ECU
Welcomes Potential Pirates
It’s that time of year again for East Carolina University to host its annual Fall Open House event. This past Saturday ECU hosted around 8,000 potential students and their families.
The Fall Open House event is for potential freshman, transfer, or adult students to experience what life at ECU is like. Kristen Davis, Undergraduate Admissions, transfer counselor said “Fall Open House is an event to welcome future students, give them more information, and get them excited about being a pirate”
While most of the event was hosted in the Main Campus Student Center, plenty was happening all around campus. Attendees had the opportunity to take tours of both the campus and the dorms on the West End and Central campus, speak to representatives from various departments, and explore the academic and campus life fair.
The Main Campus Student Center also hosted various information sessions for attendees and plenty of opportunities to talk with different staff members on campus. The information sessions held included honors college, picking a major, transfer information, and admissions and financial aid.
Attendees had the opportunity to talk with current and past students like alumna Wanda Montano who is a member of the ECU Board of Visitors. ECU’s board of visitors is a group of alumni who support events like the Fall Open House and all the emissions events that are held on campus to recruit and retain students. Montano said “We look forward to the Fall Open House because it’s an opportunity to meet future pirates and to convince them to come to ECU and to have the life-changing experience that I had when I was here”
Attendees also had the option to choose their adventure. There were students and staff stationed all around campus to navigate and help anyone who chose that option.
Davis said “I hope our visitors see how beautiful our campus is, how welcoming we are, and that they feel at home here so they’ll wanna come again”
Carolinian
Three straight overtimes, three straight wins to become conference champions.
East Carolina University’s soccer team (10-3-7, 5-2-3 American Athletic Conference) captured their first ever conference title in a double overtime duel against the University of Memphis (13-2-4, 6-0-4 AAC). It was the third straight game the Pirates had played that went to double overtime in the 2024 AAC Championship tournament taking place in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
Prior to the game, ECU had only beaten Memphis once back in 2014 away from Greenville, North Carolina and were winless in their only matchup with them on neutral grounds way back in 2006 back in Dallas, Texas. The Pirates did tie this year’s matchup against Memphis at 1-1, thanks to an equalizing goal from ECU freshman forward Caitlen-Star Dolan Boodram after trailing 0-1.
The game began with ECU starting on the offensive. ECU graduate student
forward Sydney Schnell had the first shot of the game, and it earned a corner for the Pirates. On that corner, ECU sophomore defender Lucy Fazackerley took advantage with a shot on target that forced a save out of Memphis senior goalkeeper Kaylie Bierman. A follow up shot a few seconds later by ECU senior forward Samantha Moxie wasn’t on target but still showed the momentum the Pirates had early.
In the second half, the momentum changed in favor of Memphis. Freshman Ai Kitagawa was locked in, shooting three shots in under 10 minutes, including a chance that forced a save out of ECU graduate student goalkeeper Maeve English. Memphis outshot the Pirates 6-1 in the second half.
Tied still 0-0, the game went to overtime. If the pressure was a lot in the second half, the Tigers made it massive in the first Overtime. English made arguably the most important save of her career, making a save on the ball from a shot by Memphis sophomore forward/midfielder Anna Hauer in the 97th minute.
Enduring the Tigers attack in the first overtime, it would be the Pirates turn in the second overtime. After six minutes of overtime, ECU graduate student defender Annabelle Abbott received the ball, with the help of fellow grad student defender Kylie Alvarez fighting off a Memphis defender from intercepting the ball, which gave Abbott enough space to fire in a shot that Bierman couldn’t make a save on, winning the game in the 106th minute for the Pirates.
"I was keeping the ball in the box, and it just bounced back out to me and I decided to take a shot," said Abbott in the interview after the game. "It went in and that was pretty awesome."
The win for the Pirates also qualified them for their first ever NCAA Tournament. The Pirates will play South Carolina on Friday Nov. 15 in Columbia, South Carolina in the round of 64. The game will be viewed on ESPN+.
Police Chief Sugg said.
According to WITN, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 7:45 p.m., two women were hit by an S.U.V. on 10th Street. Both women, 19 and 20 years old, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but both survived the accident.
According to a 2023 article by NPR, “20 people walk outside and are hit by a moving vehicle every day.” In the same article, the Governors Highway Association estimates that “more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed by drivers in 2022 and has risen each year since 2010.
