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Pirate Notebook No. 74
Friday, July 26, 2002

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

MEMPHIS � Steve Logan admitted something was different about Tuesday's C-USA media gathering. And he wasn't talking about the change in venue or the Blues City cuisine.

Missing from this year's festivities were David Garrard and Pernell Griffin, two men as synonymous with ECU football over the past four seasons as Memphis is to barbeque. They're currently enduring the sweat and strain of NFL training camps � meaning the Pirates head coach must anoint new leaders for the upcoming season.

Enter Richard Alston and Christshawn Gilliam, the new head honchos on the field for 2002.

"We're going through a little bit of a change in the guard, but it happens in every program," Logan said. "I'm confident that we've got a good chemistry started.

"I'm going to really rely on Christshawn Gilliam to keep our defensive huddle organized and emotionally stable. And the same thing I'm going to ask of Richard Alston in the offensive huddle. Richard probably is going to be the only senior in our offensive huddle."

The rise to the forefront of the Pirates' locker room hasn't been smooth sailing for either Alston or Gilliam. In fact, you might say both have endured careers benchmarked by adversity.

Neither plays the position for which he was recruited, while both have missed significant action, either due to injury or disciplinary action.

Gilliam, who began his career as a running back, has earned the distinction as leader of the defense at outside linebacker.

Alston, once the heir apparent to Garrard at quarterback, is the top target in a talented receiving corps.

According to Logan, the diverse skill-set of his new team captains played a big part in their selection.

"I talked to Christshawn just yesterday about the fact that he's been on both the offensive and defensive side, and he has a unique view of the whole process," Logan said Tuesday. "Richard... has been a quarterback, wide receiver, kick returner, punt returner. He's got a unique view of all the ramifications of leadership.

"Those are the pluses for our program from the standpoint of making sure you don't get into an offense versus defense type of mentality � or a situation where kids begin to bicker. These are veteran guys (who) have played a lot of football that can make sure you that you've got a smooth chemistry, and that's one of the things that I rely on every year. I pick two guys to kind of run the show, and this year, it's Richard and Christshawn."

Though relatively new to the glitter and glitz of hustling reporters and catered cuisine, Alston and Gilliam seemed relatively at ease Tuesday. Both exuded a healthy combination of confidence and humility, which will be key to their ability to command the respect of their respective troops.

In case you were wondering, Alston and Gilliam, as fifth-year veterans, have no reservations about getting confrontational with teammates, but both acknowledge that performance in the line of fire plays a big role in earning and keeping the respect leaders must command.

"I feel like I have to lead the offense, and Christshawn feels like he needs to lead the defense," Alston said. "Being that we are seniors, we probably have the most experience on this team. Being that we've been to three straight bowl games, guys respect us. They respect us because we are leaders, we are vocal, and also because of the way we play on the field."

Alston's route to success took a detour during the '00 season. Off-the-field troubles warranted a suspension, causing him to miss the Pirates' final stretch, which included a 40-27 bowl victory over Texas Tech.

Logan never gave up on the Warrenton native, though, taking a special interest in a young man he felt was essentially a good kid. His suspicions were correct, as the do-everything dynamo has walked the straight-and-narrow ever since.

With his personal life rock-solid, Alston's gridiron success has reached new heights. Prior to last season, the six-foot, 214-pound senior made a switch from quarterback to receiver, and by mid-season, he emerged as the Pirates' most dangerous deep threat.

As the season wore on, Logan and offensive coordinator Doug Martin began inventing new ways to get their ace playmaker the ball, a mentality that will carry over to this year.

"Richard and I were talking yesterday about (him) possibly being the punt returner this year," Logan said. "That's four more touches per game for him.

"We script the touches for Richard. If you've got a good player, you want to make sure he touches the ball. You don't want to go through a game where one of your guys (who) you think can change the game is not participating. So, (there are the) reverses, the reverse passes, the option pitches out of the backfield � all the things that we can invent for Richard. If in fact we can add the punt return to that, that would be good for him and us."

"Oh yeah, that's always a possibility," Logan said. "He's a natural quarterback. Richard can go play quarterback for anybody in the country.

"We're in a situation right now, where it's best for him and our team to be playing where he's playing. And quite honestly, I think it's the best chance for him to go to the next level, playing where he's playing."

Gilliam once had a promising career as a running back in the Pirates' multi-dimensional offense. Those plans changed, however, when he blew out a knee against Miami in 1999.

Though his rehab was successful, Logan noticed a pair of concurrent personnel situations � a crowded stable of horses in the backfield and a lack thereof at linebacker. Given Gilliam's athletic ability and knowledge of the game, Logan saw the move to the defensive side of the ball as a no-brainer.

Last season, the hard-working hitman piled up 43 tackles and two sacks, spending time at both inside and outside linebacker positions. This year, Logan expects the Lewiston native to lead the way primarily from the edge, teaming up with John Williamson on the other end to form one of the scariest tandems in the league.

"I think he'll spend the majority of his time this year at outside linebacker," Logan said. "We're trying to do everything in the world that we can to get more speed on the field on defense, and I think we got that done in the spring. I'll be surprised if he plays much inside linebacker."

That's not to say Gilliam won't make an occasional appearance in goal line situations on offense, however. Logan showed many times last season that he isn't afraid to pull the 222-pound bruiser back over to his natural position.

One of the questions hovering over quarterback Paul Troth entering spring practice was his ability to deliver the deep ball. After adding significant bulk to his six-foot-five-inch frame, Logan is convinced that won't be an issue.

"Over the summer, he's gotten so much stronger," Logan said. "He's a 245-pound young man right now.

"I was watching him throw some balls this summer. I'm fairly convinced that our long-ball game might be able to stay intact. If that's true, it will really be able to help us."

Troth's progress has grabbed the attention of his receivers, too, including Alston, who should be on the receiving end of many of the gunslinger's crisp, clean passes. After working extensively with the sophomore signal caller during the offseason, Alston feels confident that the Pirates can still hit the home run in the passing game, despite the concerns entering the spring.

"I think when he first got here, he was throwing it about 50 (yards)," Alston said of Troth. "I think he's throwing it about 70 yards now.

"He's gotten extremely strong. He can wait a little bit longer to throw the ball, now, even though coach wants him to throw it earlier. He gets the ball out there pretty good � but he still can't overthrow me."