Tuesday, December 31, 2019
EAST CAROLINA DOES NOT HAVE ANY SUSPENSIONS TO REPORT AND NO CHANGE IN THE ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY OF O LINEMAN SEAN BAILEY, LB AARON RAMSEUR, AND DB DAMEL HICKMAN.
NORTH CAROLINA GAME PLAN:
LAST TIME THE PIRATES TOOK ON AN ACC FOE, IT WAS A CONTROVERSIAL LOSS IN THE BELK BOWL TO LOUISVILLE.
THE TAR HEELS ARE LED BY OLD VETERAN MACK BROWN. HE HAS INSERTED AN AIR RAID OFFENSE SIMILAR TO OUR OFFENSE AND ALSO RUNS A 3-4 MULTIPLE SCHEME.
JACE RUDER IS CURRENTLY THE STARTER, HOWEVER SAM HOWELL COULD POSSIBLY SEE SOME PLAYING TIME. JACE IS ONLY A SOPHOMORE BUT HAS ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE A GREAT ACC QB FOR YEARS TO COME. THE NORTH CAROLINA RUNNING BACK COMBO OF MICHAEL CARTER AND JAVONTE WILLIAMS WILL KEEP ANY DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR UP AT NIGHT, AND WE WILL HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THEIR RUN GAME EVEN THOUGH THEY BOAST AN AIR RAID ATTACK. DAZZ NEWSOME HIGHLIGHTS THE WIDE RECEIVER CORE HOWEVER THEIR TOP 3 GUYS CAN ALL TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE WITH ONLY ONE MISSED TACKLE. THIS WILL BE THE TOUGHEST TEST THE EAST CAROLINA DEFENSE HAS FACED ALL YEAR LONG. THEIR OLINE IS STURDY AND SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING JACE THE TIME HE NEEDS IN THE QUICK HITTING AIR RAID OFFENSE. OUR GOAL IS TO GET OUR HANDS UP IN THE THROWING LANES AND KEEP THE WIDE RECEIVERS AND RUNNING BACKS IN FRONT OF US AT ALL TIMES.
DEFENSIVELY, RIGHT END TOMON FOX HIGHLIGHTS THE FRONT 7. THE REST OF THE DLINE AND LINEBACKER GROUP DO NOT POSE IMMEDIATE THREATS TO HOLTON AND OUR OFFENSE. THROWING ON THIS DEFENSE HOWEVER WILL BE TOUGH AS THEIR CORNERBACKS HAVE GREAT COVERAGE SKILLS AND THE SAFETIES HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
THIS SHOULD BE A DOOZY! FOR ALL THE BETTORS OUT THERE, THE OVER LOOKS ENTICING!
WEEK 6 GAME VS. UNC:
Thursday, December 19, 2019
IT WONT BE AN EASY ROAD TO GET OVER .500 AS THE COUGARS OF HOUSTON ARE COMING TO TOWN, AND THIS TEAM DISMANTLED ECU LAST YEAR.
TEAM NEWS:
NO SUSPENSIONS AGAIN FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT WEEK, AND IMMANUEL HICKMAN ONLY HAS TWO MORE GAMES TO SERVE ON HIS SUSPENSION, WE EXPECT HIM BACK AFTER THE BYE WEEK!
STEVE FALK IV AND DAMARCUS CANNON HAVE SPENT TIME WITH A TUTOR THIS WEEK CAUSING THEIR AWARENESS TO DROP 7 POINTS EACH.
LAST GAME CHANCE PURVIS SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION AND HAS ENTERED CONCUSSION PROTOCOL. LUCKILY FOR THE PIRATES HE HAS BEEN CLEARED TO PLAY BY TEAM PHYSICIANS IN THE GAME THIS WEEK VS. HOUSTON.
ALEX ANGUS WHO SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN THUMB TWO GAMES AGO WILL BE LISTED AS PROBABLE.
RECRUITING NEWS:
HOUSTON GAME VISITS SCHEDULED:
SAM DUNLAP - SCATBACK - 1 STAR
MICHAEL LOTT - T - 2 STAR
CORNELIUS STALLINGS - C - 2 STAR
HOUSTON GAME PLAN:
DANA HOLGORSEN STILL LEADS THE COUGARS AND LAST YEAR HE HAD HIS WAY WITH THE PIRATES AT HOME. WELL THIS YEAR, HE BRINGS HIS AIR RAID OFFENSE ON THE ROAD TO DOWDY FICKLEN STADIUM FOR A PIVOTAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE MATCHUP. THE PIRATES NEED THIS VICTORY TO STAY ALIVE FOR CHANCE AT AN AMERICAN CONFERENCE GAME APPEARANCE.
THERE IS A CHANGE OF GUARD FOR THE COUGARS ON OFFENSE, WITH CLAYTON TUNE TAKING OVER THE REIGNS FOR THE AIR RAID LED BY COACH HOLGORSEN. CLAYTON IS NOT A VERY ACCURATE PASSER AND DOES NOT HAVE MUCH GAME EXPERIENCE SO THE PIRATE PLAN IS TO KEEP HIM UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE AND MAKE HIM THROW INTO TIGHT WINDOWS CONFUSING HIM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. HB KYLE PORTER IS AN IMPACT PLAYER THAT LOOKS TO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THIS GAME ESPECIALLY SEEING HOW MEMPHIS DESTROYED THE PIRATES ON THE GROUND LAST GAME. THE REAL STAR TO WATCH ON OFFENSE THOUGH IS MARQUEZ STEVENSON WHO DOESNT DO ANYTHING BAD AND WAS A PRESEASON 1ST TEAM ALL AMERICAN.
DEFENSIVELY, THE COUGARS OPERATE A 4-2-5 AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF BEASTS AT DE, AS WELL AS AN UP AND COMING SOPHOMORE OLB, EYABI ANOMA. THEY HAVE IMPACT PLAYERS ALL THROUGHOUT THEIR SECONDARY AND THE PIRATES OC IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME RAZZLE DAZZLE, POSSIBLY A FEW TRICK PLAYS / MISDIRECTION PLAYS TO HAVE SUCCESS AGAINST THIS TOUGH DEFENSE.
GAME VS. HOUSTON
THERE IS NO SWEETER SOUND ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON THEN HEARING PURPLE HAZE PUMP OUT OF THE SPEAKERS AT DOWDY FICKLEN STADIUM WELCOMING THE PIRATES ONTO THE FIELD!
HOLTON AHLERS CAME OFF ONE OF HIS WORST GAMES OF THE YEAR LAST WEEK, AND NEEDED TO PROVE HIMSELF TO HIS TEAM AND THE HOME CROWD. STARTING OFF THE FIRST QUARTER LOOKED PROMISING UNTIL HOLTON THROUGH ANOTHER BAD INT IN HOUSTON TERRITORY. THE DEFENSE HOWEVER STOPPED THE ENSUING DRIVE OF THE COUGARS FORCING A FG ATTEMPT THAT WAS MISSED! TIE BALL GAME AT THE END OF 1, 7-7.
TIME OF POSSESSION WOULD PLAY A HUGE FACTOR IN THIS GAME AS THE PIRATES WERE ABLE TO WEAR DOWN THE COUGARS FINISHING THE GAME GOING 10/14 ON THIRD DOWN TO DOMINATE THIS DEFENSE. HOLTON AFTER THAT 1ST QUARTER PICK PLAYED FLAWLESS FOOTBALL THE REST OF THE GAME EARNING HIM PLAYER OF THE GAME HONORS. BLAKE PROEHL ALSO CAME BACK TO LIFE WITH OVER 100 YARDS RECEIVING AND A TD. TRACE CHRISTIAN WOULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE 120 YARDS ON THE GROUND, BUT WOULD LEAVE THE GAME WITH BACK SPASMS AND IS EXPECTED TO MISS NEXT WEEK'S CONTEST AGAINST THE TAR HEELS IN A BATTLE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
THE DEFENSE SHUT DOWN THE HOUSTON ATTACK AFTER THAT FIRST QUARTER AND LEFT DANA SCRATCHING HIS HEAD ON HOW TO GET THEIR OFFENSE GOING. COACH FALK PREDICTED THAT THE COUGARS WOULD LOOK PAST THIS MATCHUP ONTO CINCINNATI NEXT WEEK, AND HE WAS RIGHT! ECU TOOK DOWN THE COUGARS 34-13 ON THEIR RETURN TRIP TO DOWDY FICKLEN STADIUM AVENGING THEIR LOSS LAST YEAR.
NEXT WEEK WILL BE A HUGE TEST AS THE PIRATES TAKE ON ACC AND IN STATE RIVAL NORTH CAROLINA!
Monday, December 16, 2019
WARREN SABA WILL BE BACK ON THE FIELD AFTER MISSING THE LAST GAME DUE TO SUSPENSION. A COUPLE OF INJURY NOTES FROM LAST WEEKS GAME ALSO, WITH ALEX ANGUS BREAKING HIS THUMB (MISSING THIS GAME AGAINST MEMPHIS AND POSSIBLY SOME EXTENDED TIME) AND O LINEMAN MATT MORGAN WITH A FOOT CONTUSION ONLY MISSED A SERIES SO HE WILL BE A FULL GO FOR THIS GAME AGAINST THE TIGERS.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES IN THE ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY OF AARON RAMSEUR, DAMEL HICKMAN, AND SEAN BAILEY.
RECRUITS READY TO VISIT!:
SAM DUNLAP - SCATBACK OUT OF SILER CITY, NC
MICHAEL LOTT - TACKLE OUT OF BEAUFORT, NC
CORNELIUS STALLINGS - CENTER OUT OF MARION, NC
BRYAN COLLIER AND BJ MATTHEWS - PUNTERS
MEMPHIS GAME PLAN:
MIKE NORVELL IS STILL AT MEMPHIS RUNNING THE SPREAD OFFENSE AND 4-3 DEFENSE. IN OUR LAST MATCHUP VS MEMPHIS DROVE DOWN THE FIELD IN THE WANING SECONDS OF THE GAME AND SCORED A GO AHEAD FG TO BEAT US 26-24. ITS TIME FOR US TO RETURN THE FAVOR IN THEIR HOME STADIUM.
