Good article Sport. Hope you're doing well.

George, I attended E C C from 1957-61 I thought our stadium then was huge, but e We had lots of fun

Impressive. No one who enrolled in the 1950s would ever have believed that this was possible. The football stadium at that time was 3,000 bleacher seats on each side with a press box of plywood about 10' X 20'. We've come a long ways.

I like the emphasis on the run; you cannot win without it. Hopefully the OL will see an immediate improvement; that was arguably the biggest ECU weakness among many. Also, you don't want to see Ahlers lugging it too much, for health reasons, but in your QB, you also have a very tough and capable fullback.

Mr. Myatt: Did you forget Pat Dye and Bill Cain? Cain forced out Dye over an ego problem and Ed Emory was hired to send ECU into a tailspin in the late 70's. He was followed by the former coach of the Citadel who did not do much better. Cain soon departed as well.

He reminds me more of Pat Dye and I don't think I could pay him a higher compliment.

I like what I have heard thus far from Coach Houston regarding his approach -- toughness, running the football, defense. That appears to be the formula for championships (it certainly worked in 2008 and 2009). Good luck to Houston and his staff in rebuilding our once very good football program.

Excellent article as we now know Taj Deans and Trace Christian were injured and did not play Saturday. Lot of good information about individual players that we appreciate. The offensive line has some youth but it has some depth and it does not concern me. Depth at defensive tackle has me a little concerned especially with the loss of Raequan Purvis and the temporary loss of Chandler Medeiros for most of next season. This staff seems to be able find the right pieces to the puzzle and as they are doing at tight end will find some more defensive tackles. Thanks for the article. David

Don't forget the women's tennis team and its 20-game win streak.

Thank you for the heads up, Gene. The error has been corrected. — Danny Whitford, Editor

The UNCW game Tuesday is at Wilimington

I'd like to see ECU win the Whole Thing A La Coastal Carolina did to arbet the Conference. And I feel like Eastern Carolina is due for that Flagpole National Championship

Thanks for the update, we here at the house follow all sports so let the girls know, "Gooo Pirates!"

Brett thanks for all of your hard work. One thing that really bothers me is that we are in a bit of a catch 22. In conf USA we could take prop 48 kids. ECU never abused that option taking a limited number of in state players for football. Usually they were down lineman with a limit of 3-4 players each yr. Graduation rates for those players always exceeded the general school population. I know you may remember South Fla after only 4 years of having football had the first second and third players drafted in the NFL 4th round. They however took probably 15 per year. I do understand why we (AAC) are trying to mirror the P 5 and take no prop 48 kids. I truly think our conference Commissioner is outstanding. The problem is up until just now we were getting 3 mill and the power 5... 30 mill plus.....(the extra 4 mill for us really helps) I just do not believe they are going to share any of that revenue. I think if you win enough vs P 5 public pressure might rise to push an opening for our conference to be added to a power 6 with us dropping our prop 48 policy. App St and Charlotte and ODU will have plenty of prop 48's and until a few days ago we were getting 3 mill to their 500 to 750k. now that we are 7 mill and if their TV $ stays at 750 k great. Likely they may get a bump up also. Regardless this is a big boy league and it is going to really help Basketball and all of our sports. I think the AAC could go with a limited # of prop 48's win out and force more TV $ with more wins. Large City College institutions like Houston New Orleans Tampa etc flourish when it comes to prop 48 kids. Ours situation is not as conducive but when you take all of Eastern NC we would get our share of prop 48 candidates. Once you are in the p 5 we would wean off. Notice how South Fla raced to no 2 in the country but has not fared as well. Houston Tampa Cinn New Orleans Dallas Temple etc would be unreal for prop 48 kids.(jobs,family close). Winning outside our conf would be easier but inside would be even tougher than now. Watch the kind of athlete (especially down lineman) you will see at ODU, Charlotte, App St as the yrs go by. Still glad we are in the AAC.

"Power Five" (hate that term) ECU and the new and improved American Athletic Conference Everybody else