The 2023 football season at East Carolina was one that begged for improvement. Jim Szoke described the 2-10 struggle in his first year as radio voice of the Pirates. Szoke is among those who are optimistic for 2024. Jeff Charles' successor is a broadcast veteran, who made a quick entry into his profession decades ago. "I got into broadcasting literally my first week in … [Read more...]
CLASS OF 2025 RECRUITING FEATUREQueen City LB Davis aims for January enrollment
Kendric Davis was plotting a career in basketball until success on the football field prompted a change of direction as a high school sophomore. Two years later, the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is regarded as one of the best linebacker prospects in the state of North Carolina. A rising senior at Palisades High School in Charlotte, Davis accumulated a list of scholarship offers … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTGilbert sees calm before pending storm
Summer is a time of relative calm on the East Carolina campus as athletic director Jon Gilbert noted Wednesday. "We don't have as many sports teams that are here," Gilbert said. "Football, men's and women's basketball. We've got some volleyball student athletes and soccer student athletes here, but not the entire student body population or student athlete population, and so … [Read more...]
VIEW FROM THE EASTThe first step: A look at Norfolk State
East Carolina opens the 2024 football season at home against Norfolk State on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. (ESPN+). It will be the first gridiron meeting between the two programs, located approximately two hours apart. There was a matchup scheduled as the third contest for ECU in 2020 but it was scrapped due to COVID protocols. Both teams are looking for a resurgence … [Read more...]
CLASS OF 2025 RECRUITING FEATUREPedigreed safety Speer plans early enrollment
Durante Speer has spent most of his life on the football field and around football players. Speer's grandfather, Eddie Sheats, played defensive line for Kansas in the early 1970s and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 1973 NFL Draft. His father, Terrence, was a cornerback at Alabama A&M and cousin DeMario Minter is a former NFL cornerback. But even though … [Read more...]