Season taking its toll

By Brian Bailey
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One of my media partners took time out to ask East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill if he was okay after McNeill met with the media Saturday night following the Pirates' 22-17 home loss to South Florida.

He beat me to the question. Coach Ruff was as down as I have ever seen him, knowing that his team’s bowl hopes are on life support with a 4-6 record with two games to go.

The season has taken its toll on the program.

Ruffin McNeill didn’t take this ECU job six years ago to put a losing product on the field. This is new territory, and how he and the program handle things may determine much about the program’s future.

“It’s a new chapter for all of us, not in my career, but here,” said McNeill. “Those guys have been a part of doing it brick by brick. Zeek [Bigger], all those old guys, they’ve been a part, and they haven’t flinched.”

The coach told his team to get away from things for a couple of days. The Pirates normally practice on Sunday, take Monday off and get back at it on Tuesday. With no game this coming weekend, the Pirates were set to take three days off, and will resume practice on Wednesday. ECU will then hit the road to take on Central Florida that next Thursday night.

The once high-powered Pirate offense continued its stagnant ways in Saturday’s American Athletic Conference loss.

James Summers did show flashes in the second half against the Bulls. That came after a first half that featured a grand total of zero first downs.

Still, the Pirates trailed only12-7 at halftime in the rain.

The ECU defense followed a familiar script, playing tough until giving up a backbreaking play late. Quinton Flowers hit a wide open Rodney Adams on a 67-yard strike that gave the Bulls the road win.

The two-quarterback system that seemed to work pretty well against the likes of Virginia Tech, Southern Methodist and Brigham Young has morphed into a different philosophy of late.

James Summers was given the reigns to the offense but has struggled mightily in that role.

Since a 30-17 win over Tulsa on October 17th, the Pirates have averaged just over 14 points per game.

I really thought the Pirates would start the second half of the USF game with Blake Kemp at quarterback, just to shake things up. That didn’t happen, but again Summers played better in that second half.

“(ECU Offensive coordinator Dave Nichol) 'Nick' and I felt with this offense you’ve got to let them see the looks and that’s the patient part," said McNeill. "We talked about no hesitation all week long, and that’s what we told James. Let it go. Swing your sword, fire it. It’s not ready-aim; it’s fire.”

Still, the frustrations are mounting. It’s certainly not Summers' fault. He came to East Carolina to play wide receiver. We have all seen his incredible athleticism. Give Summers credit for thinking team first in moving to quarterback.

“Be patient with James,” said McNeill. “He’s getting reps under fire.”

It’s almost hard to believe that this is the same team on offense that went up and down the field on Florida and BYU, with chances to win both of those games.

Despite the losses from last year, and the injury to quarterback Kurt Benkert, this season certainly could have been a winning one.

There’s still hope. UCF is winless and Cincinnati has underachieved this season. Six wins could earn a bowl berth.

These are two games that the Pirates could win – or lose.

Several questions need answers and the answers need to come quickly.

BB

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