Pirate Booty

State of the Program - for reals

2011-11-15T08:57:00.002-05:00

So, this football season is not quite turning out like I had hoped and I am pretty worried about the state of the program. I think that Coach Ruff is an awesome guy who I am pulling for to get it going right in season 3, but we look to be trending down.

My blog as my current thoughts but I am interested in hearing your thoughts on the state of the program heading into 2012. What say you gentlemen (please give it real thought Robb)?

Shameless plug for all 3 of you

2011-10-08T01:40:00.003-04:00

A new post is up for my new blog. A blog of one reader...myself. That said, it is ECU focused. Here she be: Purple Haze Insider.

Would appreciate your feedback (particularly since you guys are better at it than I). Also, sign up so I have at least 2-3 subscribers.

Go Pirates!

East Carolina Grad Thinks East Carolina A State

2011-09-27T15:26:00.000-04:00

Hilarious. From The Onion:

JACKSONVILLE, FL—At a press conference Monday, Jaguars quarterback and East Carolina University alum David Garrard indicated through certain statements to reporters that "East Carolina" is one of the 50 United States. "I can say without hesitation that it is definitely my favorite of all the Carolinas," said the former ECU Pirate, who, when pressed, identified the imaginary commonwealth's capital as Greenville and its state bird as the red-necked grebe. "There's just this enormous sense of state pride over there that I felt as soon as came across the North Carolina border. And it's a progressive state, too: Did you know Obama carried East Carolina?" Garrard later told reporters that if he had to choose one state to live in, it would be between Western Kentucky and Ball State.

I Predict we DO NOT LOSE this weekend

2011-09-17T14:28:00.001-04:00

Hah! Got you guys.

Bye week...uggggghhhhh.

UAB on the clock and if we do not beat this team to a pulp on both sides of the ball...Robb's prediction could come true.

Cheers all!

Robb's predictions

2011-09-12T12:09:00.002-04:00

We win three games this year, at least. Who is our coach now? I don't even know. Holtz left, right? Go Pirates.

Kudos to Ron for resurrecting this blog.

First Loss that I actual feel OK about

2011-09-11T17:16:00.003-04:00

Some times, the better team actually does simply shut you down. The Virginia Tech defense got into Dominique Davis' head and earned every bit of that win on Saturday. They shut us down...physically and mentally.

I hate losing - particularly a game where we had our chances despite being dominated by the Hokies defense - but have to say that I was very pleased with our defense. Say what you will about how tough it has been for us to stop the run, but I do not believe we will see better rushing teams than we have seen in the first two weeks of the season.

I believe no other opponents, including UNC, have the horses that Virginia Tech and South Carolina have on defense and our chances at getting back to the CUSA title game are pretty good. I think the bigger talent is in the West and with USM losing a conference game already, we are in a good position with two weeks to prep for UAB.

Congrats to the Hokies...they won and should have. Feel good about our team. Do not believe we will see another day like Saturday again from Davis.

Pirates get Rocked, but there is HOPE

2011-09-04T12:25:00.005-04:00

After watching the Pirates fall apart again in a second-half of football on Saturday night in Charlotte to #12 USC, I have a full appreciation of the fact that the defense at ECU has worked awfully hard and is much improved. Our O, however, completely Navyed the team by turning over the ball on 4-straight offensive possessions in the 3Q handing the game to USC. Horribly embarrassing. Sans that debacle, the team was not bad and the O-line in its first game together handled one of the country's top defensive fronts incredibly well. Down two of our top four receivers, the offense still generated 4 pass TDs and a rushing TD.

The bottom line is that the Defense didn't have a chance. After an excellent first half where the D helped the O to a 24-14 lead at the half, the Defense was faced with 3 straight possessions where the Gamecocks had the ball inside our territory, 2 times inside the 20. Through in a score by USC's defense and the Pirates D is tagged with 56 points, 28 of which were not their fault.

Anyway, as we do each season, here are the 2011 predictions (sans USC).

Predictions (Gentlemen please chime in):

Week 1 - #12 South Carolina @ neutral (Charlotte): We face the most hyped team this pre-season in the Ole Ball Coach's Gamecocks. They have firepower in RB Marcus Lattimore and a defensive front full of NFL-bound talents. This will be one of the best defensive fronts we will play this year. Because we have a class coach, two of our standouts - CB Emanuel Davis and IWR Michael Bowman - are suspended for a bad behavior in summer. Unlike our coach, the Ole Scumbag is playing his 5-time offending QB Stephen Garcia because Spurrier wants to win and there is no cost too high to do so. That is also why his OC who was caught urinating in public was suspended for a single off-season day. Spurrier's behavior, if you ask me, is very indicative of a team that is likely among the group cheating. (Which makes you wonder how he got so many top players to attend a school with a century of losing under its belt).

[Post post note: South Carolina, behind 5-time offender QB Garcia turned 4 straight turnovers in the first-four ECU possessions of the 2nd half into 28 points and beat us 56-37]

Week 2 - #13 Virginia Tech @ home: We get Bowman and Davis back which is a big boost and our team has proven they can force another team to punt. The question is will the offense turn over the ball in big numbers. Expect another home sellout and a Virginia Tech team that could once again overlook the Pirates. The Hokies are breaking in a new QB and have been described as having to have "young defenders get older in a hurry."

RON's prediction: The Pirates' offense gets it together and does not turn the ball over more than 1 time while the defense gets to the Hokies new QB. Pirates get the huge upset, 38-24.

Greg: We still take this rivalry more seriously than do the Hokies. We eek out the upset. ECU 31 - 28 (only 2 of the TDs are given up by our D)

Week 3 - UAB @ home: After two powerhouse, top-15 opponents, the Pirates open the conference slate with a division opponent. UAB will be improved, but with the ECU defense on the rise, the Blazers will not have enough to beat us, particularly in front of another sold out home stadium.

RON's prediction: Pirates offense shines in engineering first blowout of the season. Defense chips in a score as well as the Pirates start the CUSA slate perfect. Pirates move to 2-1 powered by a 56-21 victory.

Greg: We're better than them. ECU 42-17

Week 4 - UNC @ Home: Despite the fact that UNC has cheated and redefined cheating for a major college, they still have some talented players - for now - and will be up for their game with us. Another packed house will await the powder blue boys from the west. Being home won't guarantee that the officials won't screw...hard to say who is still on the UNC payroll, but our boys will be looking to exact some revenge from last season and they are likely to get that satisfaction this time around.

RON's prediction: The Pirates' offense learned from its bout with USC and will have no problems with the junior varsity Carolina. The offense does its part and this time around, the defense rises to slap around the Tar Heels young QB. Pirates win 35-10.

Greg: If God isn't a Pirate fan, why is the sky purple and gold? UNC is a disgrace to college football. They deserve a beat down at the hands of a classy, mid-major program (even though I did run into Robert Jones at the KFC on Greenville Blvd driving a new Mercedes C Class during his senior year). ECU 27 -6.

Week 5 - @Houston: This one worries me a lot. Case Keenum is back and he lit up UCLA in the opener. Being on the road gives the Cougars a slight edge in a game between two similarly fashioned teams. It comes down to the turnovers and sacks. The Pirates will need to really execute and get to Keenum ala the 2009 CUSA title game.

RON's prediction: The Cougars edge the Pirates in a shootout, 49-44 putting the Pirates at 3-2, 1-1 on the season.

Greg: I'd like to predict a victory, but Houston's O will out gun us. Plus, they're still pissed about the '09 C-USA tile game. UH 35 - 23

Week 6 - @Memphis: There is absolutely no analysis that has the Pirates losing this game. The Memphis program is in shambles and they are simply not good in any phase of game. The Pirates O and D will be too good to lose this game. With Navy ahead, our boys may overlook the Tigers, but even then, it won't matter.

RON's prediction: The Pirates' could very well overlook the Tigers, but not enough to lose, Pirates win going away, 44-14.

Greg: The Pirates hang a 50 on the Tigers in front of 637 fans. ECU 50 - 9

Week 7 - @Navy: Not only did Navy pound us in 2010, they flat out embarrassed our team. Navy. Navy will be another challenge given the triple-option and they will have guys who can run it. The Pirates D will be better positioned to play against it this time around and hopefully will be pissed off about last year's mess.

RON's prediction: This game has me worried as I don't know if our guys can adjust to this offense for a single week enough to stop it. My hope is that the Pirates offense does not implode the way it did a year ago, but after the USC game, clearly our O has that in it. Still, I think we get it right this time, and squeak past Navy in a 42-38 thriller and the Pirates go to 5-2, 2-1 on the season.

Greg: I've been through a lot as a Pirate fan, but last year's humiliation by the Midshipmen really sticks in my craw. Ruff is going to have our boys hungry for this one.....as hungry as Ruff is now all the time. ECU 35 - 24

Week 8 - Tulane @Home: Tulane is an improved team so getting them at home is good. Unfortunately, it also sets up a classic trap scenario for the Pirates who will be riding high with a 5-2 record and focusing on Southern Miss the next week. Tulane will be upset minded so this game will likely be closer than many might expect. The Pirates should be able to outpace them, however, but Tulane has a good shot in this one.

RON's prediction: Pirates will lock down focus on this game and the offense will fly high. The defense will have shown a half-season of improvement and show up big-time. Pirates get win number 6 in front of another sold-out DFS crowd, 49-28.

