News, Analysis and Opinion from Bonesville's Denny O'Brien

Pirate Notebook No. 136
Friday, August 15, 2003

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

As a first-year starting quarterback for a school renowned for producing marquee field generals, Paul Troth felt the sweltering spotlight last season like none before him.

A high school All-American, Troth entered East Carolina with expectations that far exceeded those imposed on a list of distinguished alumni that includes Jeff Blake, Marcus Crandell, Dan Gonzales, and David Garrard.

That goes without mentioning that Troth's father, Mike, lettered for the 1973 Pirates team that captured the Southern Conference title, or noting that former ECU coach Steve Logan labeled the budding gunslinger a prodigy as a teenager.

So when things didn't quite go the Pirates' way last season, there was Troth, bearing the brunt of the criticism.

"It was frustrating," Troth said. "You could never get in a rhythm it seemed like.

"The one game that we did was Houston and even that game was close. Even in some losses like South Florida and West Virginia, I thought I had really good games, but turnovers really hurt us. That's all correctable."

The 2002 season was, indeed, a roller coaster ride for Troth, who finished with 2,315 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

There were the valleys of tossing seven interceptions in back-to-back losses against Duke and Wake Forest to open the season. And there were peaks, such as that 369-yard effort at Houston, a game in which the Davidson sophomore was Captain Comeback for a day, rallying the Pirates from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to a heart-thumping overtime victory.

Then, just one day after the season, Troth was floored by news that Logan, his longtime mentor, was asked to step down. With his fate as the next great ECU quarterback suddenly in question, he returned home over the Christmas holidays to regroup.

"I went home after the year and got away from football as much as I could and blocked out that season as fast I could," Troth said. "I got over (Logan's firing) as quickly as I could.

"This coaching staff is just exciting to be around because it is a whole new system that is built around my attributes and the attributes of others. The new attitude here has been great."

Heading into the first season under new coach John Thompson, Troth now finds himself entrenched in the battle of his career. Thompson opened competition at all positions during spring practice, and Troth was unable to separate himself enough from challenger Desmond Robinson to earn a guaranteed starting nod.

The strong desire to prove himself to the new Pirates staff, along with the drive to refine his tools and become a solid all-around QB, has been a major source of motivation for the incumbent starter during fall camp.

"My outlook is that it's my job that I've got to go out and take," Troth said. "If I want it, I've got to go out and take it.

"I feel confident in my abilities and know that I can go out there and perform well and take over this offense with good leadership and get the job done. Competition is just bringing out the best in me and the other quarterbacks."

One of the primary points of emphasis over the summer was a weight-loss program, which Pirates coaches hoped would increase Troth's speed and improve his scrambling ability. It was a complete 180 from the summer before.

"Last year I was trying to get as fat as I could, as big as I could," Troth said. "Right now, I'm slimmed down. I've lost 20 pounds and I'm excited to look at myself in the mirror now. I've actually got abs. It's really been helpful out on the field."

"On testing days, I was running in the front, whereas I was running in the back before. I beat all the quarterbacks in the 400-meter sprint. Nobody thought I could do that. My teammates can see that I've gotten a lot faster and I've improved myself in the off-season."

Troth also finds himself growing more comfortable in offensive coordinator Rick Stockstill's system. Stockstill, who came to East Carolina from Clemson, brought many of the concepts employed by the Tigers, which emphasizes delivering the ball to playmakers as quickly as possible.

"I'm already in the gun, which is what I did in high school," Troth said. "It fits me better because I'm really comfortable in (shotgun formation).

"I'm much more comfortable when I can see better. It's kind of like sandlot football and that's how I like to play. I like to keep the defense guessing and that's the mentality of this offensive scheme."

For Troth, personally, it's also about a new mindset, one that has the high-profile passer more at ease, both on the field and off.

Opponents planning on double-teaming Terrance Copper this season better think again, Troth warns. The preseason All-Conference USA performer isn't the only talented target in the receiving corps, which was a subject of concern during the spring.

"Sakeen Wright has made some awesome catches in the rain so far," Troth said. "Demarcus Fox — I don't think anybody is as fast as him. If we get him on a linebacker, it's a total mismatch.

"Edwin Rios is just always making plays. Whenever there is a guy diving for a ball, you look up and it's Edwin. Those three guys are going to bring a lot to the table."

Redshirt Kevin Roach and sophomore Iverick Harris, who sat out last season because he didn't qualify academically, are physically gifted, and the extra repetitions in practice should have them ready to contribute when the season begins.

"Kevin is pushing Terrance as hard as he can," Troth said. "Kevin has come a long way. Physically, he's gotten in the weight room and gotten bigger. His hands have always been there.

"Iverick has just got to learn the system. Those two guys have got the talent, they just need to step up a little."

At 6'0", 208-pounds, Chris Moore doesn't possess the prototypical size of a middle linebacker. But don't think for a second that size has limited the Havelock sophomore's ability to quarterback the defense.

"When I hit you, I'm going to try to bring a lot of force to you," Moore said. "I can't do anything about my size, but I can run around and stick tight ends and receivers."

As a freshman, Moore was the Pirates' defensive MVP for much of last season, despite missing three games due to a knee injury. Moore still managed to finish fourth on the team in tackles (72), ten of which were for losses, along with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

"Oh, the knee is doing great," Moore said. "(Trainer) Mike Hanley did a great job with my rehab. Right now, it's not about my knee anymore, it's all about playing catch-up."