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East Carolina quarterback Patrick Pinkney carries the ball as Rice's Andrew Sendejo (30) looks to stop him during the first half on Oct. 17.
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Pinkney cherishes chance to play on Thursday
By Nathan Summers
The Daily Reflector
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Patrick Pinkney isn't about to complain about the oddball schedule his East Carolina football team is keeping these days.
The Pirates are in the midst of a curious stretch that sees them play three consecutive non-Saturday games. They won last Tuesday at Memphis and the Pirates (5-3) will return to Conference USA action one week from Sunday at Tulsa.
In between, however, is a marquee Thursday night non-conference home clash with No. 22 Virginia Tech, the team ECU upended to open a memorable 2008 season. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
“It's a blessing to be able to play a game like this on a Thursday, the only game on TV in college football, so it definitely doesn't come at a bad time,” said Pinkney, who has helped to kick his team's offense into action along with a newfound running attack behind him. “You can't beat that.”
In consecutive Conference USA wins, the Pirates have scored a combined 87 points, but Pinkney knows ECU will need all the points it can muster against a stingy Virginia Tech defense Thursday.
“We've got play turnover-free ball, execute on both sides of the ball,” said the sixth-year senior, who has amassed 1,515 pass yards and accounted for 12 total touchdowns despite nine interceptions. “We've just got to protect the ball. We know football is a game of ups and downs, so we've got to stay positive.”
Pinkney has helped to ignite the Pirates' rush attack, including scoring a pair of ground TDs at Memphis.
With the rushing momentum, there have been a good deal more touchdowns at the ends of drives in recent weeks than during the first half of the season.
“It's all about rhythm, about having that balance and believing,” Pinkney said.
Gidrey in gear
ECU tight end Kevin Gidrey epitomizes the offense around him in that he appears to be gaining momentum steadily.
While his opportunities in the pass game are somewhat limited, the junior has made the most of them. He's got five catches for 70 yards, an average of 14 yards per grab.
More important than that, he's part of an offense that seems to be finding the balance Pinkney alluded to as the Pirates approach Thursday‘s kickoff.
“It's a big game, and we're rolling pretty good right now as a team,” Gidrey said of the approach to Virginia Tech. “With Dominique Lindsay running so good, the running game is opening up the passing game. If we can keep running the ball as efficiently as we are now, we'll be in good shape.”
Johnson's outlook
Middle linebacker and team tackling leader Nick Johnson has no problem with letting the rest of C-USA figure out where it stands while the Pirates, 4-1 in league play, see where they stand with one of the country's strongest programs.
“The next two weeks, we get to see how it sorts out and where we're going to be, and how we'll be able to do, if we'll be able to lose a game and still finish first (in the East Division),” said Johnson, a senior who has made 60 tackles.
In the meantime, Johnson knows Virginia Tech junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor and freshman running back Ryan Williams will present the Pirates one of their toughest matchups of the season, and that they alone erase the possibility that ECU's win in last year's meeting with Tech will have much bearing on Thursday's outcome.
“It means absolutely nothing,” Johnson said of last year's 27-22 triumph in Charlotte. “They've got a new quarterback, a new running back, we've got a different defense and we both have different teams.”
Johnson said he expects a raucous environment Thursday night.
“You don't have to do anything to get excited,” he said. “When we went to Memphis last Tuesday, it wasn't that exciting of a game. It wasn't loud. I know it's going to be raging here.”
Contact Nathan Summers at nsummers@reflector.com or (252)329-9595.
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Your comments
holtz to syracuse
11/05/2009 10:26:54 PM
this is conference usa at its "best" we are getting smoked
Suggest removalppbad
11/05/2009 10:25:50 PM
patrick needs to graduate
Suggest removalBlackbeard
11/05/2009 09:34:29 AM
Oh yeah...the Pirates have the talent to do it. The Defense scores...we win..take one home for a pick 6, Tyrod is not that accurate. Ficklin provides the juice, the Pirates take charge...24-21 ECU
Suggest removalDG
11/04/2009 08:54:06 PM
I attended ECU and later took a few classes at VT. Both great schools that continue to change lives for the better, including mine. God bless 'em both. Neither is restricted to the 4.0 nerd or the wealthy (like UNC, Duke, UVa). I like em both but will pull for ECU Thursday.