“The volume of pedestrians is one of the biggest challenges,” said ECU Police Chief Jason Sugg.
One of the most common reasons for crosswalk accidents is the driver being distracted or going too fast. “Even if a pedestrian does everything right for their safety, you never know if the driver is paying attention or if they are driving too fast and can’t slow down for the crosswalk,”
Police Chief Sugg would then explain how students can become safer when encountering a crosswalk. “We always asked people to take extra seconds to make sure everything is safe.” “A 4000-pound machine hitting a person walking across the street or on a bike, the person will lose that battle 100 percent of the time.”
Police Chief Sugg would clarify the responsibilities of both the driver and the pedestrian. “It is a responsibility for both the driver and the pedestrian to a certain extent,” said Sugg. “The legal expectation is that the vehicle is expected to stop and the pedestrian is required to use the safety mechanism that exists.”
Police Chief Sugg revealed that over the last couple of months, the ECU Police Department has issued “about a dozen traffic tickets on 10th Street for not yielding the right of way of the crosswalk.”
Police Chief Sugg would also reveal that the Department of Transportation (the D.O.T.) will install a HAWK beacon
on 10th Street next summer. Police Chief Sugg would explain what a HAWK beacon is “designed for pedestrian crossing.” “What it does is give vehicles a red light for stopping and a pedestrian their green light for them to be walking,” Police Chief Sugg would explain. The ECU Police Department has done crosswalk safety education for both drivers and pedestrians.Police Chief Sugg would explain that the educational campaigns would educate students on the laws for crosswalks. “The idea behind it is to generate a conversation,” Sugg said. Police Chief Sugg advises pedestrians about crosswalk safety. “My advice to both drivers and pedestrians on campus is when you are driving or walking around campus, understand that there are a lot of crosswalks and pedestrian traffic; just be prepared to stop and slow down if you need to,” said Sugg.
BRIEFS
Ilaria Noonan’s ECU Honors College education journey
Ilaria Noonan is a senior Honors Student at ECU with a double major in English and communication with a concentration in public relations.
ECU was not her list of schools to apply when she was first looking at universities. It was not until the Honors College invited her to apply and toured the campus that her mind was made up.
“I initially wanted to be a lawyer and practice corporate law. Through Honors 2000, I met with a lawyer and everything that they said deterred me from wanting to be a lawyer. Ilaria looks to continue her education here at ECU as she applies to the graduate school program for strategic communication. After her eventual completion on the program Ilaria will like to continue her journey of higher education as she will eventually get a Ph.D.
ECU named Best for Vets
East Carolina University was ranked in the top 25% of universities according to the Military Times as best universities and colleges for veterans.
ECu is ranked fifth in North Carolina, 19th in the southeast region, 58th nationally among public universities and 72nd out of 304 total colleges nationwide, an improvement from 110th last year. “Our best for vets ranking highlights ECU’s dedication to supporting its military affiliated community.” says Dr. Nicole Binder, the director of the military & veterans resource center (MRVC) at ECU.
ECU has appeared in the rankings for several years prior to their ranking this year. Over 700 student veterans and 1,900 ECU students use VA education benefits to assist them in paying for school;.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you feel there are any factual errors in this newspaper, please contact editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
CRIME LOGS
Editor's Note: The East Carolinian Crime Logs are derived from East Carolina University Police Department’s (ECU PD) public crime logs accessible to all individuals. Crime Logs are not done within the partnership of ECU PD and The East Carolinian, as this publication is meant to act as an additional resource for Pirate Nation. Below are listings of criminal activity that has occurred on or within proximity of main campus.
Nov. 8, 2024
At 1:23 a.m., Resisting a Public Officer at Dirty Dan’s. This situation was cleared by arrest.
At 8:00 p.m., Injury to Real Property at Fletcher Hall. This situation is an open investigation.
Nov. 10, 2024
At 11:24 p.m., Second Degree Forcible Rape, Second Degree Forcible Sex Offense at Tyler Hall. This situation is an open investigation.
At 3:02 a.m., Driving While Impaired, Provisional Driving While Impaired on 10th St./ Elm St. This situation was cleared by an arrest.
