Audio: Coach Ruff Presser ECU coach Ruffin McNeill met with the media as the Pirates prepared to depart for the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl (recorded by Brian Bailey; file photo by W.A. Myatt): Select Clip...

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By Al Myatt
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Playing on television is not a novelty for the East Carolina football program. At most Pirate games the red-clad figure administering the halt of play for commercial messages is a fixture.

But ECU generally has played on regional stages or at times when other college football games might divide the nation's attention.

The Beef O'Brady's Bowl is different. When the ESPN cameras come on at 2 p.m. Monday to show the Pirates' matchup with Ohio from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL, it will be the only college football game in the country that day.

Presumably, it's a rare, weekday afternoon start during the postseason so there won't be a conflict with the NFL game between Atlanta and San Francisco on ESPN on Monday night.

The singular nature of the exposure opportunity is a factor that ECU needs to take advantage of, especially with potential recruits, youngsters whose impressions of the program might depend largely on what they see via cable or dish from St. Pete.

"Playing on national television, I told the guys it will give us a chance to show how good we are as a team, how professional we are as a team," said Pirates coach Ruffin McNeill. "We want to play the game the way it's supposed to be played.

"It's a chance to showcase the university and give East Carolina and Greenville some national publicity so they will know what type of jewel we have over here.

"We understand where we are and the value of that. We'll keep preparing so we can make sure we play our best game."

A bowl win can get the fan base excited. That translates to increased merchandise sales and season ticket purchases for the 2014 season.

There is also the possibility that a 10-win season with quarterback Shane Carden and receiver Justin Hardy among the returnees could get ECU some preseason Top 25 consideration as ECU transitions to the American Athletic Conference next year.

The Pirates have a lot for which to play.

"With the team, (a win) gives you momentum going into the offseason," McNeill said. "We demand a lot in the offseason with (strength and conditioning) coach (Jeff) Connors and academically. (A win) gives you that positive vibe and positive feel that you can't replace."

Jimmy Johnson's input

McNeill recalled when he had a summer internship with the Miami Dolphins when Jimmy Johnson was coaching the NFL franchise.

"He said, 'You play your best game your last game,' McNeill recalled.

That concept makes sense from the standpoint of a team learning from its mistakes and continuing to improve during the course of a season.

"That's our deal," McNeill said. "Let's play our best game this last game. That's our whole focus."

Football has the players' undivided attention since first semester exams have been completed.

"Football and meetings and meetings and football right now," McNeill said. "No classwork, which is perfect."

Larger group travels

ECU took about 120 players to St. Pete as the Pirates traveled on Thursday. That's significantly more than the group of 70 that typically goes to an away game during the regular season.

McNeill has a different philosophy from his Pirate predecessor, Skip Holtz, when it comes to dressing out players for home games.

Holtz had everyone in the program in uniform and running out to "Purple Haze" at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium when he was calling the shots.

McNeill usually suits up 78 to 80 players for home games.

"It's for sideline control," he said. "With our offensive substitutions, defensive substitutions and special teams, we try to keep the sideline as clear as possible so we can make clean substitutions."

McNeill said around 75 to 78 players will actually dress out for the bowl game.

"The other guys will be on the sideline in their travel sweats," McNeill said.

The bowl game is a time during which scout team players and redshirts are rewarded for their efforts.

"The scout team player gets every gift that Shane Carden gets," McNeill said. " ... His ring will be the same size as Derrell Johnson's. He'll get the same per diem that we're allowed to give them."

The NCAA allows each bowl to award up to $550 worth of gifts to 125 participants per school. In addition, participants can receive awards worth up to $400 from the school, according to Street and Smith's SportsBusiness Journal.

"We call the scout team the Victory Team," McNeill said. "They're the key to victory. They've done a great job of showing us great looks. They've earned it."

McNeill said that athletic director Jeff Compher had arranged for an additional plane to transport administrative personnel and families of the coaching staff to the bowl game.

It's a reward time for everyone who makes sacrifices for ECU's success.

Practice schedule

The Pirates had a workout scheduled at Clearwater Central Catholic from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Thursday. ECU will be at that venue for a practice from 1 to 3 p.m. today.

The practice location moves to the game site from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Saturday. The Pirates' final on-field tune-up will be at the Trop from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Pirates are staying at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort.

McNeill said he was leaning toward "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues," starring Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy, for the movie the night before the game.

Practice focus

The Pirates used the first week of postseason workouts to stay sharp and condition while finishing up exams and doing rehab for injuries. Safety Chip Thompson has been nicked up but McNeill was hopeful he would be good to go by game day.

There were short first-unit scrimmages during the second week as coaches mixed recruiting with bowl preparation.

McNeill said installation of the game plan started last Saturday, Dec. 14.

The green factor

Two of ECU's three losses have been to teams in green this season.

Tulane, whose school colors are olive green and sky blue, topped the Pirates 36-33 in triple overtime on Oct. 12. It was the Pirates' second straight setback at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, including a 43-34 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl last year.

Marshall, whose colors are green and white, pinned a 59-28 loss on ECU on Nov. 29.

The Pirates did defeat UAB (forest green and gold), 63-14, on Nov. 16.

Ohio is green-based in its color scheme.

ECU will be looking to buck the trend against teams in green, end a two-game slide in enclosed stadiums and halt a four-game bowl losing streak.

Ruff's Christmas wish

Santa Claus will have to come a little early to grant McNeill his Christmas wish.

"A win," said the ECU coach. "I want our players to experience that feeling of victory together and singing our fight song one more time in the locker room.

"That's all I need."