By Denny O'Brien
©2008 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.

Wouldn’t it be great if East Carolina could trade schedules with Tulsa? Just for a season.

Just imagine the preseason press if the Pirates were preparing for the Golden Hurricane’s Golden Hurricane's tame fall slate instead of the unruly lineup of foes that fills ECU's 2008 gauntlet.

Almost all of the preseason rags and major media outlets would be touting East Carolina to possibly crash the BCS party. A trip to Arkansas to face Bobby Petrino and his rebuilding Razorbacks would stand as the biggest hurdle in an otherwise manageable non-conference and Conference USA slate.

Ten wins, to some, would seem a worst-case scenario, with perfection an attainable goal. Instead, the Pirates are staring down the barrel of two traditional heavyweights to open the season, and only one opponent among the first five that presents a near certainty in the win column.

Such is East Carolina’s plight.

Because attendance, regional rivalries, and lowering travel expenses are high priorities for ECU, it is forced to man-up with an aggressive non-conference scheduling philosophy. It ensures that the historically fickle segment of ECU’s fan base will purchase season tickets and that the Pirates can hop a bus to several of the non-conference destinations this year and into the future.

In a perfect pigskin scenario, East Carolina’s non-conference schedule would have a different look. Perhaps there might be one perennial power on the slate, but there also would be opportunities for tune-ups before facing the more imposing challenges that await along the conference tour.

But that just isn’t a luxury for ECU athletics director Terry Holland. Because the Pirates compete in one of the most geographically scattered leagues – one without automatic access to BCS riches – he literally can’t afford to follow the Southeastern Conference manual for non-conference scheduling.

Perhaps that will be the case some day down the road. Perhaps the Pirates will eventually reside in a league that has automatic BCS access, and in which their opponents generate natural geographic rivalries that spike attendance.

Until then, ECU must proceed with the harsh necessity of filling its schedule with challenging non-conference opponents.

It’s not like ECU’s current protocol is a departure from tradition. Far from it. In fact, annual tussles with high-profile opponents have woven a huge portion of the program’s fabric.

In 1983 it was Florida, Florida State, and Miami that comprised that memorable Sunshine State tour and produced the only losses – all close – in an impressive 8-3 finish.

Then there was 1999 when the Pirates blew through a non-conference schedule that included victories over West Virginia, South Carolina, Miami, and N.C. State.
Though only the Hurricanes were a stout opponent that season, running through that gauntlet unscathed is impressive regardless of the scenario.

It was runs like that which many of the program’s past heroes and fans remember most fondly. Competing with and occasionally beating some of the nation’s most respected programs instilled a since of pride and a mentality that East Carolina was unafraid to face any opponent on any field.

But don’t think for a second that this philosophy is grounded completely in the ambitious desire to face the nation’s best. As much as anything, it has been a necessity to keep the program moving forward.

In the beginning it was needed to help establish ECU’s relevance as a regional football force. With that long accomplished, it now is a requirement to ensure that the coffers don’t run dry, to keep pace with in-state rivals that have made significant strides with facilities and coaching hires, and to inject enthusiasm into a fan base that is mostly unimpressed with the Pirates’ conference affiliation.

Perhaps East Carolina’s administration can one day accomplish all three with a less-ambitious non-conference scheduling approach, one that complements a more appealing league slate. Until then, the Pirates must continue to embrace Holland’s current philosophy.

Now, as ECU approaches 2008, it does so with the most talented roster during Coach Skip Holtz’s successful tenure. But as the injury report continues to lengthen, the Pirates’ already tough schedule is getting tougher.

An 8-4 finish should be considered a resounding success given the challenge ahead. If the Pirates could trade schedules with, say, Tulsa, the ceiling for wins would definitely be higher.