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ECU-Pack scheduling snafu unresolved

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• Read Terry Holland's letter to N.C. State, UNC (PDF)

The dispute over football scheduling between East Carolina and N.C. State remained unresolved Thursday.

Both schools released to the media a June 18 letter East Carolina athletics director Terry Holland sent to his counterparts, Lee Fowler at N.C. State and Dick Baddour at North Carolina.

The letter stated that East Carolina had agreed in principle to play N.C. State in 2010, 2013 and 2016, with games against North Carolina in 2009, 2012 and 2015.

In an e-mail to media members Thursday, Holland explained that he believes the letter does not nullify a legally binding contract that says East Carolina and N.C. State will play five times between now and 2016.

But Holland wrote that if N.C. State has scheduled other games based on the agreement in principle stated in the letter, East Carolina will honor the agreement in the letter.

“But ECU is also prepared to honor the previous written contract which technically is legally-binding until it is replaced by a new contract,” Holland wrote. “ECU has never wavered in expressing the desire to play both North Carolina and N.C. State annually but we also feel it is time to put this issue to bed.”

Fowler has maintained that the letter indicates East Carolina’s agreement to play N.C. State only in 2010, 2013 and 2016, and has said N.C. State has worked to schedule other games based on that agreement.

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First of all, I want to know

First of all, I want to know what rap dancing is. I don't think I comprehend your dysfunctional illusions. I was at the game, sitting by NC State's tunnel, and I didn't see any such thing. I saw ECU fans sulking in their lemonade, and an ECU fan actually slapped my 12 year old brothers' hat off of his head. The reason why we were celebrating is because of the game itself. It was a very exciting game, and we battled all the way back to shove it down your throats. Take your asinine comments, and go back to bumkinville. You sound like a complete idiot, Tan.

ECU vs BIG LEAST

and say all you want, BIG LEAST fans, ECU and Coach Holland have all but said they would give up 2-4 yrs of BCS money to join the Big Least. and yet the BIG LEAST refuses ...

... and they call the ACC money mongers. why does the BIG LEAST not allow ECU into the conference ... b/c the BIG LEAST is no better than the ACC when it comes to wanting the extra money. only difference is ACC was looking for it in a champoionship game. the BIG LEAST is looking for it by keeping their conference smaller so the pot stays bigger!

I dont see what all the fuss

I dont see what all the fuss is about. State, UNC and ECU should play who they want to play. I dont mind playing ECU occassionally but I do not want to play them every year or even every other year. I think 2 games in 10 years is more than enough and it wouldnt bother me if State doesn't play them at all. It is rediculous to argue it generates revenue for the schools because when all of these schools play at home on the same day there are more people in the 3 stadiums collectively than there could be in one stadium with 2 of these teams playing each other. Simple, I know, but true. I also enjoy going to nonconference road games and when State plays at ECU we usually dont have another nonconference road game and it is redundant and boring to go to the same place every other year especially when you dont even leave the state.

Then stay at home.  No

Then stay at home.  No fuss.

You are being a sore loser ...

Kenny, and you are making excuses. AND they are not even good ones. If I hear you right, you claim to be less of a team because you are not in a BCS Conference. Well, you are not in one ... too bad; and neither is Boise State, Utah, So. Miss - but they all played football (instead of the whining) and got their programs to big games, big bowls, and BCS bowls.

"If ECU had been afforded the same recruiting advantage and ill-gotten riches that State has received I have not doubt the results of the last 10 years would have been better for us. " - This is just idiotic. Apparently you haven't been to Carter-Finley and seen the new digs OR heard the ESPN announcer exclaim that the NCSU facilities are nicer than most NFL places. Guess what, all paid for by donor's money, funding drives, and alumni who care - NOT FROM ACC money. I am sure VT and FSU did not offer their coattails AND millions of dollars to NCSU - jeez you are an idiot.

Being in a BCS Conference may have its advantages, but that is the system. Just like a two party government may not be as fair as it should; but hey, that is the system we have to deal with (and this year it may ruin us with a socialist preident!!). However, I do not feel like it is flawed for the reasons you made up in your head. Its main flaw is dealing with a national champion - something ECU and NCSU will probably not have to worry about.