THE PIRATES WILL NEED A BETTER EFFORT OUT OF HOLTON AHLERS THROUGH THE AIR THIS WEEK, AS LAST WEEK HE HAD 4 TURNOVERS IN A NEAR LOSS VS TULANE.
BRADY WHITE IS BACK FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON FOR THE TIGERS, AND HE HURT THE PIRATES LAST YEAR WITH HIS LEGS SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE GAME. IT WILL BE IMPERATIVE FOR ECU TO STOP HIM FROM SCRAMBLING. THEY ARE DEPLETED AT THE SKILL POSITIONS AS THE TIGERS GRADUATED MANY OF THEIR PLAYERS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, SO THERE WILL BE MORE PRESSURE ON BRADY TO CREATE PLAYS USING HIS FEET. THE TIGERS OLINE IS IMPRESSIVE AND FILLED WITH SENIOR LEADERSHIP THAT SHOULD HELP KEEP A NICE POCKET FOR WHITE. WHAT HE WILL DO WITH THAT POCKET IS YET TO BE SEEN.
THE MEMPHIS DEFENSE IS NOT ONE TO JOKE AROUND ABOUT, WITH THEIR FRONT SEVEN BEING THE MOST IMPRESSIVE FRONT 7 THAT THE PIRATES HAVE FACED THIS YEAR. THE BACK END OF THE MEMPHIS DEFENSE IS LED BY SENIOR CORNERBACK TJ CARTER WHOSE COVERAGE HAS BEEN SO GOOD THIS YEAR, HE HAS RARELY BEEN TARGETED.
THIS GAME LOOKS TO HAVE THE MAKINGS OF A DEFENSIVE BATTLE, AND WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT WHEN YOU ENTER DEEP INTO AMERICAN CONFERENCE PLAY!
WEEK 4 GAME @ MEMPHIS:
WHAT WAS SLATED TO BE A DEFENSIVE BATTLE DID NOT LOOK SO IN THE FIRST QUARTER AS BOTH OFFENSES MANAGED TO PUT UP POINTS ON THEIR FIRST DRIVES WITH A 7-3 MEMPHIS LEAD AFTER ONE.
THE REST OF THE GAME HOWEVER UP UNTIL THE 4TH QUARTER WOULD BE DEFENSIVELY A JUGGERNAUT. BOTH TEAMS TRADING BLOWS AND 4TH DOWN STOPS ALL THE WAY INTO THE 4TH QUARTER. MEMPHIS TAKING A 13-10 LEAD INTO THE 4TH WITH 5 MINUTES LEFT TO PLAY AS HOLTON MADE A MISTAKE THAT WOULD NOT BE RELINQUISHED. JUST TWO PLAYS BEFORE HOLTON THREW A PICK SIX, HE MISSED A WIDE OPEN TYLER SNEAD WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A TD, AND A TOTAL MOMENTUM SHIFT. THIS HOWEVER HAS BEEN THE STORY OF HOLTON'S ECU CAREER THUS FAR AS HE HAS 7 INT'S IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS THIS 2014 SEASON.
A LAST DITCH EFFORT BY THE ECU PIRATES AFTER GETTING THE BALL BACK DOWN 23-17 AND A CHANCE AT A HAIL MARY FELL SHORT. ECU IS NOW 1-2 IN AMERICAN CONFERENCE PLAY AND THE CHANCE AT AN AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCE IS DWINDLING. COACH FALK CONTINUES TO GET OUT COACHED BY MIKE NORVELL AND THIS HAS PLAGUED HIM IN HIS SHORT CAREER HERE AS THE HEAD COACH AT ECU.
ECU NEEDED TO CUT DOWN ON TURNOVERS THIS GAME IN ORDER TO HAND THE BALL GAME TO THE TIGERS, AND IT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN. BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AS THE SCHEDULE DOESNT GET ANY EASIER WHEN THE PIRATES RETURN HOME FOR A GAME AGAINST AMERICAN CONFERENCE FOE, HOUSTON.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Posted on December 15, 2019 at 09:51 AM.
ITS THE BEGINNING OF WEEK 3 AND COMING OFF A TOUGH HOME LOSS VS SMU, THE PIRATES ARE DEALT WITH ANOTHER BLOW, AS WARREN SABA WAS SLEEPING DURING CLASS AND HAS BEEN BENCHED FOR THE UPCOMING GAME @ TULANE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO TIME FOR THE PIRATES TO REST AS THEY HAVE ANOTHER IMPORTANT CONFERENCE GAME.
TULANE GAME PLAN:
WILLIE FRITZ LEADS THE GREEN WAVE IN HIS 5TH YEAR AT THE PROGRAM. TULANE RUNS A SPREAD OPTION OFFENSIVE ATTACK, AND A 4-2-5 DEFENSE. LUCKILY THE PIRATES HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR 4-2-5 DEFENSIVE SCHEMES AND HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS AGAINST THEM.
LED BY SENIOR QB KEON HOWARD, A SERVICEABLE QB, WHO HAS AN AVERAGE ARM AND IS FAIRLY ACCURATE, TULANE IS ALSO GOING TO LOOK TO USE HIS LEGS TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE, ESPECIALLY WITH WARREN SABA UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS GAME. THERE ARE NO GAMEBREAKERS AT THE SKILL POSITIONS, SO THE PIRATES WILL LOOK TO SPY KEON HOWARD FOR MOST OF THE GAME IN ORDER TO NOT ALLOW HIM TO SINGLE HANDEDLY DEFEAT US. THEIR TIGHT END IS PROBABLY THEIR BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER AND HAS GREAT SIZE TO CREATE MATCHUP PROBLEMS. OUR SAFETIES NEED TO PLAY A GREAT GAME TO HELP NEUTRALIZE HIS IMPACT ON THE GAME.
THE TULANE FRONT SEVEN IS STACKED! THEIR DEFENSIVE LINE ALONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WRECK HAVOC ON AN ALREADY DEPLETED OFFENSIVE FRONT OF THE PIRATES. QUICK PASSES WILL BE A MUST AND SCREEN PLAYS TO USE THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THEIR FRONT TO OUR ADVANTAGE. OUR BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS IN THE AIR ATTACK WILL BE THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD WHERE THE WAVE ARE THE WEAKEST.
THIS SHOULD BE A GAME FOR THE AGES!
WEEK 3 @ TULANE:
WELL, THE GAME COULDN'T HAVE STARTED WORSE FOR THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES STILL REELING FROM THEIR HOME LOSS TO SMU. THREE DRIVES BY THE OFFENSE AND THREE TURNOVERS (1 FUMBLE ON SPECIAL TEAMS). BEFORE WE KNEW IT, WE LOOKED UP TO THE SCOREBOARD AND WERE DOWN 17 POINTS. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A VALIANT DEFENSIVE EFFORT. IT WOULDN'T STOP THE MINDSET OF THE PIRATES HOWEVER, THE SIGNS OF A WELL COACHED TEAM.
THE PIRATES BEGAN TO LEAN ON THEIR GROUND GAME, AND WOULD FINISH WITH OVER 200 YARDS ON THE GROUND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE COACH FALK ERA. THE PIRATES WERE ABLE TO CUT THE LEAD TO 7 AT HALFTIME BEHIND A TRACE CHRISTIAN 1 YARD SCORE AND A JAKE VERITY FG ON 4TH AND GOAL AFTER A LAMARR SWAIN INT AT THE END OF THE HALF GOT THEM THE BALL BACK.
IN THE SECOND HALF, THE DEFENSE BEGAN HOLDING TULANE TO A 3 AND OUT AND WOULD TIE THE GAME UP ON THE ENSUING DRIVE. ONCE AGAIN, THE DEFENSE WOULD SHUT DOWN THE WAVE OFFENSE, HOWEVER HOLTON WOULD THROW ANOTHER INT (HIS 4TH OF THE DAY) TO SET UP THE TULANE OFFENSE WITH A SHORT FIELD AND THE GO AHEAD TOUCHDOWN TO MAKE IT 24-17.
JSI HATFIELD HAS BEEN A BIG PLAY GUY EVER SINCE HE STEPPED ON CAMPUS, SINGLEHANDEDLY WINNING THE SENIOR NIGHT GAME LAST YEAR WITH A KICK RETURN TD, AND HE WOULD NOT DISAPPOINT IN THE 4TH QUARTER OF THIS ONE CATCHING A 60 YARD TD PASS FROM HOLTON TO TIE THE GAME AT 24 ALL. THE DEFENSE DID THEIR PART IN STOPPING TULANE AND GETTING HOLTON AND THE PIRATE OFFENSE THE BALL BACK WITH ABOUT 3 MINUTES LEFT TO GO IN THE GAME AND THE BALL AT THE 50. A COUPLE OF SHORT STRIKES HERE AND THERE, BUT THE MAIN CONTRIBUTOR ON THE FINAL DRIVE WAS TRACE CHRISTIAN WHO GASHED THE TULANE DEFENSE AND ENDED UP SCORING THE WINNING TD WITH 8 SECONDS LEFT, HIS THIRD OF THE GAME, TO GIVE THE PIRATES THEIR FIRST CONFERENCE WIN OF THE YEAR!
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Posted on December 7, 2019 at 09:49 AM.
WELL, ITS WEEK 2, THE PIRATES HAVE RETURNED HOME FROM THEIR SEASON OPENER AT ALOHA STADIUM WITH A 1-0 RECORD READY TO BEGIN CONFERENCE PLAY OPENING UP WITH A TOUGH GAME VS. SMU.HERE IS A LOOK AT THE SMU GAME PLAN LEADING UP TO THE BIG GAME ON ORIENTATION WEEKEND FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS!
