CHRONICLING EAST CAROLINA & CONFERENCE USA SPORTS
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Monday Focus
Monday, November 25, 2013

By Al Myatt

Al Myatt

Giving thanks

 

Giving Thanks

 

C-USA Standings & Schedule

 

Game Center: ECU 42, N.C. State 28

 

Rivalry isn’t what it used to be

 

Game Day Photo Gallery

 
Audio: Coach Ruff Post-game
ECU coach Ruffin McNeill addressed the media after the Pirates' win over N.C. State: Select clip...
 

This week in college football history

 

Greg's Game Day Breakdown

 

Kevin's Keys to the Game

 

Ruff has history with Pack

 

Recruiting thumbnail: PF Kanu Aja...

 

Duke fends off plucky Pirates

 

ECU seniors go out in style

 

By Al Myatt
©2013 Bonesville.net
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There are a lot of things to be thankful for each and every day.

Loving families and good health are special blessings that we shouldn't wait for Thanksgiving to acknowledge.

For those who have followed East Carolina in football this season there have been a great abundance of reasons to give thanks.

As coach Ruffin McNeill has said on occasion, "Some things are too coincidental to be coincidences."

I'm thankful that former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach put Adam James in a storage building to try and get the receiver's head straight. That unusual incident set the wheels in motion that brought McNeill — and a considerable portion of his staff — back to his alma mater.

McNeill has made an unprecedented contribution to the Pirate cornucopia this season by beating North Carolina and N.C. State in the same season. ECU did it the old fashioned way, too, on the road.

I'm thankful that this team has grown together with a like-minded purpose.

I have no doubt that the Pirates will be focused and prepared as they play Marshall for Conference USA's East Division championship on Friday.

I'm thankful that programs like Boise State, Houston and Rice passed on Shane Carden and that he didn't take advantage of an opportunity to go to Harvard.

He's the complete package at quarterback. He has exceptional skills throwing and no hesitation to run, but he also has great leadership ability as well as the judgment to check into effective plays.

I'm thankful that Justin Hardy walked on at ECU.

He could have taken advantage of his only college offer and gone to Fayetteville State, but when Lincoln Riley came in as offensive coordinator in 2010, he had the wisdom to make Hardy an invited player. Hardy is rewriting the receiving record book at ECU.

I'm thankful Vintavious Cooper, like Hardy, has made a successful transition from quarterback.

I'm thankful for an offensive line that can create lanes for Cooper to dart through.

I'm not thankful that Skip Holtz was dismissed at South Florida but it did lead to Rick Smith coordinating ECU's defense this season. See difference maker in the dictionary. The illustration will be Smith with a game plan in his hand and defensive line coach Marc Yellock by his side.

I'm thankful that Holtz agreed not to bring players to South Florida who had already committed to ECU.

Otherwise, Damon Magazu probably would be finishing his career in Tampa. Mags is an inspiration to watch, a great combination of athleticism, desire and knowledge of the game.

I'm thankful that the Pirates have developed sufficient depth that when a linebacker of the caliber of Jeremy Grove goes out, a talent like Zeek Bigger is there to step in.

I'm thankful that the offensive and defensive fronts have stockpiled some numbers, too.

I'm thankful for the concept and practice of position competition. It seems to keep everyone sharp and improving.

I'm thankful that punter Trent Tignor can win field position with a swing of his right foot. I'm also thankful that he can bounce a football on the turf and control it like a yo-yo. That's an interesting diversion to observe between snaps.

I'm thankful that McNeill walks an hour a day. He's in much better shape than three years ago and his daily exercise gives him some personal time to focus outside the office. I wouldn't be surprised if that's where his latest abbreviation — OPAT (One Play At a Time) came from. The ECU coach had already given us TBA (Trust, Belief and Accountability).

I'm thankful that special teams coordinator Kirk Doll, McNeill and Smith want to retire in Greenville. It's special when your non-BCS AQ program is a final destination and not a stepping stone.

I'm thankful that Ruff says he's the daddy of the program and not the CEO, that every new recruit has a set of uncles (coaching staff) and numerous big brothers (players). That will make Thanksgiving with the team this week a special time when the players can't get home to be with their blood relatives.

I'm thankful that Ruff jumps up and down with his players sometimes in a huddle on the sideline when he thinks they need to loosen up. It's cool to watch a little free-spirited exercise like 50,000 people aren't there.

I'm thankful Jeff Connors came back to East Carolina. McNeill says he's the best at strength and conditioning in the country. The players believe in him, too. Connors has made a huge difference in offseason development and in season conditioning.

I'm thankful for heaters in press boxes.

The high Friday at Marshall is supposed to be 41 degrees.

Kerr likes what he sees

I'm thankful to know Jeff Kerr.

The former ECU linebacker was on hand for the N.C. State game Saturday and liked what he saw.

Kerr's last home game in 1999 was a 23-6 win over the Wolfpack. He was first team All-Conference USA that season as well as MVP of the Pirate defense.

Kerr had driven back from Disney World to see his daughter in a school play on Friday but he didn't regret the drive from the Charlotte area to see the Pirates' 42-28 win in Raleigh.

"That was one of the best games I've watched in a long time," Kerr said. "That was a great game, a great one to be part of. ... They are definitely carrying on a tradition. I was glad to see it again. I was very impressed with the way they played and how hard they played. I think Coach Connors has done a great job with them. You can definitely tell a difference in there, their intensity and their heart, too.

"Their offense is unparalleled. It's impressive what they can do on offense. Defense, they played hard. They got after it. I think they did a great job of playing with intensity and also a lot of discipline."

Kerr said he also liked hearing the players say they were shifting their focus to preparing for Marshall following the game.

Kerr is still involved competitively as a crew member in NASCAR racing. He expects to transition from jack man to gas man for the next season, which will begin in mid-February. Kerr can appreciate Connors because he is involved in a similar role in terms of training pit crews.

On to Bigger and better things

I'm thankful that Zeek Bigger is confident about the Marshall game.

Bigger was in on seven tackles at State to share the team lead with Magazu and Derrell Johnson.

Bigger doesn't anticipate that colder weather will deter the Pirates.

"I think we just have to go out there focused and ready to play." he said. "We've been in cold environments. ... I know it gets cold at Marshall. Just being ready. That's what we're going to have to do. Be ready."

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11/25/2013 03:28 AM
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