Big win means bigger opportunity

By Brian Bailey
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.

East Carolina made it three in a row over ACC teams on Saturday, beating Virginia Tech 28-21 in Blacksburg. More impressive is the fact that each of the three wins came on the road.

Now the Pirates can go for four in a row hosting North Carolina this Saturday.

East Carolina beat the Hokies for the sixth time in the series with Saturday’s win. I can proudly say that I had the chance to see each of the six wins in person.

I even had a chance to visit the site of the very first matchup between ECU and Virginia Tech. That game was played at Mitchell Stadium in Bluefield, West Virginia in 1956. No, I didn’t cover that game, but six years later I was born at the hospital just down the street.

I’ve also had a chance to see some of the Pirate losses to the Hokies along the way.

Still, wins in Blacksburg are hard to come by. These last two were separated by some 23 years.

Now the Tar Heels come calling as the Pirates wrap up the non-conference portion of their schedule. A 3-1 September would go a long way towards a great season. Still, an American Athletic Conference title will continue to be the goal.

The Pirate Nation can’t wait to welcome the Heels to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

”It’s good to be home and it will be great to be in front of our fans,” said ECU coach Ruffin McNeill. “They have a pride and passion for our athletic program. Being at home at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is good. Now does it make it magical? No. Having the fans’ support? Yes.

"We have to have a great day of planning and practice each day so that we can have the best chance of success on Saturday.”

The Pirates put it to North Carolina in last year’s 55-31 victory in Chapel Hill. So you have to think the Tar Heels will bring a huge chip on their shoulder with them to Greenville.

Coach McNeill says last year’s game is not a topic of conversation in the Pirate camp.

“I don’t bring it up,” said McNeill. “Each team’s personality is different. We don’t have to bring it up because of what we keep preaching. We know we’re facing a talented team as I mentioned before. I’m anxious to dive into the film a little more because they got onto a great streak at the end of last year.”

The Tar Heels turned things around after their embarrassing loss to ECU and ended up in a bowl game. The Heels beat Cincinnati 39-17 in Charlotte in the Belk Bowl.

Despite last year’s loss, Tar Heel coach Larry Fedora says he likes this game.

“Oh yeah, who doesn't like rivalries,” said Fedora. “Who doesn't like playing teams that dislike each other? I think that's a good thing. You know what the stadium is going to be like. You know that the crowd is going to be hostile. You have to relish that environment. That should be a lot of fun.”

The Pirate camp will be more concerned about ECU than UNC going into this game.

Coach McNeill and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley have to analyze the Virginia Tech game and find out why the Pirate offense was so good early and so good late, but struggled in the middle.

The truth is that ECU could have put close to 40 points on the board in that first half in Blacksburg. The Pirates were deep in the red zone on three different occasions in that second quarter and came away with a big, fat goose egg in that second stanza.

It was like the Pirates found the power switch again in that fourth quarter. With the game on the line and the clock quickly winding down, the Pirates went to work.

The Pirates shredded the Hokies like a hot saber through leftover gobbler on that final drive. Shane Carden scored the game winner and the celebration was on.

Now ECU hosts the Tar Heels and Pirate pride will certainly be on the line.

It may be just the next game on the schedule, but we all know it’s more than that.

A sellout crowd in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and a national television audience on ESPNU will watch the rivalry in all of its glory.

The Heels head to Greenville with something to prove.

The Pirates ALWAYS have something to prove.

This one will be fun for everyone.

BB

E-mail Brian Bailey.