GAME PLAN:
SONNY ****S IS THE RETURNING COACH OF THE MUSTANGS, AND IS STILL BITTER OVER LAST YEARS DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF THE PIRATES.
OFFENSIVELY, THE MUSTANGS RUN AN AIR RAID OFFENSE. IN 2014, SMU WILL NOT HAVE THE SERVICES OF QB SHANE BEUCHELE WHO WAS VERY KEY TO THEIR OFFENSE LAST YEAR. HE WILL BE REPLACED BY WILLIAM BROWN, REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE WHO IS YOUR PROTOTYPICAL POCKET PASSER AND A VERY ACCURATE QB. THE MAIN SKILL PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR IS WR REGGIE ROBERSON JR, WHO IS A SENIOR THIS YEAR AND HAS BIG HOLES TO FILL AS JAMES PROCHE WAS DRAFTED AS A JUNIOR LEAVING EARLY. OVERALL THEY HAVE FAIRLY DECENT SPEED AT THE WIDE RECEIVER POSITION AND SHOULD POSE THREATS TO THE BACK END OF THE PIRATES DEFENSE. THE MUSTANGS HAVE A FAIRLY STOUT OFFENSIVE LINE MIXED OF JUNIORS AND SENIORS WITH A LOT OF GAME EXPERIENCE.
DEFENSIVELY, THE STANDARD 4-3 DEFENSE IS UTILIZED BY SMU. THEIR FRONT SEVEN IS AVERAGE AT BEST WITH THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYER TO WATCH BEING SENIOR LINEBACKER DELANO ROBINSON, WHO IN THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON HAD 6 TKLS, 1 TFL, AND 1 PBU. THEIR SECONDARY IS FILLED WITH RANGY ATHLETES BUT THEY LACK IN SIZE. THEY MATCHUP WELL WITH THE SPEED OF OUR RECEIVERS, HOWEVER OUR TIGHT END ZECH BYRD COULD BE THE X FACTOR THAT WILL PRESENT A MATCHUP NIGHTMARE BEING 6'7.
LAST YEAR WE TRAVELED TO SMU AND UPSET THE MUSTANGS. LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEARS TAPE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH OUR RUN GAME IN ORDER TO GET THE PLAY ACTION PASSING GAME TO BE A WEAPON FOR US. ANY TIME WE CAN GET ZECH BYRD ON ONE OF THE SMALLER D BACKS, IT WILL PRESENT JUMP BALL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE 80/20 PERCENT IN OUR FAVOR. IN ORDER TO STOP THEIR SPEED ON OFFENSE, WE NEED TO CRASH THE OUTSIDE AND FORCE THEIR RUNNING GAME TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. WE ALSO NEED TO RUN ZONE COVERAGE UNDERNEATH AND NOT LET ANYTHING BEHIND THE DEFENSE. WE WILL MIX UP ZONE AND MAN THROUGHOUT THE GAME TO KEEP THE SOPHOMORE QB ON HIS TOES. SHANE BUECHELE HURT US ON THE GROUND LAST GAME, BUT WE WONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT THIS YEAR AS WILLIAM BROWN IS NOT A SCRAMBLER BY ANY MEANS.
WEEK 2 GAME VS. SMU:
SMU IS COMING OFF A DRUBBING AT BAYLOR 38-14, AND WILL LOOK TO REBOUND THIS FIRST AMERICAN CONFERENCE GAME OF THE SEASON.
ONE OF THE BEST HOME ATMOSPHERES WHEN PURPLE HAZE BEGINS TO PLAY AND THE PIRATE WALK OCCURS. LETS TREAT THESE HOME FANS TO A GREAT GAME!
THE LAST MATCHUP WAS A CLOSELY CONTESTED GAME, AND WE DONT EXPECT ANYTHING LESS IN THIS MATCHUP!
SMU CAME OUT EARLY FIRED UP TRYING TO AVENGE LAST SEASON'S 30-27 HOME LOSS WITH A 1 PLAY DRIVE HITTING A WIDE OPEN WHEEL ROUTE TO THE RUNNING BACK TEMERIK WILLIAMS FOR A SCORE. THE PIRATES COULD DO NOTHING RIGHT IN THE FIRST HALF GOING DOWN 21-7 WITH ONLY A HALF TO PLAY AND BEING OUTGAINED BY ALMOST 250 YARDS, AND THEIR ONLY TOUCHDOWN COMING ON SPECIAL TEAMS WITH A JSI HATFIELD KICKOFF RETURN TD.
THE INTENSITY OF THE PIRATES INCREASED IN THE SECOND HALF WITH BACK AND FORTH PLAY AND THE PIRATES AFTER BEING DOWN AT ONE POINT BY 18 POINTS, CUTTING THE LEAD TO JUST EIGHT WITH UNDER 2 MINUTES TO GO, AND THE BALL ON THEIR OWN 39. DOWN 34-26, HOLTON LED AN AMAZING DRIVE TO PUT 6 POINTS ON THE BOARD, HOWEVER THE RESULTING TWO POINT ATTEMPT WAS NO GOOD AS BLAKE PROEHL GOT THE BALL KNOCKED OUT OF HIS HANDS IN THE END ZONE.
SMU V ECU IS TURNING OUT TO BE QUITE THE RIVALRY WITH BOTH GAMES IN THE FALK VS ****S ERA BEING DECIDED BY 5 TOTAL POINTS. NO TIME TO POUT HOWEVER AS ECU NOW TRAVELS TO TULSA, A TEAM THAT COACH FALK HAS ZERO TAPE ON AND HAS NEVER FACED BEFORE!
INJURY NOTES:
STARTING NICKEL BACK JAQUAN MCMILLIAN INJURED HIS SHOULDER IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND HAD TO MISS THE REST OF THE GAME.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
THIS TEAM HAS A LOT OF PROMISE AND IM EXCITED TO SEE EACH PLAYER IDENTIFY THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES ON OFFENSE, DEFENSE, AND SPECIAL TEAMS.
SO LETS START THIS SEASON OFF RIGHT AND GET RIGHT INTO IT!
WEEK 1 GAME PLAN @ HAWAII:
WEEK 1 SERVED US 0 SUSPENSIONS, AND NO MORE ACADEMIC CHANGES FOR THOSE THAT ARE INELIGIBLE AS THE REPORT CARDS ARE NOT DUE IN UNTIL AFTER WEEK 4.
NOW HAWAII IS A COMMON FOE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR AS WE HAD PLAYED THEM AT HOME THE FIRST GAME OF THE REGULAR SEASON, 2013. ECU DOMINATED THE FIRST GAME 52-17. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO JET-LAG FROM THE LONG TRIP FROM HAWAII ALL THE WAY TO THE EAST COAST, BUT I AM SURE WHATEVER THE REASON, HAWAII WANTS TO EVEN THE SERIES UP!
OF THEIR RETURNING STARTERS, COLE MCDONALD AT QB IS THE ONE WE ARE FOCUSING ON THIS REMATCH. OUR GOAL IS TO GET PRESSURE RIGHT IN HIS FACE AND MAKE HIM THROW INTO TIGHT WINDOWS. LAST GAME WE HAD OUR MOST SUCCESS WHEN WE PUSHED THE POCKET AND FORCED BAD THROWS. COLE WILL NOT LOOK TO SCRAMBLE FIRST SO WE WILL USE THAT TO OUR ADVANTAGE! WE WILL LOOK TO STOP THEIR HITCH ROUTES AND DRAW PLAYS. THEY LOSE THEIR TOP TWO WIDE RECEIVERS TO GRADUATION AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE LOST SOME DB'S ALSO, I THINK WE CAN MAN UP AGAINST EACH OF THEIR OUTSIDE WEAPONS IN THE RUN N SHOOT OFFENSE.
DEFENSIVELY, THEIR STAR IS PENEI PAVIHI, AND WE NEED TO LOCATE HIM EVERY SNAP TO ENSURE HE DOES NOT SINGLE SINGLE-HANDEDLY RUIN OUR GAME PLAN. WE ARE BREAKING IN NEW OC'S AND DC'S BUT THE HEAD COACH REMAINS THE SAME. COACH FALK LOOKS TO TAKE A COMMANDING LEAD IN MATCHUPS AGAINST HC NICK ROLOVICH BY TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATES, DOMINATING, AND COMING HOME WITH A 1-0 RECORD!
WEEK 1 - @ HAWAII:
GETTING OFF THE PLANE AND ARRIVING AT ALOHA STADIUM, COACH FALK III WAS NOT SURE WHAT HIS TEAM WOULD HAVE IN STORE THIS SEASON AND HOW THEY WOULD BEGIN THEIR 2014 CAMPAIGN.
HOLTON HAS HAD STRUGGLES ON THE ROAD IN THE PAST, BUT CAME OUT GUNS A BLAZING THIS GAME AND LED AN OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWN AFTER A STOP ON DEFENSE TO TAKE A 7-0 LEAD. BLAKE PROEHL WOULD START HIS JUNIOR SEASON OFF STRONG WITH THE FIRST TWO TOUCHDOWNS OF THE GAME FINISHING WITH THREE TOTAL (2 RECEIVING AND 1 RUSHING). THE PIRATES WOULD TAKE A 14-7 LEAD INTO HALFTIME.
DEFENSIVELY, COACH FALK'S GAME PLAN WAS PERFECT IN FORCING COLE MCDONALD INTO SITUATIONS HE WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH, HOLDING THE HAWAII OFFENSE IN CHECK THROUGH THREE QUARTERS AND TAKING A 24-7 LEAD WITH ABOUT 7 MINUTES LEFT IN THE GAME. HAWAII WOULD THEN PUT TWO TOUCHDOWNS ON THE BOARD ON SOME REALLY GREAT OFFENSIVE PLAYS, HOWEVER ECU WOULD ALSO SCORE A TD OF THEIR OWN IN THE 4TH QUARTER WITH A SCORE OF 31-21 WITH 3 MINUTES LEFT IN THE 4TH. HAWAII ATTEMPTED THE ONSIDE KICK AND GOT IT!
