INSIDE SLANTS ON THE PROGRAM
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Been There, Done
That
Sunday, August 27, 2006
By Kevin Monroe |
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Time to silence the doubters
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[Editor's note: Bonesville.net football columnist Kevin Monroe,
a former East
Carolina and NFL player, will author the first in a season-long
series of game day breakdowns on Saturday morning, hours before
the Pirates kick off their 2006 campaign against Navy.] |
�2006 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.
After finishing last season at 5-6, the Pirate
Nation had plenty to look forward to heading into the 2006 season. After
all, East Carolina would be returning the top receiver in the conference in
Aundrae Allison and one of the top quarterbacks in James Pinkney.
It�s been five years since the Pirates have
been to a bowl game and, even though this year�s schedule has increased
tremendously in difficulty, it still seems feasible that ECU could win six
or seven games and go back to a bowl.
Some of the critics, however, don�t seem to
share my views on this team's ability to achieve success.
At the Conference USA meetings this summer,
the media and coaches selected East Carolina to finish last in the Eastern
division, brushing aside the progress the Pirates displayed in 2005 in
increasing their win total by three games from the previous season.
Apparently, these prognosticators also weren't
particularly impressed that the 2006 Pirates also return a solid nucleus on
offense and defense.
Sports Illustrated not only agreed with the
Conference�s prediction, but took it a step further. SI picked East Carolina
to go 2-10 this season (that�s right� 2-10).
Either I am a poor evaluator of talent or
these are extremely harsh predictions that lay down a challenge to the
program that must be dealt with on the field.
Regardless of which team the Pirates line up against
on any given Saturday this year, they will have to play with extreme
tenacity and intensity.
Coach Skip Holtz managed to turn a corner in
the program last year, but the Pirates obviously haven�t regained the
respect that we earned in the 90's. In my five seasons as a member of the
program, we averaged seven wins a season, with the lowest win total being
five. We achieved nine wins twice, in 1995 and 1999.
The Pirates were known as Giant Killers during
those times, knocking off Miami twice, Syracuse, West Virginia, Stanford and
other noteworthy opponents. The in-state schools rarely played us and when
they did we usually won.
It�s going to take a winning season to re-earn
the respect that the program has lost.
East Carolina opens the 2006 Season at Navy
this coming Saturday in a game that will tell us a lot about the character
of this team. Whether the Pirates win or lose won�t be the tell all � what
will be important will be how the game is played.
Navy is known for running the football and
over the last several years the Pirates have been known for giving up
generous yardage on the ground. Allowing Navy to eat away at the clock will
not only wear down ECU�s defense but will keep Pinkney and the high-octane
passing game on the sidelines.
Getting on top of the Midshipmen early and
forcing them to pass the ball is the Pirates number one key to victory. That
key was free, but if you want to know more about East Carolina�s keys to
beating Navy, read my game day article on Saturday before the game.
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Kevin Monroe.
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archives.
02/23/2007 10:32:19 AM
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