You don't have the AD, the Chancellor, and 100% of the trustees all on board for firing Ruffin for no reason. Have a little faith that he needed to go. I'm not disagreeing with the article. But anyone who is still complaining about Ruffin hitting the road needs to do a little research. And this is from a guy who loved Ruff!

I totally agree with the article. When I see the confidence and respect that other head coaches have for Coach Ruff I wonder what Compher was thinking when he fired him, yet Coach Lebo is still there. That move will always stick in my mind and what a total screwup it was. I also wonder about Staton and how much skill he has in running a major university especially with the band situation and now the contract extension for Compher.

ECU did have a Swimmer at the NCAA Championship.

Good article until the last paragraph. Perhaps insert the word "just" between "by" and "graduation". Surely, the measures you mention are also important to the role of the AD. However, without athletic success, waving the academic success flag does little to sooth the fanbase. That's your point - I get it.

I agree that Staton should have awaited until next year to consider an extension. However, I disagree with your statement "ECU is a program that got worse immediately after a coaching change initiated by Compher." It is easy to come to that conclusion if you just consider the win/loss record. It is my belief there was ample evidence overall to make a change. I further argue there was a good chance Ruffin would have had a worse season then Montgomery in 2016. Not necessarily just wins and losses, but overall morale within the program and out. I, for one, was not confident in the program after Ruffin's last year but I probably would have given him one more year. Give Montgomery time to lift the program up and Compher time on his decision to change leadership.

You poor snowflake. The background on Staton completely relates to the extension of an AD with Zero athletic accomplishments under his watch. Staton has NO athletic background or ties during his educational tenure and his most recent employment was as a politician. Not a very good one at that. The background provided for the reporter relates directly Statons decision making skills as it relates to athletics. Typically, folks in this position have at least some semblance of experience in athletics. Staton has NONE. That's what happens when the repubtard Gov and BOG are political lackeys and left in control.

Just cant not talk politics in an article about extension of our AD. What the hell does any of that have to do with it? Why does everyone in the media have to have a political angle. I guess it makes it cool since you put a disclaimer in there. Well in honor of that with all due respect Stanton`s politics have no damn bearing on his extension for our AD. Also your source the NC Policy Watch is a progressive liberal think tank so nice work there to.

Can't get out of our own way.

ECU athletics is in a downward spiral and I do not see this decision as a way to turn it around.

Have to agree with you, Al. Bad decision. I think the minuses outweigh the pluses.Was he judged the same way as he judged Ruff? The decision to add a womens LAX program at a cost of $600,000. per year when we are having other sports taking a 10% budget reduction makes no sense at all.This was not mandated by the conference or the NCAA. It was his decision. I am very disappointed in Dr. Staton and the BOT. I think we would have been better served by not renewing his contract and moving Nick Floyd to AD.

Acquiring the punting services of EMU graduate transfer Barnes is a real “get” for the Pirates. The highly regarded Barnes, a Ray Guy semifinalist last year, is a difference maker and in his three years at EMU helped revive a horrible football program. So it appears the young man is up to the challenge and probably looking forward to playing before an ECU home crowd of 40,000 fans instead of the 500 to 1,500 at EMU.

Let's not kid ourselves here Dye would have went to Miami if he wouldn't of been fourth on the depth chart and barely getting in on special teams.

Another well-written and thoughtfully analyzed article, Brett. You bring up some valid points about the risk/benefit of using grad-transfers. From my distant vantage point in Wilmington, I think our coach has made a very wise decision for us in this particular year and with these particular players. Given the tough upcoming schedule, we need all of the talent & horsepower that we can muster if we hope to be above .500 at the end of November. I'm excited to see how this team will gel and perform on the field. We've got a lot of talent and we'll win some upsets if everyone buys into the system and performs up to their abilities. Wish you'd come back to the Port City and write some more articles for the Wilmington Star!! You're missed!

Dude! Are you delirious? You have obviously been watching too much fake news! The "kneelers" should have immediately been dismissed from the band and disciplined by the student council. The thing that kept us from becoming a laughingstock by these few arrogant, elitist liberals in the band was the fantastic and immediate response by the fans.

Good review of the athletic teams overall, but taking a swipe at the band was as unnecessary as the actions of some in the stands that day. It was indeed the negative actions in the stands that caused the national headlines.