HOWEVER, THE ECU DEFENSE WOULD NOT JUST GIVE UP, AND DANIEL CHARLES SACKED COLE ON A 3RD DOWN FORCING A 4TH AND 17. DANIEL WOULD STRAIN HIS ABDOMINALS ON THE PLAY AND WOULD NOT RETURN. THE 4TH DOWN STOP BY LAMARR SWAIN (JUCO SIGNEE THIS PAST OFF SEASON) WOULD SEAL THE VICTORY FOR THE PIRATES!
"IT FEELS GREAT TO START THE SEASON 1-0 AFTER A TOUGH ROAD GAME ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WE CAN NOT RELISH TOO MUCH IN THE VICTORY AS AMERICAN CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS NEXT WEEK AT HOME VS. SMU, AND THE PIRATES ARE EYEING A SPOT IN THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR!" - COACH FALK III
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Posted on November 24, 2019 at 01:32 PM.
NATIONAL NEWS:PRESEASON TOP 25:
ECU HAS GOTTEN NO LOVE IN THE TOP 25 HOWEVER HERE ARE THE TOP 25 TEAMS TO START THE 2014 SEASON. REMEMBER ITS NOT HOW YOU START ITS HOW YOU FINISH!
#1 - ALABAMA
#2 - CLEMSON
#3 - OHIO STATE
#4 - MICHIGAN STATE
#5 - MICHIGAN
#6 - NOTRE DAME
#7 - VIRGINIA TECH
#8 - OREGON
#9 - UTAH
#10 - TEXAS
#11 - OKLAHOMA
#12 - GEORGIA
#13 - MISSISSIPPI STATE
#14 - TEXAS A&M
#15 - MIAMI
#16 - AUBURN
#17 - FLORIDA STATE
#18 - STANFORD
#19 - VIRGINIA
#20 - ARIZONA
#21 - FLORIDA
#22 - UCF
#23 - WASHINGTON
#24 - KANSAS STATE
#25 - CINCINNATI
EAST CAROLINA STARTS OFF THE SEASON RANKED #88 IN THE NATION! ECU IS SLATED TO FINISH 5TH IN THE AMERICAN EAST CONFERENCE. THE POLL VOTERS ARE EXPECTING A UCF VS SMU MATCHUP IN THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP. HERE IS OUR CHANCE TO PROVE THEM WRONG!
HEISMAN HOPEFULS:
NAJEE HARRIS - ALABAMA - RUNNING BACK
TRAVIS ETIENNE - CLEMSON - RUNNING BACK
CJ VERDELL - OREGON - RUNNING BACK
DESHAWN MCCLEASE - VIRGINIA TECH - RUNNING BACK
MICHAEL WARREN II - CINCINNATI - RUNNING BACK
LOOKS LIKE THE PIRATES WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH A PRESEASON HEISMAN FINALIST. WE WILL SEE IF HE CAN BACK IT UP FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR BEFORE HE MATCHES UP WITH COACH FALK'S ECU PIRATES AT HOME ON SENIOR NIGHT!
PRESEASON ALL AMERICANS:
EAST CAROLINA HAS ONE SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICAN IN XAVIER SMITH AT MIDDLE LINEBACKER!
PRESEASON - ALL CONFERENCE PLAYERS:
LT - D'ANTE SMITH (1ST TEAM)
MLB - XAVIER SMITH (1ST TEAM)
SS - DANIEL CHARLES (1ST TEAM)
RETURNER - JSI HATFIELD (1ST TEAM)
MLB - BRUCE BIVENS (2ND TEAM)
FS - DAVONDRE ROBINSON (2ND TEAM)
RECRUITING BOARD:
LOOKING AT OUR SENIOR CLASS AND OUR TEAM NEEDS AS WELL AS OUR OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHIES, THE FOLLOWING BOARD WAS PUT TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS:
CHARLES MANSON QB 6'0 189 MOUNT PLEASANT, SC
EVAN BEVERLY QB 6'3 220 MULBERRY, FL
SAM DUNLAP HB 5'11 215 SILER CITY, NC
CHASE ROBERTS HB 5'10 216 HINESVILLE, GA
ROGER SPENCER WR 6'4 211 AUGUSTA, GA
STEVEN CHILDS WR 6'4 207 NEWTON, NC
RON MCDONALD TE 6'3 241 OAK GROVE, SC
JOSH THOMAS T 6'7 316 AMHERST, OH
MICHAEL LOTT T 6'6 320 BEAUFORT, NC
MATT THOMAS G 6'3 251 ASHVILLE, NC
ANTHONY EVERETT G 6'5 320 GROVETON, VA
CORNELIUS STALLINGS C 6'2 291 MARION, NC
YUSEF GARCIA DE 6'6 245 ELIZABETH CITY, NC
DERRICK BENTLEY DE 6'5 267 TIMBERLAKE, VA
DERRICK GRIFFIN DT 6'0 328 LITHIA SPRINGS, GA
MIKE MCBRIDE DT 5'11 297 BELMONT, NC
BRUCE WHALEY OLB 6'1 220 HENDERSON, NC
BUCK SULLIVAN FS 6'2 197 BRENTWOOD, PA
BRYAN COLLIER P 5'11 231 HALF MOON, NC
B.J. MATTHEWS P 6'0 207 DECATUR, GA
AT QB, WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN ACCURATE POCKET PASSER TO FULFILL THE SCHEME OF THE AIR RAID OFFENSE
AT HB, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SCAT BACK AND A POWER BACK TO REPLACE AND ADD TO THE BACKFIELD
FOR WIDE RECEIVER, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A PLETHORA OF SHORTER QUICK RECEIVERS, SO THIS CLASS WE ARE LOOKING FOR A TALLER POSSESSION STYLE RECEIVER.
AT O LINE, WE ARE LOSING SEVERAL SENIORS SO BEEFING THE OLINE BACK UP AND RECRUITING MAINLY PASS BLOCKERS TO FULFILL THOSE NEEDS, AND SOME POSSIBLE SWING GUYS WHO CAN ROTATE BETWEEN GUARD AND CENTER IF NEEDED
DLINE NEEDS ARE ALSO A MUST, WE ARE LOOKING FOR TALLER QUICKER ENDS TO DISRUPT PASSING LANES AND GET TO THE QB, AND BEEFIER STOUT DT'S TO CREATE A PUSH AND A PILE UP THE MIDDLE.
AT OLB, LOOKING TO REPLACE WARREN SABA, RECRUITING A RANGY OLB
AT SAFETY, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A BALL HAWK TO COME UP THROUGH THE RANKS AND HOPEFULLY MAKE HIS WAY ONTO THE FIELD.
BOTH OUR KICKER AND PUNTER ARE GRADUATING THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE A KICKER WAITING IN THE WINGS BUT WILL NEED A PUNTER FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.
WE ALSO ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE AS A UNIVERSITY THAT WE HAD ZERO SUSPENSIONS DURING FALL CAMP. COACH FALK III'S DISCIPLINE SEEMS TO BE SETTING IN WITH THE TEAM.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Posted on November 16, 2019 at 04:36 PM.
ITS TIME TO GET READY AND KICK OFF THE 2014 SEASON BY SETTING UP THE 2014 SEASON DEPTH CHART, RED SHIRTS, AND SCHEDULE!SUSPENSION NEWS
D'ANGELO MCKINNIE - DT - HAS BEEN DISMISSED FROM THE TEAM DUE TO AN ISSUE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER
JORDAN JOHNSON - G - WAS SUSPENDED FOR 6 MONTHS BUT WILL BE BACK IN TIME FOR THE REGULAR SEASON OPENER
IMMANUEL HICKMAN - DE - SUSPENDED FOR FIRST 6 GAMES DUE TO TESTING POSITIVE FOR A BANNED SUBSTANCE IN ONE OF HIS SUPPLEMENTS.
RED SHIRTS:
THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS WERE DEEMED TO BE REDSHIRTED FOR THE 2014 SEASON TO HOPEFULLY HAVE THAT EXTRA YEAR, LEARN THE SYSTEM, AND BUST THEIR BUTTS IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AND BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR IN THE FUTURE!
T - BRANDON POTTS - AT 54 OVERALL AND COMING IN AS A BUST FROM OUR RECRUITING CLASS, WE DECIDED TO RED SHIRT BRANDON AND GIVE HIM AN EXTRA YEAR TO DEVELOP FOR OUR PROGRAM!
DE - JARED NELSON - ANOTHER BUST LABELED RECRUIT, COMING IN AT 47 OVERALL, WE DONT JUST GIVE UP ON PLAYERS, WE WILL WORK WITH HIM BUT DECIDED AN EXTRA YEAR UNDER HIS BELT WOULD GIVE HIM THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED AND BECOME A ROLE PLAYER FOR THIS EAST CAROLINA DEFENSE!
AT LB, THERE WAS A DECISION TO MAKE BETWEEN RED SHIRTING OLB ZACH HILL OR MLB ANTHONY STANFORD. BASED ON USAGE ON SPECIAL TEAMS AND DEPTH AT THE OLB POSITION WE DECIDED NOT TO RED SHIRT ZACH HILL AND INSTEAD RED SHIRT 4 STAR PROSPECT ANTHONY STANFORD WHO WOULD HAVE ONLY SEEN THE FIELD IN LIMITED ROLES.
