(11-17-2014 09:01 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  It's is a part of us. From the time you enter college at ECU you learn the tradition and you're washed in it until it becomes a ritual.

This is passed on from generation to generation with each holding the next to a higher standard.

I can attest that it is for sure a part of my family. 3 generations and 6 graduates since 1956. I am not alone. There are a ton of families similar to mine. My daughter was accepted at Duke,UNC,NCSU and Wake. She was an excellent student and I made her apply everywhere. I would have paid reluctantly for her to go to any of these schools...but.. She never really gave any of these schools a second thought. I was very proud of her decision to follow her parents and grandparents to ECU.

One of the things no one has mentioned is that ECU graduates have a GIANT chip on our shoulders. We are entrenched in a state dominated by the 2 schools in Raleigh and Chapel Hell. Both of these institutions have gone out of their way for DECADES to portray ECU as the "red headed stepchild"...especially UNC. Both schools have looked down their noses at us and it has caused much of our passion for our Alma Mater. We have had to fight tooth and nail for everything we get from the Legislature that for decades was controlled by UNC lawyers. That has made many of us fiercely protective of our University and that has spilled over into following ECU athletics...especially Football.

1. ECU is in a college town. maybe not exactly Columbus, Ann Arbor, Iowa City or Tuscaloosa, but Greenville is a true college town.--Not a major city with pro teams that suck up the fans like Tampa, Orlando, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh etc.

2. North Carolina has not really become a "pro team" state yet besides recent additions from Charlotte in NFL, NBA etc. The pro teams in NC have struggled at times, with the original NBA Hornets leaving town. The pro team fans are also on the other part of the state.

3. North Carolina is a college basketball state like Indiana for example.--Duke is all college basketball. UNC has been historically all college basketball. Wake has never really had much of an athletic following except for those few in NC who've attended and they seem luke warm at best, especially in football. NC St at times has had some solid college football fan support, but nothing compared to the hoops following they had in the 80's and 90's

4. Greenville is in an area of NC that qualifies as the "true south". Maybe not the "deep south" like Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama but certainly the area is a southern culture. Raleigh Durham and Chapel Hill are filled with carpet baggers and east coast influence, and imho, not Southern like the Greenville area. The south loves college football. The East Coast loves NFL.

I have thought about this question often. Couple of thoughts:

1. From the start, the leadership at ECU believed that football was more than just a game, it represented opportunity and a chance to market the school.

2. Eastern North Carolina is very rural and poor. The ECU program, from its inception, represented something for the region to rally around. Couple this with a commitment from the leadership for excellence, and you had a product born to succeed. I have always believed that ECU football represented an example of professionalism and excellence in an area that was hungry for leadership and can do spirit.

3. ECU has beaten some big and important schools along the way, adding the myth of the football team and the belief that ECU and Eastern North Carolina, though poor, had something to say to the rest of the country.

4.When ECU beat #9 Miami in 1999 after a devastating Hurricane(Floyd) ravaged Eastern Carolina, the team secured it place in the minds of its fans and the region as an almost mystical and mythical entity. I cannot emphasis this win enough. ECU should not have beaten Miami, they just should not have. The team had not been able to return home for two weeks because of the storm damage. In fact many of those in attendance for the game in Raleigh,( game had to be moved to NC State Field because of damage to Greenville) had lost their homes and possessions. ECU's win created an almost sacred ground mentality for the team and its fans.

Other factors of course contribute to the great fan base of ECU, good planning, success, and a great game day atmosphere. Like most things however, that are emotion and loyalty driven, there is often an enigmatic spirit that pervades the atmosphere. Call it some type of primordial appeal that is hard to rationalize, like falling in love, but when it clicks, there is nothing else like it.

I like and agree with a lot of the posts here, especially the one from the Memphis fan.

I will say this, I am surprised people still wonder how we do what we do "with 4 P5 schools in the State." It is pretty simple. We don't. There are 4 P5 schools, yes...but there are only two P5 fanbases (not including ECU's ). Public vs. Private. Face it. Only so many kids can go to UNC or NC State. They have a max they can accept. Kids have to have other places to go as well. Doesn't mean ECU is always the backup school, but it definitely happens. This is why UCF and USF grew so rapidly. Kids choosing private schools happen even less. Outside of basketball, Duke and Wake really have no football fanbase to really speak of.

I think something else that has recently helped is the Student Pirate Club & Young Grad programs.

