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Watch for Denny O'Brien's feature on Scott Cowen's fruitful confrontation with the BCS in this summer's Bonesville Magazine.

Pirate Notebook No. 201
Thursday, August 5, 2004

By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist

New season, new outlook for J.T.

©2004 Bonesville.net

MEMPHIS — Something was different about John Thompson's second trip to the Conference USA football media kickoff.

For starters, a maintenance effort at the TPC Southwind sent the East Carolina coach to the Ridgeway Country Club for the annual Liberty Bowl golf outing. And instead of ending the day with the traditional trip to Charlie Vergo's Rendezvous, he returned to the golf course for the tournament banquet.

But by the time Thompson reached the interview segment of the two-day event, the setting was more familiar. Even better, the second-year coach had a much better feel for his team and the demands of leading a Division I program than he did during his inaugural appearance.

"We know our players," Thompson said. "Our methods are so much more understood. Our purpose is."

At times, that didn't necessarily appear to be the case in year one of the Thompson era, a season in which ECU struggled to a 1-11 finish.

The Pirates spent much of the fall with the quarterback position unsettled and an offense that never got on track. Defensively, East Carolina stumbled out of the gate, but improved steadily as the year progressed.

Through it all, Thompson said his team never quit.

"When we look back on what we're most proud of from last year and what we can build on — and we said it even before — is you've got to have a foundation of unity," Thompson said. "Our guys never gave in.

"It started with our seniors that we had last year. Our team stuck together. They fought down the stretch through the last game. I don't think that's normal in human nature, to not win and still keep going. I'm very very proud, and I think that laid a foundation."

Thompson is relying on that foundation to springboard the Pirates to a better year in 2004. For insurance, there were three key changes to the coaching staff with which he feels very comfortable.

The arrival of Noah Brindise (offensive coordinator), Robert McFarland (offensive line), and John Greico (strength and conditioning) has Thompson more confident about the future. Not only does the new trio bring a wealth of expertise to the program, but also a positive outlook that has greatly influenced the players.

"I really love those guys' personalities," Thompson said. "They are very excited about being here. They have a very positive attitude. I think our players have some of that enthusiasm — and it's real."

Real enough that Thompson was walking around Memphis with more pep in his step.

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Good dilemma

Another source for Thompson's enthusiasm is the return of running back Art Brown, who was sidelined last season with a knee injury.

Brown rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2002 and is expected to return to full speed when fall camp begins. With Marvin Townes back, that gives the Pirates two returning 1,000-yard rushers, a luxury any coach would feel fortunate to have.

But how will they share the rock?

"I think that will all play itself out," Thompson said. "We anticipate and expect Art to be 100 percent. We've got to see it on the field.

"Marvin has done everything we've asked. In the year-and-a-half that we've been here, Marvin has been phenomenal in his work habits, his toughness, and his durability. Art Brown is a tremendous talent. We'll just have to see how that plays out. I know Art is jacked up to get out there."

Thompson said a healthy Brown puts him among the top 11 offensive players, joining Townes. Since his philosophy is to have the best players on the field as much as possible, expect to see the two in the same huddle at times this season.

"We can do some things to match up with defenses," Thompson said. "I've read where some people have said Marvin's going to be played at wide receiver. That's not true. We have not discussed that. Marvin is not a wide receiver.

"But, Marvin can split out and catch the football, motion out. Art can, too. Looking at it from a defensive standpoint, it would be pretty hard to defend. Both of them are tough inside runners, and both of them can catch the ball."

No youth movement

One of the primary reasons for the Pirates' improvement on defense last season was the progress of some impact freshmen and sophomores.

Though Thompson never intended for a youth movement in his first year, he noted that the performance of the underclassmen made it impossible to keep them off the field.

"Obviously we did get better when we started playing some of the younger guys," Thompson said. "They performed better.

"It started in the secondary. We didn't give up as many big plays, as many momentum-breaking plays. It was evident."

In fact, the Pirates defense made its share of momentum-breaking plays towards the end of the season, benchmarked by corner Erode Jean's 31-yard interception return for a touchdown against Southern Miss.

Close, but no cigar

Thompson says he was encouraged by Pirates' competitiveness during the second half of last season. Beginning with the Houston game in late September, ECU entered most fourth quarters with a legitimate shot at victory.

However, the Pirates couldn't seem to get over the hump.

"We never could, during the year, get something going," Thompson said. "You look at that Houston game, all we need is just one play to turn that thing around. Well, they made the play. They hit the little option and go up on us. Well, if we would hit a play or two, we would win that game."

Thompson is counting on Brindise's expertise in the Fun-n-Gun to manufacture more scoring opportunities for the Pirates this fall.

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02/23/2007 01:56:53 AM

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