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Dare to Dream: ECU has the confidence to set lofty goals
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Patrick Pinkney is back with a sixth year of eligibility.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Published: September 3, 2009
Quarterback Patrick Pinkney of East Carolina has picked up a nickname from teammates that he can only smile about.
"They've taken to calling me ‘Old Man,'" said Pinkney, a 23-year-old, sixth-year senior who was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA after missing the 2005 season because of injuries.
At this stage of Coach Skip Holtz's resurrection project in Greenville, a little luck doesn't hurt. And Holtz now has the luxury of two experienced senior quarterbacks -- Pinkney and Rob Kass.
Pinkney, who already has his undergraduate degree, said he had a good feeling that the NCAA would grant his request for a sixth year, and because of it didn't keep his jersey after last year's team banquet. Doing so would have been an NCAA violation.
"No, I didn't get the jersey, because I kind of knew I was coming back," he said.
Pinkney helped ECU to a 9-5 finish (6-2 Conference USA) and its third straight bowl game under Holtz, who has improved his victory total in each of his four seasons. ECU isn't ranked in the preseason polls, but optimism is high.
"We have high expectations, and the bar is set higher than last year," said Pinkney, who completed 223 of 363 passes for 2,675 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
"We had a chance to run the table last year, but we couldn't, and we lived and learn from that."
Pinkney points to senior leadership as the greatest strength -- ECU has nine starters back on offense and seven back on defense -- and there's even talk of crashing the BCS, which Holtz doesn't deny.
"It doesn't mean that we are going to reach those goals," Holtz said.
"I think this is probably the first time we've had some confidence to believe that things like that are attainable. Maybe that's why you hear them mentioned a little more."
Senior center Sean Allen and junior Cory Dowless lead an experienced offensive line. Juniors Willie Smith and D.J. Scott and senior Terence Campbell are the other probable starters.
Running back Jonathan Williams was suspended during the middle of last season, but he scored five touchdowns in his seven games and will probably be the workhorse. Brandon Jackson, a transfer from Kentucky, and Dominique Lindsay, who had a knee injury last season, will add depth.
The wide receivers are Jamar Bryant, Ryne Willis and Alex Taylor, all seniors. Tight end Kevin Gidrey is a junior.
"We have so many seniors on this team that leadership is not going to be an issue," Pinkney said.
The kicking game should also be a strength with the return of Ben Hartman, a senior from Winston-Salem and North Davidson High. He has six game-winning field goals in his career and is coming off his best season, after making 21 of 31 field-goal attempts.
The Pirates won a conference title last season for the first time since 1976, and a defense that allowed a league-low 21 points a game played a major role. The returning veterans include lineman C.J. Wilson and safety Van Eskridge (both All-C-USA), end Scotty Robinson, cornerbacks Dekota Marshall and Travis Simmons, and linebacker Jeremy Chambliss.
The Pirates had everything going in the right direction last season but hit a rough patch and had trouble recovering from a three-game losing streak to N.C. State, Houston and Virginia.
ECU fans are used to Holtz's name bouncing around in cyberspace when there are vacancies at bigger programs, and that could happen again. If the Pirates can negotiate a tough schedule, they should be in good shape for another C-USA title and possible big bowl game.
ECU will open at home Saturday against FCS power Appalachian State and will play at West Virginia and North Carolina and at home against Virginia Tech.
"I understand right now the expectations are extremely high," Holtz said this summer. "They're high with people on the outside, with our fan base. But I promise you they're extremely high with our coaches and our players alike.
"We understand what's at stake."
East Carolina at a glance
• Last year's record: 9-5 (6-3 Conference USA)
• Coach: Skip Holtz (29-22 in four seasons at ECU, 63-45 in nine seasons overall)
• Last bowl appearance: 2009 Liberty, lost to Kentucky 25-19.
• Strengths: Quarterback, senior leadership on offense and defense, experienced offensive line.
• Weaknesses: Not buying into all the expectations that surround the program. Running game also needs to be productive to take pressure off QB Patrick Pinkney.
• Best returning players: QB Patrick Pinkney, C Sean Allen, WR Jamar Bryant, RB Jonathan Williams, K Ben Hartman, LB Dekota Marshall, DE C.J. Wilson
• Best newcomers: CB Leonard Paulk, RB Brandon Jackson, SS Jack Schultz, WR Jacobi Jenkins
• Key losses: LB Nick Johnson, LB Pierre Bell, RB Norman Whitley, DE Zack Slade, TE Davon Drew
• Keys to the season: Not relying on Pinkney all the time. Establishing a running game is a must, and the defense has to play as well as it did last season.
• Big games: Sept. 12 at West Virginia; Sept. 19 at North Carolina
• They'll beat… Appalachian State, West Virginia, Central Florida, Marshall, SMU, Rice, Memphis, Virginia Tech, Tulsa, Alabama-Birmingham and Southern Mississippi.
• They'll lose to… North Carolina.
-- John Dell
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