FanHouse East Carolina Football

There are two off seasons in college football. The one before spring games and the one after. The one before is bearable because at least there's news about recruiting and your teams big win in the BCS bowl is still fresh in your mind. For me anyway. The one after, however, is filled with long periods of boredom and sprinkles of athletes misbehaving.

And then there's stories of the Crimson Permanent Assurance corporate raiders otherwise known as BCS conferences raiding smaller conferences for their best teams. Only this time that story is in reverse as both Memphis and East Carolina are chomping at the bit to get into the Big East.

East Carolina desperately has wanted in to the Big East since the re-formatting a few years ago. They still want to find their way in. Even if just in football.

The Big East still won't bite. They don't have to. As much as it makes things difficult to schedule in football, even a provisional, part-time new member would likely upset the delicate balance with the basketball schools. Until the conference realizes it has to split, ECU has no chance

Memphis on the other hand, seems to be in top secret negotiations with the Big East. Even though Mike Tranghese has stated way too many times for me to count that it ain't gonna happen.

Ever since the Memphis Tigers got left behind in the Great Bum Rush to leave Conference USA-- also known as the Big East expansion in 2003-- Tiger fans have had one singular goal. To follow their old rivals from Louisville, and Cincinnati to the greener pastures of the Big East. And here's where it gets interesting. Sources have confirmed to FOX13 Sports that University of Memphis officials have been in serious talks with the Big East about joining the conference.

I tend to agree with Charles that there is no way that the Big East is going to move on any of this. East Carolina is a fine football program by Conference USA standards. But would they really bring anything to the table that doesn't already exist? The conference is already littered with programs that seem to be just on the threshold of breaking the top 25. What good would one more do? And if the Big East does split, is there anything else at East Carolina that is Big East worthy?

As Michael David Smith has already spelled out, Darren McFadden helped arrest any worries of a draft day decline with a blazing fast 4.33 official time in the 40-yard dash. But McFadden wasn't the only running back to help his draft stock.

East Carolina's Chris Johnson ran a 4.24 40-yard dash, which will likely clock in as the fastest time at this year's combine, although the cornerbacks have yet to run. It's also ranks as one of the fastest times ever recorded at the combine by a running back.

So he's fast, but can he play? The answer is quite clearly yes at least at the college level. Johnson rushed for 1,468 yards with 17 touchdowns and a 6.0 yard per carry average. He also had 37 catches for 528 yards and averaged 28 yards on 36 kick returns. His 2,960 all-purpose yards led the nation by nearly 300 yards.

The concern about Johnson is that his small size (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) and skinny legs may keep him from being an every-down back. But with world-class speed, good hands and kick return ability, his combine workout should make him plenty of money, as he now looks to be at worst a very talented third-down back/returner. And as the Chargers showed with Darren Sproles (pictured at right) last year, an undersized tailback can still be pretty valuable if you pick his spots.

And probably because the ball rarely gets thrown to any of the receivers not named Darius Reynaud, the West Virginia wide receivers have found new ways to keep themselves entertained. Namely hitting defensive backs so hard that their mama's felt it back home in North Carolina. This is a two part show from last weekends game with East Carolina. In part one 6'8" receiver Wes Lyons hits the ECU defensive back so hard, the numbers fall off the back of his jersey. Not literally, but I wouldn't be surprised.


In part two keep your eye on the 35 yard line and watch as Dorel Jalloh absolutely lights up the ECU linebacker. You get a little better look at it the second time through as soon as Reynaud cuts up field.

There were two things we learned during the East Carolina/Virginia Tech tilt that opened the season. One: Virginia Tech isn't the tenth-best team in the country when Sean Glennon is the quarterback. Two: East Carolina is doing a better job of being a competitive ACC team than most of the conference's charter members. Don't get me wrong- it's not like this is some new jack program coming out of the Sun Belt to pull shocking upsets against titans of football competence. But in the "get enough conference wins to get a plane ticket to Boise or San Francisco" sort of way, the Pirates are definitely passing muster.

Witness last season: ECU snagged two conference wins against NC State and Virginia, and they were rather convincing. Granted, both NC State and UVA were teams that missed out on the postseason, but both were prone to multi-week spans of bowl-team level competence. And now this year; a close loss on the road to a team that America as a whole was rooting for, and this past weekend's result, a 37-34 win against Butch Davis' UNC squad, which has shown surprising amounts of friskiness on the offensive front.