DEPTH CHART STARTERS::
OFFENSE
QB - HOLTON AHLERS (JR)
HB - TRACE CHRISTIAN (JR)
WR - BLAKE PROEHL (JR), LEROY HENLEY (JR), TYLER SNEAD (SO)
TE - ZECH BYRD (JR)
LT - D'ANTE SMITH (SR)
LG - DONOVAN NOEL (SO)
C - JAISON FOURNET (SR)
RG - JORDAN JOHNSON (SR)
RT - MATT MORGAN (JR)
DEFENSE
DE - CHANCE PURVIS (SR)
DE - CHANDON HICKERSON (SR)
DT - HOZEY HAJI-BADRI (SR)
OLB - WARREN SABA (SR)
MLB - XAVIER SMITH (JR)
OLB - ALEX ANGUS (SO)
CB - JUAN POWELL (SO), LAMARR SWAIN (JR), JA'QUAN MCMILLIAN (SO)
FS - DAVONDRE ROBINSON (SR)
SS - DANIEL CHARLES (JR), NOLAN JOHNSON (JR)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K - JAKE VERITY (SR)
P - JONN YOUNG (SR)
KEY RESERVES:
HB - DARIUS PINNIX JR (SR)
WR - STEVE FALK IV (FR), JSI HATFIELD (SO)
DE - TRAVEON FRESHWATER (SO)
DT - MICHAEL SWIFT (SR)
MLB - BRUCE BIVENS (SR)
OLB - ZACH HILL (FR)
FS - JAREN RAINEY (SO)
SS - DAN MOSS (FR)
2014 SCHEDULE:
WK 1 - @ HAWAII - 11:45 PM
WK 2 - VS. SMU - 1:00 PM (ORIENTATION WEEKEND)
WK 3 - @ TULANE - 8:00 PM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT GAME)
WK 4 - @ MEMPHIS - 6:00 PM
WK 5 - VS. HOUSTON - 12:30 PM
WK 6 - VS. NORTH CAROLINA - 12:30 PM
WK 7 - BYE
WK 8 - VS. UCONN - 6:00 PM (HOMECOMING GAME)
WK 9 - @ USF - 1:00 PM
WK 10 - VS. #22 UCF - 6:00 PM
WK 11 - @ TEMPLE - 6:00 PM
WK 12 - @ SOUTH CAROLINA - 8:30 PM
WK 13 - BYE
WK 14 - VS. #25 CINCINNATI - 6:00 PM (SENIOR NIGHT)
WK 15 - BYE
Friday, November 15, 2019
Posted on November 15, 2019 at 07:44 PM.
DURING THE BEGINNING OF THE OFFSEASON, THE ATHLETES WERE WORKING HARD IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE WEIGHT ROOM. THREE PLAYERS IN PARTICULAR INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM TIME SPENT IN THE WEIGHT ROOM:TAY WILLIAMS - HB - DID NOT SEE MUCH FIELD TIME LAST YEAR BUT WANTED THAT TO CHANGE THIS YEAR AS HE PUT ON 32 POUNDS IN THE WEIGHT ROOM. HE TOLD MEDIA THAT HE WAS LOOKING TO BECOME QUICKER, FASTER, AND STRONGER!
MICHAEL SWIFT - DT - HE WAS INFORMED AFTER THE SEASON THAT COACHES WOULD LIKE TO SWITCH HIM TO THE INTERIOR DLINE AND GIVEN THAT FACT, HE KNEW HE NEEDED SOME BULK SO HE ADDED 51 POUNDS TO HIS FRAME.
JONATHAN COLEMAN II - HE DECIDED TO WORK HIS BUTT OFF IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AND ADDED 43 POUNDS FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON TO HELP LAY THE WOOD TO OPPOSING DEFENDERS AND HOPEFULLY SEE MORE PLAYING TIME.
UPCOMING POSITION BATTLES:
QB - HOLTON DID NOT HAVE THE BEST SOPHOMORE YEAR AND REID HERRING'S WORK ETHIC AND WORK IN THE CLASSROOM HAS CREATED A POSSIBILITY TO GET SOME PLAYING TIME THIS YEAR OR AT LEAST PUT SOME PRESSURE ON HOLTON BRINGING THE BEST OUT OF HIM.
HB - DARIUS PINNIX JR WAS NOT GRANTED HIS MEDICAL RED SHIRT AND WILL BE RETURNING FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON, HOWEVER TRACE CHRISTIAN INCREASED HIS SKILL LEVEL SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE OFFSEASON AND WILL BE CHALLENGING DARIUS AS THE STARTER, BOTH WILL PLAY HOWEVER DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE EAST CAROLINA OFFENSE.
SLOT RECEIVER - WITH DEONDRE FARRIER GONE, THERE IS A HOLE AND A LOT OF TARGETS TO REPLACE AT SLOT IN THE AIR RAID OFFENSE. THE MAIN PARTICIPANTS VYING FOR THIS JOB ARE TYLER SNEAD (S0), JSI HATFIELD (S0), AND STEVE FALK IV (FR).
CENTER - PEYTON WINSTEAD AND JAISON FOURNET WILL BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE STARTING CENTER AND OFFENSIVE LINE PROTECTION CALLER.
RIGHT DEFENSIVE END - WILL CHANDON HICKERSON (2013 STARTER) BE DETHRONED BY TRUE SOPHOMORE TRAVEON FRESHWATER AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE OFFSEASON BY TRAVEON?
MIDDLE LINE BACKER - XAVIER SMITH WAS THE LEADING TACKLER LAST YEAR BUT BRUCE BIVENS WANTS TO START IN HIS SENIOR YEAR. THIS MAY BE THE BIGGEST BATTLE WE FACE THIS SPRING SESSION.
SPRING GAME (PRACTICE) RESULTS:
HOLTON, ALTHOUGH NOT A GREAT SHOWING IN THE SPRING GAME, DID PROVIDE THE ONLY BOOST TO THE OFFENSE AS REID MISSED MOST OF HIS TARGETS AND WAS NOT AS MOBILE AS HOLTON, GIVING HIM THE EDGE.
AS FAR AS RUNNING BACK IS CONCERNED, TRACE CHRISTIAN HAS A QUICKER FIRST STEP BUT ALSO HAD A FUMBLE WHICH WE CANNOT HAVE. I THINK WE WILL STILL RUN A 2 BACK SET WITH THESE TWO AND SWITCH IN AND OUT USING FORMATION SUBS, KEEPING BOTH FRESH.
AT SLOT RECEIVER, TYLER SNEAD AND STEVE FALK IV WERE MOST IMPRESSIVE, WITH TYLER DUE TO HIS EXPERIENCE GETTING THE NOD, BUT ALL THREE WILL GET PLAYING TIME IN THE PIRATE OFFENSE.
AT CENTER, ALTHOUGH PEYTON HAD A GREAT OFFSEASON, JAISON WAS SOLID ON THE FRONT LINE COMMANDING THE PROTECTION AND KEEPING HOLTON MAINLY OFF THE GROUND, GIVING HIM THE NOD AS STARTER AT CENTER.
DEFENSIVELY, WE ARE GOING TO STAY STATUS QUO AS THE DEFENSE GAVE THE OFFENSE FITS AND THEREFORE KEEPING XAVIER SMITH AND CHANDON IN THEIR STARTING ROLES, ALSO DANIEL CHARLES AND JUAN POWELL MADE THEIR NAMES KNOWN ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
AFTER A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE TOWARDS THE END OF THE SPRING SEMESTER - D'ANGELO MCKINNIE HAS BEEN DISMISSED FROM THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THE 2014 SEASON.
JORDAN JOHNSON - BACKUP GUARD - SUSPENDED FROM TEAM FOR 6 MONTHS (WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON) - HE RECEIVED IMPROPER BENEFITS FROM A FAMILY MEMBER.
IMMANUEL HICKMAN - SUSPENDED FOR THE NEXT 6 GAMES DUE TO FAILING A RANDOM DRUG TEST. HE IS FIGHTING THE SUSPENSION AS HE BELIEVES IT WAS AN INCORRECT ASSESSMENT BASED ON A SUPPLEMENT HE WAS TAKING.
SPRING FINALS WEEK WILL BE A BIG ONE FOR REID HERRING AND AARON RAMSEUR - HOPEFULLY THEIR EXTRA WORK IN THE CLASSROOM WILL GET THEM THE GRADES THEY NEED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2014 SEASON.
EVERYONE ELSE BESIDES REID AND AARON ARE ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT WAS PUT IN BY THOSE PLAYERS CAUSED NO ONE TO BE IN TROUBLE EITHER HEADING INTO SUMMER CLASSES.
UPCOMING WILL BE SPRING PRACTICE / SUMMER CAMPS/CLASSES / AND 2014 SEASON PREVIEWS.
HEADING INTO THE SPRING SEMESTER FOR EAST CAROLINA, THERE WAS SOME BUSINESS TO BE HAD REGARDING THE END OF THE 2013 FOOTBALL SEASON AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 2014 SEASON.
SPRING SEMESTER OF CLASSES / SUSPENSIONS:
OTHER THAN SOME MINOR INFRACTIONS, WE NOTED NO SUSPENSIONS IN THE FIRST 8 WEEKS OF THE SPRING SEMESTER (NO COACH INTERACTIONS - 7 ON 7 AND INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE DRILLS START WEEK 9 OF THE SPRING SEMESTER)
SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS ARE IN TROUBLE ACADEMICALLY AND WILL BE SEEING TUTORS DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER:
- REID HERRING - INELIGIBLE
- BRYAN GAGG - IN TROUBLE
- DEMETRIUS MAUNEY - IN TROUBLE
- JSI HATFIELD - IN TROUBLE
- IMMANUEL HICKMAN - IN TROUBLE
- AARON RAMSEUR - INELIGIBLE
- JA'QUAN MCMILLIAN - IN TROUBLE
COACHING CHANGES:
OC - ANDY VITALE'S CONTRACT EXPIRED AND WAS NOT RENEWED, THEREFORE ADMINSTRATION AT ECU DECIDED TO HIRE GEORGE BARNETT (LEAVING MIAMI OF OHIO)/ ANDY TOOK THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOB AT TOLEDO FROM THE MAC CONFERENCE
DC - BRAD CHASE'S CONTRACT EXPIRED AND WAS NOT RENEWED, AND ADMINISTRATION AT ECU WENT A DIFFERENT WAY THIS YEAR HIRING BRIAN VANGORDER THE FORMER DC AT BOWLING GREEN.
