With ECU's Dowdy Ficklen Stadium expanding to 60,000 the Pirates will have the 2nd largest stadium in North Carolina, and within 3,000 of UNC's Kenan Memorial Stadium. Considering UNC attendance averages around 59,000, ECU could surpass the Tar Heels in attendance.

Would this be acceptable to UNC? I think not.

Needing more butts in seats makes the SEC even more desirable.

Of course, the extra money afforded SEC membership would also be a huge plus.

I've said it a few times...give ECU power 5 money/status and they would easily be the premier football program in North Carolina....easily. Without the cheating cough-UNC-cough

To the opening question the answer is no.

Why anyone thinks ECU would be anything other than the same level of program as UNC and NC State with P5 status is a bit of a mystery. There's a reason why UNC and NC State are the level of programs they are.

UNC forced into the SEC because of ECU's stadium expansion?



On a serious note would ECU expanding to 60,000 seats make them a viable candidate for the SEC? I could see where it might do so if they can combine the expansion with a few CFP bowl games. It may make them look the part of legitimate SEC material.

The SEC then has a quick way into the state of North Carolina without having to navigate the UNC-Duke politics.

UNC may be a program stained with cheating, but UNC is to arrogant to lower themselves to the status of an SEC school.

I did grad school at DUKE and I am very familiar with UNC.

I would love to see ECU in the SEC. They would really be a force with the SEC name/$.

(08-01-2015 09:04 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  I would love to see ECU in the SEC. They would really be a force with the SEC name/$.

It will never happen but if they were...they would pass UNC, NCST in no time.

60K isn't a all that big by SEC standards. It would tie you with Kentucky and be slightly behind the MS schools.

And no, nobody takes promises of "but just give us P5 money and see our potential" every G5 can make that same argument.

As of right now, ECU isn't a viable candidate for the SEC for multiple reasons.

(08-01-2015 09:16 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  60K isn't a all that big by SEC standards. It would tie you with Kentucky and be slightly behind the MS schools.

And no, nobody takes promises of "but just give us P5 money and see our potential" every G5 can make that same argument.

As of right now, ECU isn't a viable candidate for the SEC for multiple reasons.

we know dude...we are dealing with 'what if'

(08-01-2015 09:16 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  60K isn't a all that big by SEC standards. It would tie you with Kentucky and be slightly behind the MS schools.

And no, nobody takes promises of "but just give us P5 money and see our potential" every G5 can make that same argument.

As of right now, ECU isn't a viable candidate for the SEC for multiple reasons.

What about UNC then?

If any ECU fans find this thread, watch out! 1000 posts on the greatness of the almighty purple pirates like we got over on the Sun Belt board recently.

(08-01-2015 09:22 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 09:16 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  60K isn't a all that big by SEC standards. It would tie you with Kentucky and be slightly behind the MS schools.

And no, nobody takes promises of "but just give us P5 money and see our potential" every G5 can make that same argument.

As of right now, ECU isn't a viable candidate for the SEC for multiple reasons.

What about UNC then?

What about them?

They're one of maybe 5 schools that can punch their ticket anywhere based purely on their BB program.

East Carolina should drop the east part of their name. Actually, If ECU rebranded its name as The University of the Carolinas. The UC would probably already be in the SEC. As silly as this sounds.

(08-01-2015 10:07 PM)hawghiggs Wrote:  East Carolina should drop the east part of their name. Actually, If ECU rebranded its name as The University of the Carolinas. The UC would probably already be in the SEC. As silly as this sounds.

Carolina Universiity

(08-01-2015 07:33 PM)Lurker Above Wrote:  With ECU's Dowdy Ficklen Stadium expanding to 60,000 the Pirates will have the 2nd largest stadium in North Carolina, and within 3,000 of UNC's Kenan Memorial Stadium. Considering UNC attendance averages around 59,000, ECU could surpass the Tar Heels in attendance.

Would this be acceptable to UNC? I think not.

Needing more buts in seats makes the SEC even more desirable.

Of course, the extra money afforded SEC membership would also be a huge plus.

ECU has averaged a respectable 43,000 and change over the last 10 years with a record setting attendance of 51,000 set when the Tar Heels came to town.
I suppose that the thought in Greenville is: if you enlarge the stadium...they will come, but at this point the capacity that they have now exceeds the demand.

yes.

(08-01-2015 10:09 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 07:33 PM)Lurker Above Wrote:  With ECU's Dowdy Ficklen Stadium expanding to 60,000 the Pirates will have the 2nd largest stadium in North Carolina, and within 3,000 of UNC's Kenan Memorial Stadium. Considering UNC attendance averages around 59,000, ECU could surpass the Tar Heels in attendance.

Would this be acceptable to UNC? I think not.

Needing more buts in seats makes the SEC even more desirable.

Of course, the extra money afforded SEC membership would also be a huge plus.

ECU has averaged a respectable 43,000 and change over the last 10 years with a record setting attendance of 51,000 set when the Tar Heels came to town.
I suppose that the thought in Greenville is: if you enlarge the stadium...they will come, but at this point the capacity that they have now exceeds the demand.

Don't kid yourself citing the last 10 year average attendance of ECU when the Pirates will be playing an AAC schedule moving forward in 2016. ECU will have a better chance of selling out their stadium than the Tar Heels will.

Of course, on the above we can disagree, but the real issue is what if I'm right? Could UNC suffer being 2nd in football attendance to an instate G5 school? I say no. Disagree?

(08-01-2015 10:09 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 07:33 PM)Lurker Above Wrote:  With ECU's Dowdy Ficklen Stadium expanding to 60,000 the Pirates will have the 2nd largest stadium in North Carolina, and within 3,000 of UNC's Kenan Memorial Stadium. Considering UNC attendance averages around 59,000, ECU could surpass the Tar Heels in attendance.

Would this be acceptable to UNC? I think not.

Needing more buts in seats makes the SEC even more desirable.

Of course, the extra money afforded SEC membership would also be a huge plus.

ECU has averaged a respectable 43,000 and change over the last 10 years with a record setting attendance of 51,000 set when the Tar Heels came to town.
I suppose that the thought in Greenville is: if you enlarge the stadium...they will come, but at this point the capacity that they have now exceeds the demand.

We will need all 60,000 seats when Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, etc. Come to town.

(08-01-2015 10:08 PM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  

(08-01-2015 10:07 PM)hawghiggs Wrote:  East Carolina should drop the east part of their name. Actually, If ECU rebranded its name as The University of the Carolinas. The UC would probably already be in the SEC. As silly as this sounds.

Carolina Universiity

Go with that.

(08-01-2015 10:07 PM)hawghiggs Wrote:  East Carolina should drop the east part of their name. Actually, If ECU rebranded its name as The University of the Carolinas. The UC would probably already be in the SEC. As silly as this sounds.

It certainly didn't help Texas State.