This long-time Pirates fan has no envy for the ACC and no desire to play the Apps every year. But that doesn't mean the Bucs won't play anyone, anytime anywhere. Time to rebuild the Pirates and bust some Apps, break a Wave or roast a Ram. Whatever it takes to break thru! Go Pirates!!

"There is one other solution, of course. And that is to go out and find the Pirates a suitable partner by filling the UConn vacancy with a program that is not only located in close proximity to Greenville, but has a large, passionate fan base and a track record on the field that would only enhance the ACC’s already strong brand as a Power 6 entity." LOL - ACC envy creeps in again!

What about Liberty, they are pouring a bunch of money into athletics and are moving in the right directions. If the AAC waits two or three years to make a move, Liberty will likely be in a position to add depth to the AAC, thus becoming a regional partner for ECU.

David: The updating of the recruiting thumbnails page is back in gear. We apologize for the interruption, which was due to some posting issues. — Danny Whitford, Editor

I like where is baseball program is and the direction we're going. Great job, Coach Godwin, the staff and player. Great coverage, Al.

This was the right article at the right time. To Mike Houston's credit (X<3), he is repairing much more damage considering Thompson was in for the typical 2 yrs while Scottie Montgomery (yikes) was afforded 3 very long, poorly performing years. Houston is rebuilding faster than expected imho given the depth of the hole he's digging Pirate Nation out of.

Glad to read your honest and realistic view of ECU football, and frankly an column that could be written about ECU athletics as a whole. This is a breath of fresh air after reading Brett “ACC” Friedlander’s column earlier this week.

This is somewhat beside the point of the article, but I find interesting that the one play called out from the football game was the muffed kickoff late. I think that the bigger failure was that 4th and 20 SMU conversion for the TD from the ECU 31 right before it. For the ECU d not to stop that was pretty much inexcusable, and frankly in my view made the Pirates undeserving of the "W." ...but undoubtedly they are improving, and significantly. They will roll over UConn. Tulsa will be a legit test, but, barring a step backward (thinking USF), I anticipate them taking that one, also.

His record thus far is dependent upon what he was left with. Hold your fire until about a year from now and again in two years.

Brett ... you can 't see the forest for the trees. You are better than this. Good time for a break this next weekend..

Friedlander said this: "There comes a time when the call for patience becomes white noise, because regardless of how bright the future might be — and it is for both the Pirates football and basketball programs — it always seems as if the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. That time has arrived. ECU and its fans deserve better than what they’re getting." Are you kidding, playing two nationally ranked team as this team did after the history of the past three years? What would you say if the Pirates has played LSU and Alabama reasonably well but lost? Would the light still be coming? Did you eve consider what the scores would have been if last year's coaching staff was still here?

Brett is far from an ECU beat writer. Check out his Twitter bio. Nothing there about ECU, only that he has covered the ACC since Moses parted the Red Sea. So maybe it makes more sense that he’d write such nonsense, a veiled attempt to divide Pirate fans who are, at this point, willing to give progress time to come to fruition in wins.

absolutely, couldn't believe what i was reading

What in the world is wrong with you Brett? Football Pirates getting close, horrible article!

Houston has a great won loss record. But. What is his record in the Big Boy League?