By
Denny O'Brien
©2008 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
East Carolina’s 2008
football schedule is generating plenty of fuss. Thank athletics director
Terry Holland, whose non-conference scheduling philosophy is balanced
with regional rivals and national heavyweights.
And there is no shortage
of either on next season's docket.
From the openers against
perennial powers Virginia Tech and West Virginia to short treks to North
Carolina State and Virginia, four games against attractive Bowl
Championship Series opponents highlight the schedule. All are easily
accessible for fans, and there is a sentiment among them that the
experienced Pirates have a legitimate shot in each.
What isn’t receiving as
much attention – as is always the case – is a lineup of Conference USA
opponents that could present tricky footing for Skip Holtz and his
staff. That starts with an early-season trip to Tulane and the barren
Louisiana Superdome, and ends at home with a Friday afternoon shootout
with Texas-El Paso.
From defending
gimmick-heavy offenses to visiting half-empty stadiums, many challenges
await East Carolina along its C-USA tour. Historically it’s been a
mental minefield for ECU, one that has produced enough emotional
letdowns to prevent the Pirates from capturing the league crown.
In most cases the
heartbreak was delivered from less-talented opponents. Consider this
history lesson:
• In 1999, the
nationally-ranked Pirates lead at UAB 17-3, only to get blanked 30-0
after intermission. The prize? Another trip to Alabama, this time to
Mobile to get hammered by Texas Christian in the inaugural Mobile Bowl.
• A 2000 trip to Memphis
produced a 17-10 shocker by the Tigers, who were led by third-string
quarterback Scott Scherer. That and a home loss to UAB were especially
perplexing when you consider the Pirates belted both Southern Miss and
Louisville on the road.
• UAB applied the
early-season damage in 2006, while Rice nailed the coffin shut. When you
combine the attendance for both games, it would have filled a
modest-sized high school venue.
• Last year it was 1-8
Marshall. At the time, most Herd fans were pondering potential coaching
replacements, while ECU’s constituency was preparing to host the C-USA
title game. Only West Virginia beat the Pirates more thoroughly in 2007.
Fast forward to 2008, and
there are plenty of potential spoilers lining the schedule.
Tulane looms as a
possibility, though it’s hard to imagine the Pirates lacking focus in
the conference opener. After games against both the Hokies and
Mountaineers, ECU should be battle-tested enough to handle the mental
rigors of an empty Superdome.
The bigger question is the
November 22 trip to Legion Field to face UAB.
While the Blazers should
be improved from Coach Neil Callaway’s inaugural campaign, there will be
a significant talent gap that separates the two. The Pirates should
enter the game a solid favorite, but there are several factors that keep
this from earning a gimmee distinction.
For starters, there’s
location. Strange things happen in Alabama. Very strange. And when
Legion Field is the backdrop, the ultimate pitfalls are borderline
paranormal.
There was the phantom
timeout taken by Alabama in 1998, which allowed the Tide to regroup and
stave off the Pirates’ upset bid. Legend has it that Bear Bryant
divinely intervened to preserve the one-point victory.
Then there was Phillip
Henry’s fumble against UAB in 2006. ECU’s improbable comeback fell
one-yard short when the ball – and the Pirates’ hopes – dislodged with
only seconds remaining.
But location is only one
part of this eerie equation. Not to be overlooked is UAB’s positioning
on the schedule, a spot that has provided tremendous difficulty the past
two seasons.
In both 2006 and 2007 the
scenarios were similar:
Firmly at the wheel of
C-USA’s East division. Next to the last game of the season. On the road.
Inferior opponent.
That again could be the
setting when the Pirates face the Blazers this November. If so, will the
Pirates have the mental focus and execution to finally get over the
C-USA hump?
Many will likely measure
East Carolina’s progress by its performances against Virginia Tech, West
Virginia, N.C. State, and Virginia. That’s normal for almost every
program that doesn’t reside in a BCS conference.
But for ECU to take the
proverbial next step it must prove it can navigate the tricky waters of
C-USA. UAB presents a giant measuring stick from that perspective.