Interesting remarks and while only one man's opinion I do think that it's clear that ECU's main issue is merely perception because when it comes down to substance there's a lot to like. Perception issues are much better than a substantive issues because "you can deny the lies but you can't deny the truth." - See
An Honest Liar on Netflix right now (great documentary)
http://newsok.com/berry-tramel-emails-in...le/5432917
"East Carolina is the second-strongest fan base among mid-majors, trailing only Brigham Young. East Carolina’s only problem is the directional school designation. Like Central Florida. It just sounds less exalted. However, the 'East' Carolina is kind of cool. Eastern Carolina sounds hokey. East Carolina sounds almost like a new state....
East Carolina is growing on me. I think East Carolina's biggest problem is mostly perceptual. The Pirates aren't a big TV brand. I would advise East Carolina to keep on keeping on; I'm told that ECU’s stadium is expandable. Make it necessary to expand that stadium and fill it up. Start drawing 58,000 fans per game, and you can't be ignored. I don’t think the Big 12 wants to add a school with a direction in its name. But I don’t think the Big 12 wants to add a school that draws 30,000 fans on a good day....
Quality over quantity. That’s why I’m more and more getting dogmatic about what I said after the East Carolina email. Don’t ask the Big 12 to take you on faith. You have the faith, build up your program and make the Big 12 take you on substance....
Hey, I’m officially on the East Carolina bandwagon. Not that I endorse an invitation to the Big 12, but I endorse having the Pirates high on the watch list. Let’s see. If I would just rank the schools right now,
regardless of travel partner or anything, I’d go 1. BYU; 2. Cincinnati; 3. Boise State; 4. UConn; 5. East Carolina; 6. Central Florida; 7. Houston; 8. Memphis. I would not want anyone else on the list."