It's worth wondering if this is just another example of the ACC failing to take care in what they wish for. First, Jim Swofford pirated Miami and Virginia Tech and then Boston College for (let's face it) 95% football reasons, leaving many to wonder aloud whether the Big East even deserved a BCS bid. Now, in Louisville (fresh off a rather symbolic shaming of Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl), West Virginia (passed over for ACC expansion because it supposedly didn't fit the conference's academic profile) and Rutgers (during Greg Schiano's initial recruiting classes, Virginia in particular found itself embarrassed for losing prospects to them), they have three more legit title contenders than the ACC, with South Florida making serious gains. But a Conference USA team that hasn't been ranked since, I dunno, Jeff Blake's heyday? (EDIT: ECU was ranked #23 in 1995, three years after Jeff Blake was drafted). Should the ACC sit out the BCS out of shame this year, like when Notre Dame turned down stuff like the Independence Bowl?

Quick, name the only teams from the state of North Carolina with wins over 1-A teams. Yes, Appalachian State is one of them, but the other team is East Carolina.

Duke, Wake Forest and NC State are all 0-2. UNC beat 1-AA James Madison last week. Tonight East Carolina knocked off UNC 34-31 with a 39-yard field goal as the clock expired. Kicker Ben Hartman had gone an abysmal 1-4 -- missing kicks of 30, 32 and 37 yards. Then he hits the game-winner for the obligatory redemption storyline.

The final drive for East Carolina appeared to be aided by UNC Head Coach Butch Davis forgetting he wasn't still in the NFL as he had the defense drop into a prevent. East Carolina took advantage and moved from the UNC 47 to the 21 in the final 51 seconds.

A huge win for East Carolina as they notch their second win all-time against UNC. Their first win against UNC since 1975. Greenville will be a good place to be tonight.

UPDATE: Michigan now trails Appy State 21-14.

UPDATE: Michigan now trails Appy State 28-14.

UPDATE: Michigan now trails Appy State 28-17 just before the half.

UPDATE: Michigan trails 28-20 early in the third quarter.

UPDATE: Michigan trails 31-20 midway through the third quarter.

UPDATE: Michigan trails 31-26 at the end of the third quarter.

UPDATE: Michigan now leads 32-31 late in the fourth quarter.

Color me shocked. It's early still, but the Wolverines are tied with lower division national champs Appalachian State at 14-all. Michigan's offense has been fine, but they're not doing a solid job of stopping that offense.

I doubt Michigan loses and a few hours from now that score might be 45-14, but it's worth monitoring.

Elsewhere: Virginia Tech trails ECU 7-3 and has been absolutely dominated midway through the second quarter. Lane Stadium is nearly silent. The Hokies started poorly when Sean Glennon tossed a ridiculously dumb interception on their first drive.

Update: Virginia Tech just returned an interception for a touchdown to reclaim the lead, 10-7.

Stay tuned ...

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has issued subpoenas for 39 collegiate athletic departments in a probe of their relationships with student loan providers. At its most basic, this investigation is asking whether or not cash, kickbacks, gifts and other bribes or misleading measures were communicated between various student loan providers and the cited athletic departments.

Cuomo is investigating whether athletic departments at these universities agreed to promote SFS loans to students in exchange for kickbacks.

"Students trust their University's athletic departments because so much of campus life at Division I schools centers around supporting the home team," said Cuomo. "To betray this trust by promoting loans in exchange for money is a serious issue, especially when Division I schools already generate tremendous revenue from their student athletes. Today's action is an important new step as we continue to examine the unethical conflicts that pervade the student loan industry.

"The Attorney General's office is specifically investigating whether athletic departments evaluated UFS interest rates before recommending their federal loans, or if their endorsement of UFS was based purely on payments from the lender. Such an arrangement would constitute revenue sharing, which is a violation New York state consumer protection laws, as well as a violation of federal law.

D-IA football schools named (prominent schools in bold): Arkansas State, Auburn, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Colorado State, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Tech, Ohio, Oregon State, Rutgers, TCU, Tulane, Alabama-Birmingham, UCLA, UCF, Houston, Kansas, Louisville, Oregon, Pittsburgh, USF, UTEP. See link for complete list.

Of note: USC and Texas have also been scrutinized in a similar probe, but to my knowledge it has not been linked to their athletic departments but rather the university-wide financial aid offices of the schools.

It's good that athletic departments have an awareness of and working relationship with loan providers, but obviously there's a problem when that relationship gets too cozy and bad loan options are pressed upon students and student-athletes.

(Via: Yahoo!)

