To the Bone: Pirates are Pirates no matter what

from Mixer July/August 2018

by Cooke NC

TO THE BONE

Pirates are Pirates no matter what

By Mackenzie Tewksbury Mixer Magazine

Daily Reflector File Photos

There must be something in the water.

Or rather, maybe it’s in the blood. Because those who are a part of East Carolina University’s culture, know that purple runs deeper than water. They know that purple, in all aspects of the sentiment, is in their blood.

And zoom in on a town about 80 miles east of North Carolina’s capital city, what may seem like a tiny blimp on a great big map is actually something much bigger. Much much bigger.

What you’ll find is a group of people who know heartbreak; who know joy. A group of people who face hardships and overcome them.

You’ll find a unified force of purple and gold; a force that’s bigger than a ballgame, bigger than a season. You’ll find a

group a people who know the ocean comes in waves, and choose to ride the waves as they come. You’ll find a way of life. “This is more like a lifelong passion for me,” said Jimmy Rostar, a 1997 alumnus of ECU and Greenville resident.

Wander over to the corner of 14th Street and Berkley Street on a fall Saturday afternoon and without problem you’ll stumble upon Rostar and “The Corner Crew,” a group of unapologetically unwavering Pirate fans who have likely been out there grilling food and celebrating for six hours already. The group was even crowned with the statewide Tailgate of the Year title by the David Glenn Show. It will smell like cheeseburgers, barbecue and beer, but most importantly, if you’re a Pirate fan, it will feel like home.

“It’s just the consciousness of Greenville,” Rostar said of East Carolina football.

Rostar has weathered the many storms that come with being a Pirate fan, but he’s also ridden the waves of success onto the shore with great pleasure. He’s been through it all, and

July | August 2018

Mixer

Mixer July | August 2018 5

— Bryan Edge

July | August 2018

Mixer

that only adds to the reason why he will stand with the Pirates, win or lose.

“We don’t leave until the last note of the alma mater is played,” he said. “It’s a keep the faith.”

In other words, the Pirates will always be back, he said.

Bryan Edge, a 1997 alumnus of ECU, said from the outside looking in the ECU fanbase might not make a lot of sense, especially given the stereotypes surrounding the culture. But he knows once you’re in it, you understand that it’s unlike any other — something you have to see to believe, something you have to experience and live to really get it.

“I just remember thinking every time someone new comes to Greenville, they experience tailgating, they’re just floored. We take it to another degree,” Edge said. “My father would say ‘People ‘round get here get fired up about this.’ I’d say, ‘Yea, we’ve had to endure a lot.’”

And perhaps the battery fans have to endure only drives the Pirate loyals closer together.

“I like the fact that our fans stay loyal and bold, just like the song. It just says a lot about our school,” Edge said.

For longtime Pirate fan Bert Smith, it’s more than just dealing with loss; it’s the chip on everyone’s shoulder that makes the fanbase what it is. It’s Pirate faithful saying to the doubters: “We don’t care.”

“ECU has always been considered as the less than, the underdog. It’s always been an uphill fight,” Smith said. “That’s the chip on our shoulder. That’s in this fanbase.”

Smith’s pirate blood traces back to 1968 when his father bought a car dealership and his family moved to Greenville. Smith was only 12 at the time, but started going to Pirate games right away. “It was the thing to do,” he said. It wasn’t until later, though, did Smith learn what it really meant to be a Pirate. After a two year stint in military school and a short attempt at N.C. State, Smith moved back to Greenville and started school at ECU shortly after. He then really saw the uphill battle ECU faced — compared to the neighboring schools of N.C. State, Duke and UNC, East Carolina was close to nothing.

That feeling carries over to the sports teams, Smith said, and was quick to bring up the 2008 matchup versus West Virginia University; a game nobody thought East Carolina had a fighting chance in, but they dominated the Mountaneers in a 28-3 victory.

“They were ranked No. 8 in the country. They came to town and of course they thought they were gonna win… They came to town and we dusted their butt. We stormed the field,” Smith said.

2018

Home Run Combo

2 Medium 1-Topping Pizzas, 16-Piece Parmesan Bread Bites, 8-piece Cinnamon Twists and a 2-Liter Drink

Handmade Pan Extra. Limited Time Offer. 9183

19 99

LIMITED TIME OFFER

CALL TODAY 252-329-9505

��

Any Large Specialty Pizza

Restrictions May Apply. Limited Time Offer.

Real Special

13 99

TOTAL ACCESS

Offer includes daily access to electronic edition. Offer not valid to households with an active subscription or a subscription that has been active in the last 60 days. Mail subscriptions excluded. Payment for services must be applied prior to start of subscription. NC sales tax and fees apply. Any past due balance may be deducted prior to subscription starting. Cooke Communications NC LLC reserves the right to refuse service to any customer. Offer expires 8/31/18. Contact Customer Care at (252)329-9505 or customercare@nccooke.com.

9175

Any delivery charge is not a tip paid to your driver. Our drivers carry less than $20. You must ask for this limited time offer. Minimum purchase required for delivery. Prices, participation, delivery area and charges may vary. ©2018 Domino’s IP Holder LLC. Domino’s®, Domino’s Pizza® and the modular logo are registered trademarks of Domino’s IP LLC.

2018

Mixer July | August 2018 7

“I don’t care what the team is or what they’re ranked. They’re just…next,” Smith said. “They are just next on our schedule.”

He was also quick to point out the 1991 season, when head coach Bill Lewis led the team to the Peach Bowl against N.C. State where nobody thought the Pirates would pull it off — but they overcame the Wolfpack 37-34.

“We showed them that’s why we’re called Pirates.”

Edge said he’s fine with the chip on his shoulder — if schools want to silence ECU, let them. He knows ECU, and it’s fans, will not and can not be silenced.

“We’re always gonna be here. We’re always gonna irritate you. We’re always gonna be the team on the schedule that when they see our name, they take a big sigh,” Edge said.

But, while most fans would like to see that chip eventually wear off, the Pirate Faithful also know that living in the shadows of these giants is where they have thrived for years, and will continue to thrive for years to come.

“We’re kind of against the North Carolina culture. We’re the other guys. But it’s fun to be that way,” Edge said.

Unlike Smith and Rostar, Edge didn’t grow up with the purple and gold running through his veins. Growing up in the 80s, East Carolina University wasn’t exactly a popular choice. A Greensboro native and Central Carolina Community College transfer, Edge was raised a Tarheel fan, but when he drove to the beach with his family and cut through Greenville, Edge was hooked immediately. So, he got what he calls a “blood transfusion,” and traded in the light blue for a deeper hue.

“My brother-in-law and niece still can’t understand that,” he said. “I just laugh and say, ‘Well, it’s kind of a long story.”

And now, that long story is explained by the “one of us” culture East Carolina has successfully cultivated through the years. It’s explained by the undeniable bond of Pirates.

“It wouldn’t matter your political background, Republican or Democrat, black or white, if you were in Texas. If you are wearing purple and gold, that’s

a family member.” Because after all, purple blood is purple blood.