In SPC, you pay $50/year. That gives you access to the 7k seat Boneyard in the endzone; ability for $30 parking passes; and they get priority points for when the get to the regular PC.

In YGP, Year 1 is a $50 donation; Year 2, $75; Year 3/4, $100. That gives access to discounted football seats in the lower level; Discounted parking passes; and priority points.

So if a Freshman catches the fever, they have now been through the football process for 8 years before they get to the regular Pirate Club. They know the benefits, and have more priority points, which will allow them more benefits later in life.

You have to be relevant to your market. ECU has been able to schedule two or three of the following schools every year (and beat them on a semi-regular basis):

UNC
NC St
South Carolina
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Virginia
Duke
Wake

among other former Big East/current ACC programs.

When regional powers will play you and you beat them, you get street cred. Street cred goes a long way in generating fan support.

Houston's attendance never took off under Briles because he rarely beat anyone of consequence. But after Sumlin beat Texas Tech and Oklahoma St in 2009, fans jumped on the Cougar bandwagon.

Sadly, Levine has derailed any bandwagon he inherited from Sumlin.

This is so simple. Southern low country college town near the beach in a state with a lot of bad football schools. Coastal Carolina would beat half the teams in the AAC. Cold northern urban schools with yankee pro fans never gonna draw well

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(11-18-2014 12:25 PM)shere khan Wrote:  This is so simple. Southern low country college town near the beach in a state with a lot of bad football schools. Coastal Carolina would beat half the teams in the AAC. Cold northern urban schools with yankee pro fans never gonna draw well

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You are exactly right. One note though: Cold northern "non-urban" schools in the Big 10 draw among the very best in college footbal history: Pedd St, Michigan, Ohio St etc.

Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

Well, it isn't exactly Siberia, either. Greenville is located 1-1 1/2 hours from some of the best beaches on the East Coast or to the heart of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. In some larger metro areas, it would take nearly that long to get across town.

(11-18-2014 03:05 PM)Stardust Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

Well, it isn't exactly Siberia, either. Greenville is located 1-1 1/2 hours from some of the best beaches on the East Coast or to the heart of the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area. In some larger metro areas, it would take nearly that long to get across town.

I think a 10,000 foot view will help, as will a comparison to New Orleans (or other areas).

Simply put, for a variety of reasons, Pirate football is a big part of the CULTURE of eastern North Carolina. Nurses, teachers, doctors, police, and just people from the area went there, or had their lives impacted by folks who did. It is part of the weekly water cooler talk, as well as a fun part of fall Saturdays.

Though UNC and NC State may not publicly consider ECU their rivals, around the state, and especially in the triangle, there is a fun competitiveness based on one's alma maters - and East Carolina is very much part of the discussion. In New Orleans, you have things and events that are big parts of the culture of the area - just as you do in Cincinnati, etc. How to develop a culture of this type is hard to fathom let alone accomplish. East Carolina has been working on it for more than 40 years.

But, I think it is very fair to say that the Pirates, just like our favorite BBQ spots, are simply a big part of our culture. (I still say "Our" though I moved away from Greenville in 1995) Also, it's a strong bond. I know at least 15 Pirates around Annapolis who carry that same chip and love of the program wherever they go. When I pass fellow Pirates on the road in Maryland/DC we always wave at each other, or display the finger hook.

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

Sure, for you urban people who don't know what the real out doors is or what to do. It is a different life style in some ways. Hunting, fishing, camping, off-roading, cook outs, going to the beach, not exactly the things people in Cincinnati, Orlando, Houston, or Tampa will likely discuss doing on a Saturday. People here don't limit their activities to just what is in the city limits of Greenville to do.

I've driven threw Orlando, Cincinnati, Memphis, and Houston, I can go to Raleigh, Jacksonville, the beach (my pick of 3), in the time it take to drive across those cities and I don't have to spend 20 minutes looking for parking.

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

Why? Why is that people cannot read? Who in their educated mind would insinuate that ECU was in a place with no people and nothing to do...but somehow manage to fill a stadium with all of those people who don't exist??? I'll tell you. It's just people trying to yank ECU fan's chains. It has been said over and over and over again that 60% of season ticket holder travel from out of town to come to games. Those folks don't need Greenville for their everyday entertainment options. They choose to leave where ever it is they live and travel TO Greenville to see ECU.