And look at NCSU, they are in a BCS Conference and they still are a pretty bad team - despite the wonderful facilities, good coaching, and strong recruiting. It all boils down to Saturdays - and last Saturday, NCSU proved that ECU was a bit over-hyped. But that's OK - so was NCSU years ago. It happens, you lost - and I am sure you will lose again. But when you do, take your buddy's advice - stay off the blogs. You are embarassing my wife's alma mater. I know it hurts when you expect so much and it is doesn't play out (thanks to Chuck Amato); but man-up. Tell your school to hold their heads high, play hard on Saturdays, and look fwd to the year when they beat NCSU on the way to an at-large BCS Bowl Birth. And when you're there and beating Oklahoma or UCLA or some storied program in triple overtime ... be careful not to enjoy the BCS and your school pride ... someone may bring this blog to your attention - and you may look stupid ... again.

Kenneth is not saying ECU

Kenneth is not saying ECU is less of a team for being in the conference they are in.  circumstances have put ECU where they are. 

 do you think ClemPson (greenville is a heck of a lot bigger than Cemson, SC) would be in the ACC or anywhere for that matter had they started off as a teachers college??  NOPE.  sure, you can blame ECTC for that but who knew what the times would bring.  things change and by the time ECTC did, it was too late and the "classrooms" were filled up. 

 cry me a river and say all you want about the smallest violin.  my point is, ECU football belongs in a BCS conference ... regardless of a loss to NCSU or not.  circumstances prevent them from being.

you are right

I know we got beat, but Fowler is making it sound as if we are scared to play them. Times have changed. The power has changed. Did you ever think that you would see NC State fans and players celebrating so hard. (players jumping in the stands and rap dancing just because the beat in their eyes ECTC>)

If ECU wasnt a second-rate

If ECU wasnt a second-rate school then maybe they would be in a premier conference.

Scheduling

I wouldnt mind playing at State every year. ECU fans always scatter the place with purple and gold and I can drink at halftime.

GO PIRATES

you ALWAYS take a few more

you ALWAYS take a few more suds than you think you can drink b/c of the HT binge drinking!!  love the RBC lot!

I'd love to get all the

I'd love to get all the directional schools in the CAROLINAS to play each other every year ... except for Western.

can you imagine the Bucs playing UNC, NCSU and USC every year!!?? my gawd, they'd sell out season tickets every year!

Reply to I'd love to get all the

Amen!

and last season what is your

and last season what is your excuse?

Let's be objective here,

Let's be objective here, Holland wanted to move a game so ECU could have the same advantage that State had (A 12th man in the end-zone). "ECU specifically asked about moving the 2009 game scheduled for Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium to the 2010 season. We wanted the local rivalry game with NC State in 2010 when we expect to have completed our East End Zone project that could add between 5,000 and 7,000 seats to our stadium."
Unlike State we have to earn our money because of the BCS monopoly "Bull@#%! Championship System" that rewards teams in the 6 "power conferences" - whatever that means. How many millions has State received just for being in the ACC (riding the coat-tails of FSU and VT). If ECU had been afforded the same recruiting advantage and ill-gotten riches that State has received I have not doubt the results of the last 10 years would have been better for us. But the corrupt NCAA has chosen to weight the field to the advantage of the greedy six. Even the Democrats beloved Joe Biden stated "It looks like a rigged deal" in the Congressional hearings several years ago. And if anyone knows about rigged deals its the Senator from Delaware - home of just about every Credit Card Company (Think 18% plus interest rates - loan-shark rates)
So yes, State fans you did beat ECU on an uneven playing field, you should feel proud of yourselves that you could beat a non-BCS team. Not!

Hahaha... ignorance is

Hahaha... ignorance is expensive.  Perhaps you should work on that, and you might have a few bucks to donate to your beloved Pirates.  Donations from Alumni and other supporters is what paid for the facilities at NC State, not the BCA, the NCAA, or even Joe BIden.

 But thanks for the laugh.

wow, what a crybaby! where

wow, what a crybaby! where was all this talk before the state/ecu game?!? i just remember hearing about how ecu has way more talent and depth....but i guess it's the ncaa's fault that the pirates perhaps overlooked the wolfpack. get real you sore loser

Re Let's Be Objective Here

Just to clear up one thing, the NCAA does not run the BCS or other football bowls.  NCAA does run the other championships, but the bowl system predates the NCAA and the bowls, the BCS association that was created by the 4 largest bowls and then expanded, is not in any way organized or controlled by the NCAA.  The NCAA may be wrong and can be blamed for many things, but the BCS monopoly was created by the bowls and the conferences that have agreements with those bowls themselves. 

Shut it Kenneth

Hey Kenneth.  Zip it man.  Your crying just makes us look like a bunch of babys.  We got beat.  I'm ok with that.  We'll get em next time.

