By
Denny O'Brien
©2010 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
It’s easy to comprehend
the necessity for East Carolina’s aggressive non-conference scheduling
philosophy.
Historically Pirates fans
have been more responsive at the ticket office when regional rivals and
BCS Automatic Qualifier opponents line the schedule. So by striking
agreements several years ago with schools with which fans are most
intimately familiar, ECU AD Terry Holland essentially assured regular
sellouts at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
The strategy also paved
the way for multiple national television appearances in marquee time
slots.
With the new 7,000 seat
end zone expansion set to be unveiled on September 5, the need for
high-profile non-conference games — strictly from a revenue-producing
perspective — is emphasized even more. Because ECU isn’t going to break
any attendance records with North Texas or Western Kentucky included in
the season ticket package.
But if ever a year existed
when the Pirates could use a competitive downgrade with their
non-conference docket, 2010 is it.
A new coaching staff, an
entirely different philosophy, and the exodus of almost the entire
starting defense from 2009 leaves the Pirates looking vulnerable.
Uncertainty at quarterback
and unproven depth at most other positions only heightens the concerns
ECU is facing heading into the season, especially consideringr the
caliber of competition awaiting it outside of Conference USA.
That bunch includes a
legitimate national championship contender; a defense that, providing it
isn’t gutted by an NCAA investigation, is flooded with NFL prospects; a
coach who has beaten the Pirates twice in the past three years with
inferior teams; and, arguably, the nation’s most disciplined program,
one with an offensive scheme that could expose what most consider ECU’s
overwhelming weakness heading into the season.
In a perfect world, East
Carolina’s annual non-conference schedule would include a couple of
gimmes, one in-state rival, and a game against an out-of-state opponent
from the ACC, Big East, or Southeastern Conference. That would pave the
way for the Pirates to, at worst, split their non-conference schedule
and provide more wiggle room within the conference slate.
Given the overall
improvement of almost every other team in C-USA, you get the feeling
that ECU needs a non-conference split to feel secure about earning a
fifth-consecutive bowl invitation this year. If you polled most within
the media who are at least somewhat familiar with the Pirates, they’d
insist that 0-4 is a more likely outcome than 2-2.
It would be difficult to
argue with their rationale.
To say that ECU faces a
steeper climb this season is in no way an indictment against new Pirates
Coach Ruffin McNeill, his staff, or the pool of personnel that was left
behind when Skip Holtz departed for South Florida. Remember that the
Pirates went 1-4 outside of C-USA under Holtz last season — with that
lone victory coming against an FCS opponent — and they face a noticeable
upgrade in competition this year.
Besides, the bright side
about ECU possessing so many unknowns heading into the 2010 season is
the possibility that many of them can be answered in a positive way.
There is certainly the
possibility that quarterback transfer Dominique Davis quickly grasps the
new Air Raid offense and, combined with ECU’s deep, talented receiving
corps, makes it difficult for the opposition to keep pace on the
scoreboard.
Just like you can’t rule
out idea that defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell’s emphasis on
pressure and blitzing might produce more feasts than famine for the ECU
D.
Until proven otherwise,
both should be considered possibilities. If they become a reality, then
there is definite potential for East Carolina to perform reasonably well
outside of C-USA this season and thus set the stage for a run that
concludes with another postseason bowl.
But most would agree that
the odds are stacked against a perfect storm scenario.
If college football
schedules weren’t set years in advance, you have to wonder if Holland
would have picked this lineup of non-conference opponents for a season
marked by significant transition. I’m sure McNeill, along with any other
coach, would welcome a competitive breather or two that would enable him
to dip deep into the roster and build depth for the future.
Should East Carolina not
perform well within its non-conference schedule this season, it might be
time to reevaluate its ambitious philosophy. That essentially could lead
to the question of what’s more important in the Pirates’ mission: Will
guaranteed wins or impressive attendance numbers get ECU closer to its
long-range goals?
