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SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE
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Pirate Notebook No. 317
Monday, August 27, 2007

By Denny O'Brien

Game shouldn’t be exploited

By Denny O'Brien
©2007 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.

ESPN is notorious for overcooking its programming menu. Expect nothing less when its trucks dock in Blacksburg this weekend.

If the self-labeled “Sports Leader” insists on over-dramatizing its coverage of dominoes and the Spelling Bee, you can bet it will do so tenfold when East Carolina and Virginia Tech battle this Saturday.

It’s just a shame that the match-up itself will likely receive only a small fraction of the pregame spotlight.

No doubt, most of the storylines this week will focus on the April 16 tragedy that shocked the nation. What’s more, many will editorialize that Saturday is considered the final step in the healing process for Hokie Nation.

Not that ESPN is the lone guilty party. Every major national outlet is sure to be represented at Lane Stadium, each unoriginally and unashamedly driven by the same motive: Deliver a column or feature that pierces the hearts of the viewing public.

It’s the American Way.

If the motives for attending were genuine, much of the media coverage would center on Virginia Tech’s vaunted defense and its reckless reputation on special teams. Instead of questions about emotional recovery, the Hokies’ prospects for a national title would be the underscoring theme.

And perhaps scenarios in which Virginia Tech might stumble would at least receive lip service.

Fat chance of that. The only preceding coverage of ECU for this game is its role as the sacrificial lamb for the Hokies’ pent-up emotions.

Naturally, we can’t expect ESPN or any other media outlet not to touch on the April shootings. The timing dictates that they must.

But to leverage that horrific event for financial gain would be an absolute prostitution. And to suggest that Saturday is the final step in the healing process is completely insensitive to the family members and friends closely involved with the shootings.

If ESPN is genuinely serious about making a positive impact with its GameDay coverage, it will do more than make Blacksburg the dramatic backdrop for the season opener. Donating all of its ad revenue for the broadcast to the Hokie Fund would be an admirable move.

Opportunity knocks

With all the media attention surrounding Virginia Tech’s return to the gridiron, ECU will share perhaps the biggest stage in its history. Though it won’t rank among the most important bouts in Pirate lore, it likely will grab the brightest spotlight of any ECU game to date.

And while the Pirates enter the game a decided underdog, the opportunity to make a statement can’t be overlooked. Avoid turnovers and special teams miscues, and there’s no reason ECU can’t at least be competitive for much of the day.

But to do so, the Pirates can’t get overwhelmed by the game’s emotion and festivities.

“The stage keeps getting greater and grander,” ECU left tackle Josh Coffman said. “Every year since Coach (Skip) Holtz has been here, it’s been a bigger game to open the season.

“There is going to be a whole lot of hype and emotion going into Virginia Tech. But we do have to keep our emotions in check and realize that, despite all that, it is just one game.”

With North Carolina, Southern Miss, and West Virginia to follow, the Pirates must keep plenty of emotional fuel in reserve.

Musical chairs

Pay special attention to ECU’s depth chart along the offensive front. Chances are, it will look a little different when the Pirates face the Tar Heels on September 8.

If history is any indication, look for line coach Steve Shankweiler to constantly swizzle the two-deep chart. In less than a year, Coffman has gone from right guard to right tackle, only to experience another change by drawing the left tackle assignment this Saturday.

“It is a little different because you get into that comfort niche, because you get used to playing next to a certain player,” Coffman said. “It’s like a security blanket, but with Coach Shank’s system, you can’t get comfortable. You’ve got to be ready in case you have to move.

“Yeah, there are going to be guys in new positions and flip-flopping around. But we’re going to be solid.”

That perhaps is the biggest question heading into the 2007 campaign. If Coffman’s prediction holds true, ECU, at the very least, should land in another postseason bowl.

Send an e-mail message to Denny O'Brien.

Dig into Denny O'Brien's Bonesville archives.

08/27/2007 01:09:18 AM

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