Bonesville: The Authoritative Independent Voice of East Carolina

News & Features from ECU, the AAC and Beyond

  • Home
  • News & Features
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Audio
  • Roundup
  • Comments
  • Legacy Archives

• ECU 2022 Football Schedule
• ECU 2022-23 Hoops Schedule
• ECU 2023 Baseball Schedule

— Recruiting Thumbnails —
Football: 2023 • Hoops: 2023-24

From the Anchor Desk
Pirates pushing hard for big turnaround

August 7, 2018 By Brian Bailey Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

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 the media that follows ECU. Through the years they’ve included the likes of Jerry Dillon, Zeek Bigger, and Zay Jones. I don’t designate someone every year, but we have had some really good kids come through the program that were always good for a great comment.

This year’s “Captain Soundbite” is senior offensive lineman Garrett McGhin.

Senior offensive lineman Garrett McGhin, pictured posing for photographers at the recent AAC media kickoff in Newport, RI, told columnist Brian Bailey at ECU’s media day on Saturday that he is determined to help make 2018 the beginning of a “big turnaround” for the program. (Photo by Brian Bailey)

Garrett reminds me of the ‘Cowardly Lion’ from “The Wizard of Oz.” His long curls and various expressions make me laugh when I make the comparison.

Make no mistake about it, there is nothing cowardly about the ECU captain. Garrett McGhin is the leader on the offensive line, and he wants nothing more than to turn this program around in his final year as a Pirate.

“This is it,” McGhin told me on Saturday. “There is no tomorrow. I want to come out and give it all that I have each and every day. I want my legacy as a Pirate to be one of the leaders on the team that began the big turnaround.”

That seemed to be the theme from all of the players. The proverbial chip on the Pirates’ shoulder is back and perhaps bigger than ever. These players know that the last couple of years have not been indicative of what this program is all about.

The Pirates got a nice gift before the start of camp as they moved into their brand new locker room. Pirate Video released a short clip of the team’s reactions, which included a tear or two from some of the seniors.

I had a chance to take in a part of the team’s first practice. There is a different feel in the workouts, led by new defensive coordinator David Blackwell and new special teams coordinator Kirk Doll.

“The locker room deal is neat,” said Blackwell. “Heck, I was here when we moved into the old locker room. And Coach Doll was here to move into the original locker room that we were moving out of. We’ve come full circle.”

Blackwell and Doll may be the biggest keys to this defense changing things around in a big way.

Blackwell says the guys are really buying into his system. Doll has most of the special teams installed already. Blackwell will need Doll’s special teams to help set the table for field position to give his squad a real shot at success.

On the other side of the football, offensive coordinator Tony Petersen says he’s never been around an offense that is this far along this early in camp. Petersen has a young but talented quarterback room that he is very pleased with, so far.

Petersen and head coach Scottie Montgomery have basically said that the quarterback job is Reid Herring’s to lose. Former D.H. Conley star Holton Ahlers and Kingsley Ifedi will continue to push Herring throughout the summer.

Petersen says the competition will make everyone better.

“We want Holton and Kingsley to both play well and win the job,” said Petersen. “Reid is just much further along with the offense, but those other two are talented and will certainly continue to get looks.”

It was nice to hear so much positive talk at media day. Rarely did you hear anyone refer to the back-to-back 3-9 campaigns. This Pirate team seems to have put the past behind them.

We just hope the future is much brighter, starting with North Carolina A&T on Sept. 1.

OFF THE FIELD UPGRADES COULD HAVE BIG IMPACT
EMERGING PERSONNEL PIVOTAL FOR PIRATES
AUDIO: COACH MO MEDIA DAY PRESSER…
VIEW ECU’S 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News & Features

ECU Recruiting News
Towering lineman Neolian still honing skills

Basketball News
Pirates top SMU, 77-72

VIEW FROM THE EAST: NORTH TEXAS
The new American

Basketball News
ECU rally falls short

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

Basketball News
Porter leads Shockers past Pirates

VIEW FROM THE EAST: FAU
The new American

Basketball News
Pirates rally past Tulsa to snap losing streak

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

VIEW FROM THE EAST: CHARLOTTE
The new American

More News & Features

ECU Schedules

  • ECU 2021 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2020-21 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2021 Baseball Schedule

ECU Recruiting

  • Football Recruiting Class of 2021
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2020
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2019
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2018
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2017
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2021-22
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2020-21
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2019-20
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2018-19
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2017-18
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2016-17

Past Football Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2014 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2013 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2012 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2011 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2010 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2009 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2008 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2007 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2006 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2005 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2004 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2003 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2002 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2001 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2000 Football Schedule
  • Historical Schedules

Past Basketball Schedules

  • ECU 2019-20 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2018-19 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2017-18 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2016-17 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2000-2015 Basketball Archives

Past Baseball Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2001-2014 Baseball Archives

Recruiting Class Profiles

ECU Recruiting News
Towering lineman Neolian still honing skills

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review (UPDATED)
Pirates tap transfer portal for more talent

AAC Early Signing Review
New members dive into AAC recruiting wars

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review
First wave of recruits just the beginning

ECU Recruiting News
Brown finds way to ECU through portal

ECU Recruiting News
Transfer safety McDaniel destined for ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates land coveted Spartanburg quarterback

ECU Recruiting News
Swift ECU recruit ‘in a class of his own’

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates win out for Georgia prep linebacker

ECU Recruiting News
Linebacker with pedigree charts path to ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates find a gem in Palmetto State receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Official visit swayed North Mecklenburg star

ECU Recruiting News
Physical Georgia receiver poses tough matchup

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates project lineman Durant as center

ECU Recruiting News
ECU spotted potential in Conley lineman

ECU Recruiting News
ECU lands fleet-footed Georgia defensive back

ECU Recruiting News
‘Football town’ helps draw Short to Pirates

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets edge rushers

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates aim high for interior line talent

ECU Recruiting News
Well stocked Pirates enter fray for O-linemen

ECU Recruiting News
ECU faces uphill battle in hunt for tight ends

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates cast wide net for wide receivers

ECU Recruiting News
Loaded Pirates still courting running backs

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, February 6, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, February 5, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, February 4, 2023

Writer Archives

  • Bonesville Staff
  • Brian Bailey
  • Sammy Batten
  • Bethany Bradsher
  • Brett Friedlander
  • Al Myatt
  • NFF
  • Greg Vacek
  • Danny Whitford

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, February 6, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, February 5, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, February 4, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, February 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, February 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, January 30, 2023

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2023 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy