CHRONICLING EAST
CAROLINA & CONFERENCE USA
SPORTS
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View from the East
Friday, November 9, 2012
By Al Myatt |
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Open date, not an off week
By
Al Myatt
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
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For the first time
since the season opener on Sept. 1, East Carolina has a week without
a football game, but don't get the idea that the program has put up
a closed sign and is taking the week off.
"It's good to have it and
we needed it," Pirates coach Ruffin McNeill said on Wednesday. "It
really came at a good time for us. We've got some guys who are nicked
and banged up. I hope we can get them back by next week for the Tulane
game. The open date helps expedite that process. We didn't practice
Sunday. We gave them the normal Monday off."
McNeill had routine
practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Thursday workout focused
on fundamentals for the guys who are getting the majority of playing
time.
A 35- to 40-play scrimmage
was planned for players who have not been getting a lot of action on
game days.
"The Lance Rays, Antonio
Cannon, Chris Hairston, Josh Hawkins — those guys who haven't gotten a
ton of reps, we'll have a scrimmage for those guys," McNeill said.
Seven members of the
coaching staff hit the road this week on Wednesday to recruit. They are
scheduled to be back in Greenville on Saturday.
McNeill, offensive
coordinator Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell have
remained in the football office to supervise practice, along with the
graduate assistants.
"Sunday will be normal
Sunday prep for Tulane," McNeill said.
The time between games
will also have academic value.
"Classroom catch up,"
McNeill said. "We'll have treatment for mind and body and continue our
lifting process with coach (Jeff) Connors."
Tulane will have ECU's
attention
After an 0-5 start, Tulane
has won two of its last four games.
"They throw the football
well," McNeill said of ECU's Nov. 17 opponent in the Mercedes-Benz
Superdome in New Orleans.
The ECU coach noted that
first-year Green Wave coach Curtis Johnson was with the New Orleans
Saints in 2009 for their Super Bowl triumph.
"C.J. was there with Coach
(Sean) Payton for years. They do a good job moving the football. We're
definitely not overlooking Tulane. Our focus this week in practice, we
expose our team to Tulane in bits and pieces. Sunday, we'll dive full
bore into them and have a week of preparation, of course. They're a team
that we have to make sure we're ready to go and have our same focus and
intensity that we had versus Houston."
Houston win a 'life
lesson'
After
a 56-28 loss to Navy,
a 48-28 win over Houston in
which the Pirates had 550 yards of total offense was just what the
doctor ordered.
"It was a life lesson, for
not just the players but for us as adults," McNeill said. "You deal with
adversity in life. You can handle adversity two ways. You can lay down
and take it or you can meet it and face it eyeball to eyeball. Our kids
did that. Our staff did that. Our group did that, so outside of
football, it was a life lesson. You keep fighting back. You never quit
and you never give up.
"It was a real lift for
our program. Besides a football coach, I'm a Pirate. When we don't do
well as a team, I take it personally, as well as any of the fans do. ...
We wanted to make sure we came out and played the best game that we
could and I think we were close. We wanted to make sure we improved on
all three sides of the ball. We did that and I was very proud of the
group."
Weather gives ECU a
helping hand
The Pirates have had some
challenging circumstances in terms of weather at the home games this
season. Several hundred people were treated for heat-related symptoms at
the season opener against Appalachian State, there was a delay of play
in the Texas-El Paso game due to an electrical cell, and peripheral rain
from Super Storm Sandy made for a miserable day when ECU matched up with
Navy.
Sunny, clear conditions
were welcomed for the Houston game.
"It was great to have a
great day to play so our fans could enjoy it," McNeill said. "Our
players and coaches could go out and not worry about deadly heat or
lightning delays or hurricane warnings. It's been a different type of
year. The fans are a 12th player at our home games on each side of the
football. Having a full 12th player really helps us in momentum,
enthusiasm and the total package. It was great to have a great day in
Dowdy-Ficklen. We were very happy to get the win for our program, our
players and coaches and for our fans."
There should be no worries
about the weather next week at Tulane.
"That will be good to play
in a controlled environment," McNeill said. "I'm sure they'll have great
turf down there. I haven't ever coached in the Superdome, but I'm
looking forward to going down there. I've had some coaching convention
meetings in the area. ... It's a controlled environment, so weather
won't be a factor. We'll be able to go and play and be ready to perform
at our best level, better than we did last week."
Ruff's movie review
The Pirates saw "Flight"
with Denzel Washington the Friday night before the Houston game.
Washington plays Whip Whitaker, a pilot who makes a heroic landing when
his plane has mechanical problems but must deal with the fallout when
tests show alcohol and drugs in his system.
"I loved it," McNeill
said. "I'm a movie buff. It was intense from beginning to end and had
you pulling for the character. You're disappointed in the character and
then proud of the character. ... I love those type of movies that tug at
you a little bit."
The Pirates won't be
taking in a movie as a team this week due to the open date.
"I'll find something to
watch at home," McNeill said.
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