By Al Myatt
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When looking at Middle Tennessee State as the game after North Carolina months ago, it was easy to envision the Pirates' matchup with the Blue Raiders as a trap game.

That is, one of those contests where the emotional investment the previous week either leaves a team too flat, too cocky or too hung over in some manner that it is in danger of not being properly prepared mentally for the challenge at hand.

I don't think this is a trap game for ECU.

The way Pirates coach Ruffin McNeill and staff compartmentalize every opponent, starting with the 24-hour rule after the game that's just been completed, and ECU's emphasis on competing for a Conference USA championship leads me to believe that MTSU will get the Pirates' full attention.

The ECU players have been mentally conditioned to realize that a new week starts with practice on Sunday night and, regardless of Saturday's outcome, that is the point that the program moves on and focuses forward.

I don't remember anyone in the program saying that beating the Tar Heels would make or break the season. I have heard almost everyone I've talked to who's involved with the football team say that winning Conference USA is a goal.

That means it's important to go 1-0 Saturday.

That doesn't mean that Coach McNeill isn't guarding against a letdown. He instructs the team not to pay attention to "outside noise," which has probably been pumping at a significant volume.

"Of course, it's hard getting them back," McNeill said. "That was an emotional win. I'm sure they're still getting some comments and some praise about the victory. As a coach, it's tough. I can't deny that. But we have to do an even better job today than we did yesterday as coaches and players and (Thursday) of making sure we understand who we're facing this weekend with Middle Tennessee.

"(MTSU head coach) Rick Stockstill is a really good football coach. (Defensive coordinator) Tyrone Nix is a really good defensive play caller as well."

McNeill went on to say that the Blue Raiders have experienced and talented players.

"We've got to make sure we get our minds understood that nothing happened last week in the game versus UNC can help us this week," said the ECU coach. " ... It's always tough after an emotional game. This is where your team maturity has to step up and make sure everybody keeps the vision we have for our team in place and in view."

The bottom line is that this is a C-USA game against a team worthy of respect in its own right. The Raiders have nine starters back on offense and seven returners on defense from a team that won 49-28 at Georgia Tech on Sept. 29 last season.

Middle Tennessee followed that up with a 31-17 Sun Belt Conference loss at home the following week to Louisiana-Monroe.

There's a lesson to be learned there.

The loss proved to be an obstacle in the Raiders' bid for a league title.

That situation may have been a trap game but I don't think it helps anyone involved in the ECU effort this week to be thinking in those terms.

If Middle Tennessee wins this week, it should be because they played a better game, no excuses.

To frame a situation as a trap game is creating the possibility of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Hopefully, no one associated with the Pirates will be complacent. That term was offered in explanation for North Carolina's performance last week.

The fact is the Pirates' win over the Tar Heels will be put in perspective this week because if ECU isn't successful, the contention will be made that it took too much out of the Pirates last week to prevail this week.

It would cheapen the accomplishment and the effort of Pirate Nation's triumph last week.

ECU had some advantages against UNC, a bye week with something to prove after a less than peak performance in a 15-10 home loss to Virginia Tech and the Pirates got to wear the black uniforms which the players love.

The Pirates will be in some sort of road white attire this week. More importantly, they will have their "big boy pads on," as McNeill says.

"It's a conference game and a division game as well," Ruff said. "We have to make sure we understand what's at stake. We've presented it to them. We must take advantage of our days and our reps.

"I think we will. This group will respond. We just have to let them know and I'll make sure we do that."

One key is to play to a standard and not a circumstance.

The Pirates showed their capabilities last week and they need to be better this week, just because good teams improve during the course of a season.

MTSU has artificial turf, which McNeill doesn't mind. He feels good about his team's speed and the synthetic surface tends to accentuate that aspect of the game.

"Execution will be important on offense, defense and special teams," said the Pirates coach. "Great fundamentals again. Playing fast, smart, confident. We've got to bring a physical presence to this game.

"They're a physical team and we've got to make sure we're physical as well."

Every phase has stepped up for the Pirates.

The rush defense of first-year coordinator Rick Smith is among the best in the nation. The offense under Lincoln Riley totaled 603 yards last week on 101 snaps.

Special teams coordinator Kirk Doll will tweak some coverage snafus but the punting and kicking has been exemplary.

And conditioning? Jeff Connors has the Pirates playing strong and fast after two-plus years under his tutelage.

"I did a study on this one time," Connors said. "You look at big victories followed by unexpected losses the next week — I think it has been a phenomenon and you have to be very careful about that.

"I think you have to keep coaching them hard and you have to be cognizant of what their attitude is and you've got to STP.

"That's sustain the pace."

Connors continues to condition the team during the season.

"I'm going to be very much aware of what the attitude is, what the work ethic is, and if I need to confront something, I'll do it immediately," he said. "This is not something new to me."

The Pirates know the challenge, to follow up a "pat on the back," as former coach Steve Logan says. It's reassuring that all aspects of preparation are being addressed.