Benkert stuns Pirate Nation

By Brian Bailey
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Just when you thought the quarterback position at East Carolina was stabilized, junior QB Kurt Benkert shocked the Pirate nation by announcing plans to transfer out of the ECU program.

The news broke via a release through the school's athletics media relations department from head coach Scottie Montgomery.

Usually news like this leaks out early, at least parts of the story do. Rumors would usually circulate. Someone usually hears something. Somebody always knows something. This story was different and came as a huge surprise to many, including myself.

“While it was initially disappointing to hear, our immediate focus needs to remain on Pirates who want to be Pirates,” Montgomery said in the release. “We had a very competitive spring at many positions and the objective is for that energy, work ethic and ambition to continue throughout the summer and into preseason camp. I am impressed by the leadership we currently have in place on this team and my confidence in those young men grows on a daily basis.”

What Montgomery didn’t say is how disappointing this had to be. Benkert took at least half of the spring football reps in his competition with Philip Nelson at the quarterback position. Both quarterbacks were impressive in the spring game.

Unless this just developed, Benkert basically used the spring to show any other suitor that he was healthy enough to play. Surely Nelson could have used extra reps. Now the Pirates also have to find a suitable backup. Those backups certainly needed reps.

The bottom line is that East Carolina is now one hit away from a major quarterback problem. It’s a familiar script, isn’t it?

Benkert had waited for what seemed like forever to get a shot. He played in three games as a redshirt freshman behind Shane Carden in 2014, completing eight-of-10 passes for 58 yards with an interception. He also scored a pair of touchdowns on five carries.

The 2015 season was to be Benkert’s break-out party, but he suffered that season-ending knee injury on August 25th.

Benkert has two years of football eligibility remaining, and is scheduled to receive his bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance during ECU's Spring Commencement on May 6th.

“I am very blessed for the opportunity that ECU has given me in obtaining my degree, and am forever thankful for the support from such great coaches, teammates, faculty and fans. This was a very tough decision that came from a lot of sleepless nights and conversations from those close to me.”

Benkert will leave in search of a school with graduate studies options that compliment his degree.

Still, this is a bitter pill for many at East Carolina to swallow.

Some have concluded that Benkert must have been told that he would not start the year as the Pirates' starting quarterback, but I don’t think that is true at all.

Both Montgomery and ECU offensive coordinator Tony Petersen told me after the spring game that the quarterback battle would continue until August.

This generation seems to have a real issue that "the grass is always greener.” I have always liked Kurt Benkert and wish him nothing but the best.

There is another saying that comes to mind: “Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it.”

All of a sudden this summer of preparation has added importance.

Philip Nelson has a unique story and now he heads to the front of the quarterback class. Frankly, I’m not sure who’s behind him.

I first heard a relevant comment from Bill Lewis in the early 90s. “We want Pirates who want to be Pirates,” he would say. Every Pirate coach since then has reiterated the same.

Now in his first year, Coach Mo emphasized the line in a very trying time.

For the second straight season Kurt Benkert was supposed to start at quarterback for the Pirates.

For the second straight season we are left to think about what might have been.

BB

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