|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audio: Ruff Presser |
|
  ECU
coach Ruffin McNeill
addressed members of
the media on Monday
in the first of his
regimen of press
conferences that
will be conducted
each game week. The
Pirates kick off the
season on Saturday
at home against
Towson. (Recorded by
Brian Bailey; file
photo by Al Myatt):
Select audio clip... |
|
|
|
|
|
ECU Pirates 2015
Football Schedule |
|
DATE |
TIME |
OPPONENT |
TV |
|
Sept 5 |
6 pm |
Towson |
ESPN3 |
|
Sept 12 |
7 pm |
at Florida |
ESPN2 |
|
Sept 19 |
3:30 pm |
at Navy |
CBSSN |
|
Sept 26 |
TBA |
Virginia Tech |
TBA |
|
Oct 3 |
TBA |
at SMU |
TBA |
|
Oct 10 |
TBA |
at BYU |
TBA |
|
Oct 17 |
TBA |
Tulsa |
TBA |
|
Oct 22 |
7 pm |
Temple |
ESPN2 |
|
Oct 30 |
7 pm |
at UConn |
ESPNU |
|
Nov 7 |
TBA |
USF |
TBA |
|
Nov 19 |
7:30 pm |
at UCF |
ESPN |
|
Nov 28 |
TBA |
Cincinnati |
TBA |
|
Dec 5 |
12 pm |
Championship |
ABC/ESPN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOOTBALL |
|
Pirates must adjust at QB |
|
 The
concept of developing depth and position competition at East
Carolina may be facing its biggest test in the tenure of Ruffin
McNeill as he enters his sixth season as football coach of the
Pirates. ...
More
from Al Myatt... |
|
|
|
|
|
FOOTBALL |
|
What a difference a week makes |
|
 The
offensive timing was back for East
Carolina’s final scrimmage of the
preseason on Saturday. That timing
was a big part of five scores for
the offense in the scrimmage. It was
a far cry from a week before, when
the Pirate defense dominated play.
...
More
from Brian Bailey... |
|
|
MULTIMEDIA |
|
Audio: The Brian
Bailey Show |
|
  The
Brian Bailey Show airs on Pirate
Radio 1250 on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Brian's guest this week was ECU
offensive coordinator Dave Nichol
(right):
Replay
show... |
|
|
|
|
|
FOOTBALL |
|
Pirates generate alarming numbers |
|
For
a fan base that counts the hours to the start of the football
season, there is a paucity of statistics this time of year. The
only numbers generated since preseason camp started at East
Carolina earlier this month were from a scrimmage Saturday at
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. ...
More
from Al Myatt... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FOOTBALL |
|
Pirates rigging for difficult seas |
|
The
2015 East Carolina football schedule is quite a conversation
piece. There's a rematch with Florida from the Birmingham Bowl
in the Swamp on Sept. 12. The trip to Navy for the Midshipmen's
first ever American Athletic Conference contest ensues Sept. 19.
...
More
from Al Myatt... |
|
|
|
|
|
FOOTBALL |
|
Pirates pad up and pop |
|
East
Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill
says camp is flying by. I’m not sure
if the players agree, but the
calendar continues to peel off the
dates as we get closer to the season
opener. ...
More
from Brian Bailey... |
|
|
|
|
|
FOOTBALL: ECU MEDIA
DAY |
|
Pirates have
questions to answer |
GREENVILLE —
The pertinent
questions were asked at East
Carolina's football media day on
Saturday. The Pirate coaches
essentially said we'll have to
get back to you.
The quarterback situation in the absence of Shane Carden
and the potential impact of Minnesota/Rutgers transfer Philip Nelson as
well as the competition for placekicker are among the issues ECU is
dealing with as the 2015 season approaches. Nelson walked on with the
Pirates and his status for this season is to be determined.
...