Nov. 8, 2024
At 1:23 a.m., Resisting a Public Officer at Dirty Dan’s. This situation was cleared by arrest.
At 3:00 p.m., Injury to Personal Property at Jones Hall. This is an open investigation.
Intelligence Officer talks about Russian War
Deputy National Intelligence Officer
Michael Walker of the National Intelligence Council visited East Carolina University on Oct. 29 to give insight on Russia’s war in Ukraine, an event he called “the most consequential strategic event in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union.”
In February 2022, Russia shocked the world by launching an invasion of Ukraine on multiple fronts. As of October 2024, Russia continues to occupy the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, including Crimea. Ukrainian forces have not yet been pushed out of the Kursk Oblast in Russia.
ECU alumnus Walker gave a presentation on the work of intelligence officers and the history of the Russo-Ukrainian War from the end of the Soviet Union to the present day.
Walker disagreed with the popular notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin intended to reestablish the Soviet Union. He argued Putin’s real motivation was about Ukrainian rebellion against Russia.
He challenged the idea that the Russian military deliberately targeted hospitals with the aim of harming civilians and questioned whether Russian war crimes such as the Bucha Massacre were direct orders from the government.
When asked about the then-potential
administration change, Walker did not immediately foresee a major difference in the amount and type of aid sent to Ukraine.
Walker noted two key parts of Russia’s warfare tactics: on-ground battles and mass airstrikes, designed to demoralize the Ukrainian population. He warned that these warfare tactics would affect future conflicts. “Critical infrastructure in future wars is going to be a primary target,” he said.
For those looking for jobs in intelligence, Walker advised students to read, learn critical languages, and practice professional writing.
NYC judge delays Trump’s immunity motion
NEW YORK — A Manhattan judge has delayed a highly anticipated decision and sentencing in Donald Trump’s hush money case following his election victory at the request of the president-elect’s lawyers and the Manhattan district attorney, according to court documents filed Tuesday.
Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan granted a joint motion to postpone his decision on Trump’s request to throw out the guilty verdicts against him and other deadlines — putting the whole case on ice — until Nov. 19, according to email correspondence between his clerk and the parties uploaded to the case’s docket.
The clerk said that was the deadline for the DA’s office to advise Merchan of the appropriate next steps amid a Friday request from Trump’s team to prosecutors that asked them to agree to delay proceedings and consider moving to drop the case now that Trump has been reelected.
“The People agree that these are unprecedented circumstances,” Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo wrote to the court in an email Sunday morning.
The prosecutor said the next steps required “careful consideration” to appropriately balance the competing interests of a
jury’s verdicts finding Trump guilty of felonies and “the office of the president.”
In an email to Merchan following Colangelo’s on Sunday, Trump lawyer Emil Bovesaid, “There are strong reasons for the requested (pause), and eventual dismissal of the case in the interests of justice,” citing the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and the Presidential Transition Act of 1963.
Bove said federal prosecutors from the Department of Justice had recently sought and obtained the same relief in Trump’s federal election subversion and classified documents cases, “and they are reportedly considering dismissing both of their prosecutions.”
“The (pause), and dismissal, are necessary to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern,” Bove wrote, adding that was the broader argument the defense made to the DA Friday that prosecutors are considering, which has not been made public.
With the case now on pause, Trump’s sentencing, set for Nov. 26, is in limbo. Merchan previously said he would sentence him on that date after ruling on the immunity motion “if necessary.”
Trump’s outstanding immunity motion asks Merchan to set aside the verdicts and dismiss the underlying indictment by arguing that the July immunity decision by the Supreme Court’s conservative majority — which granted presidents sweeping protec-
tions from criminal prosecution — barred the Manhattan DA’s office from showing evidence at trial relating to his “official acts.”
The decision also barred prosecutors from presenting evidence related to a president’s “official acts” to prove personal acts were illegal.
Among the “official acts” Trump argues were out-of-bounds were tweets from his presidential Twitter account about his former fixer Michael Cohen and testimony concerning private conversations with former White House staffers, including his communications director, Hope Hicks.
Prosecutors have opposed the effort, underscoring that the crimes Trump was found guilty of committing were related to his personal life and not his presidency. They have argued that even if the Supreme Court decision — which came down after Trump was found guilty — meant they improperly showed some evidence to the jury, the evidence of his guilt was, regardless, “overwhelming.”
