The Good, The Bad & The Money

As Ron has been pointing out, Marcus Hand (above) is a certified stud.

I wasn't able to watch the game, but from this AP account I have several reason to be pleased (in bold) and some things to worry about (in ital).

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — James Pinkney passed for three touchdowns and ran for another as East Carolina defeated Rice 41-28 on Saturday.

Pinkney completed 22-of-34 passes for a career-high 355 yards and also ran for a team-high 32 yards.

The Pirates scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, the highlight coming on an 81-yard touchdown reception by Chris Johnson that sealed the victory.

East Carolina receiver Aundrae Allison, who caught a game-high seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, set a single-season school record with his fourth 100-yard receiving game. The Pirates (2-3, 1-1 Conference USA) matched their best win total from the last two seasons.

Joel Armstrong and Quinton Smith rushed for two touchdowns apiece for the Owls (0-4, 0-2), whose 10th consecutive defeat tied them with Army for the longest losing streak in the nation.

Rice took a 28-24 lead when Smith, who led all rushers with 125 yards, went over the left side for a 19-yard touchdown with 13:18 left.

But on the next possession, Robert Tillman scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run to put East Carolina ahead for good at the 10:37 mark.

After a punt by the Owls pinned the Pirates at their own 3-yard line, Pinkney lofted a pass over the middle to Johnson who ran another 50 yards into the end zone with 6:51 left. Johnson finished with 129 yards on six receptions.

Robert Lee added a 32-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go.

I'm happy we were able to reel off 17 unanswered points, but I'm a little upset that we needed to. Why were we losing in the fourth quarter to one of the worst teams in the nation?

I'm willing to chalk it up to us still being young and trying to gel. However, I don't think we're going to win out. This team is likely to lose at least one game it shouldn't (UAB or Memphis) but it also might win one it shouldn't (Marshall). If that's how the first season under Holtz shakes out, I'll be pleased — especially if they keep covering.

I think their 4-1 record against the spread says a lot about their future potential and about how little recognition or respect we're getting from the public. I like it that way and so does my wallet. We'll be able to sneak up on some teams and surprise a few people — and laugh all the way to the bank.