(11-17-2014 11:47 AM)bearcat29 Wrote:  I am legitimately interested in how ECU could garner such support for their football team over past 20+ years. I know ECU had some good teams (Jeff Blake) back in the day and have a history of some pretty good upsets. But there are 4 P5 teams in NC already.
It seems like Duke and UNC have a pretty good contingent of t-shirt fans, NC ST gets their share and Wake has to have their corner of NC. So how does ECU get 50K+ at its games?

UC had a pretty good book chronicling their rise called "Bearcat Rising" a few years back. Just curious. A lot of programs over the years have had good success, but they have not been able to expand/grow and keep it like ECU. Thanks.

Happened over a lot of years. ECU has had to fight very hard for everything they have gotten, not just in football but- a medical school, dental school, University status, and the general legislative neglect of the eastern part of NC over the years.

These issues really bring out the passion in ECU alums and in general the citizens of eastern NC.

Also, Wake Forest and Duke are great schools but they have no fans in football. Duke has a good team now and can't draw. they both do very well for basketball but not for football. Both are relatively small schools as well and a lot of their alums are out of state.

In football it really is UNC, NC St and ECU above the others as far as fan interest for football.

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

What's the difference between Greenville and other similar small college towns? BTW, most of the most successful P5 schools are located in small college towns. You did know that right?

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

So it doesn't sound like you have been to Greenville, N.C. There are some really nice beaches very close to the University. Really nice beaches right in North Carolina.

Not only that, but Raleigh is only an hour away and some of the biggest cities in Virginia are only about 140 miles away. That is closer than Nashville is to Memphis.

I like your clock, as clocks go it's a very nice clock!

(11-18-2014 06:29 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

Why? Why is that people cannot read? Who in their educated mind would insinuate that ECU was in a place with no people and nothing to do...but somehow manage to fill a stadium with all of those people who don't exist??? I'll tell you. It's just people trying to yank ECU fan's chains. It has been said over and over and over again that 60% of season ticket holder travel from out of town to come to games. Those folks don't need Greenville for their everyday entertainment options. They choose to leave where ever it is they live and travel TO Greenville to see ECU.

Hey, live outside Greenville in a town of 500 people, to get anything other than gas, beer, chips, Pepsi I have to go somewhere else. I drive 20 miles to work, but unlike in a city like Houston, I can drive that in 21 minutes. I bet there are people on this board that only drive 8-10 miles to work and it take them 30 minutes or more. Greenville compare to Houston, sure it doesn't have a lot of entertainment, but compared to where I live, it does. Because here, there is truly nothing to do, you have to go else where.

(11-18-2014 07:06 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 06:29 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(11-18-2014 02:38 PM)wave97 Wrote:  Have you been to Greenville, NC? Not exactly a menu of entertainment options...

Why? Why is that people cannot read? Who in their educated mind would insinuate that ECU was in a place with no people and nothing to do...but somehow manage to fill a stadium with all of those people who don't exist??? I'll tell you. It's just people trying to yank ECU fan's chains. It has been said over and over and over again that 60% of season ticket holder travel from out of town to come to games. Those folks don't need Greenville for their everyday entertainment options. They choose to leave where ever it is they live and travel TO Greenville to see ECU.

Hey, live outside Greenville in a town of 500 people, to get anything other than gas, beer, chips, Pepsi I have to go somewhere else. I drive 20 miles to work, but unlike in a city like Houston, I can drive that in 21 minutes. I bet there are people on this board that only drive 8-10 miles to work and it take them 30 minutes or more. Greenville compare to Houston, sure it doesn't have a lot of entertainment, but compared to where I live, it does. Because here, there is truly nothing to do, you have to go else where.

Exactly. I actually thought you were from Ayden too until I read this...Urban people don't realize the differences between living in small towns close to college towns vs living in the suburbs of a major city and how that relates to college athletics.

I'm sure ECU has a local media that doesn't mind paying attention to them, whether good or bad. Here in Houston, it seems as if the local paper, tv news, and sports talk radio hacks are usually too busy sniffing the jock straps of the Horns and Ags to give my Coogs a minute of their precious time. Unless, of course, they want to get in a negative jab at them (the recent Chronicle story about Greenberry notwithstanding). Otherwise, it's out of sight, out of mind in the big city except for about 20,000 die hards and whatever family and friends we can scrounge up to come to the tailgate parties and games with us.