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GAME DAY WEATHER |
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The forecast for East
Carolina's home football
game with North Carolina at
3:30 p.m. today is calling
for a high in the low 80s
with increasing cloudiness
during the day. There is a
20 percent chance of a
shower. Northeast winds are
predicted to be 10 to 15
miles per hour. (Filed by Al
Myatt) |
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Full-size radar
loop |
Scientific
forecast |
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FOOTBALL |
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Your personal guide to split
loyalties |
The term "House Divided" has
been used to describe
members of the same family
that root for different
teams when those teams play
each other. On Saturday,
there will be many families
that have both East Carolina
and North Carolina
connections with an acute
interest in the matchup in
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. ...
More from Greg Vacek... |
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FOOTBALL |
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Numbers better for Smith and
staff |
With the big games that
Shane Carden and Cam Worthy
had offensively in a 28-21
win at Virginia Tech on
Saturday, it's easy to lose
sight of the contributions
of the East Carolina defense
in a 2-1 start as the
Pirates get ready to host
North Carolina (2-0) on
Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU). ...
More from Al Myatt... |
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FOOTBALL |
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Big win means bigger opportunity |
East Carolina
made it three in a row over
ACC teams on Saturday,
beating Virginia Tech 28-21
in Blacksburg. More
impressive is the fact that
each of the three wins came
on the road. Now the Pirates
can go for four in a row
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More from Brian Bailey... |
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MULTIMEDIA |
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Audio: The
Brian Bailey Show |
  The
Brian Bailey Show
airs on Pirate Radio
1250 on Mondays at
6:30 p.m. Brian's
guest was ECU RBs
coach & recruiting
coordinator Kirk
Doll:
Replay
show... |
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Audio: Coach Ruff
Weekly Presser |
  ECU
coach Ruffin McNeill
spoke with the media
at his weekly press
conference on Monday
(courtesy of Pirate
Radio 1250;
Bonesville file
photo):
Select
clip... |
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Carden leads poetic triumph |
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BLACKSBURG, VA — The late
British poet laureate, Rudyard
Kipling, probably would have
liked Shane Carden. In the poem
'If' Kipling says, "If you can
meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors
just the same ..."
The
Captain, Carden, has experienced
both triumph and disaster in the
span of two weeks on the road
against nationally-ranked teams
as East Carolina quarterback.
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More from Al Myatt... |
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Game Day Pix
from Lane Stadium |
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ECU quarterback Shane Carden gives offensive
coordinator Lincoln Riley a bear hug after
putting the Pirates ahead of Virginia Tech
in the game's final minute. [W.A. Myatt
photo] |
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View W.A.
Myatt's complete photo gallery... |
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Audio: Ruff & Players
Post-game... |
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ECU
coach Ruffin McNeill and
some of his players spoke
with the press after the
Pirates defeated Virginia
Tech on Saturday (recorded
by W.A. Myatt; file photo):
Select audio clip... |
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View Mobile Alpha version of this page.
By
Kevin Monroe
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View ECU's
2014 football schedule
The East
Carolina Pirates return home to Dowdy-Ficklen today to face in-state
rival UNC-Chapel Hill. Every time these programs match up, it is a big
game for both teams. This year the Tar Heels opened the season in the
top 25. The Pirates are their first real test after wins over Liberty
and San Diego State.
ECU,
as usual, is fighting for respect. After a win over N.C. Central in
the opener, the Pirates went on the road to South Carolina and
Virginia Tech and played well against two of the nation’s top teams,
going 1-1.
This
game will help to add validation to the winner. The Pirates must
perform well in some key aspects of the game in order to prevail.
TRENCH WARFARE
The
Pirates have to win the battle up front on both offense and defense.
Defensively, ECU faced one of the top offensive lines in the country
two weeks ago against South Carolina and held their own. Last week,
with the return of big Terry Williams, the defensive line played
even better and held 17th-ranked Virginia Tech to 7 first half
points and 21 for the game. This was just a week after the Hokies
put up 38 points in defeating No. 8 Ohio State. Offensively, ECU has
run the ball well and protected Shane Carden even better through
three weeks. VPI defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s unit pressured
Carden some, but the senior QB was still able to get off some clutch
passes, throw for 3 touchdowns and run for a score. The Tar heels
have a very inexperienced offensive line with one junior, three
sophomores and a freshman. The Pirates must attack that unit from
beginning to end. The Heels are more experienced on the defensive
line and have 10 tackles for loss and 2 sacks through the first two
games.
RUSH
THE PASSER
UNC
quarterback Marquise Williams became the starter during the course
of last season and has proven to be a winner ever since. The junior
is a dual threat who has rushed for and thrown a touchdown in five
games in his career. The Pirates will need to pressure Williams, but
they must make sure they are disciplined in the rush lanes because
Williams can hurt you with his feet. He is currently the leading
rusher for the Heels, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He has only
been sacked once this season, but he has been rushed into some quick
decisions and has thrown 2 interceptions.
BIG
PLAY MAGIC
North Carolina has big play threats on offense other than Williams.
Kick returner/wide receiver Ryan Switzer led the nation last season
in return touchdowns. He has been bottled up so far in 2014,
averaging 6.8 yards per punt return — but it only takes on play to
break open a game. He is also the Tar Heels' top receiving threat
with 14 catches through two games. Running backs T.J. Logan and
Elijah Hood are explosive threats that the Pirates will need to
contain. Receivers Quinshad Davis, Bug Howard and Mack Hollins can
also strike for big plays. The Pirates will have to be sound with
their coverage and tackling in the backend to keep from giving the
Heels momentum. Offensively, ECU has a ton of big play receivers and
a stable of capable running backs — just staying the course
and stepping up when their name is called could lead to breakaway
plays today.
BOTTOM LINE
The
renewal of this grudge match is a headline-grabbing event in the
media. You can believe the Tar Heels will be taking the Pirates
seriously year after
giving up 55 points and losing big
in Chapel Hill last year. The Heels will be approaching the game as
a measuring stick to see where they are in this young season. The
Pirates want to prove to the nation that they are better than
advertised.
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Kevin Monroe.
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