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Pirate Notebook No. 9
Wednesday, September 19, 2001

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

Though last week's terrorist attacks occurred well out of harm's way for eastern North Carolina, the event served as a quick reminder of just how precious life is.

It was almost two years ago when the East Carolina football team boarded a bus for what was thought to be an overnight trip to Columbia, South Carolina. But instead of a speedy return to Greenville, the Pirates had an unforeseen one-week stay in the Palmetto state.

The rising waters of the Tar River, which resulted from Hurricane Floyd, prevented the Pirates from returning to campus following their 21-3 victory over South Carolina. Instead, while much of the nation went about its day-to-day routine, they bunked in a hotel and passed time fidgeting nervously, playing cards and eating pizza as the drama of the state's worst natural disaster played out back home.

While students at other universities attended their 8:00 a.m. classes, members of the ECU football team tensely read USA Today and watched news reports, both of which were filled with the horrific images of flooding and destruction in Pitt County.

Equipped with only the clothes on their back, a trip to the mall was needed to outfit the displaced Pirates. With a game against ninth-ranked Miami on the horizon, Carolina Panthers gear and Gamecock facilities prepped the Bucs for the daunting task ahead.

And though football would seem to be an afterthought for many of the flood's victims, it proved therapeutic for ECU's football team.

The Pirates overcame a hurricane, then beat the Hurricanes, 27-23, in a game that had to be moved to Raleigh's Carter-Finley stadium due to the devastation Down East. For the 46,000-plus in attendance, it was the perfect three-hour diversion from the reality awaiting some 80 miles away.

There are overwhelming differences between the flood and the attacks � one was a perfect example of Mother Nature's fury, the other a prototype of man-made terror � but striking similarities can be drawn.

Former ECU chancellor Richard Eakin described Floyd as a "flood of Biblical proportions." Witnesses of last Tuesday's horror drew parallels to another Biblical event � Armageddon.

In the wake of the most recent catastrophe, ECU head coach Steve Logan has chosen a similar path to the one taken in '99, which is a return to some semblance of a routine.

"I think our mentality right now is much like it was when we were dealing with the flood issue in '99, which is to just be flexible and focus on the next thing, whether it be a practice or a game," Logan noted about how his players are handling last week's tragedy.

"I would think that probably everybody is getting to the point where it's time to get back to routine, and I'm on that side of the issue. I know that people are talking about whether we should or shouldn't play, but I think there's a great strength in routine."

ECU's players, some of whom lost their off-campus apartments and possessions as a result of the '99 flood, suffered only the indirect consequences that affect all of us from last week's tragedy, according to Logan, which was quite a relief considering five Pirates hail from New Jersey.

"Nobody in our immediate football family was directly affected by it, and that's been fortunate," Logan added.

But this is one team that learned a long time ago to count its blessings. Not to mention, the value of our day-to-day routine.

Prior to last week, Logan didn't know a lot about William and Mary, save for the school's longstanding tradition of football excellence and the successful 21-year tenure of head coach Jimmye Laycock.

After watching film of the 19th-ranked Tribe, Logan got a little insight into the Tribe's formula for success, which greatly resembles the offensive and defensive potions Logan has mixed in Greenville.

"When you look at their game film, their top 22 is as competitive as a lot of people that we'll play," he said. "Their offensive line is big � equal to ours. Their defensive front is as big as ours.

"They look a lot like us offensively. They've got a very diverse presentation on offense, with a very mobile quarterback, a young man that would remind you a lot of Marc Crandell � a 5'11", 200-lb guy that runs really well and throws a beautiful ball."

The quarterback about whom Logan spoke, David Corley, is widely considered one of the more talented players in I-AA.

Through two games, Corley has lived up to his billing, throwing for 426 yards with five touchdowns, while adding another score via his legs. Corley boasts a strong, accurate arm, completing 65 percent of his attempts.

The similarities between W&M and the Pirates don't stop there. This season, the Tribe defense implemented an attacking, blitzing style, much like the scheme defensive coordinator Tim Rose brought to ECU in '99.

"Defensively, they're blitzing every snap," said Logan. "Not sometimes, all the time.

"Last year they were an eight-man front, read-and-react type of defense. They hired a new defensive coordinator, and like I say, every snap is a blitz. He believes in a lot of disguise � a lot of blitz. They are willing to play man coverage."

In what may be a good omen for the Pirates, offensive coordinator Doug Martin has had great success against similar defenses. It certainly doesn't hurt that his offense faces a similar scheme every day in practice.

Playing I-AA opponents isn't a frequent occurrence at East Carolina. During the Logan era (1992-present), the Pirates have faced just two � East Tennessee State ('96) and Chattanooga ('98) � both of which became victims of lopsided ECU victories.

Past history will have no bearing on the match-up against the Tribe, though, and Logan knows that a lackluster effort can result in a heartbroken post-game locker room on Saturday.

"I showed our players some film of a I-AA team beating a Division I opponent badly, just to give them a graphic illustration of what it looks like," he said. "So, I'm doing my part to make sure that they understand that they're getting ready to play a very good football team from a program that's got a proud tradition.

"I think they've had eight winning seasons in a row up until last year when they were a 5-6 team. They've got 17 starters coming back from last year's 5-6 team. They expected to be good this year, and in fact they are."

Good might be an understatement � William and Mary has yielded points grudgingly in its first two contests, easy victories over VMI (34-0) and then-21st-ranked Massachusetts (31-10). Against UMass, the Tribe defense surrendered just 141 yards of total offense, an eye-opening statistic on any level.

"They've given up ten points in two games," Logan said. "It doesn't matter who you've played, when you've only given up ten points in two games, you're doing a lot right."

With numbers like that, Logan views the Tribe as a dangerous foe and, as he has often done in the past, he emphasizes that his team is eligible to be defeated any time it steps onto the field.

"They're capable of winning," he said. "There's no question in my mind that they can beat us if we don't go out and play football the way that we're capable of playing. We better play at a high level.

"We need to come out and be enthusiastic. We need to attack on offense and defense and make sure that we play a physical football game. I would be stunned if we went out there and sleep-walked through this thing."

The Pirates were originally slated to play at Syracuse last Saturday, but all Division-I college games were cancelled due to last week's national tragedy.

Logan readily admits his dislike of open dates while acknowledging there are inherent advantages in having an extra week of practice time.

"I'm not a big fan of open dates quite honestly," Logan said. "I am a fan only from the aspect that it does let your kids heal up. If you are an injured team, an open date is a blessing.

"Aside from that, I think it disrupts your rhythm. I think it really dulls your senses to a degree. You can practice your brains out, but playing is playing. There's only one way to get better � that's playing."

Though the Pirates have grown accustomed to playing somewhat quirky schedules � the last two seasons have been marked with several Thursday night games and open dates � Logan suggested that his team generally performs better when it sticks to a routine.

"I think Marcus White will be able to come back and get his first playing time of the year," Logan said about the sophomore H-back from Richmond, Va. "He dislocated his shoulder right toward the end of three-a-days. He began to take a little bit of contact late last week, and he's been declared to go now."

"Kevin Jackson, who tore his knee up in the spring, has been rehabbing all along and got cleared to practice this week," said Logan. "We'll try and get him in the game and that'll help us on the back end of our secondary."

Jackson, a sophomore from Mebane, recorded 19 tackles last season from his free safety position.

Logan also expects outside linebackers Antwane Yelverton and John Williamson to return to full speed against the Tribe. Yelverton turned an ankle against Tulane, while Williamson has been plagued by a nagging groin injury suffered in the season opener against Wake Forest.