AL MYATT: Good things happen when 'Shank' is in purple

View from the 'ville
Friday, August 12, 2005

By Al Myatt

Steve Shankweiler (right) wasn't speaking idly when he advised Skip Holtz to pursue East Carolina's head coaching position. 'Shank,' who wound up accompanying Holtz to ECU as offensive coordinator, knew first- hand from two previous stints with the Pirates that the program had a history of achievement.

Photo: ECU Media Relations

When it comes to story lines, East Carolina offensive coordinator Steve Shankweiler rivals a daytime drama.

And when it comes to some of the finer moments in ECU football history, "Shank" has been there, done that, left, returned, been there and done it again.

If the third time is the charm, look out for the Pirates in Shank's third term with the program.

Some of the more interesting and momentous occasions at which he has been linked with ECU include:

• The 37-34 win over N.C. State to conclude the 1991 season in Atlanta. Yes, Shank was on Bill Lewis' staff for the Peach Bowl championship and the glorious 11-1 season in 1991. Matter of fact he left with Lewis to go to Georgia Tech soon after that triumph.

• He was there as Steve Logan's offensive line coach when the Pirates overtook Miami in Raleigh in the aftermath of Hurricane Fran in 1999, the pinnacle of a 9-3 season that also included a win over the Wolfpack in Greenville.

• He was there — on the Cincinnati sideline as the Bearcats offensive line coach — when the John Thompson coaching era got started at ECU (a 40-0 Cincy win at Nippert Stadium in 2003).

• Worth mentioning among the compelling tidbits is that Shank's son, Kort, is quarterbacking ECU's third unit offense at present.

• Shank was there for the final game of Lou Holtz at South Carolina and of course he will be on hand for Skip Holtz's first game as a head coach on the Division I-A level when the Pirates host Duke on Sept. 3.

— The younger Holtz sought Shank's advice when the Pirates job opened up last November. Both were working on the Gamecocks staff of "Papa" Lou at the time. Shank basically told Skip: Yeah, go for it. It's a great opportunity and a great football community.

Holtz soon moved to the head of the class in Terry Holland's search for a successor to Thompson as the ECU AD met with Holtz outside Charlotte prior to the 52-14 spanking at the hands of N.C. State in the Queen City that completed the Thompson era.

Holtz brought Shank along from Columbia as he formed his ECU staff and that alone speaks volumes about the football wisdom of the Pirates' new head coach. Perhaps no one available knows the nuances of ECU football better. Shank should make a great right hand man.

That ECU, 3-20 the last two seasons, has been picked in a tie for fifth (and last) in Conference USA's new East Division doesn't seem quite as gloomy when Shank's experience, perspective and opinion are factored in.

That's what a multitude of Pirate fans want to hear, but good coaches don't make statements that could raise expectations unless there is a basis for it. Goodness knows, Papa Lou was legendary for poor mouthing his team's prospects.

Shank seems to be seeing that chip on the shoulder that has typified some of ECU's best efforts. Recent adversity may indeed be an asset as a unifying factor.

"I think our kids will compete," Shank said. "I think they're embarrassed by what's happened. I think they've been given a certain freshness in terms of staff and what we're trying to do. I think we'll go out there and compete very well every week."

Shank said much of the focus has been on attitude adjustment, team unity and building confidence, all necessary ingredients for a turnaround. Holtz may be even more fundamentally-oriented than his father, Shank said.

"Their philosophies are very similar," Shank said. "Skip is going to favor a wide open approach without sacrificing running the ball. Steve was the same way."

And, like Logan, Skip will likely spend most of his meeting time in the offensive room.

Skip brings a personable presence to the program and the feeling that a change is due is infectious.

"It's a new era," said senior offensive lineman Gary Freeman, who was recruited to ECU by none other than Shank. "We're more of a brotherhood now. There's really no cliques amongst the team. We're all positive, trying to start winning."

Doing that with a quarterback (James Pinkney) who missed spring practice and was bussing tables as he regained his academic eligibility would easily make it the grandest chapter yet in Shank's ECU saga. Then again, those who remember the 1991 ride recall that the phrase that united Pirate players, coaches and fans was simply, "I believe."

Practically everyone became a believer that season and, from the sound of things, the Pirates are believing again.