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Pirate Notebook No. 34
Monday, December 17, 2001

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

East Carolina built its gridiron reputation as an underdog willing to play 'anybody, anywhere, anytime.' Since the days of Pat Dye in the mid to late 70s, the Pirates have been the foe tradition-steeped programs dread.

That attitude was accentuated in 1991, when Bill Lewis directed the Pirates to an 11-1 season and Top 10 ranking. A seven-point season-opening loss to Illinois in Champagne put the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season.

Though the Pirates didn't trade their football shoes for glass slippers, the clock never struck 12 on a season that included victories over South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and N.C. State.

Steve Logan continued that trend when he took over the reigns in 1992. In his first season, the Pirates won at Pittsburgh, which set the tone for many quality wins down the road.

Under Logan's direction, the Pirates have scored marquee victories over Miami ('96, '99), Syracuse ('95, '00), West Virginia ('95, '99), South Carolina ('92, '94, '96, '99), and Virginia Tech ('92), while putting a scare into Auburn ('94) and Alabama ('98) for good measure.

With a track record like that, it's no wonder the Pirates don't find themselves making many homecoming appearances any more, save for their own.

"We don't sneak up on anybody anymore," Logan said. "Over the last six or seven years, in particular, we've probably established ourselves as a respected outfit.

"But that's been a long time coming. Wearing the target on your chest is a little bit different and I think it's something we're still growing into."

The underdog role has fit the ECU program like Cinderella's slipper over the years. The Pirates have used that us-against-the-world attitude as a source of motivation, which has kept them loose in games against name-brand schools.

"I think it's easy to play as an underdog," Logan said. "It is easy to be that guy, go be loose and let it go."

Logan points out that the Pirates are starting to outgrow their "dark horse" label, however, which is a consequence of stringing together winning seasons. Despite ECU's modest 6-5 record this season, the Pirates were favored in all but two contests � Syracuse and North Carolina.

"We're growing and the evidence is the fourth winning season in a row," he said. "We're still hacking away and trying to establish some roots deeper and deeper, some traditional roots, in this program. It's still a very young program in the big picture."

A victory over nationally-ranked Marshall on Wednesday in the GMAC Bowl would further extend those roots. Though some might perceive the Pirates the underdog in this one, the odds makers list the Bucs a one-point favorite.

Though David Garrard is set to play his final game as an East Carolina Pirate on Wednesday, it won't be the Durham senior's final outing at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The Pirates' all-time leading passer was selected to play in the Senior Bowl, which is considered the most prestigious of the post-season All-Star games.

Garrard will be joined in Mobile by a host of C-USA players, including Tulane's record-setting quarterback, Patrick Ramsey. Others invited include Tulane punter Casey Roussel and UAB defensive ends Eddie Freeman and Bryan Thomas.

The Senior Bowl will take place on Saturday, January 26, culminating a week of players showcasing their talents before a throng of NFL scouts.

ECU linebacker Pernell Griffin has been selected to play in the annual East-West Shrine Game, which is played in San Francisco at Pac Bell Park. Earlier this season, Griffin broke the C-USA career mark for tackles.

Invited to join Griffin are tight end Clint Dodson (Army), wide receiver Deion Branch (Louisville), offensive guard Artis Hicks (Memphis), safety Charlie Owens (TCU) and tight end Matt Schobel (TCU). The East-West Shrine Game is played on January, 12.

Running back Leonard Henry will receive, perhaps, the greatest vacation of all. The Pirates' record breaking running back has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl in Maui on Saturday, February 2. After breaking the C-USA single-season record for rushing yards in a season, it will be a vacation well-earned for the hardest-working runner in C-USA.

Several future ECU recruits have garnered post-season recognition this year. Included among them is Douglas Byrd linebacker Lorenza Pickett, who was named the Mid-Southeastern 4-A Conference defensive player of the year.

It marked the second consecutive year that Pickett (6'1", 225) earned first-team All-League honors.

Joining Pickett on the Mid-Southeastern 4-A team are a pair of Scotland County standouts. Offensive lineman David Jorgenson (6'3", 290) and cornerback Jacoby Watkins (6'1", 175). Jorgenson and Watkins will join former Fighting Scot alums Garrett Peterkin and Brandon Rainer in Greenville next season.

A number of prep standouts who have committed to the Pirates participated in the Shrine Bowl on Saturday as members of the North Carolina team, which lost 17-0 to South Carolina. Included were Watkins, Jorgenson, South View lineman Daniel Inman, and Greenville Rose quarterback Kort Shankweiler.

Few expected a smooth road for East Carolina in its first hoops season as a member of C-USA. At the same time, few thought the Pirates would be 3-6 at this stage of the non-conference schedule � especially after knocking off Rutgers and Northwestern to start the season.

Prior to Saturday night's 64-52 victory over USC-Spartanburg, ECU had dropped six straight, including lopsided losses to N.C. State and Virginia Tech.

Regardless of the factors that have contributed to the Pirates' slow start, Herrion isn't happy with ECU's overall record to date, though he does point that it's a bit too early to label his team.

"We're not pleased with where our record is at right now," Herrion said. "In retrospect, we've had a very tough early-season schedule for our team. But believe it or not, I don't think you can really evaluate our basketball team until we have all our pieces back."

Part of the problem, according to Herrion, has been on the defensive end. With sophomore forward Gabriel Mikulas still on suspension, opponents have found success in the paint against a semi-depleted ECU frontcourt.

"Defensively, we've struggled in our first six games," Herrion said. "We were giving up 79 points per game, and our field goal percent defense was about 50 percent.

"That's not typical of a team that I like to coach. We usually pay a lot more attention to the defensive end of the floor, but I also think that there is some reason behind that."

That reason, of course, being Mikulas, who has been missing in action since the season began.

Mikulas' absence has also reared its ugly head on offense. Forced to rely on outside shooting, opponents have been able to slow the Pirates with tough perimeter defense.

After bombing the Scarlet Knights and Wildcats from long range, teams have clamped down on ECU's sharp-shooting guards.

"On the offensive end, we beat Rutgers and we beat Northwestern the first two games out of the gates because we made threes," Herrion said. "Now, each game goes by and people get more tape on you and are better prepared for you, then they start defending you different.

"We've got some perimeter players that really miss Mikulas. When you don't have a legitimate inside presence, offensively, to at least put pressure on the other team's defense, it hurts."

That pain could persist a while longer, as Mikulas will remain ineligible until the Pirates face UAB on January 8.