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BAILEY'S TAKE
ON PIRATE SPORTS
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From the Anchor Desk
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
By Brian Bailey |
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Strongman event taking
on special aura
By
Brian Bailey
©2008 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Fellow Bonesville.net
writer Bethany Bradsher
did an
excellent job of
recapping
last week’s East
Carolina football
strongman team
competition.
I was also there, and I
honestly have never seen
anything like it.
Next year they should
sell tickets. If they
do, it should be a
sellout.
The event was well
organized and included
unbelievable stories of
will and strength.
I watched as C.J.
Wilson, a player I
covered during his high
school football career,
set a record in the sled
push. Wilson almost
collapsed when he
crossed the finish line,
but his effort gave ECU
strength and
conditioning coach Mike
Golden something to hang
his hat on for sure.
“This is where we see
our evolution of the
program more than
anything else,” Golden
said. “Our first year we
had those wooden sleds,
and we went the width of
the field, 53 yards, and
our times for 100 yards
this year beat them like
10 seconds.”
That statement speaks
volumes as to just how
far this program has
come under Golden, along
with head coach Skip
Holtz and his staff.
Golden told me that when
the staff arrived, they
couldn’t tell the
difference between a
fifth-year senior, a
walk-on or an incoming
freshman. Now, there is
definitely a degree of
separation.
"We just have to keep
making it harder and
harder,” Golden said,
“because the stuff we
did before is just
getting too easy for
them.”
These guys showed that
they were not only
strong, but that they
also in great shape. The
various contests tested
all aspects of the body.
The other big thing that
I noticed was the
camaraderie with the
different teams.
“We won this thing last
year,” said quarterback
Patrick Pinkney with a
smile. “We’re not doing
as well this time, but
it’s been a lot of fun.
I’ve got my plaque from
last year.”
Offensive lineman Doug
Palmer captained the
winning team. Diablo’s
Fortune came through in
the tightest competition
in the history of the
event. Palmer’s team
danced like they had won
the lottery when the
results were announced.
The team was all smiles
with Coach Golden in the
champion’s picture. (View
pictures from the event
in Bethany Bradsher's
most recent column.)
“The guys really get
into this,” said
quarterback Rob Kass.
“It’s really nice to
come out and show off
all of the hard work
that we’ve gone through
over the last couple of
months.”
Pinkney enjoyed the
event, but he can’t wait
for preseason drills to
start.
“I wish they’d bring the
balls out today,” said
Pinkney. “I can’t wait
for camp. It’s hard, but
it’s worth it to get the
season going.”
It certainly won’t be
long now. August is just
over two weeks away. The
heat is on, and football
will be in full swing
very shortly.
BB
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07/15/2008 01:32:20 AM |
