My wife and I, both ECU grads, have been trying to decide whether to go to the game this weekend or not. I want to go to support the players and our school. I realized that we likely were not going to set the world on fire this season, but I was hoping to see something that makes me think that we are an improving team and possibly good team next year. I plan to go and if we lose, I at least hope it is not the royal butt kicking that has been the norm so far. GGOOO...PIRATES!!

Hi Brian, how do you figure BYU has played a tougher schedule? 5 teams we lost to are nationally ranked.

I disagree. If there is a comparison in the article....this point should be discussed!

Did you read the column? I didn't compare him to Mack Brown. I compared him to John Thompson, which is why ECU can't afford to have the same kind of patience UNC did with Brown. Go back and read it again.

Unrelated, unnecessary, unproven... Concentrate on building our house, and keeping it clean!

Montgomery is lost and it is disgusting for you to compare him to Mack Brown. Mack was formerly a head coach and was coaching football at a basketball school. Here FOOTBALL drives the revenue engine. I find it interesting that you did not reference the 3 ton elephant in the room of decade low attendance and apathy. With season ticket sales down by the thousands already this year the threat of financial collapse looms if a change is not made immediately to give season ticket holders and the top 10-15% of donors a reason to continue to invest in this very poor commodity. With a new new coach with HC experience, a name and a track record of success...then there will be NO HOPE and financial collapse draws closer. ECU has to part ways with this failed hire.

Also remember that while at UNC, Mack Brown had the luxury of keeping athletes academically eligible in the form of no-show classes. The football program and basketball program at UNC from 1993 to 2011 was built on a foundation of academic fraud designed to keep star basketball and football players eligible. And who was the AD when this started, John Swofford. It makes decisions like keeping Mack easier when you know his star recruits wont ever have to worry about violating "academic policy" (what that really means at UNC, no one will ever know).

ECU’s MVP for the game, or for the year? No question in my mind, it’s the punter Austin Barnes. Saturday, punting out of the end zone, Barnes crushes another punt 60+ yards with 4.8 second hang time. That’s next level NFL performance ECU fans! 4.8 sec. hang time out of the end zone and no ECU “gunner” coverage downfield and no ECU player within 15 yds. when the catch is made. The returner first runs the width of the field (in time for ECU players to get downfield in position to miss tackles - and they did) before going vertical and taking it for a touchdown. The coaches comment? “Barnes was supposed to punt it out of bounds.” Say what; you told Barnes to punt it 30 yd., 35 yd. or 40 yd. out of bounds from the end zone? Oh yeah, that’ll work. BS! THAT ridiculous coaches comment speaks volumes about the mentality of this inept ECU coaching staff. Seems that coaching staff finger pointing time has arrived. Big time player talent and coaches are clueless how to use it! Stay tuned fans. Coming soon, ECU QB will be limited to throwing 5 yd. passes and RB’s will be asked to take a knee after a 5 yd. gain. But, on second thought, that might keep the “well coached” ECU defense off the field a little longer.

Maybe the trustee meeting Tuesday will produce a. Hangs somewhere.

We obviously have a broken team and a lot of problems. If I had a car that was broken or having problems, I would change mechanics if that is what is needed. I realize that is a simple analogy, I realistically did not expect a great season, but I do expect our team to be competitive - outside of UCONN, it has not been competitive. And by-the-way, UCONN beat Temple this week. At least they are making progress. It is past a "come to Jesus meeting" time. TIME to see some immediate and sustained progress! If I go see the BYU game this weekend, I will have to spend a lot of money with travel, meals and hotels. Please tell me it is going to be worth it.

I am not suggesting we give up on the season, but we have to seriously consider, in the current situation that we need to develop more players; including in the quarterback role. The most consistent play of our quarterbacks has been inconsistency. Even with a leaky line, our quarterbacks are timid, and when the line holds, quarterbacks are still inaccurate. Yes, receivers are dropping catchable balls, but a little more accuracy might help. Maybe it's time to look beyond the two that have played? Maybe it's time for Montgomery to further evaluate and do what he said he didn't want to do: Call plays! Where is the rhythm, what is the reasoning? Are we over-thinking? Why do we play so slowly? Is it really necessary to go to the line and look back to the side on almost every play? Call the dang play and get on! Be decisive! You are outsmarting no one when you change plays, or decide late. The other team is changing too! Defense, just get better. We feel the pain. Find a wall that the team walks by, and just paint the definition of DISCIPLINE. Still, the most disappointing thing that I saw against UCF was a group of players laughing it up on the sideline after we were scored on again. Obviously, I don't know the situation; but on television, it looked like there were no worries about what was happening in the game. Lastly, Pirate Nation: SHOW SOME PRIDE! Don't just come out when the teams are winning, and don't ever again do anything as disgusting as trying to sell your tickets for $6 on StubHub! Get out to the game Saturday, and show some support!

Good Luck, Coach K.! The Pirates need you & the Old School Football Basics, desperately. We'll be watching & hoping to find that elusive 'Treasure'.all Pirates seek. 'X' marks the spot. ARRRRRRGG!

"dizzying number of pins to put on the map" Amen! Couldn't hold a job? Work on those Pirate deck chairs Coach Gutekunst, while we ECU fans dust off our snorkel gear.

I hope Brett Feidlander does not get paid for the garbage he produces. I think we know how bad it is. You don't need to put an exclamation mark on it.

Allow me to vent. ECU coaching problem, player problem or both? I don’t know, but this season, game after game, ECU fans are treated to a “papier mach’e” defensive unit that does not attack and does not disrupt, but instead waits on the offensive play to develop (fully develop); then apprehensively, belatedly reacts. Just a few simple suggestions to ECU defensive coaches. Please teach some basic fundamentals! How about instilling an “attack” mentality in defensive players? Replace defensive “reacting” with defensive “attacking.” Are ECU coaches or players unable to “anticipate” plays? Sure, in implementing an attacking defense mentality, anticipatory mistakes will be made, but they will be “acceptable” aggressive attacking mistakes. This current defensive mentality of laying back and waiting on the offense to come to you got old several games ago. Next, how about eliminating the apprehensive “hand tackling?” Replace these defensive attempted “pat downs” with legal, legitimate fundamental tackles! So far this season, on play after play, the ECU defense has repeatedly demonstrated that the safest player on the field is the ball carrier. Finally, teach smart football. Thug mentality, post play, unsportsmanlike misconduct penalties should earn a player a seat on the bench. More than once? You’re too dumb to play ECU football! Take a permanent seat. Just some sideline thoughts from a very frustrated ECU fan!