Greg: Trap game....Doh! Tulane 21 -13

Week 9 - Southern Miss @ home: So, in comes Southern Miss still smarting from that crazy game a year ago. They will be jacked up and the odds will be in their favor as the Pirates have never beat them 3 years in a row. The Fick will be packed and the team should be juiced. This is a game that comes down to who wants it more and who executes best. It will be a barn-burner as they say.

RON's prediction: The Pirates achieve the unheard of - a three-game streak against the Golden Eagles. Not sure how they are going to do it, but I believe it will happen. ECU ensures a winning season, taking out its most-respected rival, 38-28.

Greg: Sure am glad this one's at home. We'll need every 12th man in the place to secure a victory against USM. Three in row....the rivalry intensifies...... ECU 27-24

Week 10 - @ UTEP: Bad...very bad and very good that they are the other West division team we have to face. Pirates should win this one in their sleep, but note that Central Florida is the next opponent. ECU has much more talent and experience than UTEP.

RON's prediction: Pirates show great discipline and focus in not looking past the Miners. Toast them on the road in an empty stadium, 56-17 and improve to 8-2, 4-1.

Greg: Ruff turns the Tulane trap loss into lemonade by inspiring the Pirates to use the Miners as a tune-up fodder for next week. ECU 49 - 14

Week 11 - UCF @ home: Defending CUSA champs come to our house cocky and dismissive of the Pirates, as they continue to boast like 2010 was indicative of their history - which we all know sucks. The Pirates own the series and despite a drop off last season, it took an exceptional defense for the Knights to beat the Pirates at home. ECU players should have had this game circled from the beginning.

RON's prediction: Pirate pride rises in this one. UCF's baseless arrogance precedes its arrival in DFS and the ECU team breaks out a case of whoop-ass. Pirates rock the cocky Knights, 54-21. (OK, probably more like 35-28, but I so hate UCF).

Greg: Man....did we get all the best home games this season or what? I hate these guys. They represent everything that's wrong with the BCS system. Do they have fans that spend time updating a blog, once a year, making ridiculous predictions...... that no one reads? Of course not. That's why we'll beat them. ECU 38 -35

Week 12 - @Marshall: Pirates travel to Marshall whose defense will be very good. The Pirates will be on the cusp of locking down a 10-win season and a return trip to the CUSA title. Pressure will be enormous for this one. And, we all know how the Pirates tend to handle pressure...eek.

RON's prediction: The Pirates fall behind early but scratch back to pull out the CUSA East title and clinch a 10-win season, 35-31.

Greg: I have us needing this one to secure a ninth win. The game is not for double digit wins, but it's for a spot in the title game. Much respect to the Thundering Herd, what with that connection to the airplane crash and all, but we beat 'em like a red headed step child. ECU 42 - 19

C-USA Championship Game - ECU v. SMU: Pirates meet the Mustangs in a display of offensive fireworks. The team with the better D wins it.

RON's prediction: The Pirates' ride the Davis duo (Dominique and Emanuel) to put together the best game of the season and win a 3rd CUSA title 28-24.

Greg: Before the game, Terry Holland announces to 50K Pirate faithful that he just inked a deal for us to joined the SEC. Slightly embarrassing to the C-USA dignitaries, but hey, we've been waiting a long time for this. ECU 31-30

Repeat after me: "I love the East Carolina Pirates. One day they will play on broadcast TV every week. Before I die, they will win the National Championship. Arrrrrrggghhhhhhhhh!!!!"

Go Pirates!!!!!!!

2010 Pirate predictions

2010-09-04T15:04:00.008-04:00

This, is a great article written by fellow Pirate Booty blogger Ron Cherubini.

He's dead-on about our Pirates, the media and the collective lack of respect our team has received going into this season. Granted, we lost a great coach and a butt-load of great players. But I'm optimistic about our chances and I think our schedule should support rebuilding throughout the season. I love that we're opening with a meaningful conference game at home. That's what we need this year to get the juices flowing....not a trip to WVU or William & Mary.

Predictions (Matt....calling you to join in):

Week 1 - Tulsa @ home: We get to open with a home day game against a western rival who we've owned of late. Our boys will come out of the purple haze in front of a sold out, 50k+ crowd on ESPN2. Tell me that won't provide some kind of boost for a newbie team trying to establish its identity. Pirate Nation will be in full force to remind them that they are the champions.
(W) ECU 51- Tulsa 49

ROBB PREDICTS: We win on a hail Mary in a shootout
Ron Predicts: Pirates win on called play named "Big Ben" and win 51-49.

Week 2 -Memphis @ home: The opening win boosts the collective confidence level of our team and they lay a beat down on the Tigers......the way God intended it.
(W) ECU 35 -Memphis 10

ROBB PREDICTS: We win by a brazillion points, setting an NCAA record for longest snake made of cups.
Ron Predicts: Pirates Defense shows up for the first 15 minutes and we win going away.

Week 3 - @ VaTech: We get one of the next two games. Not this one....not yet. Btw, this rivalry will be so much better when we're in a BCS conference.
(L) ECU 13 - VaTech 28

ROBB PREDICTS: We get destroyed by at least 40.
Ron Predicts: Pirates offense against Hokies offense...we outscore them 38-32.

Week 4 - @UNC: After a bye week to lick our wounds and reflect on a 2-0 C-USA start, we come out and win one against the arrogant, looking past us Tarheels. Half way to to claiming football supremacy in the state of North Carolina. In a couple weeks we'll earn the trophy.
(W) ECU 26 - UNC 15 (yeah, I know...weird score.... might be a safety or two in this one)

ROBB PREDICTS: Despite being investigated for cheating, UNC is still cheating and whips us good.
Ron Predicts: Road weary Pirates fall short against the cheaters, lose 41-35.

Week 5 - @Southern Miss: This one worries me. Night game, Brett Farvvvraa on the sidelines, rivalry week, they're just a bit better than us this year.
(L) ECU 17 - SoMiss 24

ROBB PREDICTS: We never beat them.
Ron Predicts: Pirates offense too much to keep up with for USM, end road trip with a 44-28 win.

Week 6 - NC State @ home: I don't care how new the players are to Ruff's system or what the match-ups are on the field. We're at home and everyone in Purple 'n Gold gets up for this one. The two time defending C-USA Champions beat this perennially mediocre ACC team like a red headed step child.
(W) ECU 35 - NC State 9

ROBB PREDICTS: We should always and forever beat them and we do.
Ron Predicts: State has owned our ass three-straight games. It ends with a much needed home game where Pirates plus the fans send State home lozers, 41-31.

Week 7 - Marshall @ home: Marshall is a tough team. They want to beat us at home and control their own destiny in the east. Alas, they don't.
(W) ECU 27 - Marshall 21

ROBB PREDICTS: We get blown out.
Ron Predicts: Pirates' home field advantage sways this one. Pirates win battle over control of pace on offense to win going away, 49-28.

Week 8 - @Central Florida: Because of the stumble against the Eagles, we need this game to control our destiny. We've been building confidence and acumen all season long. The boys bring their jocks down to Orlando and pull out a victory. This team begins to truly believe they've got the right stuff ....another block in the foundation is cemented. (Oh...and the Knights start shopping for a new coach. O'leary puts "Coached two teams to the National Championship" on his resume)
(W) ECU 30 - UCF 13

ROBB PREDICTS: We take a huge lead early but the defense sucks and we lose on a hail Mary.
Ron Predicts: Not convinced George O'Leary can beat us...even at home. Pirates too much for Knights, 44-21.

Week 9 - Navy @ home: The wishbone comes to town. And we let the foot off the accelerator. Disappointing loss, but SoMiss looses to Tulane....and we own the tie breaker with Marshall in the east.
(L) ECU 13 - Navy 20

ROBB PREDICTS: Another team we should beat and we don't.
Ron Predicts: Upset special. Navy offense keeps pace with Pirates and ends home win-streak with a 49-48 upset.

Week 10 - @ UAB: They used to be the team that would consistently throw a monkey wrench on our season. Not this year, just some more road kill in the East Division.
(W) ECU 31 - UAB 3

ROBB PREDICTS: We kill them.
Ron Predicts: Big bounce back game, Pirates crush UAB, 63-17.

Week 11 - @ Rice: They out gun us on the road. We were starting to think about post conference play. Classic trap game.
(L) ECU 35 - Rice 38

ROBB PREDICTS: We should always kill nerds and we almost blow it but pull it out in the fourth quarter not on a hail Mary.
Ron Predicts: Rice not good, but at home better than bad. Pirates win in a struggle, 38-35.

Week 12 - SMU @ home: Day after thanksgiving, Greg Jones makes the trip home to see the new stadium (and show Natalie and Andrew why East Carolina is so special). His beloved Pirates reward him with a win that vaults them into the championship game.
(W) ECU 38 - SMU 28

ROBB PREDICTS: We win.
Ron Predicts: Pirates payback Mustangs for Bullshit loss last season, win 42-32.

C-USA Championship Game - ECU v. Houston: Both teams having been eyeing each other all season long from afar. We get the inevitable re-match that both teams wanted in their heart of hearts. The clueless sports "reporters" and prognosticators Ron referenced so eloquently in this article eat crow by the shovelful as we three-peat in front of their naked steaming eyes.
(W) ECU 35 - Houston 34

ROBB PREDICTS: We won't be in the championship game.
Ron Predicts: Pirates get rematch with Tulsa and this time, win without Big Ben, Pirates defense rises and the Pirates finish them off, 48-35 to Threepeat!

