I was interested in ECU's football history, so I just went back and looked. Over the last 20 years, ECU has been a .500 team. So since that does not suggest a strong tradition, I looked back further to the preceding 20 years (i.e. back to 1979). Same result--a .500 team. The results are what they are, including a recent history of firing coaches after subpar performances. So call it what you will, but the record would suggest "average" history or perhaps sustained mediocrity, but don't think it could be fairly said that ECU has a tradition "as good or better" than any conference member. Not even close.

(02-10-2019 01:55 PM)vabearcat Wrote:  I was interested in ECU's football history, so I just went back and looked. Over the last 20 years, ECU has been a .500 team. So since that does not suggest a strong tradition, I looked back further to the preceding 20 years (i.e. back to 1979). Same result--a .500 team. The results are what they are, including a recent history of firing coaches after subpar performances. So call it what you will, but the record would suggest "average" history or perhaps sustained mediocrity, but don't think it could be fairly said that ECU has a tradition "as good or better" than any conference member. Not even close.

Going 5-6 at worst with multiple 8,9 win seasons is not .500

In the 20 seasons before Scottie Montgomery ECU was 141-119 including John Thompson’s 3-20 record. So Under competent coaches we’re at 138-99 over the past 20 years. .582

ECU Application to stay in the AAC:

Accepted:____
Rejected:__X__

Cincinnati Application to leave the AAC:

Accepted:____
Rejected:__X__

Thought I'd throw the link on this thread rather than starting a new one...

Kurt Benkert was on Pirate Radio yesterday talking about the 2015 season that changed everything for ECU.

Background: Kurt was named the starting QB (to replace Shane Carden) prior to the 2015 season. Late in Fall camp, he tore his ACL. Backup QB Blake Kemp and converted wide receiver James Summers split reps from then on, and the pirates scraped together a 5-7 campaign. Ruff was surprisingly fired, Mo was brought in, drgged his feet naming a starter through Spring and started hinting about a 2-QB system, and Benkert transferred to UVA. He is now the scout team QB for the Atlanta Falcons.

He talks about how Mo came in to a pretty tough situation. The whole team was blindsided by the firing of McNeill after what many of them thought was his first step backwards with the program, and a season filled with bad luck with injuries and close losses. He said that Mo came in, like most new coaches, trying to establish a culture change when many of the players didn't think the culture needed changing. He said that it's tough for any coach to come in after that kind of firing.

I found it to be a pretty interesting interview. I know a lot of ECU fans don't forgive him for transferring. I don't blame him and think it was the best thing for him. I feel the same way about Minshew.

Enjoy...

Kurt Benkert Interview

(03-01-2019 08:58 AM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  Thought I'd throw the link on this thread rather than starting a new one...

Kurt Benkert was on Pirate Radio yesterday talking about the 2015 season that changed everything for ECU.

Background: Kurt was named the starting QB (to replace Shane Carden) prior to the 2015 season. Late in Fall camp, he tore his ACL. Backup QB Blake Kemp and converted wide receiver James Summers split reps from then on, and the pirates scraped together a 5-7 campaign. Ruff was surprisingly fired, Mo was brought in, drgged his feet naming a starter through Spring and started hinting about a 2-QB system, and Benkert transferred to UVA. He is now the scout team QB for the Atlanta Falcons.

He talks about how Mo came in to a pretty tough situation. The whole team was blindsided by the firing of McNeill after what many of them thought was his first step backwards with the program, and a season filled with bad luck with injuries and close losses. He said that Mo came in, like most new coaches, trying to establish a culture change when many of the players didn't think the culture needed changing. He said that it's tough for any coach to come in after that kind of firing.

I found it to be a pretty interesting interview. I know a lot of ECU fans don't forgive him for transferring. I don't blame him and think it was the best thing for him. I feel the same way about Minshew.

Enjoy...

Kurt Benkert Interview

I didn't like that he transferred, but I don't blame him. It was obvious early on that Mo was in over his head.

Off topic: Can ECU fans recommend a few good breweries in or around Greenville?

(03-01-2019 09:04 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  Off topic: Can ECU fans recommend a few good breweries in or around Greenville?

Uptown on 5th St & Pitt Street & Trolling Wood both on Dickinson Ave. Good farm to table restaurants around those venues include Starlight Cafe, Ford & Shep, and DAP House.

