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Audio:
Pirate Radio
1250 |
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 The
Brian Bailey Show
airs on Pirate Radio
1250 on Mondays at
6:30 p.m. Brian's
guest was Duane
Price:
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show... |
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Audio: The Steve
Logan Show |
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 The
Steve Logan Show airs on FM 103.7 and FM
94.1 each Monday from 6-8 p.m. Replay last
night's show:
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clip... |
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Audio:
Coach Ruff
Weekly Presser |
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 Coach
Ruffin McNeill discussed the Pirates' win
over Middle Tennessee State and previewed
the Tulane game:
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clip... |
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By
Brian Bailey
©2013 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View the Mobile Alpha version of this page.
It’s back to the bayou this week for East Carolina.
Since last November, the Pirates have played four games
at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, while this Saturday's matchup with Tulane will
mark the team’s third contest at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The dome is the official home of the Saints from the NFL
and of the Green Wave from Conference USA.
The New Orleans landmark is all of a sudden an unofficial
home for the Pirates. ECU coach Ruffin McNeill hopes it pays dividends.
“It helps,” said McNeill at his weekly news conference on
Monday. “Today, we did the schedule and we’re staying in the same place
and keeping a bit of the same routine. Three of our last eight games
have been in the Superdome and it’s a great venue to play in.
"I’m looking forward to going back down there and playing
again.”
ECU leads the all-time series with Tulane 10-2. The
Pirates have struggled somewhat in games against the Wave in New
Orleans.
Last year the Pirates pulled out
a 28-23 victory. In
2008, the Pirates
won 28-24.
No one in the Pirate camp is expecting a blowout this
year either.
Tulane has an aggressive defense and leads all of C-USA
with 11 interceptions on the season. The Wave has also found success of
late, and like East Carolina comes into this game on a two-game winning
streak.
“They do a great job of blitzing and they have the speed
to lock down receivers on every play,” said McNeill. “It’s not by
accident. They really have an attack-mode type of defense. Watching them
against North Texas, they did a good job of mixing up their different
blitzes, and coverage-wise, blending in from coverage to man to zero
blitzes with no help.
"To
get interceptions, you have to have really good athletes, and they have
really good athletes.”
So do the Pirates. Each week this East Carolina team is
led by a different star.
Chris Hairston came through when Vintavious Cooper went
down.
Damon Magazu did what he does best. Mags came up with the
big defensive play when the Pirates needed it. He’s done it against
North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Marshall and now Middle Tennessee
State.
“I thought I had it but I wanted to make sure,” said
Magazu of his diving pick that cut off the Blue Raiders' final drive
last Saturday. “I
took a chance because I knew that if I missed, there was a linebacker
there to make the tackle.”
Magazu also got the praise of his coach.
“He’s a pleasure to be around,” said McNeill. “He’s the
son of a coach and he’s a great leader. I nominated him for C-USA player
of the week honors with the 15 solos, the four assists and the big
interception. I was really pleased with his production.”
So far the Pirates have done a good job with staying
focused about the job at hand. That focus will be tested again this
week.
East Carolina is favored, and the Pirates should be.
Any lapse in that focus, though, could de-rail what has
the making to be an outstanding 2013 season.
BB