Then we'll loose to some mid-grade SEC team in the Liberty bowl......some things never change.

Go Pirates!!!!!!!

ROBB PREDICTS: I don't know what record my predictions put the Pirates at but I'm sure I will be off and we will get some bowl game that I will begrudgingly watch and enjoy because we will win.

Skip Holtz: Mutual interest between ECU coach, South Florida

2010-01-12T22:53:00.002-05:00

As far as I'm concerned, Skip Holtz better get the job and take it because I am done with the guy. South Florida is a better job than ECU, Skip? Really? Thanks for a whole lot of nothing. Back to the drawing board. Maybe we can hire real coach this time, someone who can make something from nothing and stay for 14 years. I hear Jim Leavitt is looking for work.

ORLANDO -- East Carolina coach Skip Holtz said Tuesday there is mutual interest between himself and South Florida to fill the vacancy created recently when Jim Leavitt was fired.

Holtz was contacted Saturday night by the school, he said, after Leavitt was fired on Friday. Leavitt was accused of grabbing a player by the throat and slapping him twice. A school investigation contended that not only was the accusation true but also that Leavitt had impeded the investigation.

Leavitt held a news conference Monday denying any wrongdoing. During Leavitt's 14 seasons, the program grew from nothing to a Top 25 program on the cusp of winning a Big East title.

The school seems to be moving along quickly with its search. Michigan assistant Calvin Magee interviewed on Monday. Holtz quickly became a hot name for the job on Tuesday at the American Football Coaches Association national convention.

"There's a lot of positives to it," Holtz said. "It's definitely an up and coming program ... I really don't know what's going to happen. I got a call [from South Florida asking], ‘Would I have interest?' That's been the contact. My phone has blown up all morning."

Holtz' name has been linked to several openings in the past two seasons. The son of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz started the 2008 season 3-0 after beating West Virginia. The Pirates have won back-to-back Conference USA titles. In his fifth year with the program since leaving Connecticut, Holtz is 38-27 and 76-49 overall.

"Obviously there is some attraction," said Holtz whose wife, Jennifer, is from Florida. "I don't know what they're thinking or where they're going to go. The rumors that I've taken it, at this point, are not true."

Looking forward to the Liberty Bowl

2009-12-11T16:47:00.002-05:00

Really excited about the Liberty Bowl. We're playing a VERY good SEC team. Much better than last year's opponent. Their offense will be similar to Houston's. So, we know we can defend it, although I sure hope we can hold them to less than 500 yards in the air.

This has turned out to be a great season. We played nine teams this year that are going to bowl games (App State has reached the final four of their post season tourney). We beat five of the nine, including some very good teams in So Miss and Houston. If we find a way to beat the hogs, we'll get into the AP top 25 and perhaps some preseason talk next year.

Ron - I'm going to probably pass on another trip to Memphis this year. Matt is going though. We should all try to get together for a game next season.

It's a great time to be a Pirate. Agggggrrrrrrrrhhh!

Liberty Bowl Bound...again! Bring on the Hogs

2009-12-09T10:52:00.002-05:00

Should be a similar matchup to the CUSA Championship game, though I think our front four gets to Mallette more than Keenum.

Not the season we all hoped for but a great one nonetheless.

Matt, Greg...are you Memphis bound?

Memphis bound

2009-10-26T23:28:00.002-04:00

Hello!....(hello) (hello) (hello) (hello). If a Pirate blog fell in the woods and no one was there to read it, would it make a sound????

For all those loyal readers out there, Matt and I are meeting in Memphis for Tuesday's game. As much as the Pirates break my heart, I can't help but love them.

Win, lose or draw, there are casinos across the river......

Let's lobby the NCAA for a seventh year for Pinkney

2009-10-11T10:39:00.003-04:00

He's terrible.

The best thing about the UNC loss...

2009-09-19T16:34:00.000-04:00

... is our next five opponents: Central Florida, Marshall, SMU, Rice, Memphis

And another thing...

2009-09-13T13:53:00.003-04:00

We've got to get into a BCS conference. Overall our program has done very well with the talent that's left over after the BCS teams take their pick. But yesterday's game is an example of how superior the talent is even on a run of the mill BCS conference team versus our mid-major championship team. The Kentucky bowl game also proves that point.

That's been the most disappointing thing about being a pirate fan these last 25 years. I've watched teams like VT, South Carolina, South Florida and Cincinnati join BCS conferences and improve. The irony is our fan base is and always has been way more supportive than a shitload of BCS teams. Our facilities are more impressive, the football atmosphere more intense, the mascot is totally awesome, and purple and gold are God's favorite colors. Given access to better recruits, I'm convinced we'd be a perennial top 25 team. I mean, Cincinnati put 70 points on the board yesterday. Does anyone in Cincinnati or anywhere else give a %@!# about the &$!@ing Bearcats, $%!@ no!!!!

I am more bitter than Robb.

ps..I love the Pirates. They will beat UNC.

Once again

2009-09-13T04:10:00.002-04:00

I blame all of you for once again raising my expectations. I am a victim!!!!! ECU sucks at football!!!

Yes, I was the only one of us to correctly predict this loss. Sometimes I hate being right. I think I said 9-4, as well. Whatever. The season is over. Kidding. It's not. But isn't it kind of? Depends on what your expectations were.

We are fast approaching the pathetic 20th anniversary of the '91 Peach Bowl. That's the bowl game that ruined me for life. I had the audacity of hope to think that this program could ever repeat that kind of season. Two decades of longing. There are better things to do with our time. We could build a boat.

I am bitter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friggin' pitiful

2009-09-12T19:21:00.002-04:00

The game was not as close as the final score. Pinkney and our offense was horrible, save for the first quarter. These stats say it all:

6 of 17 on third down conversions
4 sacks
62 yards rushing
16 of 40 pass completions
D allowed 509 yards
uggghh

Season predictions...

2009-09-11T09:45:00.003-04:00

First off....Ron, you make some very reasoned points regarding Pinkney's abilities. Perhaps the Jones boys were a little harsh. Here are our joint predictions for the remainder of the Pirate season:

Greg & Matt:

09/12/09 at West Virginia [ predict: ECU 24, WVU 21] Close game...Pinkney drives for a TD in last 2 minutes.

09/19/09 at North Carolina [ predict: UNC 35. ECU 20 ] It's payback for Butch Davis who revs up his well oiled machine against the Pirate D.

09/26/09 vs. UCF [ predict: ECU 21, UCF 20 ] UCF is having an up year, the Pirate defense bends but doesn't break.

10/03/09 at Marshall [ predict: Marshall 17, ECU 16] Marshall circled this game in August. ECU loses a close one.

10/10/09 at SMU [ predict: ECU 45, SMU 7 ] Late TD against Pirate 7th stringers mars shutout. The win restores the swagger in Pirate Nation.

10/17/09 vs. Rice [ predict: ECU 28, Rice 3 ] Rice is a starch....not a football team.

10/27/09 at Memphis [ predict: ECU 31, Memphis 10 ] Greg and Matt celebrate victory by rolling 31 straight points at the craps table after the game. (btw, Ron and Robb...why don't you join us in Memphis?)

11/05/09 vs. Virginia Tech [predict: ECU 20, Virginia Tech 13 ] This ECU team is special, to prove it we beat Tech two years in a row. The rivalry ascends to a new level.

11/15/09 at Tulsa [ predict: ECU 17, Tulsa 9 ] Our defense has broken the code on their air attack. They really want to beat us next year.....

11/21/09 vs. UAB [ predict: ECU 28, UAB 10 ] UAB likes to play the spoiler role to the Pirates....not this year a-holes.

11/28/09 vs. Southern Miss [ predict: ECU 20, USM 19 ] We're finally better than them, we're home, and this is a must win game....the victory sends us to the title game.

Conference USA Championship Game [ predict: ECU 27, Houston 24 ] We become the first back-to-back C-USA champions....a feat recognized on the covers of SI, ESPN the Magazine, Newsweek, Cat Fancier and Hustler.

Total for season: ECU 11-2, with a Liberty bowl bid to play LSU.

Prediction Thread...

2009-09-10T08:59:00.004-04:00

Ok guys, we are late doing this and everyone has had a chance to see the team/hear about them. The infamous predictions thread is back. Assumption is that all four of us would have picked ECU over APP so we are all 1-0.

RON

09/05/09 vs. Appalachian State, W, 29-24: Lackluster 2nd half makes for close game

09/12/09 at West Virginia [ predict: ECU 28, WVU 14] ECU rebounds for 1st win in Morgantown

09/19/09 at North Carolina [ predict: ECU 21. UNC 17 ] ECU too much for overrated UNC

09/26/09 vs. UCF [ predict: ECU 38, UCF 14 ] UCF is not good.

10/03/09 at Marshall * [ predict: ECU 35, Marshall 7] ECU handles Marshall.

10/10/09 at SMU * [ predict: ECU 42, SMU 14 ] SMU is horrible.

10/17/09 vs. Rice* [ predict: ECU 28, Rice 17 ] Rice not able to compete at ECU

10/27/09 at Memphis * [ predict: ECU 35, Memphis 21 ] ECU owns Memphis of late.