A popular small time scam for many business travelers -- whether for seminars, conventions, or various business trips. Inflate the old expense account. Throw in some extra receipts, claim a more expensive hotel stay (even as you split the cost with somebody), or assorted other timeworn techniques.

It's a relatively victimless crime, and an easily rationalized one. The company already budgeted for the expenses, and many times no one looks that closely at the expenses if they aren't too absurd or high. Not this time. The East Carolina Pirates are looking for a new defensive line coach after the present coach plead guilty to misdemeanor forgery.

The now former defensive lines coach, Donnie Thompson, submitted fake hotel and other receipts to the ECU athletic department for reimbursement on recruiting trips. They were legitimate recruiting trips he would take to the Washington D.C. area. Instead of staying at a hotel, though, he would stay at his daughter's home. Over the past two seasons, he was reimbursed for over $11,000.

Thompson received a suspended sentence, court costs and to repay the money. He had already repaid the money when he was sentenced. Thompson is technically suspended with pay since they found out. The ECU athletic director, however, has stated that the Pirates are now looking for a new defensive line coach.

ESPN2 cameras are doing what they can to keep the shots tight on the field. They don't want to show the empty bleachers at each end.

The USF Bulls have a 14-0 lead with 8:43 left in the first quarter. ECU turned the ball over on their first possession. USF on their first touch on offense took it right in for a TD.

The Pirates went 3 and out on its next possession -- losing yards. USF then went right down the field, running over the ECU defense.

Total yards: USF, 72; ECU, -2.

Full Name: Papajohns.com Bowl at Legion Field

Vitals: University of South Florida Bulls (8-4, Big East 4-3) vs. East Carolina University Pirates (7-5, C-USA 5-3)
Friday, December 23, 1pm, Birmingham, Alabama, ESPN2
Spread: USF by 3.5 to 5.

How ECU Got Here:
Finishing second in C-USA East Division, 4th overall. The Pirates were the more attractive choice over Rice because their fans travel better and Greenville, North Carolina is a lot closer to Birmingham then Houston. ECU is led by senior QB James Pinkney who threw for over 2600 yards this season and will be making his 38th straight and final start for the Pirates.

How USF got here:
By finishing 4th in the Big East this year, including the big upset of WVU in Morgantown. The Bulls overcame a lot of chaos in terms of personnel (more about that soon), including the loss of senior starting QB Pat Julmiste in the very first game. In stepped redshirt freshman Matt Grothe who did everything for USF out of the spread option and was the Big East Rookie of the Year.

What you absolutely have to know about ECU:
Jacksonville Jaguar QB David Garrard (pictured above) is an alum. East Carolina (or at least its fans) feels that it should have been included in Big East expansion, and is still looking to get the BE to look their way -- oh, and they are 0-3 versus the Bulls. The school didn't open until 1909, but they intend to start the centennial celebration in 2007, since they received their charter in 1907. It's a two year party in Greenville.

What you absolutely have to know about USF:
USF is based in Tampa, and play their home games at Raymond James Stadium -- the Tampa Bay Buccaneers home. The dance team goes by the moniker of "Sun Dolls," which sounds a lot more like a stripper troupe (not that I'm complaining about that). The team was so much better than expected with 8 academic non-qualifiers, arrests of players, players quitting (including the leading receiver from the previous year) and suspensions during the season. And, just to make it feel like it's still the regular season, the Bulls 5th leading tackler and starting Strong Safety has been ruled academically ineligible for the bowl game.

What you absolutely have to know about this bowl game:
The bowl has a great late '90s retro feel with a return to the dot-com bowl games. Papa Johns was founded in Indiana in 1985 after the founder sold his 1972 Z28 Camaro -- come on, you've seen him in his ads on TV, you knew that he was either a Camaro or Corvette kind of guy. Now before you get too snide, the charity for the game is the Crippled Children's Foundation. Try and rip on the game now, sickos.

Why to watch:
It's Saturday at 1 pm Eastern. What else do you have to do? Surely you aren't dumb enough to go to the mall 2 days before Christmas.

Really, both teams have been very tough this year. The Pirates knocked off Virginia and NC State -- being the final nail in the Chuck Amato Coffin -- and played WVU very tough before losing 27-10.

USF beat WVU and lost to Rutgers by only 2. Both teams are balanced, but USF is more dependent on Grothe to do everything. He's responded well to the challenge all season, and there is no reason not to think he won't once more.

Score Prediction:
USF 36 ECU 25