Spring Break
A 13-point halftime lead had ECU zoned in on the Liberty Bowl title but at the end of the day, the Pirates were left filling the vacancy in the Heartbreak Hotel as a late fumble led to a 25-19 Kentucky victory. "I hate the way the game turned out," said coach Skip Holtz.
As the final seconds began to count down on ECU's Liberty Bowl loss, a chorus of "S-E-C" chants rang out from the Kentucky faithful in attendance. At first, I didn't think the boasting had any merit behind it. After all, the Wildcats haven't added much to college football's most prestigious conference.
Staff writer Addison Harvey was on the road with the Pirates as they faced Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2nd. 1/5 Back in Pirate Nation: As the final seconds ticked off the game clock at the Liberty Bowl, many memories from this amazing up and down season rushed through my head.
Staff writer Addison Harvey is on the road with the Pirates as they prepare to face Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2nd. 12/30 Day 5 in Memphis: Wednesday's practice was a typical last practice before a game. ECU had an hour and half practice on Wednesday with most of the practice focusing on special teams, offensive and defensive game plans.
12/31 Day 4 in Memphis: Tuesday was another very busy day for the Pirates in Graceland. Both ECU and Kentucky partook in an awards luncheon for the Liberty Bowl. This year the luncheon was hosted by Conference USA, which took place in the Hilton Hotel in Memphis, where the Pirates are staying for their trip.
Staff writer Addison Harvey is on the road with the Pirates as they prepare to face Kentucky in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on January 2nd. Dec. 30-Day 3 in Memphis: After a 10-day break for Christmas break, ECU had four practices in three days this past weekend.
The lure of the Big East Conference and a seemingly easier route to a BCS bowl game berth were not enough to keep Skip Holtz interested in the Syracuse head coaching vacancy. He officially withdrew his name from consideration on Wednesday night. Holtz reportedly met with athletic director Daryl Gross to discuss the opening during his three-day stay in New York for his father, Lou's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
There is no mistaking the names of two of the greatest venues in collegiate athletics at Duke and UNC. The Dean E. Smith Center-or the "Dean Dome," as it is better known-and Cameron Indoor Stadium are synonymous with college basketball. On ECU's campus, Minges Coliseum is known for being the place where you took the swim test freshman year.
As exciting and memorable as ECU's upset-laden beginning to the 2008 regular season was, the finish deserves the most applause. Pulling off a couple of upsets and even going undefeated during one season can give a program short-term credibility, but that's not what ECU coach Skip Holtz wants.
Football immortality could be just around for the corner for ECU. The Pirates travel to Tulsa, Okla. this week for a noon showdown to play for the Conference USA title. A win would give ECU its first league title of any kind since capturing the Southern Conference title in 1976.
On Saturday, December 6th, 2008, East Carolina's football team did something it hadn't done in 32 years: Win a conference championship. The team that won the Peach Bowl in 1991 only lost one game, a nail-biter that ended on a controversial onside kick to Illinois. That team though was not a member of a conference, they were an Independent like Navy and Notre Dame have been for the past few years in college football.