11/05/09 vs. Virginia Tech [predict: ECU 17, Virginia Tech 20 ] National TV, big game late in season...

11/15/09 at Tulsa * [ predict: ECU 35, Tulsa 38 ] Tulsa has this game circled.

11/21/09 vs. UAB* [ predict: ECU 38, UAB 21 ] ECU too much for UAB

11/28/09 vs. Southern Miss* [ predict: ECU 17, USM 20 ] I never pick us over USM again till we prove we can beat them.

Conference USA Championship Game [ predict: ECU 28, Houston 24 ] Still think we make the title game.

Total for season: ECU 10-3 with Liberty bid.

ROBB

09/05/09 vs. Appalachian State, W, 29-24: Lackluster 2nd half makes for close game

09/12/09 at West Virginia [ predict: ECU 21, WVU 28 ]

09/19/09 at North Carolina [ predict: ECU 35, UNC 20 ]

09/26/09 vs. UCF [ predict: ECU 28, UCF 17 ]

10/03/09 at Marshall * [ predict: ECU 35, Marshall 7]

10/10/09 at SMU * [ predict: ECU 896, SMU 1 ]

10/17/09 vs. Rice* [ predict: ECU 28, Rice 27 ] We always screw up the season with at least one loss that shouldn't have happened, and this will be (almost) one of them

10/27/09 at Memphis * [ predict: ECU 14, Memphis 35 ] And then this happens ...

11/05/09 vs. Virginia Tech [predict: ECU 23, Virginia Tech 21 ] We also usually win a game we shouldn't: field goal to win it

11/15/09 at Tulsa * [ predict: ECU 21, Tulsa 38 ] Boo

11/21/09 vs. UAB* [ predict: ECU 31, UAB 17 ]

11/28/09 vs. Southern Miss* [ predict: ECU 14, USM 27 ] We will never beat them in my lifetime*

Will this get us to the Conference USA championship game? If so: ECU 17, Houston 14

Total for season: ECU 9-4 with Liberty bid.

(*jinx in effect)

MATT???

GREG????

That troubling win...

2009-09-06T07:56:00.000-04:00

Here's the best point from Denny O'Brien's column:

Much of that can be attributed to the fact that the Pirates were woefully inept through the air. Aside from a drive that ended in a 27-yard scoring toss to receiver Reyn Willis, quarterback Patrick Pinkney had arguably the most unimpressive performance of his career.

Pinkney completed only 12-of-27 passes for 131 yards and was intercepted twice. He threw behind receivers, overthrew them, and never truly looked comfortable in the second half.

It’s hardly the type of performance you would expect from a three-year starter or sixth-year senior. It’s certainly not what you would envision from the guy who efficiently worked over both Virginia Tech and West Virginia last season, and who finally has a full complement of weapons around him.

Yes, that's the problem. I'm not sure why everyone was acting like the 6th year of eligibility was such a gift. Pinkney has consistently underperformed in many of his games -- including key gaffes that have led to losses. (Think last year's fumble to end the NC State game.) If he doesn't start offering some consistency soon, this will be a long season.

I'll take it....

2009-09-05T15:22:00.001-04:00

Appalachian St. 24 Final

East Carolina 29

But they better step it up if they want to compete next week.....

Jeff Jagodzinski is great at getting fired

2009-09-03T23:35:00.003-04:00

Former ECU dude makes headlines again:

TAMPA, Fla. -- Former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski was fired Thursday as offensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have been unhappy with the progress of their passing game.

First-year coach Raheem Morris offered a vague explanation for the abrupt move on the eve of the team's preseason finale against the Houston Texans. Quarterbacks coach Greg Olson was promoted to Jagodzinski's role and will take over playcalling.

"I have a lot of respect for coach Jags, and what he did, and the effort he put into his work, but we're at the point now where we need to be more precise, we need to be more detailed and we need to have more direction on where we're going to go," Morris said.

Jagodzinski was hired in January, three weeks after being dismissed by Boston College for pursuing an NFL head coaching job.

CONTINUE READING

Shiver me timbers....it's that time of year...

2009-08-30T23:48:00.003-04:00

Call me crazy, but I'll just say this.

Holtz has moved this program forward in each of his successive seasons. Nice sized paces, not incremental steps....every year. He's got us aimed at a steep trajectory....topping what they did last year would raise some eyebrows. If there is an order to the universe, we're on the verge of a very special season.

From chumps to champs in four short seasons. They've been short, because Holtz made meaningful progress each year. The two years under that weak suck John Thompson....those, were long seasons. If not for Holtz, our program might still be mired in the unfortunate set of events conspiring along with Johnny's reign. Lame duck chancellor, no AD, Big East expansion with no Pirate voice, and all the while Thompson takes us on an uninspired 3-20 run. But I digress....

The last time I felt this enthusiastic about our chances going into a season was 2001. In 2000 we had gone 9-3, including some of the most heartfelt victories ever recorded in Pirate Nation. We capped the season with a beat down on Texas Tech in the La-Z-Boynaugahyde.com bowl. The 2001 preseason Autumn air included chatter on ESPN, we were opening with Wake Forrest, David Garrard was under center, 9/11 had not yet changed our world, and life was good. Of course that year didn't end with a trip to the Rose Bowl. But, it was our last season that included a bowl game prior to the Holtz era (Albeit a bowl loss in an incomprehensible manner). Ironically, it was that season that started us on the Holtz path.

Here's how I see it through my 2009 prism: The Pirates got a taste of the national spotlight last year. The young guys had to step up and learn how to deal with the media frenzy while also learning their new found starting roles. They stumbled, got roughed up, bent, but didn't break, fought hard, and continued to improve. They brought home a real nice Conference USA Championship trophy that was well and hard earned. This year should be special. We're playing a major league schedule, we got the talent to beat any team on the calendar, and we've caught lightning in a hell of a big bottle with Skip Holtz. So....Let's go BCS bowling....

ECU at No. 25 (in one poll, anyway)

2009-08-30T17:01:00.000-04:00

Atlanta Journal-Constitution college football columnist Tony Barnhart placed East Carolina as the No. 25 football team in the country. Even better, 59 percent of the readers agreed with him in an online poll. Here's what he had to say:

25. East Carolina: The defending Conference USA champs return 15 starters, including quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who threw for 2,675 yards and 13 touchdowns for a 9-5 team. The offensive line returns intact. Non-conference trips to West Virginia and North Carolina, plus a home game with Virginia Tech, means ECU won't be a BCS-buster. But the Pirates are capable of winning C-USA again.

Good points -- but if we beat those three teams...

ECU rules!

2009-08-30T09:53:00.001-04:00

I'm just going to say it right now: Anything less than a national championship this season will be a disappointment.

Kidding.

Why App State will fall to the Pirates

2009-08-29T11:15:00.001-04:00

Watch the video and understand why a loss to the Pirates is inevitable.

Scenes from the Home of the Pirates

2009-08-29T10:13:00.001-04:00

Flickr slideshow of Dowdy-Ficklen pics.

Special team blues

2009-08-24T14:08:00.000-04:00

Great column from Denny O'Brien about the weakness of special teams. If we don't go 13-0, special teams will be the reason.

The key for the non-BCS: Just win

2009-06-04T21:00:00.000-04:00

This article is pretty complimentary of ECU and C-USA:

ECU was one of two teams to garner attention out of Conference USA last season. Tulsa started its season 8-0 before struggling at Arkansas in a game that crushed its hopes for BCS equality. But the efforts of both teams still put the spotlight on Conference USA, if only for a moment, and other teams shined as well. Conference USA finished with four teams with eight or more wins, two with 10 or more wins, providing hope that Conference USA might be the next conference to join the BCS-busting movement.

'You got to go undefeated to get there, that's kind of the blueprint of what everybody's done,' Holtz said. 'It's going to be hard to do in this league. I certainly don't want to take anything away from the other leagues. But that's what somebody in this league, in order for us to get into a BCS game, is going to have to do. I think the league is getting better and I'd love to be the one to start it.'

Unlike the MAC and Sun Belt, C-USA doesn't face a lot of the monetary and scheduling restrictions. East Carolina has had little trouble getting home-and-home or neutral site games with big schools mostly because those games have become rivalries. Kansas comes to UTEP this season, Texas Tech to Houston, Virginia to Southern Miss and Mississippi to Memphis. While not every school is getting BCS teams in their home stadiums, Conference USA scheduling is much closer to the Mountain West and WAC than either the Sun Belt or MAC.

So, you know, we've got that going for us.

The President And The Pirate

2009-05-12T11:39:00.002-04:00

From CBS News:

Pity the poor historian a couple hundred years from now, at a loss to figure out why Barack Obama, an American president at the start of the 21st century, was photographed meeting in the Oval Office with – a pirate.

Here's the rest of the story.

Liberty Bowl

2009-01-03T10:47:00.004-05:00

You have got to be kidding me:

"No doubt, the Autozone Liberty Bowl is right up there with Memphis's other great gifts to America: Elvis, rock 'n' roll and the blues, and of course our world-famous barbecue."

