• Read Terry Holland's letter to N.C. State, UNC (PDF)
You know a football rivalry is hot when the athletic directors can't even agree when two schools are supposed to play.
In an e-mail released to the media Wednesday, Terry Holland said East Carolina expects N.C. State to honor a contractual obligation to play five times between now and 2016 unless the schools reach a mutually agreeable alternative schedule.
N.C. State's Lee Fowler said he has a letter dated June 18, 2008, indicating Holland's agreement in principle that the schools will play just three times during that period.
Holland acknowledged discussions about moving games, but had a spokesman e-mail media members late Wednesday afternoon after learning of an interview Fowler gave on the Raleigh radio station 99.9 The Fan on Wednesday morning.
According to a transcript of the interview, Fowler said Holland and East Carolina coach Skip Holtz wanted to "back off" from playing so often.
Holland said East Carolina and Holtz want to play N.C. State and North Carolina as often as possible because those games are important to the future of the eastern part of the state economically and otherwise.
"We are therefore TOTALLY [sic] committed to playing games against those institutions whenever the opportunity arises for us to play them," Holland said in his statement.
The contract Holland said is in force calls for games in 2009, 2012 and 2016 in Greenville and 2008, 2010 and 2013 in Raleigh. The 2008 game was played last week, when N.C. State edged East Carolina 30-24 in overtime.
Fowler doesn't question the contract's existence, but said Holland's letter in June confirmed East Carolina's agreement to play only in 2010 and 2016 in Greenville and in 2013 in Raleigh.
In addition, Fowler said, a website maintained by ESPN with future scheduling information provided by schools and conferences shows that East Carolina has dates with N.C. State only in 2010, 2013 and 2016.
"Terry and I have been friends for a long time," Fowler said. "I'm sure we'll get it worked out. I was surprised at the way it came out of ECU, but I'm sure we'll talk in the near future and resolve the issue."
UPDATE, 5:48 p.m.: ECU released a letter that Holland sent to Fowler and UNC athletics director Dick Baddour.
Comments
dude, NEWS FLASH, you guys
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 02:22 — Anonymous (not verified)dude, NEWS FLASH, you guys have lost the past two years in a row WITH YOUR BEST TEAM to State, who has arguably had the worst team in 50 years. . . so how exactly has this been the "easiest" part of your OOC schedule?
You honestly think NC State
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 08:28 — Anonymous (not verified)You honestly think NC State is better than West Virginia, Virginia Tech, USC, and Chapel Hill? Because those are our OOC opponents for the forseable future. NC State is by far our easiest OOC opponent. If we were going to drop a school from the OOC schedule because we were scared, the 1st one to go CERTAINLY would not be NC State.
Hahaha, you NC State fans are the only group in the country who can get 5 wins per year but as long as you beat ECU or UNC, you consider your season a success.
Grand scheme of things, no one outside of Raleigh or Greenville cares that NC State won that football game (or rather, ECU gave it away like a 3 button suit at the Salvation Army), and at the end of the year when we're bowling and you're watching us on TV...have a beer on us.
The look on the faces of the
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 22:30 — Anonymous (not verified)The look on the faces of the poor souls in purple leaving C-F this past weekend sure didn't look like they played the "easiest game ECU has lined up out of conference for many, many years"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Heh heh
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 22:13 — Anonymous (not verified)"Probably news to you, but NC State is the easiest game ECU has lined up out of conference for many, many years."
All I can say is ECU is in serious trouble, then! heh heh!
NC State sure loves to smack ECU in the mouth! I hope we do keep playing. If State could play ECU 12 times every year, we'd get the BCS bowl bid!
State couldn't get a BCS
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 00:37 — psh0117 (not verified)State couldn't get a BCS bowl bid if they played 12 games against FCS teams. I bet state would love to feel what it's like to go to a BCS, or any bowl for that matter....Let me know when ya'll qualify for something worth talking about!
All time bowl records
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 02:01 — Anonymous (not verified)NC State: 12-10-1
ECU: 8-6
I don't see ECU making a BCS any time soon.
gee...I wonder why that
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 23:43 — psh0117 (not verified)gee...I wonder why that is...could it be because ECU is not in a BCS conference? state has the advantage....ECU is more likely to get there sooner then State is. At least they are ranked. Am I supposed be impressed with a 12-10-1 bowl record? 4 more wins, and 4 more losses then ECU and State has been playing football longer then ECU. again I state, let me know when state even qualifies for a bowl game, and when they don't have to beat a FCS team to do it..
I don't see NCSU making the
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 08:17 — Anonymous (not verified)I don't see NCSU making the BCS EVER!
"Probably news to you, but
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 22:09 — Anonymous (not verified)"Probably news to you, but NC State is the easiest game ECU has lined up out of conference for many, many years."
Then ECU is in big trouble! State has won 3 of the last 4 meetings, and is only getting better. Imagine playing NC State with HEALTHY players.
If State is the easiest game for ECU, then ECU is going to be hating the next few years, buddy.
If NC State is the easiest
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 22:07 — AnonymousIf NC State is the easiest out of conference game for ECU, why does state hold a 3-1 lead over ECU in the past 5 years?
Take it a fews years further...
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 23:11 — Anonymous (not verified)Last 13 games...ECU 7 wins