East Carolina put together strong efforts against nationally-ranked Cincinnati and Southern Methodist when the Pirates still had a shot at bowl eligibility in 2019, but the disappointment of the near-misses has its silver lining. Had ECU gotten a bowl bid, the coaching staff would have had to juggle its time and energy to prepare for… [ More… ]
Recent News & Features
The Bradsher Beat
Enduring truths still hold one year later
One year and one week ago it was all possibility, untempered by reality. Would you go back, if you could? Jon Gilbert and Mike Houston were still strangers to the Pirate Nation, but they were bathed in a sort of purple-and-gold glow at those consecutive press conferences on December 3 and December 4, 2018. They… [ More… ]
Football Recruiting
Coveted QB recruit Garcia headed to Shrine Bowl
Between a math test and workout last Wednesday, Mason Garcia received word he’d been selected for an elite team. The quarterback from Carolina Forest High in Myrtle Beach, SC, was added to the South Carolina roster for the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas after originally being left off the squad. An injury to another… [ More… ]
From the Anchor Desk
Pirate hoops looks to dig out of hole
The East Carolina basketball program has so many new faces that many of us are still trying to learn everyone by name. These Pirates have dug themselves an early season hole. Now the squad hopes to use December as a chance to dig themselves out. It won’t be easy. ECU opened the month by falling… [ More… ]
Insights from Brett
Gilbert petitions fans to stay the course
With the new early signing period rapidly approaching — it begins on Wednesday, Dec. 18 — East Carolina football coach Mike Houston and his staff are on the road working hard to recruit the kind of talent that will help the Pirates be competitive and win in the American Athletic Conference. By all accounts, they’re… [ More… ]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates in building stage
East Carolina improved its size and talent level with 11 new players entering the basketball program, but the personnel makeover has yet to produce significant results. The Pirates took a 4-game losing streak into exam break and are 2-7 overall with four home games coming up. Pirates coach Joe Dooley was an assistant at Kansas… [ More… ]
The Bradsher Beat
Former coaches talk up Robinson-White
Bubba Skelton and Shane Oakley know Tremont Robinson-White pretty well, and they know that he has high expectations of himself and his team now that he’s back in the East Carolina lineup. The two coaches, who led Robinson-White during his 2017-18 season at Northwest Mississippi Junior College, also understand that a ramp-up period is expected… [ More… ]
Basketball News
Pirates topped by Coppin
GREENVILLE — Coppin State closed the first half with a 13-3 run to lead 39-31 at the break and the Eagles protected the advantage over the last 20 minutes for an 85-75 nonconference win at East Carolina on Tuesday night. Coppin State improved to 4-6 while the Pirates slipped to 2-7 going into exam break.… [ More… ]
From the Anchor Desk
Pirates turn the page to next season
Mike Houston: “Obviously, it’s not what any of us wanted for the way we ended the season. It’s not how we want to go out and represent East Carolina University.” With that, year one of the Mike Houston coaching era at East Carolina came to a close. This first year ended on a sour note,… [ More… ]
Insights from Brett
Houston’s rebuilding job off to modest start
Success is a subjective pursuit. There are no numbers to measure it or set standards to validate it. Rather, success is a standard each of us define in our own individual terms. It means something different to everyone. As such, beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to East Carolina’s 2019… [ More… ]
Inside Game Day
Hurricane swamps Pirates in season finale
GREENVILLE — There was no happy ending for the 2019 East Carolina football season on Saturday as Tulsa piled up 669 yards of offense in a 49-24 American Athletic Conference win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Pirates (4-8, 1-7 AAC) scored first on a 51-yard field goal by Jake Verity with 1:42 left in the first… [ More… ]