To Pirate Nation. Hang in there. Look. I know this isn't apples to apples but I can relate to ECU on the football side of things. Cincinnati was trucking along like gold with Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly and then Butch Jones as our consecutive head coaches. Then...it happened. Enter Cadaverville. Drubberville. Crapperville. Retiredville. [Insert Word]ville. One bad hire undid all of the prior building up and success of the program. Frustrating as hell because we've not exactly been lighting it up as members of the American Conference in football. Enter in a new hire - Luke Fickell. The jury is still out but he's brought a renewed energy, recruiting acumen and integrity back into our program. The future is bright and it's an example of getting the right hire. Well guess what...ECU can do the same thing.

Let's be honest. East Carolina was not brought into the American for hoops. Football drives the bus and the Pirates have a solid gridiron history, rabid fan support and a great stadium (50k+ capacity). I know because I live in North Carolina. ECU loves its football and it WILL get better. How soon? Don't know. But I do know it will get better. The fan base and alumni will demand it. They can vote with their feet.

I'll end with some facts. Here are ECU's records since joining the American:

2014: 8-5 (Birmingham Bowl Appearance)
2015: 5-7
2016: 3-9
2017: 3-9

I also happen to remember several P5 schools that the Pirates knocked off their perch:

2014: @VT & UNC
2015: VT
2016: NCST

Here are Tulane's American years:

2014: 3-9
2015: 3-9
2016: 4-8
2017: 5-7

How about SMU:

2013: 5-7
2014: 1-11
2015: 2-10
2016: 5-7
2017: 7-6 (Frisco Bowl Appearance)

Finally UConn:

2013: 3-9
2014: 2-10
2015: 6-7 (St. Petersburg Bowl Appearance)
2016: 3-9
2017: 3-9

Just remember that even though ECU stinks, after a while you get used to it and don't notice the smell.

If ECU manages to upset UNC this weekend that's a big step forward.

(09-03-2018 07:45 AM)BugsyCT Wrote:  If ECU manages to upset UNC this weekend that's a big step forward.

I have a better chance of winning the lottery and giving the athletics department vast sums of money to fix the problems.

The winds of change are blowing to the east:

Quote:UNC possibly Mo's last shot

East Carolina University football head coach Scottie Montgomery acknowledged after the 28-23 season opening loss to FCS opponent NC Agricultural and Technical State University that blocking out the fan disappointment and anger would be difficult. He placed much of the blame on himself, that is something that has drawn the support of many of his players.

While the players love to play for Montgomery, and he has done a strong job in recent months of recruiting, the fact of the matter is, he went 6-18 in his first two seasons as head coach at ECU, and started his third season losing to an FCS team for the second straight year.

Despite the Pirates leading the game in nearly every category, late game clock management and turnovers in the redzone ultimately cost the Pirates against NC A&T. Each are a direct correlation of poor team discipline, and while this cannot be fully blamed on Montgomery, it has to be mentioned. The team has been horrid in the redzone for the last two seasons, and appear to not have made up much ground since then. Montgomery was quick to focus the blame on himself, which is an admirable trait as a head coach. But that admirable trait must win games as well.

Montgomery guaranteed a trip to the 2018 postseason following last year’s ugly season finale where the Pirates were beat down 70-13. But an opening day loss to one of the Pirates’ worst opponents on the year does not bode well for those chances, leaving much of Pirate nation wanting answers, and in turn change.

Montgomery may have his last opportunity to silence those doubters this weekend against UNC-Chapel Hill, in a matchup of programs with coaches on the hot seat. Coming off such a heartbreaking loss last week, many Pirates’ fans opinions will be extremely hard to change regarding the job status of Montgomery, but he has a chance to change some minds.

Winds Blowing In Greenville

If Mo doesn't find a way to beat UNC I don't think he's the coach by the time October comes around.

coach mo has actually been recruiting well.. imo if he can survive long enough, he will alteast have them respectable..he reminds me so much of coach taggart. who i thought was a horrfic coach at first

taggart always over promised and over valued his team (like coach mo) and like coach mo recruited well.......he said on his first year at usf that usf was capable of winning the aac, and would be a top level team (this was after spring, and had seen his team practice a bunch) ...only to have the biggest fcs/fbs blowout in history a few weeks later...but usf eventually actually did rise to compete at that level he saw...

but honestly he has to beat unc or you have to cut him loose.....unc is THE ONLY redemption....

(09-03-2018 07:33 PM)pesik Wrote:  coach mo has actually been recruiting well.. imo if he can survive long enough, he will alteast have them respectable..he reminds me so much of coach taggart. who i thought was a horrfic coach at first

taggart always over promised and over valued his team (like coach mo) and like coach mo recruited well.......he said on his first year at usf that usf was capable of winning the aac, and would be a top level team (this was after spring, and had seen his team practice a bunch) ...only to have the biggest fcs/fbs blowout in history a few weeks later...but usf eventually actually did rise to compete at that level he saw...

but honestly he has to beat unc or you have to cut him loose.....unc is THE ONLY redemption....

He's recruited ok. This current recruiting class is by far his best, but the problem is he's not gonna ever get to coach it. Taggart was recruiting at a higher level though and by his make or break year had a team that was as talented overall as any team in the conference, which allowed him to make the turnaround. This ECU team isn't close to that talented and Mo is a far worse coach.