I just don't buy that changing ECU's name would really make much of a difference at this point. ECU is simply an anomaly. There is absolutely no other university that has done so much with so little. In the early 90s before conference realignment, ECU was a better program than VT (led series 4-3 by 1992) and SC (ECU won 4 of 5 in the 90s). ECU has also had a winning record against NC State since 1981.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Carol...te_rivalry

ECU's football team has competed at the highest level since the 70s and since playing in and winning the 1978 Independence bowl (with a much more slender captain Ruffin McNeil returning an interception for a TD), ECU is the only non power 5 team who has played a bowl game against a team from every major conference (NC State, Illinois, Stanford, TCU, Texas Tech, Boise State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Maryland). Moreover several teams have finished ranked w/o even being invited to a bowl game including the 1983 team that was 13 heartbreaking points away from the National Championship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEtIyKXRleY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_East_C..._team#1996

Even w/in recent memory, ECU became the first team in Conference USA to not only win back to back championships but also to consecutively beat 3 ranked teams (#21 Boise St., #15 VT, #8 WVU)

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282500151

ECU averages a higher attendance than any other non power 5 program (outside of Mormon country) and is on schedule to expand to over 60,000 by 2016. Even in 2011, when ECU failed to make a bowl game for the only time in the last 6 years and despite being stuck in CUSA, ECU averaged over 50,000. What other program could do that?

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_r...e/2011.pdf

Point is, while ECU seems to be stuck in the category of biggest midget or in perpetual limbo in between big time and small time football, the program has a tradition and has made a name for itself. Moreover, if given the opportunity, ECU would flourish on the big stage. We consider East Carolina to be its own separate entity detached from the evil ACC schools west of I-95 & the fan base identifies with the name too much to change at this point so it isn't really an option. ECU will always fight against the powers that be and has always embraced and even relished the roll of being on the outside looking in (Us against the world mentality). In a way it has even contributed to the programs success and embodies the mindset of the people of Eastern NC (look what we can do despite the intrinsic obstacles we face type attitude). When someone hands us lemons we make lemonade.

Regardless whether or not we get called up to the big leagues, we will always be a factor and every few years ECU will rise up and shock the nation. People really underestimate the power of fan support. ECU turns out a lot of alumni every year w/ nearly 30,000 students and there is maybe not a more passionate fan base on the planet as indicated by this decade long thread. Pirate nation refuses to settle for mediocrity despite how others outside the program want to categorize us. If the SEC took the chance on ECU, I am positive that it would be their best move in the long term despite the immediate criticism that would undoubtedly ensue.