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DAILY REPORT:
TUESDAY, DEC. 30,
2008
Pirates busy in Memphis
By
Brian Bailey
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WNCT-TV 9 Sports
Director Brian Bailey is on the
scene in Memphis this week bringing
daily coverage of East Carolina's
preparations for the 2009 AutoZone
Liberty Bowl to Bonesville's readers
and Channel 9's viewers. |
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MEMPHIS — East Carolina
completed another busy day in Memphis Tuesday getting
set for the 50th AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Pirate offensive
coordinator Todd Fitch and four of his starters on
offense were a part of a morning press conference (SELECT
AUDIO CLIP...). Patrick Pinkney, Davon
Drew, Brandon Simmons and Sean Allen represented ECU.
Fitch told me that he
thought Kentucky's defense was the best the Pirates had
seen all year. He compared the Wildcat defenders to
Virginia Tech, but said he thought that UK may be even
more athletic. Pirate Coach Skip Holtz echoed that
statement later in the afternoon at practice.
While the Pirates
worked out, the wounded ECU players visited the St.
Jude's Children's Hospital. Unfortunately, the Pirates
had plenty of representatives for that assignment. I
would have loved to have gotten some pictures of that
occasion, because I always love to see the faces of the
children looking up at the football players. ECU's
practice was scheduled at the same time, so we were on
the other side of town.
After practice, many of
the Pirates were scheduled to see the Memphis
Grizzlies-Phoenix Suns NBA game at the Fed Ex Forum.
Other players were going to a professional rodeo event.
Just in case you're
wondering, the Pirates have a midnight curfew for New
Year's Eve. Coach Holtz told the guys to get their New
Year's kisses in early, and to be on that 11 p.m.
shuttle back to the hotel.
Tomorrow features the
Bash on Beale Street for New Year's Eve — which is a pep
rally — as we continue on for bowl week.
LATE-BREAKING NEWS FLASH:
Also from Memphis, ECU tight ends coach Phil Petty was a
little nervous at practice on Tuesday. It was for a good
reason. Petty had decided to ask his girlfriend, Amy
Rineer of Pennsylvania, to marry him. There is good news
to report. Miss Rineer said yes! The two are expected to
tie the knot sometime this summer. Hearts were breaking
all over Eastern North Carolina with the news on Tuesday
night from Memphis. Congratulations to Coach Petty and
his fiancee Amy!
Content:
Brian Bailey. ©2008 Bonesville.net and WNCT-TV 9. All
rights reserved. |
