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News Nuggets, 09.21.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Holland addresses crowd behavior

East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland shared some thoughts about the Pirates' recent football win over Memphis and expressed some concerns about spectator conduct in a letter posted Wednesday at ecupirates.com.

The letter, similar to other "From the Desk of Terry Holland" dispatches the widely respected AD has directed to Pirate fans since assuming the position two years ago, articulates Holland's position about a topic that he considers of strategic importance. In this case, the subject was reports of unruly fan behavior at last Saturday's game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium between the Pirates and Tigers.

Quoting excerpts from written complaints he had received, Holland contrasted the inspired feelings engendered by positive interactions between the team and fans after the victory with the ill will produced by instances of poor conduct in the stands.

The letter carried the heading, "A BLACK EYE FOR THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AND THIS UNIVERSITY." Click here to view Holland's open letter in its original context on ECU's official athletics Web site.

Holland emphasized that fans responsible for unacceptable language or behavior at ECU's home games are subject to lose their ticket privileges, and he encouraged the team's followers to demonstrate model behavior at the Pirates' matchup in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday with nationally-ranked West Virginia.

In his most recent prior "From the Desk of Terry Holland" letter, Holland in June addressed personal attacks and misinformation that cropped up on anonymous Internet message boards after ECU announced changes and upgrades in its radio network coverage.

WVU game at center of Pirate Club weekend

The weekend of Sept. 22-24 has been designated Pirate Club Weekend with East Carolina's athletic booster organization recognizing more than 9,500 individuals and businesses that are Pirate Club members, according to an ECU athletic media relations release.

As a part of the weekend festivities, Ron and Madelyn Hight will be recognized for their lead gift to the Circle of Excellence Campaign, which has provided private support to ECU athletic facility enhancements, including the new artificial turf practice field located in the Cliff Moore Football Practice Complex.

At halftime of Saturday's football game between ECU and West Virginia, Pirate Club chapter presidents representing the 34 chapters located between Washington, DC, and Atlanta, the Young Graduate Board and the Student Pirate Club Board will be recognized for their efforts helping each division reach record numbers.

Special gifts for all Pirate Club members will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Pirate Club Building three hours prior to kickoff.

As the fundraising arm of the university's athletic programs, the Pirate Club provides scholarship support to ECU student-athletes through its annual fund drive. During the past academic year, the Pirate Club provided more than $3.6 million in unrestricted scholarship funding.

Tickets for Saturday's game against West Virginia are available by calling the ECU athletic ticket office at (252) 328-4500. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

AFCA cuts ties with Hula Bowl

The American Football Coaches Association has ended its decade-long relationship with the Hula Bowl, according to an announcement on the AFCA website.

The AFCA was recently notified by Hula Bowl officials that they are considering significant format changes for the 2007 game. Due to philosophical differences over the future direction of the game, the AFCA will no longer be affiliated with the Hula Bowl.

For the last 10 years, the AFCA and its Hula Bowl selection committee have selected the players and coaches for the game. The relationship gave the AFCA�s National Coach of the Year winners from all divisions an opportunity to coach in one of college football�s oldest all-star games.

�We have had a mutually beneficial relationship with the Hula Bowl over the last 10 years,� AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff said. �The game has given our Coach of the Year winners a tremendous opportunity to work with some of the top players in college football and our selection committee did an outstanding job each year securing talented and deserving players for the game.

�The AFCA has invested a lot of time and effort over the years to help continue the tradition of Hawaii�s longest-running sporting event. It is our hope the game will continue to be viable in its new format.�

The AFCA first teamed up with the Hula Bowl in 1996 at a time when the game�s future was very much in doubt. Over the next 10 years, the Association worked with four different ownership groups to position the game as one of the top post-season all-star games in college football.

During the AFCA�s stewardship of the selection process, Hula Bowl fans had the opportunity to see Heisman Trophy winners Danny Wuerffel, Ricky Williams and Ron Dayne, as well as a number of other future NFL stars, close out their college careers in Hawaii.

East Carolina coach Skip Holtz coached in the Hula Bowl last season. His sideline adversary this Saturday, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, is scheduled to coach in the game this season.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from electronic services and other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:51 PM