N.C. State coach Dave Doeren will get a heavy dose of East Carolina football in the coming months. The Wolfpack and Pirates meet for the 33rd time on Saturday, December 28, at 5:45 p.m. in the Military Bowl at Navy Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis (ESPN).

State is scheduled to host ECU on Aug. 30 to start the 2025 season.

“As far as playing each other at the end and the beginning, we actually did that with ECU,” Doeren said via Zoom on Sunday.  ” … We had a game canceled with West Virginia and picked up ECU as our last contest and then opened with them the next year, so it’s something I’ve already done.”

The 2018 season finale was scheduled after Hurricane Florence caused the Pirates to cancel a contest at Virginia Tech and State had a matchup with West Virginia called off. Scottie Montgomery was fired as ECU coach the week before a 58-3 loss in Raleigh. First-year defensive coordinator David Blackwell served as interim coach for one game.

Jake Verity kicked a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the game to prevent a shutout.

In Mike Houston’s first game as coach in 2019, ECU was dealt a 34-6 loss at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Rosters have become more fluid with instant transfer eligibility and the lure of NIL money

“Teams change a lot from one year to the next.,” said the State coach. “Obviously, there’ll be some carryover, but these rosters for both of us will look different in the fall than they do now.

“We’ll probably both find out (Monday) if our rosters look the same with the transfer portal opening. So there’s a lot of change this time of year.”

Doeren is looking forward to preparing the remaining players to take on the Pirates.

“I know for one, just getting back on the practice field and getting around the guys again, it’s going to be nice,’ he said. “Getting ready and coaching up some of these young players. Look forward to the opportunity.”

Sightseeing

ECU took in some of the landmarks in Washington, D.C. before its 2021 Military Bowl matchup was called off due to COVID issues with Boston College.

State will seek similar cultural enrichment.

“We’re excited to go to the bowl game in Annapolis and play at our Naval Academy, spend time in the nation’s capital,” Doeren said. “I always look at the bowl games as life opportunities for these young men and no better place than our nation’s capital to experience something.

“A lot of these guys probably haven’t gotten the tours and the things that we’re going to be able to do, and so looking forward to that.”

Drivable distance

The bowl location is relatively close for both fan bases.

“The proximity, obviously, for our fan base, great location for them to be able to get there,” Doeren said.

Credit to Blake Harrell

Doeren expressed his respect for the job Blake Harrell has done since taking over the ECU program as interim coach on Oct. 20.

“Look forward to playing Coach Harrell and East Carolina,” Doeren said. “I have a lot of respect for Blake, for what you did this year, and congrats on becoming the head coach at ECU. I know that’s not an easy thing to do midstream like you did. Congratulations and we look forward to playing them.”

Historical perspective

The State-ECU series began in 1970. The Wolfpack won the last meeting, 21-20, in Greenville in 2022.

“It’s kind of a game that goes a long way back and we don’t get to play each other very often,” Doeren said.  “It’s been a while so I don’t know how many of our players the way rosters change anymore are going to remember the last time we played.

“But they’re excited to go to a bowl game. There’s several guys on our team, … that were a part of a canceled bowl game a few years ago in California (Holiday Bowl, 2021). It was on the way to the pregame meal that one got canceled. Excited to go up there and play.

“Our team’s coming off a good win against our rival UNC and we do have a really talented quarterback (C.J. Bailey) that’s excited to get into the postseason here.”

State and ECU didn’t play in the regular season between 1987 and 1996 after there was fighting in the aftermath of a 32-14 Pirates win in Raleigh. A security guard was injured as ECU fans took down the goal posts.

The first 18 games of the series were played in Raleigh. Now the teams alternate home games every three years.

“We’re in the same state,” Doeren said. “It’s kind of hard to call us rivals now because we don’t play each other every year and to me that’s what rivals do. But we’re in-state opponents and there’s a lot of crossover between our fans. There are split households and all those kind of things. There’s Wolfpack families whose kids are students at ECU.

