Spring Break
VT Preview
Michael Perry
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Sports
Tonight inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, ECU and Virginia Tech fans alike will witness the matchup of a wounded giant set on revenge and a hungry underdog looking to continue a winning streak.
Last season, the two teams met in Charlotte, N.C., where ECU reversed roles to beat No. 17 Virginia Tech 27-22.
The Pirates' T.J. Lee lifted ECU over the Hokies with a returned block punt in the waning minutes of the contest to stave of Virginia Tech and snap a six-game losing steak to the Hokies.
ECU's opening stunner of the Hokies was followed up by an upset over No. 8 West Virginia, marking an appropriate opening statement for the Pirates' squad that claimed its first Conference USA title.
Though ECU has not followed up the 2008 season with the same heroics, a win over the No. 22 Virginia Tech squad tonight would provide ECU with its first and only win over a non-conference BCS opponent.
More importantly, the Pirates (5-3, 4-1 C-USA) look to extend their winning streak to three and declare bowl eligibility.
Last week, ECU picked up a 38-19 win over conference opponent Memphis, and with the Tuesday night victory, the Pirates now sit alone atop the East Division of C-USA.
Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-2 ACC) enters Greenville wounded by two consecutive conference losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
The Hokies will look to regain their footing with a win over formerly ranked ECU but will realize firsthand the danger of underestimating the Pirates.
"I think our guys want to play hard for each other, and understand that this is a football team that beat us last year," Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. "We need to play a great football game at their place to have a chance to win it."
Despite ECU's victory over the Hokies last season, the Pirates have not won at Dowdy-Ficklen against Virginia Tech since 1992. The Hokies hold a slim 9-5 lead in the overall series.
The last time the Pirates hosted Virginia Tech at Bagwell field was 2000 where ECU quarterback David Garrard and the Hokies' signal caller Michael Vick faced off in a 45-28 VT victory.
Last season, the two teams met in Charlotte, N.C., where ECU reversed roles to beat No. 17 Virginia Tech 27-22.
The Pirates' T.J. Lee lifted ECU over the Hokies with a returned block punt in the waning minutes of the contest to stave of Virginia Tech and snap a six-game losing steak to the Hokies.
ECU's opening stunner of the Hokies was followed up by an upset over No. 8 West Virginia, marking an appropriate opening statement for the Pirates' squad that claimed its first Conference USA title.
Though ECU has not followed up the 2008 season with the same heroics, a win over the No. 22 Virginia Tech squad tonight would provide ECU with its first and only win over a non-conference BCS opponent.
More importantly, the Pirates (5-3, 4-1 C-USA) look to extend their winning streak to three and declare bowl eligibility.
Last week, ECU picked up a 38-19 win over conference opponent Memphis, and with the Tuesday night victory, the Pirates now sit alone atop the East Division of C-USA.
Virginia Tech (5-3, 3-2 ACC) enters Greenville wounded by two consecutive conference losses to Georgia Tech and North Carolina.
The Hokies will look to regain their footing with a win over formerly ranked ECU but will realize firsthand the danger of underestimating the Pirates.
"I think our guys want to play hard for each other, and understand that this is a football team that beat us last year," Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer said. "We need to play a great football game at their place to have a chance to win it."
Despite ECU's victory over the Hokies last season, the Pirates have not won at Dowdy-Ficklen against Virginia Tech since 1992. The Hokies hold a slim 9-5 lead in the overall series.
The last time the Pirates hosted Virginia Tech at Bagwell field was 2000 where ECU quarterback David Garrard and the Hokies' signal caller Michael Vick faced off in a 45-28 VT victory.
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