East Carolina is getting ready to play one of its oldest opponents for the first time at a neutral site. The Pirates played at Appalachian State in 1932, the first year that the institution, now known as ECU, had a football team. The Mountaineers won, 21-0 as the Pirates were 0-5 in that maiden season. Appalachian won the first 10 meetings in the series before ECU broke … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
VIEW FROM THE EAST
‘QB1’ devoted to bringing Pirates back
Holton Ahlers has been taking the first-team snaps at quarterback at East Carolina since the latter part of his freshman season in 2018. As the start of his fourth season in the program approaches, his performance, obviously, will be a key as the Pirates look for better things after six straight losing campaigns. Donnie Kirkpatrick is going into his third season as … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates turn page from preseason camp
As students returned to campus this weekend, the scenery was much the same for those in the East Carolina football program — ample time on the fields at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility, position meetings in the Ward Sports Medicine Building, some lifting in the Murphy Center and a short trip to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday for the second and final scrimmage before lining … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Harrell on quest for unanimous effort
Blake Harrell is preparing for his second season as defensive coordinator at East Carolina. His unit has more depth and experience than 2020 when the Pirates yielded 447.3 yards of total offense and 35.4 points per game in a 3-6 season. The COVID-shortened 2020 campaign ended with wins over Temple and Southern Methodist — creating optimism going forward and putting the … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EAST
Days seem same as camp continues
Mike Houston wasn't sure what day it was when he talked about East Carolina's preseason football practice on Thursday. There is a quality of similarity to the morning sessions as the Pirates prepare for the 2021 season. "Whatever day of practice," Houston said. "Thursday? That is the deal with camp. You get in these things. It's the same schedule no matter what day of the … [Read more...]