Thank you Gobucs, I'm a

Thank you Gobucs,

I'm a State Alum who loves and appreciates the rivalry we have with your Pirates.

A game against ECU or a sure win against Bill & Mary, Richmond, or some other AA school?...  I'll take the passion and excitment of an ECU game everytime time, win or lose

You have a good coach who is getting better.  A program being built, but still under construction.  How good is it now, and how good will it get?  Who nows.  But an occassion step backwards should be expected as you take more and more steps forward. 

Of course I reveled in the win, and a little ribbing to the opponent's fans is always fun. :)   Most of us know the limits, but obviously some of us don't

It's morons like Kenneth that bring in the ugliness.  Thanks for policing your own.  Good luck the rest of the year.

 

 

Amen!! That rant embarresses

Amen!! That rant embarresses me as a pirate fan.  You sound like a carolina fan. Please stop with the whiny comments.

Say What?

So, you don't agree that the NCAA is corrupt? No one is crying! I am just trying to point out the hypocrisy in Div. 1 football and the dirty little secret that nobody from the BCS division schools want to talk about. I have talked about this ever since Steve Logan was here at ECU and had the guts to point it out, you won't here any AD's or coaches talk about it because they all want to tow the company line and move to a BCS school eventually. Or, as i believe in Terry Holland's case, just hold out the hope that the Big East will be kind and let us in - I won't  hold my breath. They know dividing millions of dollars into 8 teams gets you more than 9. The gap between sports facilities, coaches pay, and top recruits keeps getting wider and wider as long as this monopoly goes on. The only thing that keeps ECU going are its many loyal fans and a few generous donors. But the fans deserve more, they deserve a level playing field!!!

OK but...

I can't say that I disagree with you on some of your points.  There is only one sure way to put our destiny in our own hands..and that is to beat these BCS teams on a consistant basis.  Look... We have not beaten Southern Miss on a consistant basis ever, and that is why we havn't won a conference championship since joining Conference USA.  Guess what...They are not a BCS team.  Win the Conference a couple or three times and then we will talk about BCS affiliation.  If you think you can level the playing field by blogging to the State fans about having a 12th man on the field, your wrong.  We have a better chance at convincing the BCS to annex Conference USA than we do to getting into the Big East.  But if you want to blog about the unfairness of it all, then knock yourself out.  Just try not to sound like a sore looser.  It reflects on us all. 

You are right about being

You are right about being able to beat non-bcs teams, no argument there. My point is there shouldn't be a two class system within division 1A period, it smacks of greed and anti-competitiveness and that's not what college sports are supposed to be about. Save that for the Pros. It just burns me that BCS schools think they don't have a competitive and financial advantage and then have the nerve to insult us after barely winning. I am not a sore looser, and i don't see how having an intelligent discussion of the bigger picture somehow reflects anything negative about ECU or it's fans. If i was a sore loser i would come up with some lame sunday morning quarterback analysis b.s. and blame the players or coaches but i wouldn't do that - because i know they played there hearts out and the chips just didn't fall our way and yes we will beat them again!!! - despite the disadvantage. I'm a pirate fan too (Class of 95').

Kenneth

very intelligent post.  makes you wonder if the other fella is really an ECU fan or grad.  You obviouly have not been jaded by this board yet.  I try to keep it
"b/tn the ditches" like you did, but sometimes I cant help but be a smartarse!!  just my nature!!  again, great post.

As a matter of fact...

Gvillegatr,  Since you're wondering...as a matter of fact I am a grad and havn't missed a home game in 18 years.  Thats right I havn't missed a home game since my first which was ECU v\s Pitt in Bill Lewis' last year as head coach.  I doubt you can put up those kind of numbers.  And your right, you are a smartarse.  Congrats!!!  Once you have that kind of perspective, you'll understand why lifelong fans get tired of hearing the newcomers cry all the time.   Sometimes it's just tough being a Pirate.  You'll accept it as a badge of courage when you have 18 years of perspective to draw on.  Good luck but I doubt you make it that far because it's always the ones that talk a big game that don't have staying power.  Maybe you can prove me wrong someday. 

I guess we dont know each

I guess we dont know each other then.  been a Pirate (and was an Irate) since 93.  went to all the home games in my 4 years.  seen them win in Miami, seen them win and lose in Raleigh and Charlotte, saw them lose in CH.  seen them lose at DUIke.  and seen them beat Stanford in Memphis.  list goes on and on.  when college friends are back in the area, we go catch home game.  so you can take your "whoa is me" spill and shove it.  change YOUR attitude or turn in your card/diploma.

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