin: 529-2564

05/17/04		C-USA reps convene today to weigh future (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish Contact May 17, 2004 DESTIN, Fla. - Presumably, the first rule will be that everybody wear name tags. Big name tags. With bright letters, distinctive logos and maybe even some sort of brief biography inscribed at the bottom. Why? Because anything that helps avoid confusion at this week's Conference USA Spring Meetings - where the six olds will welcome the six news - is deemed appropriate. "It's going to be about people getting to know each other and getting comfortable with each other," said C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky. "I'm very excited about the opportunity that this represents." Today on the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico in a city built for sun-seeking tourists, representatives from the 12 schools that will comprise Conference USA come 2005-2006 will start planning their athletic futures. As usual, there will be time for golf, tanning and good times. But mostly, the next four days will be about serious business as many crucial topics are discussed, and perhaps cemented. Among them: Will C-USA have eastern and western divisions? If so, will they apply to all sports? Will the University of Memphis be in the east? Will there be a championship game for football? If so, will it take place at a neutral site or at somebody's home field? Would it create the kind of revenue needed to justify expanding to 12 schools? Will C-USA play 16 league games in basketball? Or will it be 14, which is critical to John Calipari's desire to keep Memphis in the national spotlight? Will FedExForum become the usual home for the men's basketball tournament each season? Does it make sense to play it anywhere else? Would other schools oppose such a setup? "We'll start getting more focused on all the particulars (this week)," Banowsky said. "I think everybody is looking forward to it."

05/16/04		Tiger Baseball Clinches C-USA Tournament Berth With 5-4 Victory Over Cincinnati -- Memphis Head Coach Dave Anderson Records Win No. 100 (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - Senior Day proved to be special for everyone involved with the University of Memphis baseball team as the Tigers wrapped up a sweep of Cincinnati rallying for a 5-4 win Sunday at Nat Buring Stadium. With the win, the Tigers (25-25, 13-13 C-USA) clinched a spot in the upcoming Conference USA Baseball Tournament to be played May 26-30 in Houston, Texas. The win over the Bearcats (13-38, 5-22 C-USA) also secured the 100th victory in Dave Anderson's four years at the helm of the program. "This was a big win for us," Anderson said. "Reaching the tournament was our goal entering the season and we're excited about getting back there after missing it the last two years. We have given ourselves a chance to get to a (NCAA) regional now." Leftfielder Ryan Martin drove in the game-winning run with a RBI-single up the middle scoring senior James Rouse in the seventh and junior Michael Novarese (2-2) tossed three scoreless innings in relief without allowing a hit to notch the win. Memphis starter Bill Edwards left after six innings with a 2-0 lead allowing just two hits and pitching out of a bases loaded jam in his final inning of work. Edwards fanned six Bearcats in the game. However, it appeared like the Bearcats might spoil the special afternoon as the visitors claimed a 4-2 lead in the seventh after batting around on three different Memphis relievers. UC scored all four of their runs in the frame taking advantage of four hits, a Tiger error and a hit batsman. Novarese, the third Tiger reliever of the inning, surrendered a sacrifice fly to UC catcher Steve Pickerell before retiring the next two Bearcats to keep the Tigers within two runs of Cincinnati. Senior second baseman Michael Lewis promptly led off the Tigers' half of the seventh with a solo home run to start the three-run rally. Chad House followed by reaching on an infield single and Rouse was hit by pitch. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch by UC reliever Tony Maynard setting up a RBI-groundout by catcher Kurt Welch that knotted the game at four. Martin then drove in Rouse with his second hit of the series. Maynard (2-6) was tagged with his second loss of the series. Rouse played a big part in the Tigers' victory offensively and defensively after entering the game in the first inning when starting third baseman Bill Moss was hit in the helmet by UC starter Jim Olds. The senior from Tampa, Fla., reached base safely in all three of his at bats and drove in his first run of the season. Rouse also made four nice plays in the field. The Bearcat right-hander continued to struggle with his control in the third and it ended up costing the Bearcats a run. After Olds hit two more Tigers, Rouse stepped to plate for his first at-bat in over a month and laced the first pitch he saw into left field to drive in the game's first run. Memphis tacked on a run to take a 2-0 lead in the sixth when Adam Amar doubled to right-center scoring Kyle Scott from first. Scott reached on a two-out single through the left side. Mark Muscenti, Elliot Salcedo and Jack Nelson each had RBI singles for the Bearcats in the seventh. The Tigers host their final home game of the season Tuesday against UT-Martin at Nat Buring Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

