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Bailey's
Take on Conference USA
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From the Anchor Desk
Tuesday, November 6, 2001
By Brian Bailey
Sports Anchor of WNCT-TV 9 |
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Pirates Brace for first of Several
Showdowns with Title Implications
�2001 Bonesville.net
This is why you play in a conference.
The 2001 football season has been a bit
of a roller coaster ride for the Pirate faithful, but the ultimate goal is
still very much in site. The Pirates are three wins, and maybe less then
that, away from a Conference USA title.
There are still several scenarios, but a
win over Cincinnati and a victory over Louisville would clinch at least a
share of the title for ECU.
�I�ve said this for a couple of weeks,
that each game gets bigger and more difficult,� said Pirate Coach Steve
Logan. �And that�s exactly what we are seeing. We can�t afford to look
ahead. We�ve just got to take care of business at Cincinnati and go from
there.�
Actually, though, the Pirates have taken
at least a glimpse ahead in the schedule. The Pirates used last Thursday
and Friday to prepare in advance for Louisville.
�We came back from TCU and slept on
Wednesday,� Logan said. �Then, we went out in helmets and looked
exclusively at Louisville on Thursday and Friday. This will help us when
we get to the short week next week against the Cardinals.�
The Pirates then took Saturday off, and
came back to begin the team�s normal week of work, focusing on the next
opponent, Cincinnati.
It�s the Bearcats, Louisville and then
Southern Miss for East Carolina to close the season. Each game will go a
long way in determining the bowl structure for the league.
Logan
Doesn�t Blame Defense for Poor 2nd Half
Coach Logan was very encouraged by the
play of his defense in the first half of the TCU game.
�The second half was just a case of us
turning the football over,� Logan said. �When you turn it over, the other
team is energized and things can change in a hurry.�
That first half featured a dominating,
smothering defense that we haven�t seen all that much of this season from
East Carolina. The second half was a disaster that ended just in time.
Logan, though, says the team did learn
one key aspect of football.
�We learned how to win a close game,�
said Logan. We really haven�t had that kind of win all year, and that�s
important. The way we won that game will help us later in the season.�
Basketball Holds Media Day
Pirate basketball coaches Bill Herrion
and Dee Stokes were both on hand on Monday for East Carolina�s annual
basketball media day.
Coach Herrion�s Pirates make their
preseason debut on Tuesday night. The coach can�t believe it is already
time to tip off a real game.
�Our practice time has flown by,� said
Herrion. I think we have had some great practices, but there just isn�t
enough time to get everything in.�
I had a chance to catch some of
Saturday�s Purple-Gold scrimmage. My first impression is that this is the
most athletic team, by far, that I have seen in my 17 years of covering
East Carolina basketball.
Erroyl Bing looks like he has put on 20
pounds of muscle, and Gabriel Mikulas still has those nice power moves
down low.
Travis Holcomb-Faye is having an
outstanding preseason at the point. He�s being pushed by Durham freshman
Devin Boddie in practice.
ECU Women�s Coach Dee Stokes was a bit
under the weather on Monday.
�I�m not feeling well,� she said, �but
I�ve still got to get out and make sure the I have a good practice."
Stokes may be a bit weary after coming
back from an assistant coaching stint at the World University Games in
China this summer.
The ECU women won their first pre-season
exhibition game, and hope to provide some surprises in Conference USA this
season.
Mikulas,
Badiane Currently Ineligible
Gabriel Mikulas and Moussa Badiane are
both currently ineligible, after the NCAA�s ruling on foreign players from
last week.
�This is the first step in getting both
players re-instated,� explained Coach Bill Herrion. �The NCAA has ruled
that the maximum number of games a player will have to miss is 8. It�s a
20 percent ruling, so we think that the pair will only miss a game or two.
But first, the NCAA has to re-instate both players.�
Herrion noted that he thinks both
players will miss at least part of the Pirate�s season opening BCA
Tournament in Raleigh.
�We�ll just have to see what the NCAA
says,� he said
ECU's opening game in the tourney will
be on November 14 against Rutgers of the Big East.
Brian
Bailey's C-USA Power Rankings [110601]
1. Louisville�. Cards are nationally ranked, again.
2. East Carolina� Pirates hope to burst Louisville�s
run, but that�s next week.
3. Cincinnati� Bearcats need a win to keep their
title hopes alive.
4. Southern Miss�.Golden Eagles missed another C-USA
opportunity against Penn State.
5. TCU� Horned Frogs were pretty good in the second
half against East Carolina.
6. UAB�. Blazers can move up with win over TCU.
7. Memphis�. Tigers have a chance to shoot up the
poll with win over Tennessee.
8. Army�..Cadets hung tough against Air Force.
9. Tulane� Green Wave was no match for Louisville.
10. Houston�. 0-8 and in search of a miracle at
Louisville. Well, there is that saying about �any given Saturday.�
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Brian Bailey.
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02/23/2007 01:19:46 AM
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