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Notes, Quotes and Slants
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Pirate Notebook
Monday, August 27, 2001
By Denny O'Brien |
�2001 Bonesville.net
Logan Wary of Deacons
Steve Logan has never been one to overlook an opponent, so it comes as no
surprise that East Carolina's head football coach is just a tad bit
concerned about Saturday's contest with Wake Forest, not to mention every
other challenge in the Pirates' 2001 line-up.
"I really believe that everyone on our schedule can beat the living
daylights out of us," he said.
"I believe that with a passion."
"We've got eleven one-game seasons ahead of us. If you just pick a game off
of that schedule, are we
capable of beating that team? Yes. Are they capable of beating us?
Absolutely. I think that's reality."
The Pirates will find themselves in a familiar situation on Saturday,
opening the season against an
in-state ACC foe. If last year's game against Duke is any indication (ECU
throttled Duke 38-0 in Durham), the Pirates should have little trouble with
the Deacons.
But Logan doesn't see it that way. And for good reason.
"The last time we played Wake Forest, I think it was 21-0 Wake Forest over
East Carolina before I even got my headset on," he said. "And we found
a way to miraculously come back and win the game on the last play of the
game.
"They're going to be what they
are � they are more than capable. They've got good players, and that
particular coach that they've hired, we have played him twice before when I
know in my heart we had the better athletes. Both of those games were
absolute slugfests because he is a really good football coach."
The coach to whom Logan was referring is Jim Grobe, who comes to Wake Forest
following a six-year tenure at Ohio University, where he resurrected the
Bobcats from the MAC cellar in 1995 to a title contender three seasons
later.
The Grobe-led Bobcats gave the Pirates fits before falling 55-45 in '96 and
21-14 in '98. The Pirates were lucky to escape the latter contest, scoring
in the final seconds as quarterback Bobby Weaver hit split end Troy Smith
for the winning touchdown.
Logan expects the same type of effort out of Wake Forest, which returns 18
starters from last year's 2-9 team.
"If we beat Wake Forest, that's a new level for me," he said. "I just want
to go win that game. That's a basket full of problems in and of
itself, trying to beat Wake Forest."
Ready to Play
For quarterback David Garrard, Saturday's game with Wake Forest can't come
soon enough. The Durham senior, who ranks as ECU's all-time leader in total
offense, is anxious to begin his final season for the Pirates.
"I'm so ready," Garrard said. "Every time about this time of year, you
know, you're always ready � you haven't been on the field in so long. It's
just that feeling you get � it's time to go.
"You get chill bumps because they start playing the NFL games on TV, and
they're showing the old NFL games. Then, you know, you have tapes of your
own season, and you kind of watch those games just to get ready for it."
Garrard feels this season could be special for the Pirates, who are looking
for their first Conference USA Championship.
"It's my last chance to make it extra special," he noted. "I really believe
it is that time for us."
Blessing in Disguise
Most would like to forget last year's game against West Virginia, when the
Pirates lost three offensive linemen due to injury en route to a 42-24 loss.
Logan, however, looks at the
game with a positive perspective.
"Well, that was a blessing in disguise," he said. "We went to the holocaust
up in West Virginia, where in a matter of about four minutes, we had two
broken legs and a broken collar bone."
In the carnage that day, Sherwin Lacewell, James Bell, and Brian Rimpf all
fell victim to the Mountaineer Field artificial turf and were lost for the
remainder of the regular season. The injuries, though costly at the time,
provided valuable playing time for a pair of young linemen.
"So, we ended the season with Doug White playing really good football for us
at center," Logan said. "We mixed, and matched, and patched this way and
that way, and ended up with Phoenix Evans playing a lot of football where he
maybe wouldn't have.
"Had we lost three starters five years ago in the offensive line in the
eighth game of the season, we would have immediately lost the last three
games. Last year, we lost three starters, plugged people in, kept up, kept
running, ended up � you know � winning at Louisville, winning at Southern
Miss, winning a bowl game with guys that were not starters but became
starters.
So, it served as a blessing �
those kids got a lot of playing time."
That experience should come in handy this Saturday.
Keep an Eye On...
Punter Jarad Preston is expected to bolster the punting unit this season.
Preston averaged better than 42 yards per kick last season en route to
earning second team Juco All-American honors.
Preston boasts a strong leg, but has been plagued by inconsistency. If he
can't get the job done, Logan will look to junior place-kicker Kevin Miller,
who reported to camp in excellent shape.
"He (Kevin Miller) stayed here all summer long, and whatever our entire
football team was doing, he did it," Logan said. "He ran the 300s. He ran
the 110s. He was lifting, running � he's totally re-shaped his body.
"If Jarad (Preston) goes out there and punts it backwards, I promise you
Kevin (Miller) will be out there quick."
All things being equal, most Pirate fans would prefer to see little of the
punting unit against Wake Forest.
Send an e-mail message to Denny O'Brien.
02/23/2007 01:41:12 AM
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