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It’s a big sports weekend to come at East Carolina. It’s a
rare, football-basketball double dip on Saturday and Sunday on campus.
In football, the Pirates are probably relegated to the role
of spoiler in the Conference USA race. If the Pirates could somehow run the
table, they would be in line for a share of the conference title and a bowl
bid.
Texas Christian comes to town with sights set on a league
title. The Horned Frogs lit up Louisville and dominated Southern Miss, both
on the road.
TCU has been on a roll since an overtime loss on opening day
to Cincinnati and comes to town confident of keeping the roll going.
ECU head coach Steve Logan is counting on the Dowdy-Ficklen
Stadium faithful to help stop the Frogs' bandwagon.
“I’m glad we are playing this particulate team at home,” he
said. “They have really played well this year, but I think we can compete
and give a great effort, especially at home.”
TCU is an eight-point favorite in the game.
The Horned Frogs are loaded on defense. That will be the
key. Can the Pirate offense score enough to keep the game close?
The Pirate defense continues to struggle. For whatever
reason, mediocre offensive players of opposing teams have a way of donning
red capes and making like Superman against the Pirate “D”.
“I can’t explain it,” said Logan. “We play solid defense for
several plays and then we give up an explosion play. Those explosion plays
have burned us all year long.”
Somehow, the Pirates have to figure out a way to make the
only explosions come from the end zone cannon that fires after an ECU score.
Home hoops looms
East Carolina opens the basketball season later tonight on
the road at Middle Tennessee State. Then, C-USA meets the SEC on Sunday,
when the Pirates play host to Ole Miss.
This will not be an easy weekend, to say the very least.
The Pirates will be looking to snap a 17-game road losing
streak against the Blue Raiders and there's reason for hope. ECU is almost
.500 in season openers on the road at 15-16. Overall, the Pirates are 44-27
in season opening games.
East Carolina beat MTSU in Greenville last season.
By the way, make sure you get to the game early on Sunday.
The new lights at Williams Arena allow for the arena to be darkened during
the introduction of the players.
Word is that the opening has been upgraded considerably.
That should really get the house rocking. Let’s just hope they leave that
lame can of purple smoke in the closet!
Bill Herrion has done a tremendous job in his first three
seasons in upgrading this basketball program. He has worked tirelessly to
promote his program, and we certainly hope that all of that work pays big
dividends this season.