SO ECU WENT TO THE MAC TO IMPROVE THEIR OFFENSE AND DEFENSIVE COACHING ALTHOUGH I DID NOT AGREE WITH THESE MOVES, I WILL EMBRACE THE COACHES WITH OPEN ARMS AND SEE WHAT THEY GOT!
I PERSONALLY RECEIVED AN OFFER FROM ALABAMA TO BE THE NEW DC THERE. BUT HAVE SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS AT ECU AND MADE A COMMITMENT TO THIS TEAM AND TURNED DOWN COACH SABAN'S OFFER! LETS GO PIRATES!
OTHER AMERICAN FOOTBALL COACHING NEWS:
LUKE FICKELL - HC OF THE CINCINNATI BEARCATS LEFT FOR GREENER PASTURES TO COACH THE ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS IN THE SEC.
RANDY EDSALL WAS FIRED AND REPLACED WITH FRANK SOLICH.
JEFF KNOWLES DC FROM TEMPLE SWITCHED TO BE THE DC AT CINCINNATI
TRANSFERS IN / OUT:
HASAN GIBSON JR WISHED TO TRANSFER DUE TO OUR COACH CHANGE AT DC, HOWEVER WE PROMISED HIM THAT HE WOULD PLAY IN MORE THAN 9 GAMES AND FINISH WITH AT LEAST 40 TACKLES, AND HE STAYED! (SNUBBING WESTERN MICHIGAN)
JAKE VENABLES (CLEMSON MLB - SON OF DC BRETT VENABLES AT CLEMSON) HAS TRANSFERRED TO ECU AND WILL SIT OUT ONE YEAR. (78 OVERALL)
JORDAN BONNER (PURDUE WR) - LOVES THE OFFENSE WE RUN AT ECU AND WANTS TO BE A PART OF IT FOR THE 2015 SEASON. (74 OVERALL)
DRAFTED PLAYERS:
NONE OF THE GRADUATES OF THE ECU 2013 SEASON WERE DRAFTED
A FEW AMERICAN PLAYERS WERE DRAFTED OVERALL WITH JAMES PROCHE BEING THE HIGHEST AS A THIRD ROUND WIDE RECEIVER.
THE HIGHEST DRAFTED PLAYER OF THE TEAMS WE FACED DURING 2013 WAS THE RECEIVER OUT OF COLORADO - LAVISKA SHENAULT JR (1ST ROUNDER)
FINAL RECRUITING RESULTS:
OUR OVERALL CLASS ENDED AS THE 93RD RANKED CLASS IN THE NATION.
WE LOST VICTOR YOUNG (FS) TO OLD DOMINION IN A BATTLE THAT LASTED ALL SEASON
ANTHONY PRINCE (G) CHOSE WAKE FOREST (SECOND PLAYER TO COMMIT TO WAKE FOREST FROM OUR RECRUITING BOARD)
MICHAEL FREEMAN (SS) - COMMITTED TO FLORIDA (FLORIDA SWOOPED IN AT THE END AND WOOED HIM TO SIGN)
COMMITS:
STEVE FALK IV - MY SON IS COMING HOME! WE BEAT OUT ARIZONA STATE AS HE ULTIMATELY CHOSE TO PLAY FOR HIS FATHER! HE ENDED UP BEING A GEM AT 72 OVERALL AS A TRUE FRESHMAN!
BRANDON BUTLER - TE AND BRANDON POTTS - T ROUNDED OUT THE REMAINDER OF OUR SIGNEES IN THE FIRST RECRUITING CLASS OF MY FIRST YEAR AT THE HELM AT ECU. BOTH BRANDON'S ENDED UP BEING BUSTS, WHICH MADE THEM THE 3RD AND 4TH BUSTS OF MY FIRST RECRUITING CLASS. LETS SEE IF THEY CAN CHANGE THAT LABEL THIS OFFSEASON AND IN FALL CAMP WHEN THEY ENROLL.
POSITION CHANGES:
MICHAEL SWIFT (FORMER DE) HAS MOVED TO DT FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON.
WE ALSO NOTED NO CHANGE IN THE CONFERENCES FOR THIS YEAR WITH NO TEAM MOVEMENT!
THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE SPRING PRACTICES, ROSTER UPDATES, AND POSITION BATTLES TO TAKE PLACE IN THE SPRING LEADING UP TO THE SPRING GAME. (SIMULATION IN PRACTICE MODE)
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
COACH FALK III’S FIRST YEAR HAS CAME AND WENT AND NOW ITS TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE SENIORS WHO PLAYED SUCH A LARGE PART IN THIS SEASON.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THE SEASON ENDED AT 7-6 WITH A BELK BOWL LOSS TO THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS. NOT THE ENDING WE WANTED TO SEND THE SENIORS OUT IN, HOWEVER ECU DID TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS ON SENIOR NIGHT AGAINST USF! LET’S GET INTO ANNOUNCING THE SENIORS…
HUSSEIN HOWE – HB - #6
HUSSEIN STARTED OFF THE SEASON AS PART OF A TWO HEADED MONSTER ALONG WITH JUNIOR RUNNING BACK DARRIUS PINNIX, WHOSE SEASON WAS CUT SHORT IN WEEK 4 WHERE HUSSEIN FINISHED THE YEAR AS THE LEAD BACK. AS PART OF THE AIR RAID OFFENSE, THERE ISNT A LOT OF RUSHING TO BE HAD BUT HUSSEIN NEVER COMPLAINED, ALWAYS CAME TO PRACTICE AND NEVER MISSED A GAME. HE CURRENTLY HOLDS A 3.11 GPA WITH ONLY A SEMESTER LEFT TO FINISH AND RECEIVE HIS DEGREE IN HISTORY. HE FINISHED THE YEAR 29 YARDS SHORT OF 500 RUSHING YARDS AND 6 TD’S. 128 OF THOSE RUSHING YARDS CAME AFTER FIRST CONTACT. HE WASN’T A HUGE PART OF THE PASSING GAME, HOWEVER CONTRIBUTED 14 RECEPTIONS DURING THE 2013 CAMPAIGN. HIS DEFINING MOMENT THIS PAST SEASON WAS ALBEIT IN A CLOSE LOSS TO MEMPHIS, WHERE HE RUSHED FOR 65 YARDS ON 12 CARRIES AND SCORED 2 TD’S HELPING HIS FELLOW PIRATES KEEP THE GAME CLOSE. WE ARE GOING TO MISS HUSSEIN AND WISH HIM WELL ON HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS!
CORTEZ HERRIN – G - #70
CORTEZ WAS THE WEEK 1 STARTER AT GUARD HOWEVER ENDED UP DISMISSED FROM THE FOOTBALL TEAM FOR 6 MONTHS ENDING HIS SENIOR SEASON.
AUDIE OMOTOSHO – WR - #8
AUDIE WAS A SENIOR GRAD TRANSFER FROM UCLA. AUDIE WAS A DAY 1 STARTER DUE TO MULTIPLE SUSPENSIONS DURING FALL CAMP. HE RETURNED TO MORE OF A RESERVE ROLE LATER IN THE YEAR BUT STILL REMAINED RELEVANT TO THE ECU OFFENSE. HE FINISHED THIRD ON THE TEAM WITH 29 RECEPTIONS FOR 280 YARDS AND 1 TD. IT WAS A TOUGH CHALLENGE TO COME TO A NEW TEAM, RUN A NEW OFFENSE UNDER BRAND NEW COACHES, BUT AUDIE WAS A SMART KID AND CAUGHT ON QUICKLY. HE CURRENTLY HAS A 3.98 GPA IN COMPUTER SCIENCE. HE IS ASPIRING ONE DAY TO BECOME A COLLEGE COACH IF THE PATH LEADS HIM THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEAR OF SERVICE AUDIE!
BRANDEN PENA – C - #54
STARTED ALL 13 GAMES FOR THE 2013 PIRATES. SUFFERED A COUPLE OF INJURIES LATE IN THE YEAR HOWEVER DID NOT MISS SIGNIFICANT PLAYING TIME. ALLOWING ONLY 1 SACK THIS SEASON, WAS THE ANCHOR FOR THE OFFENSIVE LINE. BRANDEN GRADUATED EARLY WITH A 3.66 GPA IN ARCHITECTURE. A TRUE LEADER ON AND OFF THE FIELD, BRANDEN’S CHARACTER WILL BE MISSED.
ANTHONY WATLEY – TE - #80
ANTHONY WAS THE STARTER FOR HALF OF THE YEAR AND THEN SHARED TIME WITH ZECH BYRD FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON. ANTHONY FINISHED THE YEAR WITH 5 RECEPTIONS FOR 37 YARDS BUT 2 OF THOSE RECEPTIONS WERE FOR TOUCHDOWNS. HE MADE THE MOST OF THE CATCHES HE HAD THIS YEAR. ANTHONY HAS A 2.83 GPA MAJORING IN HISTORY AND PLANS ON GRADUATING THIS SPRING.
JARAY SAMPSON – TE - #86
JARAY NEVER CRACKED THE STARTING LINEUP BUT WAS A KEY COG ON THE SCOUT TEAM AND THE MVP OF THE SCOUT TEAM THIS YEAR. HIS LONE IN GAME CATCH FOR 5 YARDS CAME SENIOR NIGHT AGAINST USF. JARAY GRADUATED EARLY WITH A 3.55 GPA IN HISTORY.