An anonymous Manhattan jury delivered the guilty verdicts on May 30, finding Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records tied to his secret payback to Cohen for silencing Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election.
OUR VIEW
Two games into Interim Head Coach Blake Harrell’s tenure in charge of the East Carolina football team, and the team has looked better than it ever did with former coach Mike Houston in 2024. It begs the question: Why is that?
ECU offensive coordinator John David Baker is in charge of play calling, and that’s presumably been the case. Even when junior quarterback Jake Garcia was starting ahead of sophomore quarterback Katin Houser, the offense showed flashes of the type of production they had in most recent weeks. The big shots down the field along with mixing in the run game were there. But with Harrell at the helm, they’re more consistent and the passing game looks more opened up. It makes others wonder how much influence both head coaches had and why the offense looks the way it does.
The defense has recently bounced back in form following the win over FAU. While the matchups against FAU and Temple were deemed easier than others, the Pirates scored more points against those teams than they did against Norfolk State, a Division II school. That was also the best offense performance for Houston throughout the entire season. If the wins keep piling up for the Pirates, along with securing a bowl game win, Harrell is providing himself the opportunity at the very least to be considered from going from Interim to the full time Head Coach position of the Pirates.
PIRATE RANTS
My sources tell me that many college students, those who voted for K. Harris, have become crestfallen over the election outcome. As a result, they have sought emotional solace (following their candidate’s loss) in what are called “coping spaces.” I invite these poor students to consider a better solution. Here, locally, the distressed ECU Pirates may visit the St. Peter’s Catholic Parish (on 5th and Beech Street) for adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist. An hour or two of quiet time with God would do wonders for curing many ills and melancholy. By doing this, anxious students can receive the only true and reliable therapy, from God Himself, truly present in the consecrated Host. Furthermore, this works for ANY mental illness; not just post-election trauma.
Why are the grab-n-go sandwiches at the student center like $12!!! I could get a quarter pounder, fries and a drink for basically the same price at McDonald’s and we already know it’s overpriced as is.
I wish ECU could do construction in uptown/campus when most students aren’t in Greenville. Parking is hard. Get ready for a change. It may not be the one you are hoping for or the one you were told you would get.
Some of my choices won, some of them lost, but at least I had a choice. I pray that it stays that way.
regarding Pirate Rants can be directed to editor@theeastcarolinian.com.
It’s not just politics anymore; it’s drama.
American politics today has transformed into a spectacle with blurred lines between governance and entertainment.
Reality TV is just a falsified reality built upon the illusion of authenticity. The purpose is to create captivating, must-watch moments by scripting interactions that the viewer thinks are spontaneous. These scenes often deviate from the truth, yet the aim is to convince viewers to play into their facade. Sometimes, the viewers get lost in what is real and what is not.
From highly publicized tweets to viral livestream moments and speeches, modern politics is quite literally becoming a falsified reality. Cancel culture is becoming
more prevalent than ever, causing people who are not even educated in politics to make decisions in the political sphere. With this kind of environment, will politics ever regain the authenticity it used to?
Politics has always been a performance and lies were always prevalent, however, not to this extent. Candidates argued passionately, eloquently, and respectfully. Personal attacks and theatrics that make up the political sphere now reduce the dignity of American politics from what it once was.
Even recalling back to Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, although clearly different, they were both respected political figures who embodied a more courteous approach to politics as compared to the confrontational tone found in candidates in our present time. What happened to diplomacy? What happened to collected leadership? What will be of our country if integrity and respect are not ingrained in our leaders?
In a nation that is incredibly divided, mutual respect must be maintained. Differences make us stronger as a democratic society, but currently, these differences are playing against us. Sensationalism should not be prioritized over substance. Regardless of where personal opinions may lie on the political spectrum, elected officials should not only be defined by their policy but by the way they treat their opponents, the public at large and how they convey their perspectives.
Through and through, in our current election, American politics simply featured a race for the White House. Stay tuned for the next episode aired whenever one of our beloved politicians steps up to the microphone. It’s a must-see.
You can hate the Kansas City Chiefs all you want, it doesn’t change the fact that they’re the best team in the NFL right now. You can bring up teams like the 49ers, Lions, Ravens, Steelers,Texans, Bills, whoever.
