(11-14-2010 04:33 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  Not sure Navy is an "also ran." If Navy were interested, they'd be near the top of candidates because they bring a national cache with regards to TV, and would prefer football only which would appease both sides (again if they were ever interested in the first place). I also cannot possibly see Marshall in the same category of any of the three you listed.

Agree Navy would move up quickly but it doesn't appear from reports the BE is moving in that direction. ESPN and others report Villanova being invited with Temple as a fallback for the Philly market, TCU prime candidate with UCF and Houston leading candidates.

(11-14-2010 04:11 PM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 03:53 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-13-2010 02:04 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Can someone close to the situation explain why the Big East doesn't have any interest in ECU because I can't find anyone that can explain why ECU is persona non grata in the Big East's eyes other then their basketball progam

I don't think it is that there is no interest. It is just possible that when you evaluate expansion candidates, they tend to fall in the 2/3 range of candidates, behind TCU, and split with UCF. Then there is the Villanova situation.

I think this is the correct view. It's not necessarily that there's anything wrong with ECU and every single thing that the Pirate fans have stated here about their attendance and fan base might very well be true. To me, it appears that the things that ECU is strong at are simply not what the BE is looking for (and ECU's AD has said as much) or at least are not clearly dominant over all of the other expansion candidates. So, the BE sees TCU at one tier, Villanova at another tier because it's already a member in everything else, and then all of the other candidates (including ECU) have pluses and minuses but are largely in the same bucket. With all of those candidates being in the same bucket, the BE seems to value large markets over everything else, which is why Temple and UCF gets more consideration over the others.

I'm not saying that this is right or wrong - this is just my interpretation of how the BE has acted and what it wants. Frankly, the Philly market won't ever support major college football en masse beyond Penn State, but I can understand why the league that wants to position itself as the Northeastern conference isn't just going to concede that market and wants a team there no matter what.

ECU certainly has attractive features when you look into it at a deeper level, yet national perception largely lumps them in with Memphis, UCF and Temple (whether it's fair or not). I hope ECU fans don't take that personally because I do think they have the best pure fan base of the realistic expansion candidates. It just seems as though ECU fans continue to point out, "We are great at A, B and C" when the Big East is looking for X, Y and Z. ECU's strengths and the BE's needs simply aren't aligned.

Exactly. As I keep saying there are reasons why the Big East would want a Nova or a Temple, but "delivering" the Philly DMA is different than simply being able to state the league has a football "presence" in the DMA. Whereas the Big East may have no interest in establishing a "presence" in North Carolina. Which again, says nothing whatsoever about ECU's ability or inability to attract viewers in that DMA.

Cheers,
Neil

(11-14-2010 04:34 PM)whitey Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 01:19 PM)Raleighwood Pirate Wrote:  Trust me. I live in Cary which is right next to Raleigh and it is a city of Yankees. This has been the running joke since I moved to the Triangle in 1998.

You amaze me, not a single ECU fan mentioned your name in this post, so STFU. You can't listen to Admin, can you. Take it up with the one(BE Fan) that did.

I think you may have jumped down the wrong person's throat.

The only way ECU brings all of North Carolina is if it the legislature moves it to Chapel Hill.

(11-14-2010 04:41 PM)buckaineer Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 04:38 PM)whitey Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 12:49 PM)buckaineer Wrote:  

(11-13-2010 11:29 PM)Shannon Panther Wrote:  

(11-13-2010 01:01 PM)whitey Wrote:  Tidewater (Va) and Northern SC TVs to the BEN. Would we be worth having us in the BE?

Only if that can be translated into dollars for broadcast rights. Bringing TV's doesn't do us any good if we can't generate revenue from them. It really is all about the Benjamins.

What is the evidence that ECU can deliver significant numbers of viewers from Tidewater (VA) or northern SC? No one has presented any such thing but for some reason want to keep talking about this over and over.

You amaze me, not a single ECU fan mentioned your name in this post, so STFU. You can't listen to Admin, can you. Take it up with the one(BE Fan) that did.

What are you babbling about now? Answer the question or STFU yourself-you add nothing here whereas I asked a very valid question.

I'm the one that started this post, so please DO NOT RESPOND to my post & I'll do the same. So give me a break. You have to open up your mouth on everything ECU.

(11-14-2010 04:54 PM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  The only way ECU brings all of North Carolina is if it the legislature moves it to Chapel Hill.

ECU certainly doesn't bring all of North Carolina and anyone that says so is probably stretching the truth just a little. However, what is probably more reasonable to say is that they do have a market, and while it may be hard to actually nail down the parameters; it is probably not unreasonable to say that ECU' primary market probably extends well in to Raleigh, N.C.

