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
Sold-out banquet produces zingers, touching moment

February 4, 2020 By Brian Bailey 1 Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

East Carolina baseball coach Cliff Godwin is a stickler for details. That attention to detail is probably what makes the 2019 American Athletic Conference coach of the year such a success at his job.

For the 5th straight year it was a privilege for me to emcee the annual ECU baseball banquet. A sold-out crowd of close to 600 came out for the event, which raised money that went right back into the baseball program.

Godwin’s attention to detail is impressive. Each year on the Monday before the banquet he goes through the night, step by step and line by line on the script of the night to come.

ECU Baseball Banquet emcee Brian Bailey (submitted photo)

I usually don’t get nervous before emceeing an event, but the East Carolina baseball banquet is different. I’m sort of like the Pirate players. I want to perform at my very best, just like the Pirate players try to do on the diamond.

Saturday night’s event was really nice. From the player introductions to the keynote speakers, it was a truly a great night to help usher in the new baseball season.

The two speakers, former ECU shortstop Turner Brown and former Pirate pitcher Jeremy Schumacher gave unforgettable accounts of their time at ECU.

Brown gave an emotional account of finding out that his family home had burned down just before the start of his final season at ECU. He paused a couple of times to gain his composure as he spoke about the tragedy. I looked around the room and there were very few dry eyes in the building.

Schumacher spoke about his days playing with Coach Godwin and playing under the late Keith LeClair. His description of hosting a recruiting weekend with several of LeClair’s key recruits was absolutely hilarious.

ECU Baseball Banquet keynote speaker Jeremy Schumaker (submitted photo)

Schumacher parlayed his degree at East Carolina into his current position as President and Managing Partner of Arcadia Homes out of Charlotte. In 2019 he was named “Custom Builder of the Year.”

Earlier in the evening three seniors had a chance to speak. The three were reliever Matt Bridges, starter Tyler Smith and all-everything lefty Alec Burleson.

Smith stole the show with his comments about his dealings with Coach Godwin.

“He told me that I couldn’t get a girlfriend if I took my shirt off,” said Smith as he told the story of how his coach was able to motivate him.

Godwin came back to the stage and said, “It worked! It was a win-win for everybody and now you’ve got a girlfriend.”

Head coach Cliff Godwin addresses the audience at the ECU Baseball Banquet. (submitted photo)

That’s the kind of night it was. It was a rare glimpse into the inside of East Carolina’s most successful sports program.

Tyler’s story was reminiscent of last year’s banquet when Jake Agnos told the story of Coach Godwin telling the team that Jake pitched like a baby, and illustrated his thoughts by laying down in the middle of the huddle in the fetal position. That was the absolute funniest story that I’ve ever heard at any of these baseball banquets.

Agnos was the most decorated of the Pirates from 2019. He was named first team All-American by both Collegiate Baseball and by the NBCWA. He was also an academic All-American, and is the only Pirate to win the American Athletic Conference Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the American’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He is the first Pirate in school history to earn either of the American’s annual awards. Agnos couldn’t make this year’s banquet having already reported for spring training.

The banquet was a huge success and served as a great kickoff to the 2020 baseball season. It’s East Carolina and William & Mary on Valentine’s Day to start a three-game series.

We’ll see you at Clark-LeClair Stadium on February 14th.

ECU 2020 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
SOLD-OUT BANQUET PRODUCES ZINGERS, TOUCHING MOMENT
HARRELL TAKES ON ECU’S CHRONIC CHALLENGE
TEMPLE TOPS PIRATES, 67-64
PIRATES TAKE GARDNER SHOW TO PHILLY
SAMPSON HAD NO ANSWER FOR JAYDEN GARDNER
NO. 21 COUGARS OVERCOME GARDNER, PIRATES
RELENTLESS PIRATES FEED OFF MINGES ENERGY
BURLESON, KUCHMANER FUEL QUEST FOR THE DREAM
GARDNER, MILES PROPEL PIRATES
THE PIRATES’ BIGGEST MOMENTS, 2010-2019

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Comments

  1. Jeff Wilson says

    February 6, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    Would be nice exposure for those of us that could not attend to see a video of the banquet speakers and hear from our Pirates.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recent News & Features

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

Basketball News
Owls pull away from ECU in second half

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

Basketball News
Small matter costly in ECU loss

VIEW FROM THE EAST
The new American

Basketball News
Bearcats beat ECU from long range

Basketball News
Memphis run tops ECU

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
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

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets quarterbacks of the future

AAC Football Recruiting News
Transfer portal reshaping AAC football programs

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, January 27, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, January 26, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, January 25, 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
Friday, January 27, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, January 26, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, January 25, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, January 23, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, January 21, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, January 18, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, January 16, 2023

More Web Roundups

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