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SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE
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Pirate Notebook No. 271
Friday, June 9, 2006
By Denny O'Brien |
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Date with UCF looms large on
the radar
©2006 Bonesville.net
So which game on East Carolina's schedule
have you circled as the most critical to the Pirates' success this fall?
My guess is the showdown at N.C. State tops
most lists. Given the history between the two and the uphill battles ECU
continues to fight against its in-state brethren, it is certainly
understandable why many would consider a victory over the Wolfpack sweeter
than others.
West Virginia probably isn't far behind.
The Mountaineers are serious contenders for the BCS championship game, and
it isn't often that a national title contender visits Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Don't forget Virginia. Any time an ACC
opponent invades Greenville, a victory carries with it an extra element of
pride. Throw in a national television audience and AD Terry Holland's ties
to the Cavaliers, and the storylines for the October 7 matchup are abundant.
But if you ask me, the stakes involved with
each of those contests pale in comparison to what could be on the line when
the Pirates visit Central Florida.
In the short term, the implications
packaged with an early November meeting with UCF could rival those present
when ECU hosted Louisville in 2001. The survivor could be the East's
representative in the Conference USA title game, and possibly solidify
itself as the championship host.
Looking deeper into the future, the UCF
game could represent an opportunity for East Carolina to make an impression
on Big East administrators who might seriously be considering the addition
of a ninth football member. Because if you're looking for the biggest
obstacle standing between the Pirates and a bid to the Big East, UCF looms
as the biggest obstacle in the ship's path.
Now if you take Big East commissioner Mike
Tranghese at his word, Central Florida poses no threat to ECU's bid for a
football-only invitation. And you have to admit, he is 100 percent accurate
with his position that UCF would add nothing to the league's bowl or
television profile.
If that weren't the case, you can bet your
401(K) that the C-USA East champ wouldn't have been sent to the Sheraton
Hawaii Bowl, which has to rate as the postseason's most poorly attended and
least watched game.
Even so, the presidents from the Big East's
eight football institutions will have plenty of input into any new
additions. Enticing them carries a lot more weight than the current opinion
of the league commissioner.
And you better believe that Central Florida
can draft a tempting pitch.
For starters, UCF will tout its attractive
television market, the prospects of a larger footprint in the fertile
recruiting soil of Florida, and residence in a city that not only is a
vacation Mecca, but also the host for two bowls. Status as a program on the
upswing, a sparkling new on-campus facility, and a long-term commitment to a
successful coach also will be highlighted in UCF's bid.
Those are facts that Holland can't dispute
during the next round of conference realignment. But he can lean on Central
Florida's lack of tradition and the high volume of empty seats that is
characteristic of its home games.
A win over the Knights in Orlando this
November could provide Holland more ammunition for the Big East charge.
East Carolina already has a rich gridiron
tradition that is marked by numerous postseason and national television
appearances. During much of the 90's and early 2000's, the Pirates leveraged
their success on the field and at the box office to cultivate a cult
following that extended far beyond the Southeast.
Had conference expansion struck at any
point during that period, ECU would have been one of the ripest plums in the
patch.
Under the direction of first-year coach
Skip Holtz, East Carolina showed signs last fall that it was heading back in
the direction that made it a household name within major college circles. If
Holtz can complete the U-turn and contend for the C-USA title this season,
the Pirates could prove themselves again ready for a promotion.
Because that might be the final feather in
ECU's helmet.
East Carolina already has many of the
qualities the Big East desires in a league member. It has a solid, stable
administration, outstanding facilities, strong history, and a faithful
constituency that will not abandon it regardless of the scenario.
What ECU doesn't have is the hardware to
prove it can add the most to the Big East's competitive profile. That's the
bad news.
The good news is the Pirates have complete
control of rewriting that statement — and a victory over Central Florida
could provide much of the ink.
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02/23/2007 02:03:07 AM |