~Memphis Mayor Dr. Willie Herenton

East Carolina tight end Davon Drew (3) gains 42 yards on a pass play as he is chased by Kentucky cornerback Trevard Lindley, right, during the first quarter of the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, Jan. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

ECU bowl projection

2008-11-24T17:50:00.000-05:00

Dec. 31, Armed Forces: Air Force (MWC) vs. East Carolina (C-USA)

via SI.com

Greenville C-USA Championship Game Scenario

2008-11-10T15:19:00.010-05:00

The experts at Pirate Booty have crunched the numbers, and we've discovered a scenario in which ECU would host the C-USA championship game in Greenville. It's a pretty unlikely scenario.

First here are the rules:

Home field for the C-USA Championship Game will be awarded to the team that posts the highest regular season winning percentage against conference opposition. The first tiebreaker is the winner of a head-to-head match-up. If the two teams did not play during the regular season, the team with the highest BCS ranking would receive the nod.

Tulsa has a better BCS record than ECU, and Houston's already beaten us. So, Rice is our best hope.

This whole scenario assumes that ECU wins out (@Southern Miss, @UAB, UTEP). Although we can still win the C-USA East with one more loss, we need to win out so we have a higher BCS ranking than our C-USA West opponent.

Then, Rice needs to beat Houston on its last game of the season. A Rice loss vs. Marshall is preferable to help keep to their BCS ranking lower than ours. ECU should have a higher ranking regardless because of two wins over Top 25 teams.

Meanwhile, Tulsa (@Houston, Tulane, @Marshall) needs to lose 2 of its last 3. So, it's a slim chance.

Houston needs to beat Tulsa at home, but lose to UTEP at home or to Rice on the road.

Recap for this weekend:

ECU wins at Southern Miss
Tulsa loses at Houston
Rice does not play

Tulsa?

2008-10-20T08:39:00.001-04:00

Um, Tulsa is ranked No. 22 in the nation and just beat UTEP by 42 points. Oh, and they're 7-0. That kind of snuck up on me. Well, if we can make it to the championship game, we'll likely be facing a worthy opponent.

One yard punts

2008-10-13T08:33:00.001-04:00

From Denny O'Brien:

ECU also can’t afford to punctuate important defensive stops with deflating 15-yard penalties. Nor can the Pirates expect the defense to compensate for costly turnovers or one-yard punts.

Well said.

Uh, yeah, season over

2008-09-27T19:03:00.002-04:00

41-24? Seriously? A truly pathetic performance.

Pirates Seek $35 Million for Ship

2008-09-27T14:48:00.003-04:00

I find it amazing that pirates still exist. I wonder if they have a plank and make people walk off it into the slashing jaws of the sharks that follow the ship. From the New York Times:

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates in a hijacked ship carrying more than 30 battle tanks were steaming toward a notorious pirate den on Saturday, and they vowed not to release the ship until a $35 million ransom was paid, Somali and Kenyan officials said.

According to Mohamed Osman Aden, a Somali diplomat in Kenya, the Ukrainian-owned vessel was headed to Xarardheere, on the barren Somali coast. Xarardheere is an isolated fishing village that has thrived on organized crime and has frequently been used as a pirate hide-out.
Mr. Mohamed said that while the cargo in this case was extremely unusual — 33 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks and a large supply of ammunition and grenade launchers, all intended for the Kenyan military — the tactics were pretty typical.
“These guys just want the money,” he said.

Fearless Football Forecast Week #5

2008-09-25T14:30:00.003-04:00

RON:

Ok, so we are not going to win the mythical national championship, but we can still accomplish a new milestone- win CUSA. We are still the class of the league and should handle Houston well in front of a SOLD OUT Dowdy-Ficklin. Look we are 3-1, 1-0...ranked in the Top 25 and can move back up the polls with a solid win here.

I think the Pirates take care of business on Saturday and improve to 4-1 and 2-0 on the season with a solid win over Houston - 35-21.

ROBB:

Yay. C-USA championship. (Don't care.) Don't get me wrong, it'll be great for the program to do it, Go Pirates! and all that crap. I will still be rooting for us to win every game. And maybe we'll win out and have a great season with just one loss. Just like 1991. That would be great. I'm just not amped up for a C-USA title. That's like Michael Phelps winning bronze in the Special Olympics.

We crush Houston, 45-12. And cover.

The loss in perspective

2008-09-22T10:45:00.001-04:00

If we lose to Houston at home and Marshall beats WVU at West Virginia, then you'll know that we were truly over-rated.

That said, I'm with Greg (see comment below.) I think the season still has plenty of promise. Let's go win the C-USA title -- it's not like we've ever done that before.

Also, perhaps the best thing this season will do is allow us to recruit a real, bonafide quarterback. I'm so sick of the Crandell, Garrard, Pinkney mold -- flashes of greatness accompanied with incredible boneheadedness.

Fuck

2008-09-20T15:22:00.002-04:00

Season is over. ECU is still ECU.

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day

2008-09-19T10:24:00.003-04:00

AAAAaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!

UNC better than No. 15 ECU? Beamer says yes

2008-09-19T09:24:00.001-04:00

Um, all I can say to this is SCREW FRANK BEAMER:

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is giving a lot of credit to the team trying to unseat the Hokies this Saturday as the Coastal Division favorites. For the second time this week, Beamer said UNC is the best team they will have played.

Asked what makes UNC better than No. 15 East Carolina, which beat Virginia Tech, 27-22, in the season opener, Beamer said the Tar Heels are the total package.

"I think just from an overall team standpoint, offensively they've got it all," Beamer said. "They've got the big back ... you look at their receivers, their quarterback is playing well, they're very solid up front.

You look at them defensively, every position they're athletic. And I think a lot of East Carolina. [Quarterback Patrick] Pinkney and all those guys, I think a lot of them, but I think this is the best football team."

WVU sucks

2008-09-19T08:26:00.002-04:00

Last night's West Virginia loss to Colorado is depressing. Let's face it -- WVU is just not a good football team. That coach had no idea what to with 33 seconds left and chance to win the game. Despite having two timeouts, he let time run down to 4 seconds before using one of them. What a maroon!

The ECU win over West Virginia has all the trappings of our win over Miami in 1999. Looked great at the time, but in hindsight, we were really just witnessing the start of Miami's decline as a football powerhouse.

Jeff Blake's son

2008-09-18T16:29:00.005-04:00

Jeff Blake's son Emory is a prep star in Texas. Wonder if he'd consider ECU. From ESPN:

There is a lot to like in Blake, a very polished football player. He doesn't run very well, but he has qualities that aren't seen in many faster players. Has good size and leaping ability. Can challenge for the ball while it's in the air and win some jump balls. Has the body control to adjust to the ball, shows good sideline awareness and can make some acrobatic catches. He's a sharp route runner who is aware that he must outwork his opponent to gain separation. Has phenomenal, quick hands. Plucks with ease and can catch in a crowd. Uses his body well and always extends away from his frame to catch the ball, whether open or in traffic. Has great body control along the sideline. He's very reliable and can be a go-to target in the clutch. His best fit at the next level may be in the slot, where he can work underneath zones, exploit his size and avoid press coverage at the line. Could have significant trouble separating and getting vertical against college competition. His speed always will be a limitation. Blake is highly competitive and puts in the work to make the most of his assets. He's a good prospect who also has some experience at quarterback.

Shouldn't be a surprise that he's visiting Boston College, where Blake's mentor Steve Logan is the offensive coordinator.

UNC Charlotte chancellor recommends football team

2008-09-18T14:22:00.001-04:00

Sweet. More competition.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- UNC Charlotte chancellor Philip Dubois has recommended the school start a football program that would begin play in 2013.

Dubois told the school's board of trustees Thursday that the team should begin play in the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision, with the goal to eventually move to the top level of Division I.

The board is expected to vote on the issue in November.

The plan will involve increasing student fees, and the school must still devise a plan for a football stadium.

Fearless Football Forecast Week #4

2008-09-16T13:35:00.006-04:00

RON:

Ok, Tulane was an ugly win, but in the past, ECU would have lost. It was a horribly ugly first half of football and we lost two key players. We are 3-0 and considered a BCS contender. I think last week was a wake-up call and that our players will be jacked and have their A-game on for N.C. State.

I think we jump on them quick and win 28-17. We have pretty much put up consistent numbers in each game offensively, though we crammed all of it in last week in the second half.

This is a HUGE game and, if we win, will rekindle all of the national love fest we felt the first two weeks.

ROBB:

The line isn't great, again. This could be the year that ECU reverses its trends. Great win-loss record but crap ATS. They're giving up a TD to the Wolfpack. I don't like it. But I'm betting it anyway. NCSU's only win is against William & Mary. If we're truly a legit team, then ECU wins, 37-14.

Let's Hope that was this Year's Marshall...

2008-09-15T00:30:00.002-04:00

So we fell a spot in the AP poll to No. 15, we did move up 3 spots in the more important - vis-a-vis BCS standings - Coach's poll to No. 17. I think the coaches get what it takes to win a trap game like the Tulane game. We came in 2-0 against the defending ACC and Big East champions, respectively, and have N.C. State on the horizon. Classic trap game. And, you know what, the Pirates won it. Ugly, yes, but if you examine the game a bit, there are some things of note: 1. Tulane's defense is stout and will prove it again and again this season; 2. despite being shutdown in the first half, we ended the game hitting our average for the year (~28 points, ~350 yards of offense); 3. We confidently executed when we needed to to remain unbeaten.

Really cannot ask for more given the circumstances. It hurts like hell to lose arguably our best defensive player in Quentin Cotton - outstanding young man and a big leader on the defense - and Stanley Bryant, our ironman left tackle...but you know what...our depth is showing as we did not miss a beat on defense and our OL rose to the occasion in the second half.