“There’s all that in-state stuff that goes with this game and we’re not far from each other. We run into each other. Coaches see each other on the road in recruiting, at clinics, everything else. And a lot of these players, probably at least the in-state guys, will have teammates from high school on these two teams. So that’s part of it.

“But to go back to the eighties for me, … I can’t do that. I’d be speaking out of turn. I mean in the eighties I was in middle school or high school. I mean, I’m not that old, man. So yeah, I mean I know some of our older fans look at this a lot different than us. I got here 12 years ago and I know when we play each other it’s always packed at whoever’s stadium it’s at and there’s a lot of fanfare.”

Defensive coordinator transition

Tony Gibson, State’s defensive coordinator during a 6-6 season, has taken the head coaching job at Marshall.

“I’m super excited for Tony,” Doeren said. “He’s earned it. He deserves it. He’s been a great staff member, friend and throughout his time in college football, he’s made his mark and it’s always been one of his goals. And so for me, it’s a proud moment.

Coach (Tim) Beck (Coastal Carolina) a few years ago, Eliah Drinkwitz (now at Missouri) a few years ago, Mike Uremovich is now the head coach at Ball State. There’s a lot of guys that have worked for me that are now running their own programs. I take a lot of pride in that and super excited for them.

“Anytime a coach leaves, I look at that vacancy is an opportunity to improve and take our time making decisions on what we’re going to do. Our staff on defense is all here and those guys will coach. Tony won’t coach in the bowl game. Obviously, he’s got a program to go run. Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay will call the defense and run it. Excited for him to do that in this game and our kids will be excited to play hard for him.”

Military influence

Playing at Navy has meaning for the State coach.

“I love it, man,” he said. “I’m excited. Annapolis — I’ve never played there. I’ve been able to play at West Point and it’s just the history and all of it. It’s awesome being on their campus and their stadium.

“I know there’s our Military Appreciation Day. I mean the number of different military that shows up, the presence in our state is so incredible. And you talk about the eastern part of the state, one of my favorite trips since I’ve been here was spending eight hours at MARSOC, getting to see all the things that they do in the special forces part of the Marine base.

“I’m excited to go to Annapolis, really excited to see that. I have so much respect for the military academies and all of it. My dad served in the Navy. I was born in the Naval Hospital in California. All this is cool for me. I applied to the Naval Academy in high school so I’m really excited about the opportunity going there. And anytime we can do anything that lets the military have football involved in it where they can take a break from protecting us and enjoy a day, I’m all about it.”

Doeren was accepted into the Naval Academy.

“I didn’t go there,” he said. “Obviously, I decided not to do that. But no, it was the only academy that accepted me.

“I was very excited about that opportunity. … I thought I was going to be a doctor. I was pre-med. And to go to an academy, you owed them like 20 years of your life after med school and that was kind of hard to do at 17.

“This always comes up during military week. (Wife) Sara’s dad, Stan, served in the Army. My father, Bill, served in the Navy. All of our grandparents served. And so the military for us is meaningful.

“It was part of our upbringing and living in a state, it’s very present. It’s more present than any state I’ve lived in as far as the number of bases, active military reserves and everything else.

“So you do feel the pageantry of the military more here than you do anywhere from my standpoint. … Boo Corrigan (NCSU athletic director) can speak to this better than me being at West Point as long as he was.”

Former Pack player

Receiver Anthony Smith transferred to ECU from State before the 2024 season. He has 38 catches for 767 yards with six touchdowns.

“I’m excited for Anthony,” Doeren said. “I loved that kid. Wanted well for him. Was just actually looking at his stats earlier today. He’s had some big games for them. Four 100-yard games. He’s a fast kid.

“He’s always been a fun guy to be around. I’m excited for him. Anytime a guy leaves your program in good standing, which he did, you want nothing but success for those guys. Now obviously in our game, I hope he doesn’t have any, but as far as his career and life and looking what he’s done there — he’s made an impact for them. … He’s definitely got a great skill set.”