At the ready: Eyes turn to ECU on Thursday night

While forecasters have called for clear skies on Thursday night, expect electricity in the air as East Carolina University welcomes Virginia Tech and a national television audience to town for the most anticipated football game of the year. The excitement is already palpable and should reach a fevered pitch by the time the teams take the field.

This moment represents a tremendous opportunity for East Carolina, for Greenville and for all of eastern North Carolina to show its best face to the nation. So get to the stadium early, welcome our guests, be loud and show the country what Pirate pride is all about on Thursday.

Under a blazing Charlotte sun last year, East Carolina began its football season with an upset of Virginia Tech, knocking off the No. 17 Hokies 27-22. The improbable win captured the nation's attention and set in motion a memorable year that would end in a Conference USA championship for the Pirates.

Circumstances are different this year. The venue will be the friendly confines of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, under the lights for a national television audience. And a year that began with promise for both teams have seen stumbles, as the squads bring identical 5-3 records into the Thursday night contest.

What remains, however, is the opportunity for the winner of this game to make an important statement.

For the Hokies, pursuit of a possible national championship and dreams of an Atlantic Coast Conference title sputtered against Georgia Tech on Oct. 17 and were extinguished against North Carolina one week ago. However, the Pirates remain in the hunt for a division title and a shot at the conference championship. Last week's win against Memphis was a crucial step toward that goal and defeating Virginia Tech would provide needed momentum for the rest of the season.

This is the first time the Hokies have been here since 2000, and the first time since the emotional 2007 season opener that saw East Carolina give $100,000 to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund after the shooting deaths of 32 students and faculty that year. As Virginia Tech will not soon forget the generosity on display in its time of need, East Carolina fans should be proud to welcome the next chapter in this growing rivalry.

A national broadcast audience will be watching on Thursday, and it is an opportunity for this region to savor. Raise the sails, batten the hatches and get ready for battle, Pirates.