I expect our team to have its A game completely ready for N.C. State on Saturday. Predicting a solid win for the Pirates.

Fearless Football Fortecast, Week 3

2008-09-12T11:02:00.002-04:00

I was really afraid that all the hype surrounding ECU would screw with the lines. And it did. The Pirates are -13 against Tulane. Doesn't matter. We will romp.

Great column

2008-09-12T10:22:00.000-04:00

Just a great column about the Pirates, Greenville, and good living.

Fearless Football Forecast Week #3

2008-09-10T15:03:00.002-04:00

Ok, so here are my thoughts about this week's game. Classic trap game with N.C. State next week and coming off the high of the first two weeks. So, naturally, I am worried particularly with how well Tulane performed against Alabama.

In the past, our team would have laid an egg last week but didn't which sends a strong message that this team may have that special something-something that allows a team to beat the teams they are supposed and a couple that they are not.

I think Holtz will have them focused and ready...I do. It is a chance to show that we can be business-like and dismantle a team we are supposed to dismantle.

We live up to the hype...ECU, 35-10 in a steady, ball control type of game.

Stuff the Heisman Ballot Boxes...

2008-09-10T14:47:00.004-04:00

Well gents, it seems that the small guy actually is getting some press and low and behold, goes whose name is creeping into the Heisman Trophy discussion?

That's right, our own Patrick Pinkney. So, go stuff the ballot boxes at Rivals and at ESPN for our guy. The latter, you have to write in (in typical BCS bias).

The kid is flat-out performing and couldn't happen to a better person.

ECU in BCS?

2008-09-08T11:05:00.006-04:00

I hate that this question is even being raised. It's like an automatic jinx. But here it is on ESPN, of course:

USC still unanimous for title game, East Carolina makes BCS game

Why are any of these bowl games even being discussed right now? What a ridiculous hype machine.

Having said that, ECU is poised for it's greatest season since my first year at ECU in 1991. I have never seen a the Pirates with a defense like this. Ever. They made a very good West Virginia team look weak. And make no mistake, this wasn't a case of the Mountaineers playing poorly. We. Shut. Them. Down.

The Cops in Greenvile Haven't Changed

2008-09-08T10:56:00.003-04:00

According to a story in the Daily Reflector, officers were told that they should try to deter fans by making themselves visible, but if that failed, officers were to step back and focus on making sure that those on the field stayed safe. Doesn't sound like that happened:

The East Carolina University Police Department is investigating accounts of police brutality and excessive use of force Saturday following the Pirates' win over West Virginia University at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Investigators are interviewing witnesses and analyzing photos and videotapes, University Police Chief Scott Shelton said in a news release.

Click here for rest of story.

Here are some YouTube videos that I'm sure will be used as evidence. Look in the bottom right of the first video. We have no idea what the kid who is getting his face pounded in did, but we can guess that he needs some new teeth:

Props

2008-09-04T13:55:00.003-04:00

ECU is getting well-deserved props:

Sometimes seasons change on a hunch.

East Carolina coach Skip Holtz had been trying to find a way to break through on Virginia Tech all afternoon last Saturday. Even a game-tying touchdown wasn't, well, a game-tying touchdown. With the Pirates trailing 14-13 after a TD, Holtz watched the Hokies block the extra point and return it for a defensive 2-pointer.

"Can we ever get out of this hole?" Holtz asked himself.

Here's the rest of Dennis Dodd's column.

The ECU-WVa Spread

2008-09-02T11:26:00.004-04:00

It's amazing what beating the No. 17 team in the country will do to the spreads. ECU is getting less against No. 8 West Virgina than they were against the Hokies, between 8 and 9 points.

Bet the Pirates. Heavy. And here's why. Because everyone thinks ECU got lucky and caught Va Tech off guard. They're going to bet the Mountaineers heavy and I expect the spread to go up. I'm hoping to get 10 points by Friday.

Blocked Punt Returned for TD

2008-09-01T01:44:00.002-04:00

Saw this on Matt's blog and had to pilfer it for this one.

Fearless Football Forecast - Week 2

2008-08-31T21:36:00.002-04:00

OK, 1-0 and maybe even ranked (I posted this on Sunday), the Pirates have enough Offense to move all over a suspect WVU defense. Unfortunately, WVU's offense will likely pound our very good defense. I say we put up a grand effort but fall in barn-burner. See score prediction in my original post below.

Hopefully, our defense will come through this game without major injuries.

Fearless Football Forecast -- Week 2

2008-08-31T20:51:00.002-04:00

The atmosphere at Dowdey-Ficklen is unbelievably electric. We start off slow, but beat West Virginia on a last-second field goal. The place goes crazy. We break into the AP Top 25 at #16.

Fearless Football Forecast

2008-08-29T22:57:00.002-04:00

We beat Virginia Tech today on the way to going 13-0 and busting into the BCS. This is our year.

OK, maybe not 13-0, but we are DEFINITELY beating VT today.

ECU Football Predictions

2008-08-29T14:32:00.005-04:00

I predict we will cover every game but three and we will win every game but five. Which ones we lose and which ones we don't cover is my secret, though.

UPDATE:

Everything Ron said, but I think we lose against Va Tech and UCF.

Like Christmas Eve...Pirate Style (predictions)

2008-08-29T13:55:00.008-04:00

Well all, it is that time of year again as our Pirates get set to kickoff another season tomorrow at high noon in Panthers Stadium (aka Bank of America) in Charlotte, NC. They are taking on Virginia Tech and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.

In keeping with our tradition, I am putting forth my fearless forecast for the season, complete with commentary. I think if you click on the image it will become bigger to read. I am certainly seeing the cup as full and I am assuming that even though we will lose a league game, we will still win the East.

Here is to a great season gents...Cheers!

Funny joke a friend forwarded...

2008-08-24T14:38:00.002-04:00

Her Diary entry...

Tonight, I thought he was acting weird. We had made plans to meet for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I though he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk.

He agreed, but he kept quiet and remained absent. I asked him what was wrong; he said nothing. I asked him if it was my fault he was upset. He said it had nothing to do with me and not to worry.

On the way home, I told him that I loved him, he simply smiled and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, "I love you, too."

When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there, watching TV and was distant and absent.

Finally, I told him I was going up to bed. He nodded and continued to watch the TV.

About 10 minutes later, he came to bed and to my utter surprise, responded to my caresses. We made love, but I still felt that he was distracted. His thoughts were definitely somewhere else. He fell asleep and laid there, quietly crying.

I don't know what to do...I am sure that he is thinking of someone else. I know he is going to leave me. My life is a disaster.

His Journal Entry...

Today, ECU lost...but, at least I had sex.

Prediction

2008-08-13T08:33:00.003-04:00

Some guy in Michigan picked ECU to upset VT:

19. East Carolina over Virginia Tech, Aug. 30: May as well start off with an opening weekend upset. ECU stayed within 17-7 of the Hokies last season, and Virginia Tech has to hit the road this time around. The Pirates defense will be strong this season, and Virginia Tech has questions at quarterback and running back to answer.

You heard it here second.

Chris Johnson is the Mo'Fo'ing Man

2008-08-12T13:54:00.004-04:00

In real life and on video games, apparently.

Here's a link to his 66-yard TD run against the Rams.

And if you're a Madden fan, expect him to be unstoppable on your Xbox or PlayStation, too. Here's what another Web site has to say about his impact on the virtual football field:

There are few players that are more dynamic than Vince Young. One of the many problems Young has had since joining the Titans is his lack of supporting cast. In Madden 08 the Titans felt like the Atlanta Falcons of 2005 without Warrick Dunn. While the Titans have always had a platoon backfield, no one player was ever impactful in Madden, which makes the Titans very one dimensional, especially considering the two-dimensional Young under center.

In every draft there are many players like Chris Long and Glen Dorsey whose impact will be felt more on Sunday than in Madden. However, there are a select few whose impact may be greater in the virtual world than in the NFL.
Not to take away from Chris Johnson's ability at the NFL level, but he is absolutely the type of player gamers will love to use in Madden. Johnson has been timed at 4.24 in the 40, giving him almost unmatched speed! Johnson also has switched between running back and slot receiver at times, giving him the best set of hands out of the backfield of any back in the draft. Gamers will find opportunities for Johnson at running back, wide receiver, and in the return game, as his speed will make him a widely utilized player. Look for the combination of Young's scrambling ability and Johnson's speed to make the Titans even more popular in Madden NFL 09, and a lethal combination in Madden circles.

Impact Rating: 10/10

ESPN, you suck.

ECU to the Big East?

2008-05-15T11:23:00.002-04:00

ECU fans talk about joining the Big East like they talk about what they'd do with all the money if they ever won the lottery.

It'd be great for us, but I've always been skeptical of what's in it for the Big East. Here's what the Hartford Courant has to say about the rumors that ECU is making a push to join.

Chris Johnson is a Titan

2008-04-28T14:27:00.007-04:00

He went right after my very own Steelers took a running back, which stings a little, but I'm happy the Pirates had someone go in the first round. ESPN took a dim viw of the pick, but what the hell do they know? That idiotic crew led by Mel Kiper is better at picking boogers than NFL players:

This is a reach in our opinion. At 197 pounds, there are concerns about Johnson's ability to take the kind of pounding NFL running backs endure. He's also not great between the tackles and has had fumble issues. His biggest strengths are his speed and versatility; Johnson can line up in the backfield or motion out to the slot. His rare speed (4.24) makes him a home run threat regardless of where he lines up. Johnson can also make an impact in the kickoff return game.

