As the first new head soccer coach at East Carolina in 20 years, Jason Hamilton has a boatload of tasks as he tries to elevate the program — ramping up conditioning, encouraging leadership on the field, blending transfers in with established Pirate players. But one key emphasis for Hamilton revolves around what he calls “dirty… [ Continue Reading ]
Recent News & Features
Football Recruiting
Freshwater represents recruiting coup for ECU
Antonio Moore recognized greatness in Traveon Freshwater at an early age. Freshwater was just seven years old when Moore, the head coach at Northeastern High School in Elizabeth City, saw him play for the River City Rampage youth football team. “I taught his mom and I’ve been monitoring him since little league,” Moore said. “Even… [ Continue Reading ]
From the Anchor Desk
Optimism and question marks after scrimmage
Make no mistake about it. The average fan and media member has a hard time trying to evaluate a scrimmage. At East Carolina, the media doesn’t get to watch. Pirate Video provides a couple of plays on both sides of the football to area television stations, but that’s pretty much it. I’ve had a chance… [ Continue Reading ]
Insights from Brett
Dooley’s vision: A small town luring big talent
If you repeat something enough times, with enough certainty, it will eventually be perceived as reality. So it is with East Carolina and the widely-held belief that the Pirates can’t truly be successful in basketball because of Greenville’s small size, its off-the-beaten-path location and the fact that it is surrounded by some of the nation’s… [ Continue Reading ]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Petersen excited about running potential of QBs
Tony Petersen is back for his third season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at East Carolina. The Pirates and Petersen are looking to improve on a pair of 3-9 seasons. ECU needs dramatic improvement defensively under new coordinator David Blackwell and coach Scottie Montgomery said the goal is just to be one point better… [ Continue Reading ]
The Bradsher Beat
Defense deploying more speed off the edge
Each in his own way, both Kendall Futrell and Chance Purvis were somewhat constrained prior to this preseason — Futrell because he spent much of the 2017 season limited by injury and illness, and Purvis because he’s a self-professed “late bloomer.” But with a new coordinator and a new defensive scheme designed to capitalize on… [ Continue Reading ]
From the Anchor Desk
Pirates pushing hard for big turnaround
You would never know that this East Carolina football program was just 6-18 over the last two years at Media Day on Saturday. Optimism poured out of the players and coaches with the cameras and microphones rolling. Over the years I’ve occasionally designated one Pirate as “Captain Soundbite.” It’s kind of a running joke within… [ Continue Reading ]
Insights from Brett
Off the field upgrades could have big impact
The familiar old double wide in the sky is gone, replaced by the skeleton of what will soon become a modern new press box and suite tower on the South side of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. It’s the most visible sign of the improvements East Carolina is in the process of making to its athletic facilities. But… [ Continue Reading ]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Emerging personnel pivotal for Pirates
GREENVILLE — As East Carolina players and coaches fielded questions at the annual media day in the Murphy Center on Saturday after two days of preseason practice, there was a general acknowledgement that the program has not performed up to traditional standards. Before three straight losing seasons, ECU went to bowl games in eight of… [ Continue Reading ]
ECU FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY
Audio: Coach Mo Presser
East Carolina head coach Scottie Montgomery addresses reporters at ECU’s Media Day on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. (Recorded by W.A. Myatt)
The Bradsher Beat
Dooley and staff focused on present and future
Sometimes the most profound answer to a question is also the simplest. Everyone in the Pirate Nation wants to believe in a dramatic turnaround for the East Carolina basketball program. As new head coach Joe Dooley has hired a seasoned staff and put his players through a grueling summer strength and conditioning regimen, fans and… [ Continue Reading ]
From the Anchor Desk
All signs point to football season
It is certainly the week to get back to work for this guy! August brings with it the start of football in Eastern North Carolina. There is simply no better time of the year. High school football practice kicked off on Monday. That season begins on August 17th and we at WNCT-TV are all set… [ Continue Reading ]
Insights from Brett
Five keys to meeting Montgomery’s goal
East Carolina was picked to finish last in the East Division in the American Athletic Conference’s preseason football poll last week. That’s no great surprise considering that the Pirates are coming off back-to-back 3-9 seasons, with an untested quarterback set to take over and a defense that ranked dead last among FBS teams a year… [ Continue Reading ]