You would never know that this East Carolina football program was just 6-18 over the last two years at Media Day on Saturday. Optimism poured out of the players and coaches with the cameras and microphones rolling. Over the years I’ve occasionally designated one Pirate as “Captain Soundbite.” It’s kind of a running joke within the media that follows ECU. Through the years … [Read more...]

The familiar old double wide in the sky is gone, replaced by the skeleton of what will soon become a modern new press box and suite tower on the South side of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. It’s the most visible sign of the improvements East Carolina is in the process of making to its athletic facilities. But it’s not even close to the being the most important upgrade. That … [Read more...]

GREENVILLE — As East Carolina players and coaches fielded questions at the annual media day in the Murphy Center on Saturday after two days of preseason practice, there was a general acknowledgement that the program has not performed up to traditional standards. Before three straight losing seasons, ECU went to bowl games in eight of nine previous campaigns. The Pirates … [Read more...]

Sometimes the most profound answer to a question is also the simplest. Everyone in the Pirate Nation wants to believe in a dramatic turnaround for the East Carolina basketball program. As new head coach Joe Dooley has hired a seasoned staff and put his players through a grueling summer strength and conditioning regimen, fans and boosters want to believe that the new … [Read more...]