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Skip Holtz owns a
bachelor's degree in business management from Notre Dame. From the looks
of East Carolina's early-season docket, the Pirates' coach should
quickly pursue one in psychology.
It would certainly help
this September, which potentially could evolve into the toughest
emotional gauntlet in ECU football history. And though Holtz thus far
has proven himself adept at calming his charges, no ECU club has faced
anything that remotely parallels the September cyclone that awaits this
fall.
At this stage the closest
comparison under Holtz was the week last fall separating the loss at
Rice and the victory over rival N.C. State. Given the mental makeup of
the Pirates following the Rice upset, ECU's ability to rebound against a
talented in-state foe can't be understated.
But that was a cakewalk
compared to this September. Just consider that the month's final tussle
at defending Conference USA champion Houston is the mental breather.
Among the tests are
showdowns with two national contenders in hostile road settings.
Sandwiched between are games against rivals, one the most anticipated
home date of the season and the other a long-time league nemesis.
There isn't a guaranteed W
during that turbulent stretch and the season opener couldn't be more
intimidating.
One week ago marked the
darkest day in Blacksburg's otherwise peaceful history. When the Pirates
arrive at Lane Stadium, it will mark the brightest since that horrific
morning.
Every emotion ever
experienced will be present that day. Each one is certain to be captured
by national television cameras, showcased on major news networks, and
chronicled by popular syndicated columnists from the sports section and
beyond.
It's a spotlight brighter
than any East Carolina team has experienced, with coverage and
anticipation building steadily from the day players report in early
August. One of the major steps in Virginia Tech's healing process places
the Pirates squarely in the role of national villain, one with which the
program has zero experience.
And though it is one of
the most physically gifted Pirate teams in recent memory, a competitive
game hinges almost solely on the Pirates' emotional balance. Expending
too much or too little could result in a lopsided outcome a distinct
possibility long before last week's tragedy occurred.
Though the opponent is
much easier the following week, the pressure to win is infinitely
tougher. North Carolina visits Greenville less often than Halley's
Comet, and there isn't a Pirate fan alive who has witnessed the Pirates
beat the Tar Heels in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
The atmosphere and energy
is certain to rival the buildup to ECU's 2000 home opener, a Thursday
night showdown against Virginia Tech. That emotional overflow worked
heavily in the Hokies' favor, and it took less than a quarter to deflate
the crowd.
That said, the Pirates are
likely a slight favorite barring all-out embarrassment in Blacksburg.
Package that with the hated logo on the opponent's helmet and you have a
scenario in which many would deem a loss unforgivable.
The excitement for East
Carolina's Conference USA opener is contingent 100 percent on the final
score against North Carolina. Beat the Tar Heels and you can bank on a
near-capacity crowd that rivals last year's showdown against Marshall.
Lose and it will more closely parallel the indifferent one against
Tulsa.
Simply stated, Southern
Miss' position on ECU's schedule makes the week a primary candidate for
a major hangover regardless of the outcome against UNC-
Chapel Hill. That's a distinction that has nothing to do with the
strength of USM, which likely will rank tops in C-USA's East division in
most preseason polls.
If importance is measured
by the Pirates' postseason prospects, Southern Miss looms as the most
important game among the first four. But if history is your primary
indicator, the Golden Eagles would rank a solid fourth on the fan
interest meter.
That's unlikely to matter
much to Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. After the Pirates' rare win in
Hattiesburg last season, matching USM's focus will be no easy task.
Nor will winning in
Morgantown. Thus far it's been impossible. And given the return of Pat
White and Steve Slaton, that alone is enough to raise the anxiety levels
of any defense this side of the NFL.
About the only thing more
intimidating than West Virginia's roster is its rowdy home crowd. If the
Philadelphia Eagles have a college equivalent, the Mountaineers faithful
for better or worse make a solid case to that claim.
It's a good thing ECU
faces that four-week gauntlet with its most talented club in recent
memory. But it's difficult to overlook the inexperience in very key
positions, or that even ECU's greatest clubs never faced the series of
emotional tsunamis that flood the front end of this year's schedule.
(Perhaps the '99 team is
the lone exception, but both West Virginia and South Carolina bottomed
out that year.)
For years East Carolina
die-hards have demanded a return to the scheduling philosophy that once
positioned the Pirates as a dangerous program with a reputation for
playing all comers. AD Terry Holland has more than delivered on that
front and the schedulers showed no quantity of mercy in the early going
this fall.
Surviving September with a
3-2 record a challenging but realistic goal hinges largely on how
well the Pirates manage their emotional bank. Toting only one win into
October could have them operating on a depleted account.