05/16/04		Iraq trip leaves one thankful (Commercial Appeal)
		By Geoff Calkins Contact May 16, 2004 Steve Ballard is a ballplayer-turned-dentist. He extracts and fills and whitens and caps. This is not usually a dangerous job, you know? Except for the mortar shells. Incoming mortar shells. Fired by insurgents in Iraq, the same seething crowd he had seen on TV, now just the deadly arc of a rocket away. Ballard would be working on a patient. The ground would shake when the bombs hit. On good days they'd injure. On bad days they'd kill. "It got so there would be about one a day landing inside the base," said Ballard, who played for the Memphis Tigers from 1987-1989. "You just hoped you weren't in the wrong place." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been a hard week to focus on sports. It's doubtless been a hard week to focus on whatever you do, too. The images stack up, one more horrifying than the other. It is the peculiar innocence - self-absorption? - of Americans that we are usually able to shrug off whatever's happening across the seas and set about leading our lives. But how do we shrug this off? Or is it irresponsible to try? On sportsjournalists.com, a Web site devoted to sports banter, there's a link to the tape of Nick Berg being beheaded. There's another string of messages devoted to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. All this is mixed in with the sports topics of the day. One spilling into another. What's your pleasure? Kobe or killing? Trivia or terror? Pat Tillman couldn't bear the juxtaposition. That's what drove him to the Army Rangers and his eventual death. "My great-grandfather was at Pearl Harbor and I really haven't done anything as far as laying myself on the line like that," said Tillman, following the 9/11 attacks. "I play football and it's so damn meaningless compared to everything that's taken place." But this is not a lecture about the relative insignificance of sports. That's understood, or should be. Movie reviewers don't need wars to put films in perspective. Food writers don't need wars to understand where dry ribs stand. Only sports is arrogant enough to think it needs perspective of this sort. If it takes a war to put things in perspective, you're already lost. So this is not a harangue about perspective. It's the story of one former Memphis athlete, how he ended up in Iraq, and what he thinks about it now. Ballard, 36, joined the reserves because he was told it would be an adventure. He'd travel, help some people, see some things. A couple of years ago, Ballard went to Paraguay. He's worked on an Indian reservation. Those were humanitarian trips. And then, just before Thanksgiving, his unit was summoned to Iraq. "I got a phone call," he said. "The guy told me, 'I've got some bad news. . . .' " Ballard said he didn't feel scared, precisely. He worried about his wife and three kids. On Dec. 7, he headed for Fort Campbell, Ky. The day after the Super Bowl, the unit left for Iraq. The first night, Ballard remembers hearing rockets and mortar fire. "At the beginning, it was our guys shooting at them," he said. "As time transpired, some of their bombs started hitting us." The Americans operated out of an old Iraqi base, an hour and a half away from Baghdad. There wasn't enough electricity to run the dental machines. "We ran them off generators," Ballard said. He was in Iraq through the end of April. In that time, he learned a couple of important things. First, that most soldiers over there are good, decent people doing the best they can. "I've always had respect for the military," he said. "But now it's grown." Ballard took care of American soldiers, Iraqi soldiers, international soldiers, the whole deal. "You'd hear their stories," he said. "Some of them hadn't ever been away from home before. Can you imagine that? And then they're fighting in Iraq." The other thing Ballard learned - or learned anew - was how lucky he is to call Memphis home. This place isn't perfect. You're within your rights to complain about taxes and air quality and traffic and crime. But you can do whatever you like today. You can sleep in or mow the lawn. You can go to the river or go to church. Ballard has a renewed appreciation of that, of the simple privileges he enjoys. "Like eating where I want to eat," he said. "Like watching what I want to watch on TV." So maybe that's the thing to take away from this week. It's OK to hate the Lakers. It's OK to argue about the war. It's OK to go from the serious topic to the trivial topic and then back again. But whatever your political position, it's also OK to thank God you live in this place and time. "I like the people in Memphis," Ballard said. "They're all so friendly. I like waking up in my own bed. "I like the freedom to do what you want. I like a lot of things I never noticed before. "I know I was in Iraq for a reason, but I'm glad to be home. "I like the trees and the green grass." Contact columnist Geoff Calkins at 529-2364 or send an e-mail. You can hear his radio show, "SportsTime with George Lapides and Geoff Calkins," from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on WHBQ-AM (560).