Story & pictures from Al Myatt...
|
|
Pictured: ECU Coach
Ruffin McNeill
expressed his
excitement that the
program is into
preseason camp while
addressing reporters
on media day. (Photo
by Al Myatt) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
By
Brian Bailey
©2015 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF THIS PAGE
East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill almost reverted to his best
impression of “Wild Bill” Hagy in explaining the Pirate quarterback
situation at his first news conference of the 2015 season.
Hagy would lead cheers from section 34 in Baltimore's old Memorial
Stadium. He would spell out the word O-R-I-O-L-E-S with his body forming
the words to the delight of Oriole fans in attendance.
Coach Ruff joked that perhaps he had to spell out his quarterback’s name
to the media on Monday. Ruff almost did his own Wild Bill impression.
“Do I need to spell it out,” he joked as he made the motion to signify a
letter. “Blake Kemp is the quarterback. He was the backup quarterback,
so he’s next in line. Cody Keith is back at practice and James Summers
has also joined us. James was able to join us on Friday.”
Many remember the last time Coach Ruff had a question at quarterback
going into the opener. That was 2010 in McNeill’s first season.
Dominique Davis and Brad Wornick were in a battle to be the starter.
Davis won out, but it wasn’t made public until Davis actually headed to
the huddle with the first play.
That mystery was on purpose, to try and gain an advantage on the
opponent, which was Tulsa. This is a different situation.
“One of these days you guys will learn to trust me,” said McNeill. “I’m
not going to play the hat game with you guys. Kemp is our quarterback,
but like every other position he has to continue to earn that position.”
I’ve always been fascinated at the public and media interest in the
quarterback position. I’m guilty of it as well. If Zeek Bigger or
Montese Overton comes out of the game, nobody bats and eye. If it’s a
quarterback, than everyone is buzzing.
So Blake Kemp is up first. Cody Keith might have had a better chance to
start, but his injuries have absolutely crippled his development.
ECU offensive coordinator Dave Nichol says whoever the quarterback is,
it’s the staff’s responsiblity to get the ball to the playmakers.
“Absolutely, that's our job is to get it to the right guys,” Nichol
said. “Across the board we have plenty of guys who have made plays
before and will make plays again. Everyone else has to step up. That's
what happens when anyone goes down, especially at that position."
James Summers joined the team last week. The former Greensboro Page star
transferred in from Hinds Community College. He was recruited as a wide
receiver, but he is an amazing athlete and he made an immediate impact
with his attitude.
“What I like about him is when we called him, he said he would play
wherever we wanted him to play,” said McNeill. “Since committing to us,
he’s worked at wide receiver and that’s all he’s thought about. He
hadn’t thought about anything else. His comment was quick when I got on
the phone with him. He said, ‘Coach, I just want to help the team win.’
Freshman John Jacobs is also working in practice.
“I like the way John has improved from his first day,” noted Ruff. “Even
John will tell you it’s slowing down for him. For a freshman, especially
at that position, it can become very fast. Coach (John) Wiley loves the
way he’s improving. He’s smart, tough, a lefty and he’s going to be a
really special player for us.
As I mentioned, quarterback was the big talk at Monday’s news
conference. McNeill also updated the status of transfer Phillip Nelson,
who once started at Minnesota.
“He is redshirting on scout team and being a great teammate,” said
McNeill. “He’s done everything the coaches have asked him to do, whether
that’s being a quarterback, wideout or running on kickoff scout team.
You name it, he’s done it.”
ECU certainly has question marks in other areas, but the season-ending
injury to Kurt Benkert magnifies the inexperience at quarterback.
McNeill and his staff have always had a “next man up” philosophy, and
that philosophy will be tested at the team’s most critical position.
Questions finally start being answered Saturday night in the season
opener.
BB
The
Brian Bailey Show
airs on Pirate Radio
1250 on Mondays at
6:30 p.m. Brian's
guest this week was
ECU defensive
coordinator Rick
Smith (right):
