Even with a good win today. ECU football is no where near playing with the discipline and confidence they need to be a successful program. Scottie Mo got to Go!!

I like the article but would change the headline to Montgomery, Penalties, & Injuries Hinder Pirates

Hi Danny, As a long time Pirate fan and loyal Bonesville reader (I can’t remember the last day I didn’t visit your site) I was wondering if you could write an article or have it written about QB development at ECU. I recently commented about that on this forum but think it deserves a better more intense look from one of your writers. I think it’s crucial information as we talk about the Pirates future and the future of our coach. It’s stunning to think that two of Ruff’s recruits have gone on to such significant success in what most people would think were more difficult situations. I do believe that Ahlers is a special QB and believe it’s paramount that we put him in the best situation to thrive. Wins and losses are important factors but player development also speaks loudly to coaches ability. For me we’ve had some great examples of getting the most out of what we had in the past. Steve Logan and Skip Holtz were great at sustainable development of players. I’m not sure our current regime share that ability and with three year look we probably have seen who they are. Anyways if you believe it’s interesting and important info that our QB from last year is literally lighting it up in the northwest and another former Pirate was considered one of the best QB’s in the ACC for two years Bonesville.net should dive into the why’s and how’s of that situation. I believe we have the roster for a significant turnaround but need to have the right person guiding the ship. Maybe it’s Scottie but maybe it’s not. Thanks for providing such great info on the Pirates for so many years. Bonesville.net is a part of my day every day of my life. Go Pirates!!!! Dan A.

MatC: Thank you for the heads up. Correction has been made. — Danny Whitford, Editor

Men don't follow this game. They play Monday!

Well said MR. Brown!!

We need to give him another year and do it now. No football coach in my memory has had as much to overcome than he has with internal problems within the athletic department and administration and Stasavich was coach when I first went to a game. Who has he had to lean on regarding what ECU wants other than wins? No one, and no coach in America can stand that long. Another year will not make or break our program, but another good recruiting year and the ability to once again have strong junior and senior classes will help any coach year after next whether it is coach Mo or whomever. Coaching does matter, but without the horses you can't win the race and we have a truly good class ready to come in if we give them a positive signal.

If mo returns I will cut my season tickets in half........I cannot give tickets away these days.............sad:)

Dan A., you can't make any stronger points than the examples of Benkert and Minshew. those are two head scratchers for sure.

Agree wholeheartedly.

exactly!

The decision is hard one but all the needed evidence is plain to see. In fact one aspect not many people realize is that the cupboard was not that bare when he got here. Benkert our QB who got hurt Ruff’s final year (if he hadn’t we would have had a winning record that year for sure) was to be the starting QB but transferred to UVA and had a stellar career there. He ended up being one of the best qb’s in the ACC and is on the Falcons practice squad right now. If Montgomery was as visionary and such a great offensive mind Benkert would have stayed but he didn’t. The next great example of not getting the most out of the talent you have and more importantly not developing QB’s is Minshew. Minshew transferred from ECU just this year. After a good but not great year with us in 2017. Guess what? He is now leading the country in about three passing statistics for Washington State and is considered a top prospect for the NFL. Once again if Montgomery or our OC were motivators good QB’s wouldn’t leave back to back. We can all agree that Ahlers is a special QB and deserves to have a great coach to develop him into the best version if himself he can be. Montgomery is not that guy. Actually all of the evidence suggests he is the opposite of that guy. It’s like Ruff used to say about his players when they got in trouble. I love my players but I love ECU more. So I love my coach Montgomery but I love ECU more. He’s got to go.

I say "Keep Coach Mo" and get an AD in place for 2019. There is too much talent in the pipeline to make a change too soon and risk draining the pipeline. Tulane should have been beaten and so should Memphis. Injury and inexperience have taken a toll on 2018. But 2019 is the make or break a .500 record will get you in a bowl and we need to get there in 2019. Let Kansas and Louisville panic. Mo deserves an opportunity with Compher gone. I'll be there vs UCONN. Go Pirates!

It's undeniable that effectively Coach is a lame duck from a recruiting standpoint as we speak; he cannot possibly have any credibility on the recruiting trail, based on his hot seat status. A lot of folks want him gone now, and they have a case. If it were me making the call, I'd wait 'til after the UConn game this Sat., which they sure as hell should win, even on the road. If they don't, I'd suck it up and pull the plug by Mon., and name Blackwell as interim. If they do, I'd announce a vote of confidence for one more year, so he could at least be enabled to recruit. (...and I'd be telling him he sure as hell better be thinking about his OL, first and foremost.) They are getting better, but the OL continues to just kill them, and I know that a couple or three injuries have a lot to do with that, but that's all part of this brutal game that you just have to learn to roll with.

A new AD must be hired before Dec 1st and a new coach must be hired before Dec 18th. I have no reason to believe the Pirates will be improved next season if Montgomery is retained. It should be clear to everyone that adding lacrosse at an annual cost of $800,000 + was a huge mistake by Compher and the BOT. That money is desperately needed to prop up this football program by hiring a proven winning coach with head coaching experience.