East Carolina coach Blake Harrell didn’t analyze the 30-17 overtime loss at Alabama-Birmingham in depth in opening remarks at his news conference Monday.

It was a disappointing and frustrating outcome as the Pirates had a 17-9 lead with UAB at its 4-yard line with 1:37 left in regulation.

It could be said that what a prevent defense does is prevent you from winning as ECU rushed three or four and dropped the remainder into coverage. The Pirates got away from their trademark aggressiveness that has made them national leaders in tackles for losses but that was the percentage move.

Ninety-six yards in 97 seconds with no timeouts left was a long shot and the hosts needed a 2-point conversion, too. ECU missed on some pressures and missed some tackles but credit to UAB, which didn’t even have a team in 2015 and 2016.

ECU had won the previous seven matchups with the Blazers in Conference USA between 2007 and 2013 when current UAB quarterback Ryder Burton was just a kid.

Burton strung passes along the sideline like an inspired virtuoso and got the Blazers into the end zone with 35 seconds to spare on a 17-yard scoring toss to Bam McReynolds.

One question that wasn’t posed was why the Pirates didn’t try to move from their 25 into Noah Perez’s field goal range in the last 35 seconds. Some deep outs might have allowed that scenario to produce.

ECU obviously went conservative with three handoffs to T,J. Engleman for 24 yards. The Pirates obviously felt their best option was overtime and didn’t want to risk an interception in their own territory.

The problem was that momentum had changed at Protective Stadium. ECU’s Landon Sides won the overtime toss and the Pirates elected to play defense first.

The Blazers raised the bar to 24-17 on a pair of third down passes by Burton, one for 18 yards to C.J. Smith and the TD completion to Rod Robinson II covering six yards.

On ECU’s overtime series, two keepers by Emory Willians netted five yards before his third down pass went 80 yards in the wrong direction with a pick six by Delvon Gulley of the Blazers.

Fast start

ECU had 169 of its 313 total yards and 14 of its 17 points on its first three possessions at UAB.

That’s 53.9 percent of its yardage and 82.3 percent of its scoring.

The Pirates  had 13 possessions for the game.

Saturday therapy

Harrell said the team worked out Saturday after a day off.

“It’s a tough one to get over and not just as players, coaches, both,” he said. “A tough one to move on. You’ve got to get it out of your system pretty quick.

“We went out to practice Saturday morning. I think that was probably the best medication, just getting back on the grass and back out there moving around. …

“Looking forward to Memphis and going to play another conference game.”

Another Thursday nighter

The Pirates (3-3, 1-1 American) are on national television (ESPN2) for the second straight week on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

Like ECU, the Tigers (5-2, 2-1 American) are coming off a league road loss, having fallen, 31-17, at Tulane on Friday night.

UAB repercussion

The loss after leading most of the way at UAB means that the Pirates no longer control their own fate as far as finishing atop the American Conference standings.

Texas-San Antonio is 3-0 in the league and North Texas is 2-0. ECU does not play the Roadrunners or the Mean Green. ECU potentially can finish 7-1 in the conference but would need help to finish in a tie at the top.

Looking at Memphis

Charles Huff is in his first season as coach at Memphis. He was at Southern Miss last season. The Golden Eagles were 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Harrell pointed out that Huff was at Marshall the last time ECU played the Thundering Herd. That matchup produced a 31-13 Marshall win on Sept. 9, 2023, in Greenville.

Junior quarterback Marcus Stokes is averaging 263.0 yards per game passing for the Tigers. Jaylin Carter is the leading rusher for Memphis with 111.4 yards per game. Carter came with Huff from Southern Miss. Tight end Hunter Tipton, who transferred from Middle Tennessee State, is the top receiver with 54.3 yards per game.

The teams have one common opponent, UAB. The Tigers downed the Blazers, 38-13, in Memphis on Oct. 10 after trailing, 13-10, at the half.

The Tigers are 10.5-point favorites on Thursday night.

Program connections

ECU defensive coordinator Jordan Hankins had the same responsibilities at Memphis last year. Brothers Crews and Cade Law are Pirate linebackers who were playing for the Tigers a year ago.

Memphis offensive coordinator Kevin Decker and ECU offensive line coach Alex Huettel had the same duties with a 10-3 team at Old Dominion in 2025.

“You’re going to see a very similar offense to what Old Dominion runs,” Harrell said of the Tigers. “They’re averaging (512.6) yards a game, (35.4) points a game.”