From the Anchor Desk Tuesday, August 28, 2012 By Brian Bailey

Pirates settle QB race, gird for opener

By Brian Bailey
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

Two years ago the decision went down to the final second. Players and coaches knew that Dominique Davis would be East Carolina's starting quarterback. Many of us in the media thought we knew, but nothing was official until Davis took the field.

The Pirates' public address announcer didn’t even have his name to say with the starting lineups.

This year things are different.

ECU head coach Ruffin McNeill made the announcement that Rio Johnson would be the Pirate’s starter during his first weekly news conference of the season. [Open the Bonesville Bytes audio page to replay the press conference...] Coach Ruff breezed through it during his opening comments, but was asked for more details later on.

“It was a tough decision,” said McNeill. “It was tough telling the guys on Sunday. I still feel that we can win with any of the guys. It was close, but Rio was just a little ahead moving the team.”

McNeill went into even more detail.

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Rio Johnson saw action as a reserve last season.
(Photo: ECU Media Relations)

“All four of the players were within percentage points of each other," McNeill said. "The last few days saw Rio Johnson step forward based on the way he managed the team, but not by much. It just came to the point where we had to get one guy ready to play this weekend."

Appalachian State will come to Greenville as an underdog, but the Pirate coaches and players know the Mountaineers will come here with a chip on their shoulder.

Coach McNeill, Associate Head Coach John Wiley and wide receivers coach Donnie Kirkpatrick have all worked at Appalachian State and know what the Pirates are up against this week.

“They will certainly come in here with a chip on their shoulder,” said Wiley. “I’ve been there and I know the mentality will be that the players at App (Appalachian State) aren’t as good as the players at East Carolina. I disagree with that. The difference we have is that our depth is better. But they certainly have very good athletes.”

Coach Ruff also knows all about the Appalachian way.

“This is not a team that will be intimidated by travel or venue,” said McNeill. “They will be here to play their best game and so will we.”

The Mountaineers come to Greenville as the fifth-ranked team in the preseason Football Championship Subdivision poll. Jamal Jackson leads the offense.

“He’s built a lot like Dominique Davis for sure,” added Wiley. “He is a threat to run it or throw it. They like to spread you out and use him as a runner.”

The Pirates will be favored, but no one in the East Carolina camp is taking Appalachian State lightly.

ECU fans remember the 2009 game. East Carolina bolted out to a 24-0 lead and had to hang on for a 29-24 victory.

The Pirate offense had just four first downs in the second half of that game.

This Appalachian State team will have that same “no quit” mentality.

It’s a tough test for the opener. It’s also part of an extremely difficult opening month.

A good start against that schedule is just about a must. Just don’t overlook the Mountaineers from Boone.

BB

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PAGE UPDATED 08/28/12 02:15 AM.