ECU Pirates!!!
ECU Pirates!!!
With apologies in advance to Phil . . . I've been an avid East Carolina fan since the 1983 season, and tonight's Hawaii Bowl win over Boise St. was their first big one in quite a while, so I feel the need to celebrate. Go Pirates!
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Reel Geezer
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No real connection, but here's the story. Some of the details may not be exactly right, but you'll get the idea.
I was living in Nebraska in '83, but wasn't born there so I don't carry the Cornhusker fanatic genetic defect. In fact, I always rooted against the Nebraska football team (still do). Nebraska had the Big 8 wrapped up and was waiting to see they would play for the national title in the Orange Bowl. Miami (FL) was the most likely candidate, but had to play ECU in their last game of the year. ECU was 9-1 or 8-2 and had a real good team. I had never heard of them before that year, but started following their progress earlier that season. Anyway, after giving up a late touchdown to Miami, ECU drove down the field with a few seconds remaining. On the last play of the game, they threw a crossing route in the end zone, the ECU receiver went up and grabbed it, but collided with his own player before his feet touched and ball was jarred loose. If he had hung on, ECU takes out Miami, and somebody else plays Nebraska. That was the year the Nebraska went for the win in the Orange Bowl with a two-point converstion intead of the tie, but Miami broke up the pass and went on to win the national title.
I marveled at how this little school from Greenville, NC could field a team that good and instantly became a fan. It's fun to root for the occasional underdog. I would imagine that Boise St. picked up quite a following for similar reasons last year. That Fiesta Bowl was hands down the greatest game ever.
Since 1983, ECU has put together some great teams, like the top-10 team in 1992 led by Jeff Blake that posted a 21-point come from behind New Years Day Peach Bowl win against NC State, and more recently a couple very good teams that knocked off Miami (when they were still good) with Marcus Crandall and then David Garrard at QB.
Watch out, because if they can stop West Virginia or some other school from taking coach Skip Holtz away, ECU may be very, very good next year.
I was living in Nebraska in '83, but wasn't born there so I don't carry the Cornhusker fanatic genetic defect. In fact, I always rooted against the Nebraska football team (still do). Nebraska had the Big 8 wrapped up and was waiting to see they would play for the national title in the Orange Bowl. Miami (FL) was the most likely candidate, but had to play ECU in their last game of the year. ECU was 9-1 or 8-2 and had a real good team. I had never heard of them before that year, but started following their progress earlier that season. Anyway, after giving up a late touchdown to Miami, ECU drove down the field with a few seconds remaining. On the last play of the game, they threw a crossing route in the end zone, the ECU receiver went up and grabbed it, but collided with his own player before his feet touched and ball was jarred loose. If he had hung on, ECU takes out Miami, and somebody else plays Nebraska. That was the year the Nebraska went for the win in the Orange Bowl with a two-point converstion intead of the tie, but Miami broke up the pass and went on to win the national title.
I marveled at how this little school from Greenville, NC could field a team that good and instantly became a fan. It's fun to root for the occasional underdog. I would imagine that Boise St. picked up quite a following for similar reasons last year. That Fiesta Bowl was hands down the greatest game ever.
Since 1983, ECU has put together some great teams, like the top-10 team in 1992 led by Jeff Blake that posted a 21-point come from behind New Years Day Peach Bowl win against NC State, and more recently a couple very good teams that knocked off Miami (when they were still good) with Marcus Crandall and then David Garrard at QB.
Watch out, because if they can stop West Virginia or some other school from taking coach Skip Holtz away, ECU may be very, very good next year.
Last edited by Bill Muth on Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Reel Geezer
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- Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2003 11:06 pm
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ECU 24 WVU 3,!
And wasn't that close. Let the BCS talk begin (though I don't want to jinx what has the possiblity of being a dream season). Patrick Pinkney for the Heisman!
I was so pumped after the game that I took the kids outside, grabbed the big ECU flag out of the flag holder in the front of the house, and ran around the outside of the house with it. My neighbors think I'm nuts.
And wasn't that close. Let the BCS talk begin (though I don't want to jinx what has the possiblity of being a dream season). Patrick Pinkney for the Heisman!
I was so pumped after the game that I took the kids outside, grabbed the big ECU flag out of the flag holder in the front of the house, and ran around the outside of the house with it. My neighbors think I'm nuts.
