Coaching chases dominate weekend

As sports weekends go, this one's busier than the line of football coaches updating their resumes at Kinko's. Here are five things to keep our eyes on:

1. Who's next -- and where?

Now that Skip Holtz has left East Carolina for South Florida, the search is on for the Pirates' next football coach. Athletic director Terry Holland will hold a news conference at 4:30 this afternoon to talk about the process.

Among the names being thrown around between the barbecue and hush puppies in Greenville are Temple's Al Golden, former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden, Virginia Tech defensive whiz Bud Foster and former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski.

For what it's worth, here's a little Tommy Bowden (right) tidbit -- he ranks third on the ACC's all-time list of bowl wins by a coach.

2. And what about Duke?

Well, just when it seemed David Cutcliffe was going to leave Durham to become the the new Tennessee football coach, he announced this morning that he's staying.

Don't you know they're in minor panic mode in Knoxville about now.



3. The Big Fundamental

Tim Duncan, one of the all-time greats, is in town with his San Antonio Spurs teammates tonight to meet the Charlotte Bobcats.

No word on whether Tony Parker's wife, actress Eva Longoria made the trip.

It's the first of back-to-back home games for the Bobcats, who host Phoenix Saturday night.

4. A weekend Dick Vitale must love

The college hoops schedule is packed around these parts. The biggest ACC game may be Wake Forest at Duke Sunday but there are plenty of others. North Carolina hosts Georgia Tech in what feels like a must-win game for the Tar Heels. After thumping the Heels on Wednesday, Clemson tries not to backslide at N.C. State.

Charlotte hosts Saint Louis in an A-10 battle while Davidson hits the road for a game at Wofford.

5. A run on tee times

WIth temperatures expected to approach 60 today, look out for traffic tie-ups around local golf courses. It's one of the first decent golf days in weeks around here.