East Carolinian

Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Travis Barlett

A week off couldn't have come at a better time for the Pirates.

After winning the first three games of the season for the first time since 1999, ECU [3-2,1-1] has gone from on top of the world to nonexistent after critical losses to N.C. State and Houston.

Last season the Pirates played 11 straight weeks before their bye week. This season, the first bye week comes after five games; something ECU coach Skip Holtz believes will be extremely beneficial to his team.

"It's huge," said Holtz of the bye week. "I think we need it for a number of reasons. We need it from a physical standpoint; we have 32 names on the injury report right now and hopefully we can turn and get some of those guys healthy by not banging on them so hard during the course of the week and then not having a game on Saturday. We can get some guys healthy."

When ECU plays its next game on Oct. 11 at Virginia, Holtz will be trying to win his third straight game after a bye week.

"It also comes at a great time for a mental standpoint. I don't think we played very well Saturday [against Houston], obviously," Holtz said. "I don't think we responded very well from an execution standpoint and how we came back after the N.C. State game. I think they're playing extremely well and want to be good, but we just have to look at the film and see where we're making the mistakes and how critical every little play is."

Perhaps the most devastating news to come out of Saturday's 41-24 loss to Houston is that senior quarterback Patrick Pinkney is nursing an injury to his ankle. It remains to be seen just how long, if at all, Pinkney will be out.

Junior quarterback Rob Kass saw playing time Saturday in place of a hurt and underachieving Pinkney, but Kass says that no matter who is playing signal caller, it all comes down to winning.

"Both of us are out here working to get better every single day," said Kass. "I have to prepare every single game like I'm the starter; I have to be mentally and physically prepared. I know that going into the next couple of games there is an opportunity for me to get in there and play, and I'm going to take full advantage of it.

"Patrick is the captain of our team, he is a leader, but I also bring a sense of leadership to the team too," he said. "Last year we both played well and played together and if we have to go back to that [two quarterback system] for us to continue to win, then I guarantee you this team is all for it."

Continued...

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