Audio: The Brian
Bailey Show |
The
Brian Bailey Show
airs on Pirate Radio
1250 on Mondays at
6:30 p.m. Brian's
topic this week was
the N.C. High School
Athletic Association
playoffs:
Replay
show... |
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MULTIMEDIA |
Audio: Coach Ruff Weekly
Presser |
ECU
coach Ruffin McNeill spoke
with the media at his weekly
press conference on Monday
as the Pirates prepare to
host Central Florida on
Thursday night (courtesy of
Pirate Radio 1250):
Select
clip... |
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American Football
Schedule |
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THURSDAY |
UCF at ECU,
7:30 pm (ESPN) |
SATURDAY |
Houston at
Cincinnati, 12 pm (ESPN)
SMU at UConn, 12 pm (CBSSN)
Temple at Tulane, 7:30 pm (ESPN2) |
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FOOTBALL |
Saying goodbye is never easy |
Nineteen
East Carolina seniors will dress for
the final time at Dowdy-Ficklen
Stadium on Thursday night. It’s a
stellar group, one that trusted a
brand new coach enough to help start
his program at his alma mater. ...
More from Brian Bailey... |
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BASKETBALL |
Ziggy perfect in Pirates win |
GREENVILLE — Michel-Ofik
"Ziggy" Nzege made all nine
of his field goal attempts
to score 18 points and lead
host East Carolina to a
74-59 win over Central
Connecticut State on Sunday
afternoon. ...
More... |
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Ruff post-game audio |
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ECU
coach Ruffin McNeill
spoke with the news
media after
the
Pirates defeated Tulsa
on Friday night
(recorded by Al Myatt):
Select audio clip... |
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FOOTBALL |
Familiar Foes Tangle |
Familiar
foes clash in the 12th
meeting between Tulsa and
East Carolina. The Pirates
lead the series 6-5-0. East
Carolina has won the last
four meetings, including a
58-24 home victory last
year. ...
More from Greg Vacek... |
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FOOTBALL |
Ruffin and stuffin' |
East
Carolina's football team
observed Thanksgiving on
Wednesday and will fly to
Tulsa today for an American
Athletic Conference game
with the Golden Hurricane at
8:30 p.m. Eastern time on
Friday. The contest may be
seen on ESPNU. ...
More from Al Myatt... |
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BASKETBALL |
Hawaii edges East Carolina |
ESTERO, FL — East Carolina
overcame an 11-point second
half deficit to lead Hawaii
with 8:18 left in the
fifth-place game in the Gulf
Coast Showcase on Wednesday
before the Rainbow Warriors
responded with a 14-3 run en
route to a 75-73 win over
the Pirates. ...
More... |
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BASKETBALL |
Tyson helps ECU hold off
Fresno |
ESTERO, FL — Freshman guard
B.J. Tyson scored East
Carolina's last eight
points, including all six of
his free throw attempts down
the stretch, as the Pirates
held off Fresno State for a
58-52 win in the Gulf Coast
Showcase on Tuesday
afternoon. ...
More... |
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Audio: The Brian
Bailey Show |
The
Brian Bailey Show
airs on Pirate Radio
1250 on Mondays at
6:30 p.m. Brian's
guest this week was
ECU director of high
school relations
Harold Robinson:
Replay
show... |
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By
Brian Bailey
©2014 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
View ECU's
2014 football schedule
VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF THIS PAGE
Nineteen
East Carolina seniors will dress for the final time at Dowdy-Ficklen
Stadium on Thursday night.
It’s a stellar group, one that trusted a brand new coach enough to help
start his program at his alma mater.
It’s a special group to Pirate head coach Ruffin McNeill in a number of
ways.
“You know how much I care about the kids, how much I fight for them and
how much they fight for me,” the ECU coach remarked when asked about his
seniors at his weekly news conference.
“It’s a two-way street," said McNeill. "It’s not just me. I love
coaching with them and coaching for them. These guys have done
everything I ask. They’re my sons and it’s not lip service. I love them
more as people than I do inside their uniforms. I love those kids
personally.”
McNeill says he doesn’t want any of his seniors to mask their emotions
on Senior Night. Shane Carden says that won’t be a problem.
“Sure it’s going to be emotional,” said the Pirate quarterback. “It’s
really starting to hit me and I know I will be emotional.”
I’ve seen many a senior say goodbye to the Pirate Nation. Rarely have I
seen a group that truly loves their university and their coach
like this group does.
Ruffin McNeill has preached about a family atmosphere from day one. Five
years of this consistent philosophy is the proof in the pudding. These
aren’t only Pirate seniors, they are Pirates for life.
“With these seniors, I can identify with exactly what they’re going
through,” said McNeill. “I’ve gone through the exact same thing and I
know what’s going through their minds. There is going to be some emotion
with these guys. I’m not going to hide it or ask them to suppress it. I
want them to enjoy it. They will handle it well.
"I’m looking forward to
hugging each one as they come out (of the tunnel) and meet their parents
at midfield in front of Pirate Nation for their last time at
Dowdy-Ficklen.”
After the seniors are honored, East Carolina once again takes to the
ESPN stage for Thursday night football.
UCF has a championship to play for, so pardon the Knights if they don’t
get all emotional for the Pirate seniors.
“We know we’re facing a really good football team in Central Florida,
too,” said McNeill. “It will definitely be a big-boy pad day. George
(O’Leary) has built that program where they win consistently. You watch
them on film, defensively, and they’re one of the best in the
conference. Offensively, they do a good job of moving the ball. They’re
solid all across the board.”
UCF rolls into town on a three game winning streak. In wins over Tulsa,
Southern Methodist and South Florida the Knights have outscored the
opposition 100-14.
The Knights also have this stat in their favor. UCF has won 24
consecutive games that have kicked off at 3 p.m. or later. Thursday
night’s kick-off is at 7:30.
I personally look forward to seeing Shane, Justin Hardy and the rest of
this senior class honored before the game. I’m betting dry eyes will be
hard to come by.
This is a special group and one that Coach Ruff can always look back on
as the building blocks that his program was established on.
Hopefully the Pirate Nation will also be out in force to thank this
group for the magic that is college football in Greenville, NC.
BB