Spring Break
ECU Football Blog
Addison Harvey
Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: Sports
12/2
UTEP Postgame
In the days before East Carolina's final home football game of the 2008 season, I couldn't help but feel like the crowd was not going to be impressive. Since, the showdown versus UTEP was scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving and the game was meaningless as far as conference standing, attendance would be down. I was wrong.
Even though it was not a sell out crowd Dowdy Ficklen Stadium was 75% percent full. This was an impressive feat by the Pirate Nation considering the majority of the student body was still out of town on fall break and many people were taking advantage of Black Friday sales.
Besides my concerns about the attendance that were proved wrong during the game, I had another concern. I had an awful feeling about our chances going into the game, there was too many distraction going into the game. The team changed its practice routine to adjust to the Thanksgiving holiday and had a short week to prepare because the tyrants of the television network wanted the game to be on television and not conflict with the Rice versus Houston game.
Though I am in favor of ECU getting as much television exposure as possible, I don't like when teams are forced into playing on a Saturday then the following Thursday or Friday.
Once again the Pirates proved me wrong. The seniors came out firing from the opening whistle and completely dominated UTEP. It was great to see senior walk-on Brandon Simmons have a career day in his last game at Dowdy Ficklen. Simmons had his first career 100-yard rushing performance, three rushing touchdowns and one touchdown through the air.
The win gives ECU's offense, which has been mediocre all season, a huge boost of confidence going into the Conference USA championship game.
The win finished off a stellar regular season, which had its up- and-downs, but the Pirates finished with an 8-4 record. Reaching the eight win plateau kept the streak of improving their number of wins every year since Skip Holtz arrived alive. Is winning 9 games a possibility next year? I think it is a very realistic possibility.
UTEP Postgame
In the days before East Carolina's final home football game of the 2008 season, I couldn't help but feel like the crowd was not going to be impressive. Since, the showdown versus UTEP was scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving and the game was meaningless as far as conference standing, attendance would be down. I was wrong.
Even though it was not a sell out crowd Dowdy Ficklen Stadium was 75% percent full. This was an impressive feat by the Pirate Nation considering the majority of the student body was still out of town on fall break and many people were taking advantage of Black Friday sales.
Besides my concerns about the attendance that were proved wrong during the game, I had another concern. I had an awful feeling about our chances going into the game, there was too many distraction going into the game. The team changed its practice routine to adjust to the Thanksgiving holiday and had a short week to prepare because the tyrants of the television network wanted the game to be on television and not conflict with the Rice versus Houston game.
Though I am in favor of ECU getting as much television exposure as possible, I don't like when teams are forced into playing on a Saturday then the following Thursday or Friday.
Once again the Pirates proved me wrong. The seniors came out firing from the opening whistle and completely dominated UTEP. It was great to see senior walk-on Brandon Simmons have a career day in his last game at Dowdy Ficklen. Simmons had his first career 100-yard rushing performance, three rushing touchdowns and one touchdown through the air.
The win gives ECU's offense, which has been mediocre all season, a huge boost of confidence going into the Conference USA championship game.
The win finished off a stellar regular season, which had its up- and-downs, but the Pirates finished with an 8-4 record. Reaching the eight win plateau kept the streak of improving their number of wins every year since Skip Holtz arrived alive. Is winning 9 games a possibility next year? I think it is a very realistic possibility.
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