(02-07-2019 01:21 PM)mikeinoki Wrote:  

(02-07-2019 10:03 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  I love a good brewery.

Come to Uptown Brewing in Greenville. I always get the Russian Imperial Stout.

Coach Houston will have us winning the conference championship in 2 years. The CFP in 4 years. We'll miss you guys when we get to the SEC.

Someone mark my words.

I admire your optimism. But come on, the SEC would never let us be apart of their conference and have a seat at their table. No matter how good we get. I know you really don’t believe that. We should be happy where we are. This is a good conference for us.

Besides, the SEC will only invite schools from other P5 conferences. Auditions for the SEC start there, not in the AAC.

(03-06-2019 05:15 AM)NoQuarterBrigade Wrote:  

(02-07-2019 01:21 PM)mikeinoki Wrote:  

(02-07-2019 10:03 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  I love a good brewery.

Come to Uptown Brewing in Greenville. I always get the Russian Imperial Stout.

Coach Houston will have us winning the conference championship in 2 years. The CFP in 4 years. We'll miss you guys when we get to the SEC.

Someone mark my words.

I admire your optimism. But come on, the SEC would never let us be apart of their conference and have a seat at their table. No matter how good we get. I know you really don’t believe that. We should be happy where we are. This is a good conference for us.

Besides, the SEC will only invite schools from other P5 conferences. Auditions for the SEC start there, not in the AAC.

(02-07-2019 01:36 PM)WhoseHouse? Wrote:  Houston is a good hire, excited for the Pirates. As for the comments about ECU having the strongest history of any team in the American... um... lol. Nevertheless love the hire. I think between Dooley and Houston ECU has two solid coaches in place.

ECU did have success beating P5 teams (Syracuse, Stanford, WVU, Pitt, Texas Tech, NC State, UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, South Carolina, etc). Those wins put us on the map.

I do agree we are a .500 team overall but really started climbing in notoriety in the late 70s/early 80s, then late 80s through the 90's. Also had success under Skip Holtz (2 CUSA Championships-The Old AAC")

(03-02-2019 03:33 PM)B easy Wrote:  

(03-01-2019 09:04 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  Off topic: Can ECU fans recommend a few good breweries in or around Greenville?

Uptown on 5th St & Pitt Street & Trolling Wood both on Dickinson Ave. Good farm to table restaurants around those venues include Starlight Cafe, Ford & Shep, and DAP House.

x2 on Pitt St Pitt Street Brewing Co

Also, Ford & Shep is good eats Ford and Shep

Early reports from ECU highlight changes in spring practice.
http://www.reflector.com/ECU/2019/03/15/...uston.html

Spring drills with Coach Houston



Spring drills with Coach Mo

Hahaha that’s funny

Turns out something was brewing. Chancellor is resigning today. Book it.

*UH fans have entered the chat*

So our new football coach basically came out today and said:

1) Our players have never been taught good technique.
2) Our players have never been through a physical practice.
3) It is not the fault of our players. They will learn.

(03-18-2019 03:00 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  So our new football coach basically came out today and said:

1) Our players have never been taught good technique.
2) Our players have never been through a physical practice.
3) It is not the fault of our players. They will learn.

Good for him, hope he turns it around!!!

(03-18-2019 03:00 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  So our new football coach basically came out today and said:

1) Our players have never been taught good technique.
2) Our players have never been through a physical practice.
3) It is not the fault of our players. They will learn.

That is a coach right there. Honest assessment. Plan to address the obstacles. Faith in the players.

Also from what was a terrible administration at the end of last year to a complete changing of the top shows the Pirate nation looked around, said wtf? And made some moves.

Hoping Tulsa's administration is taking notes.

Definitely need new AD, HC football and 90% sure HC basketball (he at least wins some)

(03-18-2019 03:00 PM)ECUGrad07 Wrote:  So our new football coach basically came out today and said:

1) Our players have never been taught good technique.
2) Our players have never been through a physical practice.
3) It is not the fault of our players. They will learn.

Waiting to see how they play before crowning Houston. I feel like it's gone like this:

"Coach Smith says Mo isn't making the guys tackle in practice!!"

Pirate Nation:

Then...

Houston: "Thud wrap-ups only. We're not going to tackle to the ground in practice. That's how players get hurt"

Pirate Nation: