ecu thinking like SMU
Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:45 pmFrom the raleigh news and observer. I think CUSA is going to be a good place. I look forward to the Ponies trip to NC next year.
Jaymes Powell Jr., Staff Writer
Full of fury and emotion, Chris Moore just couldn't take it anymore. With tears in his eyes, the East Carolina linebacker stood in front of his teammates in a hotel in Tulsa, Okla., and demanded they play with pride -- something ECU had not done enough of during Moore's four seasons.
"I was just mad about all the stuff and things some of our players are doing," recalled Moore, a senior who became Conference USA's all-time leader in tackles for loss with 61.
"Ain't no room for quitters. If you want to be respected like a man, don't quit. Just keep fighting and everything will work out."
The day after Moore's plea, ECU was squashed by the Golden Hurricane, 45-13. Afterward, coach Skip Holtz and several players said some of the Pirates gave up during the game.
But Moore's words eventually resonated. East Carolina won its next two games to finish 5-6, the Pirates' best record since a 6-6 mark in 2001.
"I hope it touched a lot of players, because it was really emotional for me," Moore said of his talk. "A lot of fellas know I don't cry, but I admit I cried that time because it's more than just playing football. It's the whole atmosphere. I've been here too long. You're playing for the players next to you, playing for the people in this community. Just playing for everybody."
By winning their last two games, Moore and other ECU seniors said they can leave with pride, because after several years of being among the worst programs in the nation, the Pirates are on the verge of a return.
"New attitude, hard work and building a program, that's what I think of when I think of this season," Holtz said. "The foundation that we're building here is going to last a long time. We're a lot better football team today than we were at the beginning of the season."
Several Pirates veterans said there was an air of despair around the program during former coach John Thompson's two-year, three-win tenure. Senior linebacker Richard Koonce said the team lacked camaraderie.
"The difference is we're more of a family and more tight-knit," Koonce said of this team. "It's been a while since we've been this close as a team. When I first got here, we were pretty close. But over the years, we got more distant."
Being closer, Koonce said, "helps on the field."
In his first season with the program, Holtz set a goal of building team morale and the Pirates quickly responded. How many 2-9 teams enter the next season talking about winning the conference or gaining a bowl berth?
Surely, not many. But Holtz's inspiration was just what the Pirates needed to break their malaise, Moore said, as East Carolina entered this season making bold predictions. Now, with ECU's fog of hopelessness dissipating, the Pirates can see a brighter future.
East Carolina made some progress in key areas. After giving up 39.9 points per game in 2004, it surrendered 28.8 in 2005. That's still high, and the defense will be a concern going into next season after allowing 217.6 yards rushing per game
On offense, the Pirates will return quarterback James Pinkney, running back Chris Johnson and probably receiver Aundrae Allison, although Allison has said he'll consider the NFL. However, he injured his right knee in the final game and must recover in the offseason. The Pirates aren't sure yet of the extent of the damage.
The Pirates are viewing their final two wins as a springboard to what ECU hopes will be a rebirth of a solid program.
ECU beat Marshall and UAB to wrap up the season. In fact, the Pirates won their final game for the first time since 2000. Under Thompson in 2003 and 2004, the Pirates finished with five- and four-game losing streaks, respectively.
"This program has changed," Moore said. "I'm making that statement right now -- it has changed. It's going uphill because we've been downhill for a while. We've made that step now."
Staff writer Jaymes Powell Jr. can be reached at 829-4556 or
Jaymes Powell Jr., Staff Writer
Full of fury and emotion, Chris Moore just couldn't take it anymore. With tears in his eyes, the East Carolina linebacker stood in front of his teammates in a hotel in Tulsa, Okla., and demanded they play with pride -- something ECU had not done enough of during Moore's four seasons.
"I was just mad about all the stuff and things some of our players are doing," recalled Moore, a senior who became Conference USA's all-time leader in tackles for loss with 61.
"Ain't no room for quitters. If you want to be respected like a man, don't quit. Just keep fighting and everything will work out."
The day after Moore's plea, ECU was squashed by the Golden Hurricane, 45-13. Afterward, coach Skip Holtz and several players said some of the Pirates gave up during the game.
But Moore's words eventually resonated. East Carolina won its next two games to finish 5-6, the Pirates' best record since a 6-6 mark in 2001.
"I hope it touched a lot of players, because it was really emotional for me," Moore said of his talk. "A lot of fellas know I don't cry, but I admit I cried that time because it's more than just playing football. It's the whole atmosphere. I've been here too long. You're playing for the players next to you, playing for the people in this community. Just playing for everybody."
By winning their last two games, Moore and other ECU seniors said they can leave with pride, because after several years of being among the worst programs in the nation, the Pirates are on the verge of a return.
"New attitude, hard work and building a program, that's what I think of when I think of this season," Holtz said. "The foundation that we're building here is going to last a long time. We're a lot better football team today than we were at the beginning of the season."
Several Pirates veterans said there was an air of despair around the program during former coach John Thompson's two-year, three-win tenure. Senior linebacker Richard Koonce said the team lacked camaraderie.
"The difference is we're more of a family and more tight-knit," Koonce said of this team. "It's been a while since we've been this close as a team. When I first got here, we were pretty close. But over the years, we got more distant."
Being closer, Koonce said, "helps on the field."
In his first season with the program, Holtz set a goal of building team morale and the Pirates quickly responded. How many 2-9 teams enter the next season talking about winning the conference or gaining a bowl berth?
Surely, not many. But Holtz's inspiration was just what the Pirates needed to break their malaise, Moore said, as East Carolina entered this season making bold predictions. Now, with ECU's fog of hopelessness dissipating, the Pirates can see a brighter future.
East Carolina made some progress in key areas. After giving up 39.9 points per game in 2004, it surrendered 28.8 in 2005. That's still high, and the defense will be a concern going into next season after allowing 217.6 yards rushing per game
On offense, the Pirates will return quarterback James Pinkney, running back Chris Johnson and probably receiver Aundrae Allison, although Allison has said he'll consider the NFL. However, he injured his right knee in the final game and must recover in the offseason. The Pirates aren't sure yet of the extent of the damage.
The Pirates are viewing their final two wins as a springboard to what ECU hopes will be a rebirth of a solid program.
ECU beat Marshall and UAB to wrap up the season. In fact, the Pirates won their final game for the first time since 2000. Under Thompson in 2003 and 2004, the Pirates finished with five- and four-game losing streaks, respectively.
"This program has changed," Moore said. "I'm making that statement right now -- it has changed. It's going uphill because we've been downhill for a while. We've made that step now."
Staff writer Jaymes Powell Jr. can be reached at 829-4556 or