DEONDRE FARRIER – WR - #1
THE MOST DECORATED SENIOR OF THE CLASS, STARTED AT SLOT RECEIVER FOR THE 2013 PIRATES, FINISHING THE YEAR LEADING THE TEAM IN RECEPTIONS WITH 47, SECOND ON THE TEAM IN YARDS WITH 596 (B. PROEHL – 1ST), AND 3RD ON THE TEAM IN TOUCHDOWNS WITH 4. DEONDRE ALSO WAS A FACTOR IN THE RUN GAME (ALSO KNOWN AS THE JET SWEEP MAN) WITH 21 CARRIES FOR 152 YARDS, AND 2 TD’S. HE PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE IN THE OFFENSE AND MISSED NO TIME DUE TO INJURIES AND ONLY 1 GAME DUE TO A TWITTER RANT. HIS MOST IMPRESSIVE GAME WAS THE RIVALRY GAME AGAINST MARSHALL WHERE HE FINISHED WITH 49 YARDS ON THE GROUND AND 48 YARDS ON 4 CATCHES WITH A TOUCHDOWN EARNING HIM PLAYER OF THE GAME HONORS IN THE 32-26 DEFEAT OF OUR RIVAL IN “THE PLANE CRASH GAME”.
JALEN PRICE – DT - #93
JALEN WAS THE BACKUP DT IN THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE SPELLING STARTER AND FELLOW SENIOR ALEX TURNER. JALEN PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE TURNAROUND THE DEFENSE HAD THIS YEAR. HE ENDED THE SEASON WITH 5 TACKLES, 2 TFL’S AND 1 SACK. THE STATS DON’T TELL THE WHOLE STORY WITH JALEN AS HE ALWAYS WAS IN THE RIGHT POSITION ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE. JALEN IS ALSO AN EXCELLENT STUDENT WITH ONLY 3 MORE CLASSES TO PASS TO EARN HIS DEGREE (CURRENTLY HAS A 3.56 GPA).
ALEX TURNER – DT - #93
ALEX, OUT OF HOUSTON, TX, WAS THE STARTING DT AND THE ANCHOR OF THE DEFENSIVE LINE, NEVER MISSING A GAME. HE WAS TIED FOR THE LEAD IN SACKS WITH (7) WITH FELLOW SENIOR KENDALL FUTRELL. HE ALSO ADDED 25 TACKLES AND 14 TFL’S DURING THE 2013 SEASON IN WHICH HE EARNED 1ST TEAM ALL CONFERENCE HONORS. HE MADE A LOT OF BIG PLAYS FOR THE TEAM AND COULD ALWAYS BE COUNTED ON TO MAKE A SPLASH PLAY TO TURN THE MOMENTUM IN THE DEFENSE’S FAVOR. HE WAS A DT THAT HAD TO BE GAME-PLANNED FOR. ALEX HAD HIS BEST GAME OF THE YEAR IN A LOSING EFFORT AT THE RANKED BEARCATS TALLYING 3 TACKLES, 3 TFL’S AND 2 SACKS. ALEX, IF HE DOESN’T PLAY IN THE NFL, OR RETURN TO THE GRIDIRON TO COACH WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SOME DAY, NEEDING 4 MORE CLASSES TO OBTAIN HIS BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION MASTERS. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ALEX!
KENDALL FUTRELL – DE - #44
KENDALL WAS THRUST INTO THE STARTING ROLE AT DE WHEN CHANCE PURVIS WHO LED THE TEAM IN SACKS AT THE TIME WITH 7 WAS INJURED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR WITH A BROKEN TAILBONE. KENDALL MADE GREAT USE OF HIS TIME AS A STARTER (PREVIOUSLY HE WAS USED AS A PASS RUSH SPECIALIST IN CERTAIN SUB PACKAGES). HE ENDED THE SEASON TIED FOR THE TEAM LEAD IN SACKS WITH 7 AND ALSO TALLIED 18 TACKLES AND 8 TFL’S. KENDALL OFF THE FIELD WAS A MODEL CITIZEN TAKING PART IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR THE PIRATES, HE WILL SURELY BE MISSED!
MIKE WITHERSPOON – CB - #2
MIKE WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT WAS RARELY TALKED ABOUT IN GAMES, MAINLY BECAUSE HE ALWAYS DID HIS JOB AND WAS NOT TARGETED VERY MUCH. HIS CLAIM TO FAME THIS YEAR WAS A GAME ON THE ROAD WHERE HE RETURNED AN OPENING DRIVE INTERCEPTION TO THE HOUSE JUMPING A SCREEN PASS THROWN BY SHANE BEUCHELE. HE WAS ALWAYS AN INTUITIVE PLAYER AND WE WILL MISS THAT LEADERSHIP AND INSTINCTIVENESS ON THE BACK END OF THE ECU DEFENSE. HE WILL BE A HARD ONE TO REPLACE IN THE UPCOMING SEASON. HE WAS KNOWN AS A SHUTDOWN CORNER THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE AND WAS A GUY WHO COULD TAKE AWAY THE OPPONENTS BEST RECEIVER. GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE MIKE!
COLBY GORE – CB - #26
COLBY STARTED OFF THE SEASON AS THE SLOT CORNER BUT EVENTUALLY TOOK OVER THE STARTING SPOT REPLACING FRESHMAN JAQUAN MCMILLIAN. HIS INT IN THE BOWL GAME ALMOST TURNED THE TIDE FOR THE PIRATES, BUT INSTEAD A QUESTIONABLE REFEREE CALL, TURNED IT INTO A SAFETY, GIVING THE CARDINALS 2 POINTS. HE SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR A LOT MORE THAN THAT HOWEVER AS HE WAS A GREAT TEAMMATE AND ALWAYS WAS THERE FOR HIS FELLOW PLAYERS, AS WELL AS ONE HELL OF A PLAYER HIMSELF. HE IS EARNING A MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND NEEDS ONLY ONE MORE CLASS TO OBTAIN THAT DEGREE WHICH HE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH IN THE SPRING SEMESTER.
BANQUET CONCLUSION – 2013
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PIRATES ARE GRADUATING QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIENCE AND LEADERSHIP ON AND OFF OF THE FIELD. GONE WILL BE OVER 50% OF THE RUSHING TD’S FROM 2013, AS WELL AS ALMOST 100 CATCHES AND 1,000 YARDS FROM THE PASSING OFFENSE. DEFENSIVELY, ECU GRADUATES 15 SACKS AND LEADERS ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE AS WELL AS THE TWO STARTING CB’S. WE WISH ALL THE GRADUATES LUCK IN THE FUTURE AND ALSO CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS EAST CAROLINA ALUMNI!
Monday, November 4, 2019
BOWL GAMES:
GILDAN NEW MEXICO BOWL - SMU 27 - COLORADO STATE - 24
MAACO LAS VEGAS BOWL - STANFORD 52 - UTAH STATE - 14
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL - NEW MEXICO 23 - BUFFALO - 14
R&L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL - UL LAFAYETTE 45 - FAU - 28
BEEF O'BRADY'S BOWL ST PETERSBURG - UTAH 45 - CINCINNATI - 18
SHERATON HAWAII BOWL - HAWAII 39 - WESTERN KENTUCKY - 35
LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL - WISCONSIN 24 - KENT STATE - 14
SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL - GEORGIA ST. 28 - FRESNO STATE - 21
MILITARY BOWL - WESTERN MICHIGAN 31 - ARMY 21
FIGHT HUNGER BOWL - UCF 24 - UCLA - 21
MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL - TCU 31 - MARYLAND - 19
BELK BOWL - LOUISVILLE 26 - ECU - 24
RUSSELL ATHLETIC BOWL - BYU 21 - FSU - 20
BUFFALO WILD WINGS BOWL - NEBRASKA 27 - TEXAS TECH - 24
BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL - BOISE STATE 28 - NORTH TEXAS - 14
MUSIC CITY BOWL - TEXAS A&M 31 - SYRACUSE - 28
VALERO ALAMO BOWL - ARIZONA 42 - WVU - 20
HOLIDAY BOWL - KANSAS STATE 31 - WASHINGTON - 27
ADVOCARE V100 INDEPENDENCE BOWL - TEMPLE 31 - IOWA STATE - 27
SUN BOWL - MIAMI 26 - OREGON STATE - 21
AUTO ZONE LIBERTY BOWL - TENNESSEE 28 - UAB - 0
CHICK-FIL-A BOWL - VIRGINIA 24 - AUBURN - 21
TAXSLAYER.COM GATOR BOWL - GEORGIA 28 - NORTHWESTERN - 13
HEART OF DALLAS BOWL - PENN STATE 34 - MTSU - 17
CAPITAL ONE BOWL - OHIO STATE 17 - FLORIDA - 14
OUTBACK BOWL - MISSISSIPPI STATE 21 - IOWA - 17
AT&T COTTON BOWL - OKLAHOMA 34 - MISSOURI - 31
BBVA COMPASS BOWL - HOUSTON 24 - LSU - 21
GO DADDY BOWL - ARKANSAS STATE 38 - TOLEDO - 14
ROSE BOWL - MICHIGAN STATE 24 - OREGON - 20
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL (SEMIFINAL #2) - VTECH 38 - NOTRE DAME - 14
ALL STATE SUGAR BOWL (SEMIFINAL #1) - ALABAMA 47 - TEXAS - 21
DISCOVER ORANGE BOWL - CLEMSON 37 - MICHIGAN - 17
BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - ALABAMA 38 - VTECH - 21
AWARD WINNERS:
HEISMAN - BRIAN HERRIEN (UGA)
MAXWELL - CJ VERDELL (OREGON)
WALTER CAMP - BRIAN HERRIEN (UGA)
BEDNARIK - KEVIN MEITZENHEIMER (UTAH ST.)
NAGURSKI - KEVIN MEITZENHEIMER (UTAH ST.)
O'BRIEN - IAN BOOK (NOTRE DAME)
DOAK WALKER - BRIAN HERRIEN (UGA)
BILETNIKOFF - DAMON HAZELTON (VTECH)
MACKEY - HUNTER BRYANT (WASHINGTON)
OUTLAND - TOMMY KRAEMER (NOTRE DAME)
RIMINGTON - ZACH SHACKELFORD (TEXAS)
LOMBARDI - KHALID KAREEM (NOTRE DAME)
BUTKUS - KEVIN MEITZENHEIMER (UTAH ST.)