05/16/04		C-USA boss Banowsky all about the job -- Image, PR low priorities for commissioner (Commercial Appeal)
		By Don Wade Contact May 16, 2004 In the midst of the muddle - what polite people call conference realignment, what Wall Street calls corporate raiding - Britton Banowsky, the new commissioner of Conference USA, seemed to vanish into thin air. Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford was swooping down into the backyard of Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese, taking what the ACC wanted. In turn, Tranghese aimed at Conference USA while also firing back through the media at the ACC. It was all rougher than any college football game. But while Tranghese was constantly out front - blocking, tackling, attacking - Banowsky quietly huddled behind closed doors. "I don't know how much he could have avoided Louisville and Cincinnati getting out (of C-USA)," says Joe Barkley, a past president of the Highland Hundred booster club and a season-ticket holder for University of Memphis football and men's basketball. "And I don't know how good our choices were with who wanted in this league. "But my biggest concern with him is he showed no outward leadership and strength. He stayed away from the limelight and the media, and we just didn't know what he was doing. "Not to say he wasn't doing anything, but we couldn't find him. He just wasn't around." Pass this comment on to the commissioner, and he doesn't take issue with the notion that it seemed he couldn't be found, that it seemed he had disappeared. "I think that's fair," he says evenly, which is how he says almost everything. "I do." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Britton Banowsky is the son of an ordained minister. He is also the son of the former president of Pepperdine University and the former president of the University of Oklahoma. And the son of a past president of Gaylord Entertainment and former executive with a California medical company. Today, Bill Banowsky, 68, is retired and speaking from his vacation home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Britton, 44, is the second-oldest of his four sons. All of them became lawyers. "I used to tell them at the dinner table that I didn't care if they practiced law - it maybe wasn't a very good way to live," the father says. "They needed to go to law school to protect themselves from all the other lawyers." But first, they needed to grow up. Along the way, they needed to find a passion. Britton found his in sports. He cheered at Pepperdine basketball games and at USC and Oklahoma football games. "I remember going to the game when USC was playing Notre Dame," Britton says, and you can almost see the sparkle in a young boy's eyes. "Down 28 points at the half. Anthony Davis returned a kick 100 yards, I think. Scored six touchdowns. They won, 55-28." The memory is not perfect, but it is close. USC trailed by 24 points late in the first half of that 1974 game. Davis scored four TDs, not six. His kick return actually covered 102 yards. The final score: USC 55, Notre Dame 24. For all of Banowsky's button-down practicality as a commissioner now, he was something of a dreamer then. Although he was right-handed, he fancied himself as a left-handed center fielder. A 6-2, 170-pound defensive end in high school, he desperately wanted to be a linebacker for the Oklahoma Sooners. "When he walked on, it got on the evening news," his father recalls. "'The president's son has gone out for the friggin' football team!' He lasted a week." That's how long it took for Britton to accept that "I didn't have the tools to compete for a position." It took about a minute for him to decide he didn't want to be a story where, in his mind, there wasn't one. "With Britton, what you see is what you get," his father says. "He deplores self-promotion." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For three years, Britton was a Dallas lawyer in private practice. "I enjoyed it," he says, no joy in his voice. "It wasn't great." He still loved his sports - "Britton's always been a jock," Dad says - and it was while playing in his regular noon-time hoops game that his career changed courses. This was in 1989, and one of those pick-up basketball players was an assistant commissioner in the Southwest Conference. He knew of an opening for an assistant commissioner in the Southland Conference. Or as Banowsky says, "an entry-level rules person." He accepted the job and the gigantic pay cut that came with it. "And my wife was really cool about it," he says, still appreciative. So started his climb up the sports administration ladder. After three years in the Southland, he served three years as an assistant commissioner in the Southwest Conference. Then in 1993, he returned to the Southland as commissioner. In 1996, he became an associate commissioner and the general counsel for the Big 12 Conference. In 2002, he succeeded Mike Slive, who left to run the Southeastern Conference, as commissioner of C-USA. Fifteen years after that noon hoops game altered the direction of his career, Banowsky still plays in a noon game three days a week in Dallas, which is where the C-USA headquarters will be moving from Chicago. And the way he describes these no-count games, it's clear the players abide by a time-honored rule: no blood, no foul. "I'm a bruiser," Banowsky says, laughing. "I used to have more skill. The way we play is, if your team wins you get to play again. If your team loses, you have to go sit. "So you play hard." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Big 12 commissioner Kevin Wei berg says Banowsky was his "right-hand man." Weiberg watched Banowsky behind closed doors, discussing crucially important NCAA issues and negotiating multimillion-dollar television contracts. "He's not shy about stating his opinion," Weiberg says. "And he's a very skilled guy as far as the negotiating." A bruiser with finesse? "Britton is as tough as nails," says Gerald Turner, president of Southern Methodist University, which will join C-USA in July 2005, and who is a former chancellor at Ole Miss. But Britton doesn't look as tough as nails. With his short, neat hair, small wire-rim glasses and dark suits, he forever looks to be on his way to a meeting where the attendees sleep sitting up. "Britton's more like his mom," says Turner, who worked with Britton's dad at Oklahoma and has known Britton since he was 5 years old. "Both his parents are great people. His dad's more outgoing. His mom's more reserved. Britton's more reserved. "But Britton's not quiet by any means. Britton's just not as effervescent a personality as his dad." And how does Britton describe his father? "He's a hoot," the son says with a laugh. One thing his father and Turner agree on: To fully appreciate Britton's talents, you need to play golf with him. "He's a scratch golfer and he's intensely competitive," the elder Banowsky says. "Britton's got one of those huge, sweet extension swings," Turner says. "He knocks the crud out of the ball. Britton's a go-for-the-hole guy off the tee box." The key words here being "off the tee box." For Banowsky's overarching strategy is more calculated, a practice of ebb and flow, attack and retreat. Says Turner: "He plays to make par." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pick a sports analogy, any sports analogy. The ACC hit the Big East with an all-out blitz, which in turn hit Conference USA with an all-out blitz. Or it was a go-for-the-hole drive that found the hole. "He took on a job where the horse was already bucking," Bill Banowsky says, choosing his own analogy. "And he got on it and rode it through." A quick recap: Shortly after Britton Banowsky came on board, five schools abandoned the C-USA ship and went to the Big East - Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, Marquette and DePaul. Three other schools also jumped - Charlotte, Saint Louis and TCU. Six new schools, all playing Division 1-A football, will join the league in July of 2005: SMU, Tulsa, Rice, Marshall, Central