Spring Break
Liberty Bowl Blog: Gameday approaches
Addison Harvey
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Sports
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.
After practice, defensive coordinator Greg Hudson and four defensive players headed to a press conference for the Liberty Bowl while the rest of the team ate lunch at the University of Memphis. Then the Pirates took a team tour of the National Civil Rights Museum.
After the tour, the team had free time to do whatever they wanted. Most of the players took the opportunity to enjoy the craziness of the New Years Eve nightlife on Beale Street. The team had a curfew of midnight and I hope they were able to stay out of trouble. We will find out soon if anyone could not resist the temptation of the historic Memphis nightlife.
As far as the game is concerned, ECU is going to have to control the ball on offense and eat up a lot of clock. The Pirates have the advantage in the match up with Kentucky's offense. The success of ECU's defense is going to be crucial for the Pirates' success. Kentucky's offense has not put up very impressive numbers this year.
Kentucky averages 22.4 points per game, which is a positive for ECU since it historically doesn't score many points. As I have been watching all the bowl games the past few weeks, I have noticed that many of coaches are opening up the playbooks and running many trick plays. T
This has been a problem for ECU this year. Their play calling has been very conservative for the majority of this season. I'm not complaining; the Pirates are 9-4 this year and in position to have their first 10-win season since the Peach Bowl team. I just want to see the offense have a big day and they might as well execute some trick plays on the last day of the season.
The Liberty Bowl is one of the biggest games ECU has played in this decade and a win would be huge for national recognition and recruiting. Since N.C. State and UNC have already lost its respective bowl games, a win for ECU would be huge in the state of North Carolina. A win would also be big for Conference USA, which would potentially improve its conference record to 4-1.
Look for Patrick Pinkney, Norman Whitley, Brandon Simmons, Joe Womack and Darryl Freeney to have solid performances for the Pirates on Friday. I hope the Pirates will follow the trend of other bowl teams of trying to execute a crucial trick play to tilt the momentum in purple and gold's favor.
If the Pirate defense can hold Kentucky to under 20 points I think they will arrive back in Greenville with the Liberty Bowl trophy in hand.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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.
After practice, defensive coordinator Greg Hudson and four defensive players headed to a press conference for the Liberty Bowl while the rest of the team ate lunch at the University of Memphis. Then the Pirates took a team tour of the National Civil Rights Museum.
After the tour, the team had free time to do whatever they wanted. Most of the players took the opportunity to enjoy the craziness of the New Years Eve nightlife on Beale Street. The team had a curfew of midnight and I hope they were able to stay out of trouble. We will find out soon if anyone could not resist the temptation of the historic Memphis nightlife.
As far as the game is concerned, ECU is going to have to control the ball on offense and eat up a lot of clock. The Pirates have the advantage in the match up with Kentucky's offense. The success of ECU's defense is going to be crucial for the Pirates' success. Kentucky's offense has not put up very impressive numbers this year.
Kentucky averages 22.4 points per game, which is a positive for ECU since it historically doesn't score many points. As I have been watching all the bowl games the past few weeks, I have noticed that many of coaches are opening up the playbooks and running many trick plays. T
This has been a problem for ECU this year. Their play calling has been very conservative for the majority of this season. I'm not complaining; the Pirates are 9-4 this year and in position to have their first 10-win season since the Peach Bowl team. I just want to see the offense have a big day and they might as well execute some trick plays on the last day of the season.
The Liberty Bowl is one of the biggest games ECU has played in this decade and a win would be huge for national recognition and recruiting. Since N.C. State and UNC have already lost its respective bowl games, a win for ECU would be huge in the state of North Carolina. A win would also be big for Conference USA, which would potentially improve its conference record to 4-1.
Look for Patrick Pinkney, Norman Whitley, Brandon Simmons, Joe Womack and Darryl Freeney to have solid performances for the Pirates on Friday. I hope the Pirates will follow the trend of other bowl teams of trying to execute a crucial trick play to tilt the momentum in purple and gold's favor.
If the Pirate defense can hold Kentucky to under 20 points I think they will arrive back in Greenville with the Liberty Bowl trophy in hand.
This writer can be contacted at sports@theeastcarolinian.com.
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