Since they’re undefeated, most people would say I’m just stating the obvious, but that’s not where the discourse is. Teams such as the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers are much more talented than the Chiefs are, but they aren’t gutting out wins like they have. The Ravens had a bad loss against a 2-7 Raiders team, and then were multiple dropped interceptions away from beating the Browns who were forced to start quarterback Jameis Winston.
People will excuse the 49ers losses for them not having the likes of running back Christian Mccafferey, but losing to a Cardinals team that was 1-4 at the time they
played and then getting beat by the Chiefs themselves is not a great look. They also dropped a winnable game against the Rams who were without their star wide receiver duo in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp in that contest. Two out of these three losses, the 49ers were favored to win in.
It isn’t like the Chiefs haven’t suffered losses themselves. Their best wide receiver prior to the trade for Deandre Hopkins was Rashee Rice, who is out for the year due to a LCL injury, star tight end Travis Kelce wasn’t producing the numbers he had in past seasons, and the tip of the iceberg, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t playing at his best.
But they still found ways to win. No more evident in the win they gained in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos. With a slow start on offense, the same as it’s been this entire season, the Chiefs trailed late. Even so, most people thought that the Chiefs would find a way to come back and win. The 10 play drive that ended in a field goal for the Chiefs gave the Broncos under six
minutes to win. Then the unpredictable happened. Denver started moving the ball, draining clock strategically to make sure the Chiefs wouldn’t get a chance to get the ball back on offense to do the same. With mere seconds left, the Broncos sent their kicker Will Lutz to break Chiefs fans hearts, and give joy to the rest of the 31 fanbases anticipating and ready to revel in the Chiefs demise. Lutz’s field goal gets blocked. The Chiefs special teams broke through the line protecting and stopped the Broncos from beating them once more, in the process spoiling everyone rooting for their downfall. This is what makes them the best team. You can stop the offense, match their defense in the battle of not conceding points, or even outscore them with field goals, but you can’t stop all three at once. They will, and do find a way to win.
Classifieds & Puzzles
HOROSCOPES
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is an 8 — Emotional barriers dissolve upon discovery with Saturn stationing direct. Complete past issues. Release excess baggage. Nurture elders, antiques and heirlooms. Envision the future. Make plans.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Practice together for valuable skills. Teamwork flows easier with Saturn stationing direct in Pisces for the next seven months. Pool resources to get farther.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
— Today is an 8 — Take bold action for what you want. Now that Saturn is direct, professional challenges seem to dissolve. Advance your career by leaps and bounds.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
— Today is a 9 — Prepare to expand your exploration. Travels and studies get farther with less effort now that Saturn is direct. Disciplined actions reap extra benefits.
COMICS
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Collaborate to grow your shared assets. Cash flow increases with Saturn stationing direct. Review legal, insurance and tax matters. Financial discipline earns higher returns.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Explore the possibilities. Collaboration comes easier now that Saturn is direct. Romance can spark anew. Complete old projects and begin bold ventures. Work together.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Your physical labors, services and work get farther, faster with Saturn direct now. Steady fitness routines produce extraordinary results over time. Practice your moves.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Follow your heart. Your game thrives on disciplined practice with Saturn direct now. Persistence pays with romance, art and creative projects. Develop your craft.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Home renovation projects surge ahead with Pisces Saturn direct. Enact dreams into plans. Disciplined, steady actions get results. Renovate to adapt to domestic changes.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Get the word out! Communication channels flow with greater velocity with Saturn direct. Launch campaigns, writing and recording projects. Disciplined action can realize creative dreams.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Discipline with finances generates savings growth. With Saturn direct for the next seven months, it’s easier to make money. Expect solid gains with steady action.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Expand your territory with Saturn direct in your sign. It’s easier to get farther. Consistent focus develops your studies and travels in fascinating directions.
Jacqueline E. Mathews
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Arts & Entertainment
TOMORROW
The 2024 Down East Holiday Show returns
The Down East Holiday Show brought attention to businesses and families from all parts of the state. Held at the Greenville Convention Center, the event sold tickets to lines of customers all weekend.
The Down East Holiday Show is an annual event that hosts businesses selling homemade and craft-based gifts. Rows of booths were displayed all throughout the building, vendors behind them promoting their products as Christmas gift ideas for loved ones.
