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

Attention, Tim Slavin: You ask. We deliver. Brett Friedlander's column today addresses the topic. — Danny Whitford, Editor

I would like to hear all of you give your opinions on the new AAC tv contract and how it impacts ECU in the long run? Thank you, Tim Slavin

Yes! There were about 10 Pirate fans and 10,000 JMU fans because they were the #1 seed and we were seeded somewhat lower. Nobody gave us a chance against that Lefty Driesell team. After the nets were cut down we happened by a room FULL of food & drink for the winning team, coaches (obviously expecting a huge crowd of JMU people). We cruised right in. Hung out for a couple of hours with the team and coaches. I can remember center Ike Copeland hanging out, eating and drinking with fans, with one of the nets around his neck. Although my favorite ECU sporting event was beating top ten Houston at The Fick for our second conference title this win in basketball was right up there. It was a LOT of fun! I'll be a season ticket holder next year because I think in a couple of years seats at Minges may be hard to get (I hope!).

1993 was a long time ago but myself and a couple of buddies went to Richmond for the CAA Championship game, what a blast it was and living here in Winston-Salem, it was great to see the Bucs face-off against UNC. Lester Lyons had 27 points on 11 shots from the field that night against the Heels. We'll get back there more sooner than later. Good points though out your article. Go Pirates!

I couldn't agree more! I also liked your emphasis on the word PHYSICAL after the way his JMU team (and others) completely pushed us all over the field.