ESPN has just set itself up for failure yet again. Dude is gonna be good.

Lee Corso is a Penis

2008-04-23T10:50:00.002-04:00

A few ECU fans might share this sentiment. (Yes, I still hold a decade-long grudge against him for referring to us as "Eastern Carolina.") Keep an eye on the sign in the upper right corner of the video.

ECU Football 2008 Schedule

2008-03-24T07:28:00.001-04:00

Aug 30 - vs. Virginia Tech
Sept 06 - West Virginia
Sept 13 - at Tulane
Sept 20 - N.C. State
Sept 27 - Houston
Oct 04 - Open
Oct 11 - at Virginia
Oct 18 - Memphis
Oct 25 - Open
Nov 02 (Sun) - at Central Florida
Nov 08 - Marshall
Nov 15 - at Southern Miss
Nov 22 - at UAB
Nov 29 - Texas-El Paso

ECU is everywhere

2008-02-07T14:31:00.001-05:00

Let's here it for the class of 1906!

June Jones Joins C-USA

2008-01-06T19:36:00.000-05:00

This is a huge move for C-USA:

SMU is close to finalizing the details of a contract for Hawaii coach June Jones and he is expected to be introduced at a news conference as soon as Monday, a source close to the situation said Sunday.

Jones' contract is expected to be for five years at close to $2 million per year. The deal is expected to be booster-funded. SMU athletic director Steve Orsini reportedly has sold as many as 20 boosters on the concept of donating as much as $100,000 per year for five years.

Jones, who flew to Dallas on Saturday, will bring an exciting offense and instantly make nearly twice as much as any other coach in Conference USA.

Some ECU boosters better get ready to put up some money for Field Marshall Holtz.

ECU SAYS MAHALO!!!

2007-12-23T23:48:00.000-05:00

I had an impending sense of doom the entire second half of the Hawaii Bowl. But with 4 seconds left I saw Skip Holtz joking with kicker Ben Hartman after the Broncos tried to ice him, and I felt pretty good about making the game-winning kick. They seemed relaxed and confident.

Good thing I didn't know beforehand that Hartman was only 11 of 20 during the regular season.

Still, when I actually saw the kick, for some reason I thought Boise State had been blocked. Even when I saw the ball go through the uprights, I still wasn't sure I'd seen it, so I waited to see the refs' arms.

Then I paused the TV to make sure their arms were going up and not out the side.

Then I made my girlfriend promise me she wasn't lying about the 41-38 final score that I couldn't seem to read.

"Don't lie to me!!!" I screamed.

She claims the Pirates won, and I believer her, I guess.

Oh, and Chris Johnson is a god.

This ain't a democracy

2007-12-23T01:48:00.000-05:00

In ESPN's Bowl Mania, America voted on all the bowl games:

"Bowl Mania is in-progress. ... Our Who Picked Whom page is final and Boise State was the most selected team at 97.6% (ouch!). "

Suckas.

Bowl countdown

2007-12-22T16:32:00.000-05:00

First off, C-USA sucks. Both Memphis and Southern Miss lose like little girls to mighty Florida Atlantic and Cincinnati. (I don't care if the latter is ranked -- it's Cincinnati!)

Secondly, I'm getting excited about the Hawaii Bowl, although I'm not holding out hope that we'll beat Boise State. That's a mighty good football team. But perhaps Sensai Holtz can work up some magic -- maybe even get Steve Logone to come script a few trick plays.

Holtz could steal a page out of Boise State's playbook. Check out the highlights from last year's game:

What a great win. We can hope that they'll be overconfident -- tough to get geared up for East Carolina when you beat Oklahoma in your last bowl game.

ECU hoops murderizes Wolfpack

2007-12-13T14:11:00.000-05:00

Holy shizzit!!!!

East Carolina upsets N.C. State, 75-69

GREENVILLE — Sam Hinnant and East Carolina gave the crowd of 7,623 in Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum a lasting memory on Saturday night with a 75-69 win over N.C. State, the Pirates’ first-ever victory over an ACC men’s basketball team.

Hinnant had 30 points, including a 3-pointer with 2:13 to go that put the Pirates ahead to stay at 67-64.

“We’re from Conference USA,” Hinnant said. “We get up for ACC teams. We see them play on TV every night.” (FULL STORY)

Home field advantage for Boise

2007-12-13T08:32:00.000-05:00

Probably about right:

Boise State takes on East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl. The Broncos are 5-2 both SU and ATS in their seven lifetime bowl games, while the Pirates are 1-3 both SU and ATS in their last four, losing by 14 points or more in two of the three defeats. In addition, East Carolina certainly does not have any advantages in this one, having to go to Aloha Stadium, a place that Boise is somewhat familiar with having played there two of the previous three years. Expect the Broncos to be all business while the Pirates may soak up too much sun on the Honolulu beaches.

I think we would've been much better off playing in Mobile.

Also, we should acknowledge that awesome basketball victory vs. NC State. Had no idea we had never won a game versus an ACC team. Picked a good team to beat for the innaugural victory.

ECU supports the troops

2007-12-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina University football fans are buying tickets to their team's bowl game in Hawaii, but they are donating them to military personnel who expect to spend time there during the Christmas holiday. (FULL STORY)

Pirates in Paradise

2007-12-07T14:30:00.000-05:00

I lived in Hawaii for three years -- three of the most wonderful years of my life. It’s everything the postcards make it out to be. The picture above is where the pirate James Cook landed, paving the way for the haole invasion.

Because of my ties to the Islands (a made a few calls to some Samoans who don’t fuck around), I can guarantee a Pirate victory against No. 22 Boise State.

It’s a lock.

We enter as 11-point underdogs, a position we thrive in. I feel much better about this than I would if we were 11-point favorites. Teams need to learn how to win, and this game will do that for Skip Holtz’s squad. After we walk away with a victory in paradise against a ranked team, we will parlay it into a great 2008.

In honor of our Hawaii-bound team ...

2007-12-03T12:37:00.001-05:00

Another of those crazy name converters, Get Your Hawaiian Name Here.

For the record, I am Lonu Kelupini, though if you convert my Pirate Name (Bloody Tom Read), my Hawaiian name is Paloki Komu Leaka.

We take on Boise State which is currently a Top 25 team, so we have a great opportunity to make something great happen on national television. Not to mention a bunch of extra practices and our team is apparently finally healing up.

Aloha, Ya'll

2007-11-26T23:52:00.000-05:00

Honolulu is a great city, but I might actually be able to go to a game in Mobile, Ala.:

East Carolina’s postseason football destination will be one of two places, the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu on Dec. 23 or the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 6. (READ FULL STORY)

CBSSports.com sees us playing Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 23. The site predicts Tulsa will face Bowling Green in the GMAC while UCF battles Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl.

Can anyone swing the trip to paradise? I might be able to find a couch for you to crash on.

(By the way, ECU finished 7-5 ATS, but I'm expecting them to cover yet again in December. "You can call me Aaron Burr from the way I'm droppin' Hamiltons.")

Wha-huh?

2007-11-24T00:45:00.000-05:00

I can't think of any reason why ECU should be 12.5 favorites against Tulane. I can't think of a good reason to take that line. But I'm taking it. I'll have to sell a kilo of blow at the elementary school down the street to raise the cash, but it'll be worth it.

Mississippi State 17, Universty of Mississippi 14

2007-11-23T15:52:00.000-05:00

Just watched Mississippi State tack 17 fourth-quarter points on Ole Miss to win their rivalry game in stunning fashion.

The best part of the victory? The identity of the Ole Miss defensive coordinator. Guess who.

You want talent...Skip better get on this kid

2007-11-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Someone posted this video on the Boneyard Banter board so I thought I would share it. Check out No. 5...kid has got some serious intuitive running skills.

Robb...this talented enough for the Pirates?

Britney Spears Naked

2007-11-14T18:37:00.001-05:00

What can I say about the Marshall game? They have really, really, really, really, really good kickers.

I am upset about the loss, but at the same time I'm trying not to be too upset because perhaps what's wrong with this program isn't the football team but the fans. Yeah, us. Maybe we should re-examine why we expected what we expected from the team this season. If we thought they might go 7-5 or 6-6, we wouldn't really be that pissed would we? OK, yeah, we'd still be pissed, but you see my point.

Sure, we could still get into a bowl. ... Yay ... But almost every year, ECU lets us down, regardless of coaches or players. The common denominator seems to be our own misguided expectations, fueled by the hype machines that surround the program (including this very blog).

The only time the Pirates have ever exceeded my expectations to any significant degree was 1991, my first drunken year at ECU. Every year after that I have endured hearing about the latest hot high school prospect who turned down Florida State and Southern Cal to come play for us, the mighty Pirates! Yay! And that dude would almost always end up sucking. So I remind myself that that type of hype is just Sports (Mis)Information Department bullshit. We have to stop buying into.

I am not advocating passively accepting crap seasons from the program. I think we should expect to field a team capable of cracking the polls and winning bowl games every year. There is no reason for this to be otherwise. As fans, we should demand it.