Kathleen Nolen from Yarn Chef Creations was among the many vendors with homemade holiday gift ideas. Nolen presented a booth of crocheted stuffed animals, hats, and accessories of all shapes and sizes. Although her business has been year-round since 2007 and markets around Greenville, she stressed the importance of a meaningful gift this holiday season. “People want handmade stuff as opposed to mass-manufactured things,” Nolen said.
As for Kathy Silva and her daughter, who own the business Addy Nicole Designs, being
invited to the Convention Center for the Holiday Show is one of the only times of the year they are selling in person as opposed to websites like Etsy. This mother-and-daughter team sells children’s clothes, which they make by hand. So many businesses and families were brought together due to the event and sold everything from soaps to toys. Greenville Convention Center and the participating businesses all made a jingle in the holiday season.
SATURDAY
East Carolina University will be offering KINE 1010 fitness/dog walking. This class is one credit course with the prerequisite being KINE 1000.
Kinesiology Professor Melanie Sartore has been a vocal supporter of the class and is a prominent voice for shelter dogs throughout Greenville. Sartore says the class is “rewarding and beneficial on so many levels.
Even though it is a fitness class, Sartore says, “It is also about giving back to the community.” Sartore asserts that the class is beneficial in that it helps broaden the discussion of pet overpopulation and that animal shelters are not the bad guys.
Sartore says that the biggest takeaway for students who have taken the class is that “the stereotypes for shelter dogs are not accurate. They realize that there are a lot of dogs looking for a home,” said Sartore.”
Jackie McCormick, a former graduate teaching assistant for KINE 1010 from 20162017, said, “The class was one of the most impactful experiences of my life.”
McCormick details what KINE 1010 is like for the dogs. “It was incredible to see how much the class impacted them,” McCormick said. McCormick said that the shelter dogs would initially be scared and shy. However, due to the care and the love the students showed for the dogs, the dogs became more open and excited to see the students.
“Just to see how the students made a difference two to three times a week,” McCormick said about the students’ impacts on the dogs.
McCormick said choosing which dog they want to walk “depends on what the student is comfortable with at first.” The goal for the class is to make the dogs more adoptable so they can go to their forever home, said McCormick.
Sports
The East Carolinian Sports experts predict this week’s events
Trevon McGlone TEC Sports Editor
ECU VS. ASU
Score Prediction?
ECU 42-10
Why?
The Pirates take this game because the offense has been much better lately, Tulsa isnt good, and the defense shouldn’t have too much to worry about. The Pirates are gonna be bowl eligible for the first time in two years. Tulsa is ranked near the bottom of the rankings in almost every single offensive metric and I would honestly be shocked if the Pirates lose here. A let down on the road is possible I will add, but this is the most winnable game left on the schedule.
ECU VS. ASU Score Prediction?
ECU 65-17
Why?
After a big win against FAU last Thursday I expect similar things to happen on this Thursday night game in Tulsa and Katin Houser to have another big game. Look for Anthony Smith and Chase Sowell to have big games again and I will give you guys a take and say Katin Houser runs it back again and gets the American Offensive Player of the Week in back to back weeks.
WZMB Sports & News Director
ECU VS. ASU Score Prediction?
ECU 56-20
Why?
After a huge win last Thursday night the Pirates are on fire. Katin Houser is playing great, the fans are energetic, and this is the most alive Pirate football has been in a long time. I expect the Pirates to win big again this week and clinch bowl eligibility against Tulsa.
East Carolina Will Travel to Tulsa
East Carolina University’s football team (5-4, 3-2 in American Athletic Conference) will travel to Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa Oklahoma to take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes (3-6, 1-4 in AAC).
The Pirates coming off of a dominant 49-14 home win against Florida Atlantic University (2-7, 0-5 AAC) will look to extend their win streak to three and get to two games over .500.
Tulsa is currently ranked dead last (133 out of 133) in pass yards allowed by FBS schools according to the NCAA. They have allowed 2777 pass yards on the year (308.6 per game) and 28 pass touchdowns. This will be an area in which the Pirates could break the game open. More than likely it’ll be one of their keys to victory as ECU has the number 26 ranked passing offense amongst FBS schools per the NCAA. The Pirates currently have 2454 passing yards on the season and are averaging 272 yards an outing through
nine games.
