Gov:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(919) 814-2100
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 govpress@nc.gov

Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory has written a letter of support for East Carolina University's request for membership consideration in the Big 12 Conference. In his letter to Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, Governor McCrory highlights East Carolina University's academic and athletic success, as well as North Carolina's tradition of excellence in higher education and commitment to intercollegiate athletics.

Governor McCrory's letter reads:

East Carolina University is positioned both institutionally and athletically to be a successful and valuable member of the Big 12 Conference. Our state has a rich tradition of public universities with both excellent academic prowess and deep commitments to intercollegiate athletics. East Carolina University follows in that rich tradition and is prepared to strengthen that legacy.

East Carolina University’s membership in the Big 12 would deliver the entire state of North Carolina. In addition to the 16,828 members of the Pirate Club and the more than 45,000 Pirate fans that attend home football games in Greenville, East Carolina University would provide the Big 12 a substantial presence throughout the 9th largest state in the country and leverage the combined television markets of Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte.

On behalf of our more than 10,000,000 residents, and in support of the 28,000 current students and over 150,000 living alumni, the great State of North Carolina stands supportive of East Carolina University’s request for membership consideration in the Big 12 Conference.



AG letter: http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/962e9d6f-ffe...yLtr2.aspx

Even though (1) this won't help and (2) it's just a political move (Roy is running against incumbent Pat McCrory for Gov) to get votes from Pirates, I'm glad they are trying.

Not that I think it really matters but it's a good thing either way.

Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

I wish. I'd rather be there.

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

Really doubtful, but everyone knows that's always going to be a non starter. This is obviously just a political ploy for both, but at least ECU does have enough pull in the state that both need to do it.

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

The ACC is not going to happen for ECU. It's Big 12 / SEC or bust.

(07-27-2016 02:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

The ACC is not going to happen for ECU. It's Big 12 / SEC or bust.

This. Others will argue why ? and I'll argue why not ? If Tobacco Road stays together and the SEC desires a NC presence, who better ?

The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

(07-27-2016 01:42 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  Gov:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(919) 814-2100
Wednesday, July 27, 2016 govpress@nc.gov

Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory has written a letter of support for East Carolina University's request for membership consideration in the Big 12 Conference. In his letter to Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, Governor McCrory highlights East Carolina University's academic and athletic success, as well as North Carolina's tradition of excellence in higher education and commitment to intercollegiate athletics.

Governor McCrory's letter reads:

East Carolina University is positioned both institutionally and athletically to be a successful and valuable member of the Big 12 Conference. Our state has a rich tradition of public universities with both excellent academic prowess and deep commitments to intercollegiate athletics. East Carolina University follows in that rich tradition and is prepared to strengthen that legacy.

East Carolina University’s membership in the Big 12 would deliver the entire state of North Carolina. In addition to the 16,828 members of the Pirate Club and the more than 45,000 Pirate fans that attend home football games in Greenville, East Carolina University would provide the Big 12 a substantial presence throughout the 9th largest state in the country and leverage the combined television markets of Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte.

On behalf of our more than 10,000,000 residents, and in support of the 28,000 current students and over 150,000 living alumni, the great State of North Carolina stands supportive of East Carolina University’s request for membership consideration in the Big 12 Conference.



AG letter: http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/962e9d6f-ffe...yLtr2.aspx

Time to break this one out again...

(07-27-2016 02:55 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

The ACC is not going to happen for ECU. It's Big 12 / SEC or bust.

This. Others will argue why ? and I'll argue why not ? If Tobacco Road stays together and the SEC desires a NC presence, who better ?

I think administration at NCSU would push old ladies and babies in strollers into the freeway in exchange for an SEC invite if asked to do so.

It would allow them to catapult definitively ahead of the ACC schools in the state the same way Texas A&M has surpassed Texas.

(07-27-2016 03:20 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:55 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

The ACC is not going to happen for ECU. It's Big 12 / SEC or bust.

This. Others will argue why ? and I'll argue why not ? If Tobacco Road stays together and the SEC desires a NC presence, who better ?

I think administration at NCSU would push old ladies and babies in strollers into the freeway in exchange for an SEC invite if asked to do so.

It would allow them to catapult definitively ahead of the ACC schools in the state the same way Texas A&M has surpassed Texas.

Unfortunately for them, they just signed their rights away for 20 years

(07-27-2016 03:22 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:20 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:55 PM)ECUPirated Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:50 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 02:34 PM)bseer Wrote:  Would they be supportive of and lobby for ACC membership for ECU?