Now I am not saying that ECU has a stronger presence in Raleigh than NCSU or that ECU's has greater numbers in the Triangle then any of the other schools; but what I am saying is that it stands to reason that a large City like Raleigh, which is roughly 80 miles due west of Greenville, would undoubtedly have a large number of ECU alums and that ECU would be drawing a substantial portion of its student body from in and around that City. And I think that there is ample evidence to back that point up, because the Raleigh newspaper provides the same level of coverage for ECU athletics, that it provides for 4 area schools of the ACC. So If ECU didn't have a solid market in Raleigh, then why would a major newspaper of that City be covering them to that degree? That is part of ECU's market and that only provides more fuel to NCSU's and ECU's rivalry.

(11-14-2010 04:50 PM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 04:34 PM)whitey Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 01:19 PM)Raleighwood Pirate Wrote:  Trust me. I live in Cary which is right next to Raleigh and it is a city of Yankees. This has been the running joke since I moved to the Triangle in 1998.

You amaze me, not a single ECU fan mentioned your name in this post, so STFU. You can't listen to Admin, can you. Take it up with the one(BE Fan) that did.

I think you may have jumped down the wrong person's throat.

Thanks for the catch, I did & don't know how it happen.

(11-14-2010 03:29 PM)Inigo Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 03:24 PM)Theodoresdaddy Wrote:  

(11-13-2010 01:01 PM)whitey Wrote:  Tidewater (Va) and Northern SC TVs to the BEN. Would we be worth having us in the BE?

very few schools can bring entire markets

There are a few, but they already play in the SEC, Big Ten, or Big 12.

exactly

Despite all the talk of markets and what NC school owns what cites, the fact is, that ECU has a large alumni base that extends all over the country. It is in fact the second largest school in NC and has an evergrowing fanbase all over the state. Those who do not live in the state would have no evidence of this fact because they fail to see the ECU flags that fly on gameday around the state, they fail to see the ECU car stickers and decals. Sure you can throw out arbitrary numbers stating that Greenville has a lousy TV market.....but...it does not change the fact that ECU games on ESPN have been some of the most watched games in the past 3 years.

Personally, I think the BE needs a team like ECU just as much as ECU needs the BE. It was my opinion that the BE with VT, Miami, and BC was second only to the SEC before the ACC expansion. It is also in my opinion that the BE still has some great teams and some great history. Unfortunatley, the BE is has just been a shell of its former self for some years now.

Until another conference picks up the WV's and Pitts of the BE, these teams will just have to settle for the fact that they are a great basketball conference but a middle of the road football conference at best case.

Do I want to be part of the BE, heck ya I do. But not for the sole reason of the BCS tag. Personally, I want to play against teams like WV, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, etc for the sole reason of the competition that these teams bring to the field. Yes, there may be some growing pains and yes we may have to settle for a few years of losing seasons, but mark my words, ECU would eventually thrive in the BE and become the dominant football program in the state of NC. We are already pretty darn close at being the strongest team in the state.

Before, someone shoots me down by wanting stats and the what not. I dont have them, I am not that interested to be honest....but....I know what I see while I traverse the state of NC....and ECU is on alot of people minds as well as their property.

(11-14-2010 02:12 PM)esayem Wrote:  Pretty sure Navy thoroughly proved they run the tidewater hahaha

How about that VT tech game this past weekend? About how many scholarships do you think UNC will lose when the NCAA investigation ends?

Question for ECU fans. Aren't there more registered alumni in Raleigh than in Pitt county? Pretty sure I read that somewhere however we never get credit for that being any part of are market.

Question for ECU fans. Aren't there more registered alumni in Raleigh than in Pitt county? Pretty sure I read that somewhere however we never get credit for that being any part of are market.

(11-14-2010 03:40 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  I honestly believe that if they didn't have the stigma of a directional school name and instead was something more traditional like "North Carolina Tech" then they would already be BCS.

Ask a ECU fan if they'd rather be UNC-Greenville and watch their head explode.:domokun:

(11-15-2010 07:50 AM)ConanX Wrote:  Ask a ECU fan if they'd rather be UNC-Greenville and watch their head explode.:domokun:

In Greenville "UNC" has the same stigma as "BCS".

(11-15-2010 07:50 AM)ConanX Wrote:  

(11-14-2010 03:40 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  I honestly believe that if they didn't have the stigma of a directional school name and instead was something more traditional like "North Carolina Tech" then they would already be BCS.

Ask a ECU fan if they'd rather be UNC-Greenville and watch their head explode.:domokun:

I am very glad that we never got lumped into the other UNC-Whatevers. We have always followed our own path and I have no doubts that within a decade we will have expanded our football stadium to 60K and will be filling that up with or without BCS inclusion. If that isn't attractive to a conference then so be it. We will continue to do what we do, win games, go to bowls, and fill our stadium every week.

