Second in a series on institutions joining the AAC The membership of the American Athletic Conference will change significantly with the approaching 2022-23 scholastic year. Outgoing programs bound for the Big 12 include Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston. The AAC will add Alabama-Birmingham, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and Texas-San Antonio from … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTThe new American
The American Athletic Conference will have a vastly different membership in the 2023-24 scholastic year. AAC pillars Central Florida, Cincinnati and Houston are scheduled to join the Big 12 and the American will bring in a half dozen institutions from Conference USA in its realignment. East Carolina has competed against some of the new members in the past. Some will be … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTPirates take impetus into 2023
As former East Carolina coach Steve Logan said, "Winning solves problems, losing creates problems." The Pirates solved some problems and avoided some others with a 53-29 win over Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 27. The question of offseason momentum for a program that opens 2023 at Michigan was answered in the affirmative. Wins help coaches recruit … [Read more...]
Inside Game DayAhlers bows out with epic bowl triumph
BIRMINGHAM — The face of the East Carolina football program wore a smile on Tuesday night after a thorough 53-29 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl. That countenance, of course, belonged to quarterback Holton Ahlers, who was named bowl MVP after passing for 300 yards and five touchdowns as the Pirates celebrated a postseason victory for the first time since … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTECU rolls toward bowl with signees on board
In the midst of preparing to play Coastal Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Tuesday, East Carolina announced a signing class on Wednesday. "Somebody said, 'It's Christmas,'" said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Donnie Kirkpatrick. "Is that right?" Kirkpatrick was kidding, but the ECU staff has been multi-tasking to a degree that Santa will have to consult a … [Read more...]