The ACC is not going to happen for ECU. It's Big 12 / SEC or bust.

This. Others will argue why ? and I'll argue why not ? If Tobacco Road stays together and the SEC desires a NC presence, who better ?

I think administration at NCSU would push old ladies and babies in strollers into the freeway in exchange for an SEC invite if asked to do so.

It would allow them to catapult definitively ahead of the ACC schools in the state the same way Texas A&M has surpassed Texas.

Unfortunately for them, they just signed their rights away for 20 years

True, didn't think of that.

(07-27-2016 03:09 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

I couldn't disagree more. Whether this ends up making any difference I want ECU to try as hard as possible to get in the conversation. I'd rather have some idiots on ESPN laugh at ECU for trying than ECU not try. I'll give up being an ECU fan the day ECU quits trying and "accepts their place."

(07-27-2016 03:09 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

I don't care what it looks like. This might be the last train.

(07-27-2016 03:28 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:09 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

I couldn't disagree more. Whether this ends up making any difference I want ECU to try as hard as possible to get in the conversation. I'd rather have some idiots on ESPN laugh at ECU for trying than ECU not try. I'll give up being an ECU fan the day ECU quits trying and "accepts their place."

No one is saying ECU shouldn't try, but this carries as much weight as a poster here advocating for ECU to get an invite. It's like the governor of NC saw that the governor of TX advocated for Houston so he advocated for ECU not knowing that the TX governor actually had some sway in the whole thing.

(07-27-2016 04:10 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:28 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:09 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

I couldn't disagree more. Whether this ends up making any difference I want ECU to try as hard as possible to get in the conversation. I'd rather have some idiots on ESPN laugh at ECU for trying than ECU not try. I'll give up being an ECU fan the day ECU quits trying and "accepts their place."

No one is saying ECU shouldn't try, but this carries as much weight as a poster here advocating for ECU to get an invite. It's like the governor of NC saw that the governor of TX advocated for Houston so he advocated for ECU not knowing that the TX governor actually had some sway in the whole thing.

Do you think Governors never speak to one another? They're both members of RGA. We will also have our US Senators lobbying on our behalf and a letter should come out this week from them.

(07-27-2016 04:12 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 04:10 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:28 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:09 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

I couldn't disagree more. Whether this ends up making any difference I want ECU to try as hard as possible to get in the conversation. I'd rather have some idiots on ESPN laugh at ECU for trying than ECU not try. I'll give up being an ECU fan the day ECU quits trying and "accepts their place."

No one is saying ECU shouldn't try, but this carries as much weight as a poster here advocating for ECU to get an invite. It's like the governor of NC saw that the governor of TX advocated for Houston so he advocated for ECU not knowing that the TX governor actually had some sway in the whole thing.

Do you think Governors never speak to one another? They're both members of RGA. We will also have our US Senators lobbying on our behalf and a letter should come out this week from them.

How has that helped ECU so far in the realignment game? I'm just saying that it's not an effective method to get an actual invite. If it's the governor of a state that has an existing member it matters (See Virginia/Virginia Tech and Texas/Tech/Baylor) if it's the governor of a state that isn't in the conference it doesn't.

(07-27-2016 04:10 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:28 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 03:09 PM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  The Texas politicians have leverage so I get their speaking out. What do the NC politicians have? Are they going to make UNC vote to add ECU to the Big XII? hahaha It's like they WANT the national sports news to laugh at them.

I couldn't disagree more. Whether this ends up making any difference I want ECU to try as hard as possible to get in the conversation. I'd rather have some idiots on ESPN laugh at ECU for trying than ECU not try. I'll give up being an ECU fan the day ECU quits trying and "accepts their place."

No one is saying ECU shouldn't try, but this carries as much weight as a poster here advocating for ECU to get an invite. It's like the governor of NC saw that the governor of TX advocated for Houston so he advocated for ECU not knowing that the TX governor actually had some sway in the whole thing.

Of course they knew the TX governor had more leverage (not as much as the Lieutenant Governor, but some nevertheless). This is purely about the fact that these two men are running against one another for the Governor's Mansion this fall. Do you really think they are stupid enough to pass up this opportunity to pander to all of eastern North Carolina?

It would seem to me, from what little I know about the guy, that the Governor of North Carolina is an absolute buffoon.