Well said. We've become a very powerful football brand in the State of North Carolina. I'm excited about the future of our program and look forward to our next stadium expansion that is being planned.

We went through the darkest days of our program during the John Thompson era and, while the product on the field was dismal, still averaged over 30,000 in attendance.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us. We graduated 30 seniors off last year's back-to-back CUSA championship team, have the youngest team in FBS football and brand new coaching staff. We were picked to finish fifth in the eastern division of our conference and not go bowling this year.

Here we sit at 6-4 with a chance for another 8-win season, bowl eligible, 5-1 conference record, contending for another division title, a win over in-state rival NCSU and averaging 49,776 per game in attendance. I'll take that for a rebuilding year anytime.

If that's our rebuilding year, people better watch out for the future.

I would love for East Carolina to be a part of the Big East, but if the Big East doesn't see us as a viable expansion candidate, so be it. The Big East decision makers will do what's best for them as they should. We'll continue to grow our program regardless.

(11-15-2010 09:02 AM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  Well said. We've become a very powerful football brand in the State of North Carolina. I'm excited about the future of our program and look forward to our next stadium expansion that is being planned.

We went through the darkest days of our program during the John Thompson era and, while the product on the field was dismal, still averaged over 30,000 in attendance.

This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us. We graduated 30 seniors off last year's back-to-back CUSA championship team, have the youngest team in FBS football and brand new coaching staff. We were picked to finish fifth in the eastern division of our conference and not go bowling this year.

Here we sit at 6-4 with a chance for another 8-win season, bowl eligible, 5-1 conference record, contending for another division title, a win over in-state rival NCSU and averaging 49,776 per game in attendance. I'll take that for a rebuilding year anytime.

If that's our rebuilding year, people better watch out for the future.

I would love for East Carolina to be a part of the Big East, but if the Big East doesn't see us as a viable expansion candidate, so be it. The Big East decision makers will do what's best for them as they should. We'll continue to grow our program regardless.

Yep for years State fans would say "just wait till they lose Skip they won't be able to recover." He's gone and yet we are still here and the program is stronger than ever. Going to our 5th straight bowl game, selling out our newly expanded stadium, and beating them in their best season in almost a decade. Now they want to cancel the series because their AD's says we have a "physiological advantage," which is code for scared to death.

(11-15-2010 09:16 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Yep for years State fans would say "just wait till they lose Skip they won't be able to recover." He's gone and yet we are still here and the program is stronger than ever. Going to our 5th straight bowl game, selling out our newly expanded stadium, and beating them in their best season in almost a decade. Now they want to cancel the series because their AD's says we have a "physiological advantage," which is code for scared to death.

Actually, b0ndsj0ns, it was a "psychological advantage" not a "physiological advantage" but is still code for scared to death. We must be playing Jedi mind tricks on them or something.

Anway, a lot of people used the line..."just wait till they lose Skip..." I appreciate what Skip did for our program and wish him the best of luck at USF! They got a good coach. With that being said, I'm tickled to death to have a coach that actually wants to be here so we don't have to deal with the inevitable job searching at the end of each season.

(11-15-2010 09:28 AM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  With that being said, I'm tickled to death to have a coach that actually wants to be here so we don't have to deal with the inevitable job searching at the end of each season.

Don't EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER say that. EVER!!! Just ask any Louisville fan. You woudl much rather your coach be wanted every off season, then hold to a coach for a while because no one else wants him. Trust us, the former is MUCH better than the latter.

(11-15-2010 09:39 AM)adcorbett Wrote:  

(11-15-2010 09:28 AM)piratefan1975 Wrote:  With that being said, I'm tickled to death to have a coach that actually wants to be here so we don't have to deal with the inevitable job searching at the end of each season.

Don't EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER say that. EVER!!! Just ask any Louisville fan. You woudl much rather your coach be wanted every off season, then hold to a coach for a while because no one else wants him. Trust us, the former is MUCH better than the latter.

There is a difference between being wanted and going out and basically pimping yourself for every available opening. Skip did a lot of great things for us, but he always was using us for a stepping stone. That's understandable and perfectly fine, it appears to have worked out well for both of us. Ruff is in a different situation entirely than Skip. For one he is a good bit older than Skip (52 I believe) so by the time he puts together enough of a body of work that a really big school might would be interested he would probably be 55 or older. Also he is an alum, grew up in this part of the State, and all of his family still lives here. I am not naive enough to believe there is no chance he would leave for another job, but I really doubt he will be pulling the barnstorming around the country interview tour Skip did on a yearly basis.