The game went about as expected. Michigan is a very good team, and given the Harbaugh situation, the Blue brought a chip on the shoulder with them. Not good for ECU. The Review booth officials were clearly biased, but that didn’t turn the game. The Pirates were ground down by a better team. Of concern is the apparent lack of ability to play “lock down” coverage. Coach indicated there were some breakdowns, not unexpected in a 1st game, but overall, our coverage was loose by design. I believe this is partially due to a lack of a consistent pass rush. Against future competition, this might improve. I hope so. Run defense wasn’t half bad, but needs to improve quickly. If the Pirates have to play seven or eight in the box by necessity, several of the QBs we face will torch the secondary. QB play… I’m undecided. Saw some upside in both Garcia and Flinn. I give the edge to Flinn only because he showed more decisiveness when getting his chance. He also made some mistakes. Mason seemed to loosen up in the second half, which is good. The Pirates seem to have two QBs with some upside. O-line and receivers… some good, some not so good. I’m reserving judgement for now due to the obvious overmatch in overall talent. So, the team played hard for 60 minutes. No reason to be embarrassed. You got beat by a talented, well-coached team. You pretty much held your own against the Michigan subs, which DOES mean something. We’ll see what the Pirates are made of next week at home, against Marshall. The Pirates, players and coaches, should be on a mission. We’ll see.

I love Sammy's write-ups !!

"Old Pirate" loving football and watching my team grow. Played in SC high school All Star game and wish I had "walked on" at ECU. Playing vicariously through you guys now at age 82 Keep up the great attitude and work ethic that I see in you all.

"Gilbert said he would need more data to decide if he would favor adding Pac-12 teams to the AAC." The AD need not waste any time thinking about that. The moment the AAC panicked upon the departure of three of its more prominent schools, making itself Conference USA II overnight, any prospect that a PAC 12 pedigree school might join it went out the window.

I really enjoy Sammy's reports.

"...on a ball that became dislodged from Lane Hoover’s glove as he went into the fence." While entirely true, it should be stated that Hoover's glove itself was OVER the fence; he absolutely saved a homerun on a perfectly timed leap, a spectacular attempt. Yes, that run did eventually score, but it was still an outstanding play by the center fielder.

...a good bounce-back win for the Pirates. Yesavage's slamming of the door on Cinnci in the 9th with blistering heat when they were showing dangerous signs of life was especially impressive, and it's nice to send them out of the AAC with a 7 - 0 trouncing on the season. (Too bad football couldn't have done the same, and may well have but for the thug hit on Keaton Mitchell in the latter part of that game.)

"The Pirates are expected to receive an NCAA berth regardless of their performance in Clearwater." This is cold comfort, and will be VERY cold comfort if they're sent home today. Coach talks about not doing enough in the middle innings, but you should be expected to win any game in which you score 11 runs. Pitching's what let them down, and today pitching is depleted, vs. a Cincy team that lost a low scoring game, likely meaning that their pitching is not depleted. To say that the Pirates backs are against the wall is to understate it.

I am deeply concerned that football coach Houston and the A D are not attending the O B X Armada on May 10. I live in Suffolk and have attended most of these meetings. I attend primarily to hear news of the upcoming football team and season. This year I will not attend the meeting. Wilson Barnes

Thanks, Sammy Great report !

"We have not played well in the mid week. Not sure why we can't get up to play in-state team." YOU THINK! DID WE PLAY WELL IN LAST YEAR'S MID WEEK OR THE YEAR BEFORE OR EVEN BEFORE THAT. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU CAN'T SEE THE COMMON DENOMINATOR HERE! YOU KEEP USING PITCHING STAFF WEEK AFTER WEEK AND EXPECT DIFFERENT RESULTS. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF. YOU CHANGE OR WE WILL KEEP ON LOOSING MID WEEK GAMES!

...hats of to Queens for taking ECU to the wall. I'm glad that the good guys prevailed, but they hardly deserved to, based on those Pride Week unis.

Thank you Al, so very well written on behalf of Pirate Nation who are struggling with his passing. The scope and breadth of what he did for ECU athletics is nothing short of extraordinary.A great, great man.

Loved my time on the Executive Committee of the Pirate Club with Coach Holland. Told him face to face "we need you more than you need us". Thank you Terry and God bless your return Home.

Great report