ECU will hope to get sophomore quarterback Katin Houser going early along with wide receivers senior Anthony Smith, senior Winston Wright Jr, sophomore Chase Sowell and senior Jhari Patterson. Especially after their impressive win last Thursday at home against FAU. The Pirates passed for 343 yards and five receiving touchdowns in that game leading to a dominant win.
Tulsa, in their last outing, faced UAB (2-7, 1-4 in AAC), the final score of the game was 59-21 in UAB’s favor. The Golden Hurricanes allowed 404 total pass yards and 6 passing touchdowns in that game. For ECU taking advantage of the Golden Hurricanes through the pass game could be huge and plays directly into the teams strengths.
Defensively it will be crucial for the Pirates to be productive in defending the pass. The Pirates are ranked 89th in passing yards allowed by FBS schools according to the NCAA.The Pirates allow 233.9 passing
yards per game and have allowed 14 passing touchdowns on the year. Tulsa is ranked 73rd in passing offense according to the same site. They average 225 yards per game and have recorded 2028 yards on the year.
The Golden Hurricanes fall right around the middle of the pack amongst FBS teams in this department. Although they have seen an increase in production within the passing game since making the switch from freshman QB Kirk Francis to senior QB Cooper Legas. Legas has 675 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception in the two games he has started.
Something to look out for if you’re ECU.
The Pirates will kick off against the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes Thursday Nov 14th at 7:30 pm. It will be played at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa Oklahoma. The broadcast will take place on ESPN.
ECU basketball hosts GMU
East Carolina University men’s basketball team (2-0, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) takes on George Mason University (1-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10 Conference) at Minges Coliseum in Greenville, North Carolina on Saturday. The Pirates host the Patriots in an early non-conference matchup where both teams are aiming to find rhythm to start the season. After starting off 2-0, a win would set the tone for the Pirates, who are looking for a winning season and AAC Championship aspirations.
Leading all scorers, ECU’s senior guard RJ Felton is off to a quick start so far this season, averaging 23.5 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1 assist per game. Felton most recently put up 25 points last game in the Pirates win over Coastal Carolina University (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt Conference).
Other than Felton’s big numbers, it’s been a team game so far this season, with big performances from graduate student forward C.J. Walker and senior guard Jordan Riley.
Senior guard Darius Maddox is leading the Patriots in scoring by a substantial amount, averaging 18.5 points per game, with the next closest at 11 points per game coming from junior guard Brayden O’Connor. George Mason is looking to gain some momentum after coming off a 19 point loss to #15 ranked Marquette University (2-0, 0-0 Big East Conference), with two games to play before they face the Pirates on Saturday.
The Patriots have leaned heavily on their guard play this season, with the three top scorers all playing the guard position. Senior guard Jared Billups is leading George Mason in rebounds, steals and blocks, giving the Patriots all-around great defense and cleanup on the boards. Other than guard play, it’s been an incredibly balanced offense and defense. Junior forward Giovanni Emejuru is leading the frontcourt and team in field goal percentage, while also providing a great interior defensive prowess on the opposite end of the floor. Historically, ECU is 1-2 against the Patriots, losing their latest game against them last
season 81-59. The first win against George Mason came at a neutral site in Washington D.C. at Verizon center, now named Capital One Arena in the BB&T Classic back during the 2007-08 season. Strong guard play will need to continue for the Pirates to beat a good George Mason team who had a strong 20-12 season last year. Forwards C.J. Walker and junior forward Trevion LaBeaux will be needed defensively and in the paint, as they have been to start the season.
ECU’s game plan will likely focus on minimizing turnovers, and continue maintaining the offense through guards RJ Felton and Jordan Riley. The Pirates, led by Head Coach Mike Schwartz, have added some new players to their roster, including an array of transfers in hopes to become a prominent program in the AAC. For George Mason, a road win would further establish themselves as a dominant force under Head Coach Tony Skinn’s leadership.
With the Pirates playing at Minges Coliseum, a strong home court advantage could be the deciding factor between a win and a loss. ECU looks to have a promising start to the season with another potential win against a talented George Mason team. The game tips off at 4 p.m. with fans able to catch the action live on ESPN+, and live updates available through ECU’s official athletics site.