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Bailey's
Take on Pirate Sports
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From the Anchor Desk
Wednesday, April 17, 2002
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By Brian Bailey
Sports Anchor of WNCT-TV 9 |
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Too much stock put into games vs. ACC foes?
©2002 Bonesville.net
Ranked in-state
rivals collide
There are some Pirate
fans who say it shouldn’t be a big deal when East Carolina matches up with
an ACC team.
There are others who
say it’s the highlight of that sport’s season.
I’m with group two.
Bring on the Tar Heels, the Wolfpack, the Devils (except in hoops). Anytime
ECU gets a shot at the ACC, the Pirates get that chip back on their
shoulder. East Carolina plays better in all sports with that chip dangling
off the blade.
“I hear more from the
students,” said ECU Centerfielder Warren Gaspar. “They have really let me
know that Wednesday night’s game is a big one for them, and one that they
really want us to win. There should be a huge crowd and it should be lots of
fun.”
Clayton McCullough
agrees with the ECU student body.
“I know it’s a big
game,” he said. “It always is when East Carolina gets together with anyone
in the ACC. I think we owe them a couple this year. It should be a great
atmosphere with two nationally-ranked teams on the field.”
North Carolina has
been a surprise in the ACC. They have struggled a bit of late, but they’ve
played two of the top five teams in the country, Clemson and Wake
Forest.
Carolina
will get another test, tonight, because the Pirate faithful will be out in
force.
Still, I guess we
shouldn’t put too much stock in one game. It is a non-conference game, and
mid-week games are more about a program’s depth than about its league
championship mettle.
“It is just a midweek
game,” said Pirate assistant coach Kevin McMullan. “I know that the fans
will be excited, but it’s not a conference game. With that said, though, it
should still be a great game and were very excited to be a part of it.”
Staff keeps LeClair's Omaha dream alive
Coach McMullan has
done a wonderful job in keeping this program together while head coach Keith
LeClair battles his health problems.
Coach Mac, along with
Tommy Eason, George Whitfield and Eddie Losener have formed a great bond,
working together to keep Coach LeClair’s dream of a World Series berth alive
this season.
It certainly hasn’t
been easy. Coach LeClair’s health has deteriorated in a way that none of the
staff could have imagined. As of late Tuesday night, LeClair was in serious
condition at Pitt Memorial Hospital.
Each one of the
assistant coaches has gone above and beyond the call in working with this
team. Every assignment has been carried out, with each coach taking more of
the load.
 McMullan
is the team’s spokesman, and has to handle all of the questions concerning
Coach LeClair’s health. They are questions that none of us wants to ask.
There are many questions that Coach Mac can’t answer.
To his credit though,
McMullan is a straight shooter. There is a fine line in answering questions
truthfully and respecting the family’s concerns.
McMullan has done a
wonderful job on both fronts.
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Brian Bailey.
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02/23/2007 01:21:45 AM
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