THORPE - HARRISON HAND (TEMPLE)
GROZA - CAMERON DICKER (TEXAS)
RAY GUY - JAY BRAMBLETT (NOTRE DAME)
JET AWARD - JAYLEN WADDLE (ALABAMA)
THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES HAD 0 1ST OR 2ND TEAM ALL AMERICANS AND 0 FRESHMAN ALL AMERICANS.
ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS FOR THE PIRATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
DT - ALEX TURNER - 1ST TEAM
MLB - XAVIER SMITH - 1ST TEAM
SS - DANIEL CHARLES - 2ND TEAM
KR - DAMEL HICKMAN - 2ND TEAM
NEXT UP, THE SENIOR BANQUET!
Sunday, November 3, 2019
#1 VIRGINIA TECH VS. #3 ALABAMA
KIRK HERBSTREIT IS TAKING ALABAMA TO UPSET THE HOKIES AND WIN YET ANOTHER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! IN THE SECOND SEMIFINAL GAME, THE HOKIES LOST THEIR TE MITCHELL FOR THE SEASON, WHAT HEARTBREAK FOR THAT KID NOT BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP HIS TEAM IN THE CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. THE THREE HEADED MONSTER FOR VTECH OF RYAN WILLIS, DESHAWN MCCLEASE, AND DAMON HAZLETON HOPE TO HAVE ENOUGH FIRE POWER TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AND KEEP UP WITH THE HIGH SCORING BAMA OFFENSE.
ALABAMA IS COMPLETELY HEALTHY AND TUA TAGAVAILOA HAS AMAZING STATS FOR THE YEAR WITH OVER 3,600 PASSING YARDS, 40 TD'S AND ONLY 5 INT'S. NAJEE HARRIS HAS ALSO ADDED 1600 YARDS ON THE GROUND AND 20 TD'S. THIS COULD BE ONE FOR THE AGES!
AND THE NATIONAL CHAMPION IS.....
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
FINISHING THE SEASON AT 14-1 AND A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE OVER THE PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES!
FINAL SCORE - ALABAMA 38 - VIRGINIA TECH - 21
BELK BOWL VS. LOUISVILLE (7-5):
ITS THE END OF THE SEASON AND THAT MEANS CHRISTMAS, FAMILY PARTIES, PRESENTS, AND OF COURSE BOWL GAMES!
ITS TWO DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS, AND WHAT WAY TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON THEN TO HUNKER DOWN WITH THE FAMILY, TURN ON THE TV AND CHECK OUT THE BELK BOWL FROM CHARLOTTE, NC AT 6 PM!
A BOWL GAME PITTING TWO FIRST YEAR COACHES AT THEIR RESPECTIVE PROGRAMS. BOTH WITH IDENTICAL RECORDS, 7-5 (5-4). THE LAST TIME YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE PIRATES WE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE THIS YEAR WITH 12 SENIORS DEPARTING THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR.
LOUISVILLE HAS HAD A TOUGH SEASON IN COACH SATTERFIELD'S FIRST YEAR. SOME CLOSE DEFEATS TO VERY TALENTED TEAMS. ENDING THE REGULAR SEASON ON A 3 GAME WIN STREAK, THE CARDINAL FAITHFUL WOULD LOVE A BOWL VICTORY HEADING INTO THE OFF SEASON.
COACH FALK'S PIRATES HAVE BEEN ON A SEE SAW THIS ENTIRE SEASON, ALTERNATING THE LAST 9 WEEKS WITH WINS AND LOSSES. HOPEFULLY THAT DOESNT MEAN THAT THIS BOWL GAME WILL BE A LOSS AS THE PIRATES FINISHED THE YEAR WITH A SHUTOUT ON THE ROAD AGAINST THE HUSKIES OF UCONN.
NO SIGNIFICANT SUSPENSIONS, HOWEVER REID HERRING WHO IS ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE FOR THE UPCOMING BOWL GAME, GOT INTO A SKIRMISH WITH TEAMMATES, HE IS OBVIOUSLY BOTHERED BY HIS STUDIES. WE ARE SETTING HIM UP TO WORK WITH A TEAM COUNSELOR TO GET HIM READY FOR NEXT SEASON AS COACH FALK EXPRESSED HOW MUCH THE TEAM NEEDS HIM.
ON TO THE GAME!
1ST QUARTER
LOUISVILLE WON THE TOSS AMD ELECTED TO DEFER GIVING THE PIRATES THE BALL TO START THE GAME. BOTH TEAMS WOULD EXCHANGE PUNTS AND THE PIRATES THEN OPENED UP THE SCORING WITH A LONG DRIVE RESULTING IN A ZECH BYRD TOUCHDOWN TO GIVE THE PIRATES A 7-0 LEAD WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT IN THE 1ST QUARTER. LOUISVILLE WOULD WASTE NO TIME ANSWERING SCORING ON THE NEXT PLAY FROM SCRIMMAGE WITH A HASSAN HALL LONG TD RUN TIEING THE GAME AT 7-7.
2ND QUARTER
ON THE ENSUING KICKOFF, JSI HATFIELD WOULD RECEIVE THE KICK AND DO WHAT HE DOES BEST TAKING IT TO THE HOUSE, GIVING THE LEAD RIGHT BACK TO EAST CAROLINA 14-7! IN A MATTER OF TWENTY SECONDS, THE FANS AT THE BELK BOWL WOULD SEE THREE TOUCHDOWNS! THE PIRATE DEFENSE WOULD STIFFEN NOT ALLOWING A SCORE BY THE CARDINALS IN THE SECOND QUARTER WHILE THE OFFENSE WOULD ADD ANOTHER TD, THIS TIME TO BLAKE PROEHL, GIVING THE PIRATES A 21-7 LEAD AT HALFTIME.
3RD QUARTER
I AM NOT SURE WHAT COACH SATTERFIELD TOLD HIS TEAM AT HALFTIME BUT THEY CAME OUT GUNS A BLAZING AND TOOK THE FIRST PLAY FROM THE SCRIMMAGE TO THE HOUSE ON YET ANOTHER LONG TD RUN BY HASSAN HALL. HASSAN WOULD FINISH WITH OVER 200 YARDS ON THE GROUND. THE PIRATES DROVE DOWN AND WOULD CONNECT ON A 50 YARD FIELD GOAL MAKING IT A 10 POINT GAME HEADING INTO THE 4TH QUARTER.
4TH QUARTER
JAWON PASS FINALLY MADE A NICE PASS AND THREW A TD TO DAWKINS TO CUT THE LEAD TO 3. THE PIRATES RECEIVED THE BALL BACK BUT HAD TO PUNT GIVING THE BALL BACK TO THE CARDINALS WITH 6 MINUTES TO GO IN THE BELK BOWL. THE CARDINALS DROVE DOWN THE FIELD GOAL BUT JAWON MADE A MISTAKE AND THREW AN INT RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF COLBY GORE (WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAVE THE GAME WITH A CONCUSSION), HOWEVER A QUESTIONABLE CALL BY THE REFEREE SAID COLBY CAUGHT THE BALL, MAINTAINED POSSESSION, WAS TACKLED IN THE END ZONE AND IT WAS CALLED A SAFETY. AFTER BEING CHALLENGED, THE CALL WOULD STAND, AND NOW THE CARDINALS WERE DOWN ONLY 1 POINT. THE CARDINALS WOULD MAKE MULTIPLE THIRD AND FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS SETTING UP A 44 YARD FG FOR THE LEAD THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL. NOW THE PIRATES WERE DOWN 2 WITH 2 TIMEOUTS AND A MINUTE AND A HALF TO GO. HOLTON MOVED THE PIRATES DOWN THE FIELD AND WITH ABOUT 40 SECONDS LEFT, WHEEL ROUTES WERE CALLED, AND HOLTON MADE A THROW THAT HE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE BACK AS IT WAS PICKED OFF BY STURGHILL ENDING THE PIRATES SEASON.
THIS ONE IS GOING TO LEAVE A BITTER TASTE IN THE MOUTHS OF THE PLAYERS, COACHES, AND PIRATE FAITHFUL. THE DEFEAT WILL BE USED FOR MOTIVATION HEADING INTO THE OFF SEASON, COACH FALK JUST WISHED THAT THE SENIORS WOULD GO OUT ON A WINNING NOTE.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Posted on November 2, 2019 at 09:24 AM.
WELL, WELL, WELL, THE PLAYOFF SEMIFINAL HAS COME AND GONE AND THE RESULTS ARE ASTONISHING. (DISCLAIMER - I WILL BE DOING THE PLAYOFF BEFORE SIMMING AND PLAYING THE EAST CAROLINA BOWL GAME DUE TO THE EDITING BETWEEN CONSOLE AND PC THAT HAS TO OCCUR, BEFORE I CAN CONTINUE ON WITH THE DYNASTY SEASON)
IN THE ALL STATE SUGAR BOWL, SEMIFINAL #1 - ALABAMA WAS VICTORIOUS DISMANTLING THE PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN TEXAS LONGHORNS 47-21. THERE WAS NEVER A DOUBT IN THE MINDS OF THE CRIMSON TIDE FAITHFUL THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THE CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. BUT WHO WOULD THEY PLAY?
IN THE FIESTA BOWL, THE 1 LOSS NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH TOOK ON THE UNDEFEATED AND #1 SEED CHAMPS OF THE ATHLETIC COAST CONFERENCE VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE VIEWERS, THIS MATCHUP ALSO WAS NOT A CLOSE ONE AS THE HOKIES CRUSHED THE FIGHTING IRISH 38-14, SETTING UP AN ACC VS. SEC CFP CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
THOSE RESULTS SET UP THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PITTING #1 SEED VIRGINIA TECH TO HOST # 3 SEED ALABAMA!
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