Wrong ... The requirement that only one FCS opponent is allowed to count toward bowl eligibility is waived if a "unique or catastrophic situation" prevented the team from finding a suitable FBS opponent to fill its schedule for the following season. VA Tech opting out in December qualifies as a "unique or catastrophic situation."

Amen, brother! 4 months too late he finally read the memo that ECU is the 2nd largest University in the state with a whole lot of voters in NC. Anyone can see this for what it is. Where was he when this was going on and being discussed on the news? If he really wanted to help he would have been involved then. What a phony.

It's time for all Pirates to move on from this. We should just cancel the remaining games up there and be done with the Gobblers.

It will take seven wins to get to a bowl since we have two FCS schools on our schedule. Tech did not do us any favors! The governor is 4 months late, anyway.

It's funny how many times we wished our governor had gotten involved during conference expansion to support ECU, like the Virginia governor at the time of ACC expansion did to help Virginia Tech. Yet, now that Governor Cooper steps up to support us, all you can say is it was a political ploy? Most people are not so unappreciative to make such unnecessary claims.

Completely agree

Given the results of Gilbert's first month on the job, it's not unreasonable to have confidence that he will make another quality hire. The Pirates' new leadership bodes well for the future.

I love your article with one tiny exception. If you think the women's basketball program is showing promise, you haven't been to a game lately or following events. Look who their wins are against. The program is in disarray. A coach who misled her fans, over-hyped her recruiting classes, and was a far better self promoter than coach, is gone. It will take another quality hire to get that "ship righted again" too.

Shank was the coach I wanted for head coach when Steve Logan was hired. roger

I truly believe Shank is the 'not so hidden gem' on this staff ...

Al, always enjoy your thoughts but especially this article. Mirror what Pirate Al states about having Shank back. Nice to have in depth comments from Shank. Good job. Deva Reece

Great read. Thrilled to have Shank back!!

A great win! I had tix but could not attend at the last minute. It looked like a LOT of fun! We look forward to being at our next home game. GO PIRATES!

Really? Sadly you're right as the fans did seem to enjoy each other but to say the AD is not well liked is just like Trump saying Mexico would pay for the wall..LOL Fake news! Hokie fans love their AD!! I'm sure a few don't but their is a lot of stupidity out there! BTW, we're you planning to travel to the game this year? You think ECU at minimum would have been better served by traveling to VT, and practicing there on their fields or indoor facility if they could NOT have played, instead of flying so early to Florida? Especially in the wake of the hurricane missing the Blacksburg area. ECU was suppose to wait til Wednesday and agreed! But whoever jumped the gun and did not wait. OK who knows who really made that questionable call.why did they NOT play the makeup with VT instead of the better NC State team? Sadly someone screwed up at ECU and they're not even taking the responsibility of an irrational response to a long time friend, one of the ONLY P5 schools willing to partner with them! Makes no sense!! Screw me once shame on ECU but screw me twice shame on VT!! Yes it IS sad for both fan bases but reporters writing a one sided biased article only makes the breakup worse. If it's TRULY a win-win for ECU, why all the hard feelings and misinformation being spread? Move on! Best of luck to both programs! If you can't admit it was a stale relationship then you're just butt hurt. It should have been cut some anyway as both fan bases prefer different opportunities for playing other CFB teams! Now both have their chance but they should agree to play occasionally! One side needs to step up! The question is which one will?

Amen! But don't confuse this low,rated reporter with facts!! Reporters like him have given the profession a bad name Sadly used daily by the lotus! ECU could have made it lright if NOT for scheduling the makeup game with NC STATE which was as bad a decision as their others. NC State was a better team and an instate team. My take on that is they wanted to lose to a instate team to put a stamp on firing their HC, who had NO say in the makeup game. He allegedly said he'd preferred to stick with VT. Who wouldn't have this year? Well whoever was.makimg decisions down there needs some extra education on.how to deal with friends! No doubt VT was the real loser in this long term relationship as they could only lose! If they won, they're suppose to but a loss was very tough. I don't get ECU'S handling nor their response to VT dropping the home games with a lesser rated program. But.now ECU can get their in/state university friends to play them. I'd think they could fill it with 1 of the 4 North Carolina schools each year on a rotating basis. Sounds like a win win for ECU. Good luck.