As a child one of my first heroes was then Lenoir-Rhyne College and later East Carolina football coach Clarence Stasavich. Others included Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice and Lenny Rosenbluth — University of North Carolina All-Americans. Among such legends, it's hard to divide loyalties.

And loyalty has been an issue this past week with its furious talk of rivalry between East Carolina University, where Stasavich brought his football legend in the early '60s, and Carolina, where I went to school. On display has been some anger, bitterness, a little bad blood, maybe a little jealousy. I felt in the middle.

Over the years, I've often found myself in this valley between teams, but I've enjoyed it. Everyone needs more than one team to root for from time to time.

When Stasavich left Lenoir-Rhyne, I was pretty much heartbroken. The Bears had won a national NAIA championship in 1960 and were on top of the world. When Stas left a little later it was probably the first time in my life that I realized few things stay the same for very long — especially when they're the way you want them. But being adaptable, I soon began rooting long-distance for the Pirates.

In the intervening years I went to Chapel Hill just as Dean Smith began to build his basketball dynasty while the football team tended to struggle. My Carolina loyalties, born in the '50s, were thus set in stone. Then 17-plus years ago I came to Greenville, and because of my childhood link to Stasavich, I felt pretty much at home with the Pirates, too.

During these years the question of Pirates or Heels hasn't come up too often. The teams have only played each other a few times. But this week with some raw nerves exposed and old bitterness revealed, the question suddenly loomed larger: Just who are you rooting for after all?

My first taste of this came a few years ago when Carolina played the Pirates in football here in Greenville and again last spring when the teams battled it out in baseball.

I remember going to that football game and asking myself that same question as I sat in the stands waiting for the opening kickoff: Who do I want to win this game? Does it matter? Do I care?

At first, whenever either team did anything noteworthy I cheered for them. But as the game wore on, I realized that I was cheering a good play for the Tar Heels, but when the Pirates came up with something good, I was jumping to my feet — I was for ECU.

The Pirates' success had become mine, their failures, too. I went to school at UNC and I'll always be for them, but I lived here. The Pirates were my home team now. It is this kind of loyalty — even if divided a little — that forms the heart of sports, and why they are so intoxicating — and so much fun.

Now all of this doesn't mean I don't feel strongly about the Tar Heels. In fact, the whole thing has gotten even more complicated since my son started going to school at Carolina. It's even more fun, I think. And I have to say, that when it comes to basketball, well — Tar Heel born, Tar Heel bred, etc.

But I think whenever fall rolls around and footballs fly, I've got to lean toward the home team. And certainly, that's the way Stasavich would have wanted it.

Al Clark is executive editor of The Daily Reflector. Tell him what you think at aclark@coxnc.com or at 252-329-9560.