But we also need to realistically evaluate where we are as a team before each season, not just cross our fingers and pray for the best possible outcome every game -- which was what happened in 1991. We got very lucky.

Yes, we should have beaten the 1-8 Thundering Herd this year regardless of how good we may or may not be. I won't argue that. But we lost to N.C. State, too. And Southern Miss (as always) and they're not even that good this year. Why? The answer, sadly, might just be that we aren't really as good as we thought.

And that is unacceptable. We can and should do better. But once we identify the real problem -- ability -- then we can act to correct it. If it's "just another letdown" how do you fix that? Fire everybody and kick all the players off the team and start over?

I still have faith in Skip Holtz. I'm on board with him for at least another season. But if we don't make progress in 2008, I'm going to raise the "No Quarter" flag.

Marshall 26, ECU 7

2007-11-11T09:52:00.000-05:00

That was the most disappointing loss in my 20 years of Pirate fandom. To score seven points against a team upon whom the University of New Hampshire hung 48. To lose to a 1-8 team whose only victory came against Rice. And to lose with the C-USA championship so firmly in our sights.

The biggest disapointment was my expectation that the Pirates were going to throw this monkey off its back. I knew that ECU has a proclivity toward losing games that we should win. I thought that Coach Holtz would finally rid us of this habit. But, Holtz follows the tradition of recent ECU coaches -- namely "Weak Suck" Thompson and Steve LoGone -- who can also be counted on to lose the big game against the team we should beat easily.

This Pirate team doesn't deserve to play for the C-USA championship. They don't deserve to play in a bowl. And they don't deserve my continued interest.

Unfortunately for me, they'll never lose the latter.

Thundering Terd

2007-11-07T21:38:00.000-05:00

The Pirates are road favorites again, giving up seven mo'fo'-ing points to the Thundering Terd. Could we lose to 1-8 Marshall? Of course we could.

But I will slap your wife's face if we do.

I'm going to sell my left nut -- no, my right nut -- to Planters so they can roast and salt it and put it in a can. All proceeds toward ECU to cover ... on the road ... again. The Terd has great kickers!!!

Hyperbole

2007-11-07T08:18:00.000-05:00

Sensai Holtz has certainly been talking up the dangers of underestimating Marshall (1-8) this week. I'm glad to see he's not expecting an automatic W, but some of his assessments do seem a little over the top. The last lines from Charleston Daily Mail article sums it up pretty well:

"They have a very big offensive line and I think they have a couple of senior kickers who are really doing a nice job for them," Holtz said. "This is a very talented football team."

If Marshall could play as well as Holtz can talk, perhaps, the Herd wouldn't be 1-8.

I Volunteer to whip Matthew McConaughey's ass

2007-11-05T16:22:00.000-05:00

SI.com has ECU in the Liberty Bowl against Tennessee on Dec. 29. I'd love to beat the Vols, even if it's a down year for them.
But I guess we have to beat Marshall first. Screw Marshall and that crap movie about us kicking their ass. Matthew McConaughey blows.

Halloween

2007-11-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

I walked in New York's Halloween parade and this young lady decided to go as our blog. We have finally arrived!

Fool's bet

2007-11-02T08:27:00.000-04:00

I have an extra kidney and I'm selling it on the black market. All proceeds are being put on the Pirates -6 on the road against Memphis. Taking a road favorite is a fool's bet, and I am a fool.

And, of course, I can't let a game in Memphis slide without making a crack about the ECU-Stanford game at the Liberty Bowl where Matt … well, you know the rest. ;-)

Big Game this Weekend...as always

2007-11-01T10:15:00.000-04:00

This is the big one for the Pirates. Memphis is confident and we are playing well. Wish it were at home, but if you are going to be a league champion, you have to be able to get it done whenever, wherever.

By the way, this is one of the best videos I have seen yet on the ECU football team entrance to the field at home games.

My predicted score: ECU 35, Memphis 21

ECU @ Memphis

2007-11-01T08:46:00.001-04:00

We need to hurry up and play Memphis this weekend. I don't know how many more "Pirates control their own destiny" stories I can read.

I predict a close, high-scoring game with our weakness in the secondary mightily exploited. ECU 48, Memphis 45.

Pirates Take Cargo Ship, Crew Off Somalia

2007-10-30T21:21:00.000-04:00

Nice to see alumni working hard in Africa. The spread on this hijacking was eight crew members, so we covered easily:

(AP) Pirates in Somalia hijacked a cargo ship with dozens of foreign crew members reportedly on board, officials said Tuesday.

The attackers seized the ship late Monday in the waters off the war-battered capital, Mogadishu, said Paddy Ankunda, a Somalia spokesman for the African Union, which has peacekeepers at the city's port.

The story went on to say that pirate attacks worldwide jumped 14 percent in the first nine months of 2007. Arrrrrrrgggghhh!

We Control Our Own Destiny...Can We Handle It?

2007-10-29T10:29:00.000-04:00

With Southern Miss losing, finally, the Pirates control their own destiny. Can we as a program handle it this time around? Last year, we choked big-time at Rice.

Now we have a Memphis team that is suddenly playing pretty good football now...figures. We are not necessary the king of the road, so this looks to be the biggest chance for a slip up the rest of the way. Of course, with the Pirates, nothing is ever easy or predictable.

Any of you guys heading to Memphis?

Why is Vegas trying to fu-suck me?

2007-10-25T21:35:00.000-04:00

Sin City is force feeding me 15 points at home against UAB this week. That's a horse pill to swallow.

I'd like to believe that last week's embarrassment will be all the fuel we need to steamroll these chumps, but I have doubts about our chances to cover that gap against the Blazers.

Screw that, I'm going to accept a professional hitman contract for 10 Gs, and put it all on the Pirates!

Birmingham is a crap city and Alabama is a crap state. I poop on you all.

Back to the Business at Hand

2007-10-24T11:42:00.000-04:00

No time to dwell on that horrible excuse for a game last week - at home no less. We are very much in the hunt for the East Division title in C-USA. We have NEVER won this thing and frankly, we need to win it to have any credibility when we bitch and moan about non-BCS inclusion.

Though I stand by my statement that we should win out, we all know that with the Pirates, nothing is ever easy nor does anything ever go the way it should. One game at a time and we might find ourselves in the CUSA title game.

Here is hoping we can win this weekend and that Central Florida can take out USM for us.

One of our own, picking against us...hmmmm

2007-10-19T11:46:00.000-04:00

ECU alum Carlton "sell out" Tudor running around talking about how he likes N.C. State in this game. Click on the audio button here.

With friends like him...sheeez.

However, I don't totally disagree that this is a ripe setting for an upset. State with the bye week, the Pirates with an altered schedule (due to length of travel for return from UTEP), everyone believing we will beat them, etc. In the past, this has been ECU's MO. We have been the stage for never-heard-of backup QBs scorching us in first starts, dramatic letdowns when everyone is watching, and losses to teams who have no wins or no D1 wins...

Hopefully, our boys will get it done.

Skippy!

2007-10-18T08:39:00.001-04:00

From CollegeFootballNews:

Coach of the Midseason – Skip Holtz, East Carolina
The good news around Greenville is that Holtz is doing another terrific job with the Pirate program. The bad news is that his name is going to get circulated again when the coaching carousel starts to spin in December. Despite having issues at quarterback and injuries on defense, Holtz has helped guide East Carolina out of a 1-3 start and into the top spot in the East. With no teams with a winning record left on the schedule, he’s liable to carry an eight-game winning streak into the Conference USA championship game. Let the new contract negotiations begin.

This game used to matter

2007-10-17T20:23:00.000-04:00

But N.C. State sucks so bad, there just won't be as much joy when we destroy them. And we better destroy them.

Although there is this feeling I'm getting that this game means to them what our game in '86 meant to us.

They want to rip our goal posts down. In the worst way.

But we have no excuse for not blowing them out of the g'damn water.

We're giving up 5.5 points at home, but I predict a two-TD victory.

Sell your wife to a Saudi as a sex slave and put it all $12.07 on the Pirates.

No EXCUSES: Pirates Should Run Table

2007-10-17T13:20:00.000-04:00

Honestly, there are no excuses even with all the injuries for this Pirates team not to run the table and end up 9-3 with a date in the CUSA title game and a Good Bowl bid. Our final 5 games are against a set of opponents that carry a 6-24 mark overall AND when you factor out wins over non-D1A opponents, their combined record is 3-24. Uggggggly.

The remaining teams on our schedule:

North Carolina State (1-5)

The Wolfpack are horrible and have a bunch of injuries. Their big win came against a 1AA opponent and they have not scored more than 23 points against a D1 opponent.

UAB (2-4)

The Blazers, who will be our Homecoming opponent, had its biggest win and only D1 victory over Tulane, 26-21.

Memphis (2-4)

The Tigers' only D1 win was a nailbiter over powerful winless Marshall 24-21.

Marshall (0-6)

The Thundering Herd have played a tough schedule, but have also got pounded on that tough schedule. Their closest game was the above-mentioned loss to 2-4 Memphis.

Tulane (1-5)

The Green Wave, like the Wolfpack, have not beaten a D1 team this season, though they came close in a game for the ages, losing 17-20 to Army...in Overtime.

Memphis bound

2007-10-15T23:18:00.000-04:00

College Football News has us going to the Liberty Bowl vs. Alabama. I'd make that game.