By
Denny O'Brien
©2007 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
East Carolina’s 2007
schedule ranks as one of the most difficult in its 75-year gridiron
history. That much won’t be debated.
But while many outside the
program focus on the arduous undertaking the Pirates’ 12-game gauntlet
presents, what is overlooked is the much-anticipated opportunity that
awaits ECU.
If ever a season existed
in which the Pirates could shed their ‘no-respect’ stigma, look no
further than this one. With two national title contenders and the two
most hated in-state rivals on the docket, the chance to make significant
headway with both the national and state media has never been greater.
It’s actually the latter
that has presented the most titanic burden for East Carolina. With the
Pirates’ rich history of both challenging and defeating opponents from
the self-labeled power conferences, one could argue that ECU’s
acceptance within national football circles far exceeds those locally.
For better or worse, the
Pirates years ago carved their niche within the national media as a
‘Giant Killer’. Though many view the label as a backhanded compliment,
the root of it was drenched with respect, and the resulting reputation
placed ECU on a short list of programs that many refuse to schedule.
That perception took a
powerful body blow during John Thompson’s erroneous tenure, but Skip
Holtz has quickly polished that tarnish from ECU’s image. In just two
seasons he’s already posted three victories over Atlantic Coast
Conference schools and twice given West Virginia everything it could
handle.
With the possible
exception of the 2005 meeting at West Virginia, these weren’t cases
where East Carolina snuck up on its opponents. Nor were smoke and
mirrors required for success.
An upgraded talent pool
and astute coaching staff is the more accurate explanation. Anyone who
witnessed the Pirates’ impressive victories last season over Virginia
and N.C. State will attest to that.
What 2007 offers is the
chance to build on the in-state momentum that was generated last season.
It’s rare enough to have either North Carolina or N.C. State on the
schedule in a given year, but to play them both at home in the same
season just doesn’t occur.
It’s almost as rare for
East Carolina to face an in-state rival without at least one lame-duck
coach stealing the storyline. That won’t be the case this year, as hope
and enthusiasm now exist within all three programs.
That should serve to
legitimize the stakes – and the winner – in each game.
In the short term, the
importance of ECU’s home opener against North Carolina can’t be
overstated. While the historical significance of a victory no doubt
would resonate within the ECU constituency, the overall impact of that
game on the 2007 season is borderline immeasurable.
That’s because North
Carolina represents the easiest opponent on ECU’s September schedule.
Lose, and entering October winless is a very distinct possibility.
Even so, it’s the
long-range effects presented by the outcomes against both UNC-Chapel
Hill and N.C. State that are most intriguing.
Close to home, wins over
both could convince fans to unload that ‘chip-on-the-shoulder’ battle
cry that has evolved into a sometimes unhealthy complex. Though viewed
by most as a motivating rally call – and at one time it was – what it
actually suggests today is a sense of not belonging.
And if that is the core
belief within, you can certainly rationalize why it would exist among
outsiders.
Perhaps the most fruitful
impact of winning would be harvested along the recruiting front. The
Pirates have certainly experienced major gains since Holtz and his staff
arrived, but many have questioned to what extent the coaching
transitions within rival programs assisted those efforts.
Win or lose, that won’t be
debated next Signing Day.
Perhaps what will is which
program sits atop the state pecking order. Along with Wake Forest,
that’s an argument in which ECU currently belongs, and victories over
both the Tar Heels and Wolfpack would only solidify the Pirates’ claim.
Make no mistake, neither
North Carolina nor N.C. State represents ECU’s biggest game this fall.
The Pirates face Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and at least two
Conference USA opponents that are better than both the Heels and Pack.
But in 2007, the ‘What
Ifs?’ with ECU and its in-state rivals won’t be pondered in newspaper
columns, during radio call-ins, or in message board posts. Finally, the
Pirates have the opportunity to settle those debates on the field.
