East Carolina was a 16½-point underdog against North Carolina on Saturday, so technically its 41-19 drubbing of the Tar Heels at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium was an upset. But anyone familiar with the dynamic of the rivalry between the Pirates and either of its UNC System cousins from the Triangle knows that the result was anything but a surprise. In fact, it was almost as … [Read more...]

GREENVILLE — Colby Gore watched the second half of Saturday’s East Carolina-North Carolina football game from a hospital bed at Vidant Medical Center. But his contribution to holding the Tar Heels scoreless over those final 30 minutes was just as significant as those of his Pirate teammates still on the field at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Gore’s injury from a helmet-to-helmet … [Read more...]

North Carolina A&T coach Sam Washington had one final message for East Carolina before leaving Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Sunday. “Tell them to bring me my money,” he said at the end of a wild locker room celebration following the Aggies’ weather-delayed 28-23 win against the Pirates. Washington was referring to the $300,000 his school was reportedly guaranteed just for … [Read more...]

East Carolina got a sneak preview of its opening week opponent on Saturday when North Carolina A&T played Jacksonville State in the nationally-televised FCS Kickoff Classic. So what did the Pirates learn about the Aggies from their 20-17 victory? At least one thing that should make them wary and a couple of others that should help them feel better about their chances … [Read more...]

One of the most hackneyed cliches in all of sports is the coach-speak mantra of “We play ‘em one game at a time.” In the case of the 2018 East Carolina football team, though, it’s actually a sound approach to take. Because while the Pirates will face significantly tougher tests and play games that can be construed as much more meaningful as the season plays out, the most … [Read more...]