East Carolina meets Charlotte in football for the first time on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (ESPN+). It also marks the first time the Pirates have played an in-state opponent in an American Athletic Conference game. Both teams are 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the AAC. ECU is a 7-point favorite. "Excited to be back at home this weekend with a matchup against … [Read more...]
Inside Game DaySMU’s fast start, late miscues foil ECU
GREENVILLE — Southern Methodist surged early and late for a 31-10 American Athletic Conference win at East Carolina on Thursday night. The Mustangs got scoring passes from Preston Stone of 21 yards to Key Shawn Smith and 24 yards to Roderick Daniels in the first quarter for a 14-0 lead. The ECU defense kept SMU off the scoreboard in the second and third quarters as the … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTPirates set for Thursday night lights
East Carolina is preparing to take the national stage as it hosts Southern Methodist on Thursday night for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The American Athletic Conference contest will be shown on ESPN. “I know it’s Monday to most people," said Pirates coach Mike Houston from TowneBank Tower at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. "It’s Wednesday to us. We’ve got Wednesday afternoon practice this … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTPrecedents for an upturn
It was the 2011 season. Ruffin McNeill was in his second year as coach at his alma mater and East Carolina was 1-4. In fact, the Pirates were coming off a setback in Houston — just as ECU (1-4) finds itself this week after a mystifying 24-17 loss at Rice. The '11 Pirates were dealt a crushing 56-3 loss at Houston, the only points provided by Mike Barbour's 54-yard field … [Read more...]
Inside Game DayPirates miss chances in loss at Rice
HOUSTON — East Carolina's last hope for a win in its American Athletic Conference opener at Rice ended with Alex Flinn being flushed out of the pocket and tackled for a loss at his own 39 with 24 seconds left on a 4th-and-14 from the ECU 46. A scan of the statistics would indicate a more favorable outcome than the actual 24-17 loss to the Owls. ECU led 391-277 in total yards … [Read more...]