North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack will be 'feeling the love' in Greenville
11/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Noon kick off
Saturday, November 20
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (47,700)
By Tony Haynes
Many East Carolina fans and athletic department officials were genuinely touched when NC State allowed the Pirates to use Carter-Finley Stadium a week after Hurricane Floyd caused severe flooding in Greenville.
This weekend, the Pirates and their supporters will have a chance to show their appreciation and gratitude when the Wolfpack makes its first appearance at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
A red carpet reception should be the order of the day on Saturday. And just how will the ECU faithful express their thanks?
"We might get a few bottles or whatever else thrown at us down on the field," said NC State wide receiver Chris Coleman. "The fans will be hostile, especially if things are going our way."
This will be the 22nd meeting between the Wolfpack and Pirates, but it will mark the first time the two clubs have met in Greenville. For years, ECU officials poked and prodded, but never could get NC State to agree to a home and home series. It took political pressure from a few members of the North Carolina General Assembly to finally get the game scheduled.
ECU's peculiar dislike for NC State has been well documented over the years. On Saturday, thousands of East Carolina followers will likely prove just how much they truly abhor the Pack.
"You can tell when someone doesn't like you by the way they talk about you," said Pack linebacker Clayton White. "They've been waiting for this game for a long time and it's certainly the biggest game of the year for them."
Following East Carolina's win over Cincinnati last weekend, Pirates quarterback David Garrard delighted in the thought of preventing the Wolfpack from getting the win it needs to become bowl eligible. The rhetoric passed back and forth between the fans of the two schools has been even more venomous.
"We've come to understand that ECU is a big-time rival," said Coleman. "I'm too young to remember how this rivalry began, but you learn here at NC State that this is a big rival game. This is the first time we've played in their stadium and there will be no shortage of emotion on either side. We've got to match their intensity and come ready to play."
Other than a little slip up at Alabama-Birmingham two weeks ago, East Carolina has put together one of the most successful seasons in school history. Among ECU's victims this season was a strong Miami team that the Pirates rallied to defeat at Carter-Finley Stadium back on September 25th.
East Carolina Coach Steve Logan has quietly put together a consistently strong program since taking over eight years ago. With a win on Saturday, Logan would become the school's all-time winningest coach.
On offense, the Pirates are averaging 29.6 points and over 406 yards per game. But it is on defense where ECU has really turned the corner this season. First year coordinator Tim Rose has improved a unit that was one of the nations worst against the run last season.
A new 3-4 scheme has allowed East Carolina to effectively utilize the quickness and athleticism of its speedy linebackers. Handling ECU's constant pre-snap movement up front will be a big key for the Pack's offensive line.
"It's a tremendous challenge because they really make you simplify with all of their moving around on defense," said NC State coach Mike O'Cain. "You never really know where they're going to end up because they move around so much and they do it with talented players. They play very hard on defense and create tremendous confusion with their moving around."
On offense, the Pirates feature a pair of big play running backs in Jamie Wilson and Leonard Henry. Receivers LaMont Chappell and Keith Stokes are also big home run hitters.
"They've got excellent skill players," said O'Cain. "Their running backs and wide receivers run exceptionally well. Because of that, they're very explosive with their special teams."
Stokes took a punt back 94-yards in ECU's win over Cincinnati last week.
NC State leads the overall series 13-8. The last meeting was in 1997. The Pack prevailed 37-24.
