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

Pirate Notebook No. 112
Wednesday, March 5, 2003

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

Paul Troth, a rising junior, will be
in competition this spring with
sophomore Desmond Robinson
and freshman James Pinkney to
retain his starting quarterback
position.

For the first time since 1998, East Carolina will enter Spring drills with its quarterback position up for grabs.

That's the attitude incumbent starter Paul Troth has taken since John Thompson was announced as the new Pirates coach in mid-December.

It would be tempting to suggest that such a mindset is due to a sudden lack of confidence following a disappointing first season under center. More than anything, though, Troth is demonstrating a mental growth spurt, just the type that could give him the edge in retaining his starting job.

Ideally, that would be the best-case scenario for East Carolina, which desperately needs another star to blossom in the spotlight. In the past that has been a winning formula for the Pirates, who have ridden the coattails of marquee performers to national television appearances, major upsets, and impressive bowl victories.

In '91 it was Jeff Blake, who emerged from relative obscurity to make a legitimate Heisman push and carry his team to an 11-1, Top 10 finish.

Marcus Crandell and David Garrard, their reputations buttressed by heartwarming personal stories, would later surface as household names who would help establish a solid winning tradition at East Carolina.

Though it was their on-the-field performances that propelled the Pirates up the national polls from time to time, there's no doubt it was their demeanor off the field and uplifting storylines that endeared them to the fans.

Of the three candidates battling to take charge of the Pirates' huddle next fall, Troth possesses that type of sentimental value the ECU faithful can embrace.

Take nothing away from James Pinkney or Desmond Robinson, both of whom seem like solid, all-around kids, who, if they were handed the keys to the Pirates offense, might emerge as Cinderella stories. But when you get down to it, they just don't possess some of the intangibles or historical background of their teammate, whose family lineage is steeped in Pirate football.

Much like N.C. State's Philip Rivers, Troth is one of the good guys, the type of kid who is close to his family, goes to church, and drinks Vitamin D milk. If it weren't for his attire — sagging jeans, polo shirts, and baseball caps — you'd think the talented quarterback was a throwback from the Leave it to Beaver era.

And when it comes to the history book, Troth's name is one that spans chapters, linking fans to the past, present, and future of Pirates football. His father, Mike, played end for Sonny Randle's 1972 Southern Conference championship bunch and is now reliving the dream through his son.

That son, a died-in-the-wool chip off the old purple block, attracted national recruiting attention as a high school All-American. But there was never much doubt about the college destination of a kid who had envisioned himself as the Pirates quarterback since the day he could hold a pigskin.

At times that dream must have seemed like a nightmare last season, as the transition from understudy to leading role encountered more than its share of speed bumps. On the year, Troth threw for a modest 15 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in an offense that didn't seem to accentuate his strengths.

As a result, he took a lot of the heat from fans — much of it unwarranted — for an uncharacteristic 4-8 season.

"I've always learned that if you're a quarterback, that's a given," Troth said. "You've got to accept that responsibility, and if you don't, it could hurt the team. The quarterback has to be the leader on the field and be kind of like the coach on the field."

You could hardly blame him had he pointed fingers, especially when it seemed that half his interceptions deflected off intended receivers. What's more, Troth had the added pressure of an inept defense that often put the offense in a double-digit hole.

Even Blake would have found the waters treacherous with a defense that ranked among the nation's worst, but Troth willingly intercepted many of the bullets the fans and media aimed at his teammates.

Now that he has a clean slate and a more condensed offense tailored to his strengths, Troth could choose to forget about the past and concentrate on outshining his competitors. The more likely scenario, however, is that he will draw on last season's experiences and use them as a teaching tool to help develop his challengers into better players, despite the fact that they are seeking his job.

In the end, Troth's team-first attitude and strong desire to see the program succeed could be the deciding factor that earns him the starting nod.

If anything, it should make the second-generation Pirate the sentimental favorite this Spring.

Losing star receiver Richard Alston would be a cause for concern for most programs. Not East Carolina.

The Pirates have had no shortage of talented receivers in recent years and next season should be no different. Terrence Copper is the favorite to emerge as the group's go-to guy, but the bulk of the talent could lie with the program's freshmen and sophomores.

One name to keep an eye on is Iverick Harris, whom Troth suggested on Signing Day was the most talented of the bunch.

At 6'3", 200-pounds, Harris has the size to overpower defenders on short routes and the ability to out-duel them on deep patterns. The former Burlington Cummings standout compliments his physique with a soft pair of mitts and comes from a pass-happy high school program that has prepared him for offensive coordinator Rick Stockstill's vertical passing game.

As a senior, the rangy receiver hauled in 65 passes for 1,375 yards and 13 touchdowns. Should be a fun one to watch.

With plenty of depth along the offensive front, East Carolina didn't need a major haul of beefy linemen with its latest recruiting class. But that didn't stop Thompson from inking a couple of gems, including the highly sought after 6'4", 320-pound Virgil Black from Lexington.

According to Pirates offensive line and assistant head coach J.B. Grimes, Black has the tools to maintain ECU's tradition for producing stout blockers.

"The big thing is, he is strong right now," Grimes said. "He's not a guy who has to come into the weight room and develop his strength. He's a strong kid right now.

"We've got to make sure that he doesn't get too big, though. You always have to watch out for that. He's a great kid and a heck of a competitor. I'm looking forward to working with him."

Much has been made about a potential fashion makeover for the Pirates next season, with the players leading the charge.

Everything from adding flamboyant stripes to all-purple threads has been mentioned, while some have even proposed introducing black accents and the jolly roger logo.

But before J.T. gets on the horn with the folks at Russell — the official outfitter of ECU athletics — the Pirates coach should consider this:

Uniforms have gotten too busy these days as some schools have murdered tradition in favor of the new-age look. Nebraska, for example, added oversized stripes to its appearance, making the Huskers somewhat difficult to recognize at first glance.

A few years ago, East Carolina ditched its old threads and unveiled a slick new logo for which the university paid a nice chunk of change. With the Pirates making numerous television appearances over the last five years, their purple headgear has become the symbol with which much of the nation associates East Carolina and therefore shouldn't be changed.

If anything, adding gold pants — a la West Virginia — would provide a nice alternative. Or maybe a special-occasion gold jersey with purple-and-white trim would breed excitement.

Just as long as the Bucs don't trot out in all-purple attire. The last thing they need is a high school look.