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Notes, Quotes and Slants
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Pirate Notebook
No. 3
Wednesday, August 29, 2001
By Denny O'Brien |
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�2001 Bonesville.net
Extra Credit Paying Off for
Garrard
Like any good college student, ECU quarterback David Garrard spends ample
time in the classroom. But for Garrard, who is slated to graduate this
December, the setting has become quite different this fall.
"David is going to get his degree this December, and he is taking a very
light class load � he has done all of his work, quite honestly," ECU head
coach Steve Logan said. "He has got a lot more free time on his hand, so he
is over at the office a lot. He is in the film room a lot."
"He has done a lot of that on his own, and it has paid off. I think he has
got a good grasp � a better grasp � of defensive problems, things that can
come up on the defensive side of the ball."
Garrard has made noticeable improvements over the years, displaying a
steadily progressing set of skills and discretion accentuated by last
season's positive 20-to-13 TD to INT ratio.
According to Logan, one of the Durham native's tasks this season will
be to widen the gap between touchdowns and interceptions, and the additional
film study should help.
The Pirate coach also expects Garrard to fine-tune some
other skills that will not necessarily be borne out by statistics.
"There will be some areas of improvement for David that will be very, very
subtle," said Logan.
The improvements by his prized pupil, however, won't be so subtle that they
will go unnoticed or unappreciated by Logan, who has become known as
somewhat of guru in mentoring quarterbacks.
Brown Catches Coach's Eye
Logan has noted that this year's stable of running backs is the best he has
been around since his days with Bill McCartney at Colorado.
Senior Leonard Henry, the returning starter, headlines a
diverse group that includes Christshawn Gilliam, Art Brown and Marvin
Townes.
Brown, a sophomore from Winston-Salem who played sparingly last season as a true freshman, has grabbed
Logan's attention during the preseason.
"Art Brown has had a really, really good three-a-day," Logan remarked. "He
has lost a little bit of weight � he's quicker and faster, I think, than
he's ever been.
"Art is growing up. Slowly, but surely he is coming along. He turned in a
really good academic performance last spring, which to me is always an
indicator of maybe something good is getting ready to happen."
Though offensive coordinator Doug Martin's schemes generally call for only
one running back, Logan promises to get Brown plenty of playing time.
"You will see Art on the field," he said. "Art will be back deep on the
kick-offs, along with Marvin Townes, so that will be fun to watch,
hopefully."
Williamson Ready for Next Step?
Junior outside linebacker John Williamson emerged as a major force on the
Pirate defense last season, accumulating 48 tackles (fifth best for ECU)
while adding 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.
His second quarter interception against Louisville set up a
four-yard Leonard Henry touchdown, which put the Pirates ahead for good.
According to Logan, Williamson must now build on last season's performance
and develop the dogged mentality of a battle-hardened soldier.
"He needs to develop into what I call a warrior � a guy that never comes off
the field," Logan said. "If he will do that, he is one of the most talented
youngsters that have come along to play defense at East Carolina in a long
time.
"There is, then, a missing piece of the puzzle in that he'll go give us
25-30 plays, and then it's an ankle, and then he comes out, and then it's
this, and then it's that.
As for potential, Logan sees in the Cerro Gordo native the tools and
athleticism, which, if consistently applied, can make him a dominant player.
"The next step, if he's going to take it � I don't know if
he's going to take it or not, some do, some don't � if he becomes a 50-60
snap a game guy, he can change a football game for you. He is a talent."
If Williamson indeed takes that next step, he could very well garner
All-C-USA honors this season and set the stage for greater recognition in
2002.
Effects of Parity Factor More Apparent
Since the inception of the 85-scholarship rule in NCAA football's I-A Division,
Logan has noted from time to time that the gap between the traditionally
elite programs and the rest of the pack has narrowed.
As a result, he says, the disparity in talent between
programs is no longer the overriding factor it used to be in predestining
game outcomes.
"Everyone has players. Fresno State has really, really fast, good football
players, and the Colorado folks now know that," he remarked, a clear
reference to the Bulldogs nationally-televised Sunday night upset of the Buffalos in Boulder.
"Now, I think that the Colorado coaching staff knew
that, and I think the Colorado players knew that, but the fan base and the
media didn't."
Outside observers of college football, by
Logan's calculations, still have a tendency to be surprised in the extreme when high
profile teams bite the dust against lesser known opponents.
"It's just real hard on the media and the fan base when those kinds of
things take place," he said. "But I'm convinced, and I spend large amounts
of time convincing our football team, that Wake Forest can beat East
Carolina.
"At the same time, I spend a large amount of time convincing
the East Carolina players that they can beat, for instance, Miami."
Logan's own program provides a lucid example of both sides of the upset
equation as parity has somewhat evened the playing field. Over the past two
seasons, ECU has knocked off traditional powers Miami, West Virginia and
Syracuse while becoming the heavily favored victim of upsets
by UAB and Memphis.
Parity Also Affects
Scheduling
According to Logan, it has become increasingly difficult to put together
favorable schedules, especially since his team now competes in C-USA.
"I really don't think it's possible with the 85-scholarship limit that you
can go out there and put together a schedule that's 'easy'," he said.
"Conference USA has turned into an incredible beast in and of itself, so
there is no place to run and hide there.
"The problem is, other guys try hard, too. It screws me up every year."
One of the oldest clich�s in sports, one game at a time, is at the
heart of Logan's oft-repeated philosophy of approaching each season as 11
one-game seasons. Parity lends the clich� and Logan's adaptation of it
a whole new level of credibility.
Send an e-mail message to Denny O'Brien.
02/23/2007 01:41:13 AM
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