College Sports in the Carolinas
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from the East Thursday,
February 3, 2005
By Al Myatt |
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Holtz works crowd with
optimism, realism
©2005 Bonesville.net
It was easy to realize what athletic director Terry Holland saw in Skip
Holtz as East Carolina's new football coach unveiled his first signing class
at the Murphy Center on Wednesday.
Holtz worked the big room like a fresh talent at The Improv, connecting with
the fan base, introducing an enthusiastic staff and presenting a harvest of
23 players that included 14 from North Carolina.
There was much more nourishment at this occasion than the ribs served up by
the Pirate Club.
Holtz' more-than-qualified assistants seemed to feed off the energy of ECU
supporters as they took turns with the microphone and the fans devoured the
hope for the future delivered by Holtz and company like it was the last
biscuit at a boarding house breakfast table.
It was a lot like a show that played at the Murphy Center just two years ago
when then-coach John Thompson brought forth his first hastily-assembled
recruiting class. That, of course, was followed by a 3-20 record over two
seasons that led Holland to make a change.
Holtz took the mike away from the raised podium on the side that had been
set up for his benefit and stood directly in front of Pirate supporters. He
has presence and he has wit, traits that must run in the family.
He thanked fans for their support. Despite recent struggles, Holtz pointed
out that ECU outdrew many of the teams it played last season and that was
used as a selling point to recruits.
Of those who have bought in, there are three junior college players, two
high school quarterbacks, some tall wide receivers, some speedy backs and
some reinforcements for the secondary a lot of personnel the Pirates badly
need.
The junior college guys, including speedy back Brandon Fractious from
California and kicker Robert Lee from Texas, could indeed help right away
that's why you bring in jucos, Holtz said, but he cautioned those who might
be expecting a quick fix. He's here to build a program, which doesn't
necessarily mean a winning season right away.
After all, dad Lou was 0-11 at South Carolina before getting it turned
around. It took some time for the Holtz magic to take affect at Notre Dame,
Skip's alma mater, as well.
Still, there was a sense from the new staff of restoring the Pirates to
their accustomed level on the gridiron. New quarterbacks coach Phil Petty
recalled being knocked down numerous times while directing the Gamecock's
offense in a one-sided loss to ECU in 1999.
Offensive line coach and coordinator Steve Shankweiler, who is starting his
third term at ECU, was welcomed back with a standing ovation.
"I know what it was like when we had it rolling," he said.
"This is how I remember it," said new running backs coach Junior Smith,
ECU's leading career rusher, who also was warmly received.
Assistant head coach Donnie Thompson has also done a stint in Greenville and
said with considerable gusto that it was great to be back.
There are some very nice resumes among the coaches defensive coordinator
Greg Olson left the same position at Minnesota and all have obviously been
attracted by Holtz with the magnetism that sold Holland and led 23 future
Pirates to put their names on the dotted line on national signing day.
Football operations guru Cliff Snow said "No" to new Florida coach Urban
Meyer to hitch his wagon to the Holtz star.
Holtz said incoming players were evaluated on qualities such as integrity
and academics in addition to their projected abilities. The Pirates won and
lost some of the initial recruiting skirmishes in the Holtz era.
"We're going to focus on the players we'll have for 44 games," he said. "Not
on the ones that are going somewhere else. We'll only see them four times at
the most."
Still, there isn't a player in the program at the moment who has taken a
college varsity game snap.
Holtz said Patrick Pinkney, who is mending from shoulder surgery, would
start at quarterback if the season began today. Redshirt freshman Davon Drew
and the newcomers, Brett Clay of Concord and Rob Kass of Longwood, Fla.,
would also get looks. That's all provided James Pinkney doesn't regain his
eligibility.
There's help expected defensively as linemen Brandon Setzer and Marcus Hand,
linebacker Quinton Cotton and defensive back J.J. Millbrook resolve academic
issues. Holtz is also counting on tight ends who were injured in 2004.
For the time being, John Grieco is heading up strength and conditioning.
Holtz said he will name his final assistant coach who will work with
defensive backs on Monday.
Spring practice will start March 7 and the spring game will be April 16.
Practices will be closed. Scrimmages will be open.
The highlight reel of recruits set to contemporary music stopped
unexpectedly but Holtz segued quickly.
"It's hard to make offensive lineman look good on highlight reels," he said.
"Nobody knows who they are. If you want to rob a bank you should be an
offensive lineman because nobody would recognize you."
The Pirates should hope to have lines as good as the ones Holtz was tossing
out on Wednesday.
When the new coach gets his pieces in place, Holland will look like a smart
man, the fans will forget about the lean years and the Pirates will be
rolling again. Holtz looks like a guy who can get 'r done.
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02/23/2007 01:25:27 PM
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