New East Carolina head football coach Mike Houston will unveil his first signing class on Wednesday.
The Pirate coach has certainly hit the pavement hard.
“I think this is the second night that I’ve spent the night in Greenville,” said Houston on Saturday. “We are getting set to sign a very good recruiting class, one that is especially strong from the local area.”
Houston was a guest at Saturday’s 40th anniversary celebration of ECU’s 1978 Independence Bowl championship team. Poscaster The Sports Objective hosted the event at Professor O ’Cool’s in Greenville. The Pirates beat Louisiana Tech, 35-13, in that bowl game.
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The coach of that team, College Football Hall of Fame member Pat Dye, spoke to the team via the telephone.
Coach Houston spoke to the group, and took his own turn with Coach Dye.
“What a thrill for me,” said Houston. “Coach Dye is one of the all-time best. I remember watching his teams play when I was a kid. It was a thrill to talk to him.”
Houston told the ’78 team that he wanted to embrace the Pirate football history, and that all of the players in attendance were welcome on campus and at practice at any time.
Terry Gallaher, a wide receiver for ECU in ’78, helped to organize the event.
“It was just great to hear Coach Houston today,” said Gallaher. “This is about all of us. We all want ECU to rise again. We are all Pirates and I think Coach Houston is going to unite the Pirate Nation. I’m excited!”
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Tony Collins, who was a running back for that ’78 team, agrees with Gallaher.
“I can’t wait to see him on the sideline,” said Collins. “We would love to help him on the field, but we’re out of eligibility,” he joked.
Former Pirate head coach Ruffin McNeil made a key interception in that game. This ’78 squad was especially upset when Coach Ruff was fired by then ECU Athletics Director Jeff Compher.
“It’s important for us to come together,” added Gallaher. “We all love this university very much.”
ECU Hall of Famer Leander Green was the quarterback on that bowl championship team. Green is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in ECU history, leading his teams to a 24-9-1 record from 1977-79.
“That’s what I miss most about football,” said Green. “I loved seeing all of these guys on a daily basis and I really enjoy getting back together from time to time.”
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The 1978 bowl win was the team’s first postseason appearance in 15 years. Before that, ECU beat Maine, 31-0, in the 1965 Tangerine Bowl.
Fullback Theodore Sutton set a then Independence Bowl record with 143 yards on 17 carries and was named the game’s outstanding offensive player by the attending media. Defensive end Zack Valentine, who led the ECU defense with seven tackles, received the award as the top defensive player.
Youtube.com has the complete game on video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhiRsS2951g&t=1864s.
I certainly enjoyed seeing many of the former Pirate stars and I think we all look forward to Wednesday and the early National Signing Day.
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