Suggest removalBW Pirate
11/04/2009 07:34:31 PM
ECU Seniors: This is your last time playing VT make it one to remember! Look to your leaders ... PP - under center, Kass - toughness and heart, Campbell - never give up attitude, Johnson - always around the ball, Wilson - Pure Talent, Eskridge - monster hitter / Dodge - Monster Leg - You have the talent and ability - Go Prove It on the Field, AGAIN!
Suggest removalwisdom
11/04/2009 03:00:33 PM
If we shutdown Tyrod Taylor , we are in the game til the end! Pound the ball in there Dominique! PP will need a few big plays down field . ECU has a very loyal fan base and I know there will be a raucous crowd on hand.A win against a BCS program is great for morale! Go Pirates!
Suggest removalwisdom
11/04/2009 02:50:43 PM
If PP continues to throw interceptions as he has done throughout the season ,it will be a painful thing to watch. The offensive line and the running game are the strength of our football team.We will need to make it a time of possession game and contain Tyrod Taylor on the defensive side to win.
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 02:33:27 PM
Thanks for the info. Brian, funny how I heard that same thing in 2008. Anyways, still got to play the game right??
Suggest removalBrian Stein
11/04/2009 12:38:35 PM
Hate to get your hopes up guys but the Pirates don't have a snowball chance in _ell of winning. Last year's game was a fluke and the Hokies are going to expose the Pirates for how bad they really are.
Suggest removalcj
11/04/2009 11:37:35 AM
it's time to shine, Pirates! you want to be a big time program, well here's your shot! Slap it to the hokies like i know you can. Be the team you can be, not the one you have been much of this year and beat the snot out of VT!!!!
Suggest removalGO PIRATES!!!
Ryan
11/04/2009 11:00:09 AM
I love our team and our program. Greenville will be rocking Thursday win or lose. I'm so excited I can't stand it. I think we have a great chance to win this game. I want to see those receivers make some more plays down the field, and please, no drops. We had several at Memphis. PP would have had around 300 yards without those drops.
Suggest removalstatman200
11/04/2009 09:40:06 AM
In the past two games, we've seen glimpses of the team we can be. NOW is the time to step up and play a complete game at that level -- offense, defense and special teams. If we do, PIRATES win a big game on a big stage by a 28-17 margin. GO PIRATES!
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 08:48:10 AM
So again I say...UNLEASH HELL PIRATES!!!
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 08:46:54 AM
I think we too have much to play for as well, I will never forget that night and have been waiting for this moment ever since, I am proud of Pirate Nation and what we have become since then! I will be there again just like so many Pirate faithful.....
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 08:43:17 AM
I remember my walk back to Scott Hall, hearing the chants from Hokies inside their cars lashing out insults about our football team, I remember just thinking how arrogant some Hokie few were as they left in masses that seemed to out number Pirates that night.....
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 08:40:20 AM
I remember my walk to Scott Hall, weaving in and out of traffic passing Hokies that showed up in masses chanting out of their windows of their cars, I remember the insults that cut through the cold air about our football team, I remember the shame that some Hokie fans tried to inflict...
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 08:37:41 AM
Well excuse me Hokies I remember Yr. 2000 my freshaman year, I remember Vick running the ball as a one man wrecking machine, I remember the faces and gloom of Dowdy Ficklen on that night, I remember every chant from Hokie Nation as they marched out of our stadium as if kings of Greenville.....
Suggest removalESEAU
11/04/2009 08:35:29 AM
Hokies say they have a revenge factor for this game, and extra push for redemption for this game to get back as us for the opening day loss in Charlotte BOA Stadium due to a blocked field goal that makes them sick to watch, and have been watching for the past few days to grow their hunger for pay back.........
Suggest removalED Johnson
11/04/2009 08:00:10 AM
Nick, Big Game Big Stage! Show them why the Memphis quarterback "Will" told me to tell you thank you for not hitting him. Lead with passion and aggression !!!!!!
Suggest removalGo Pirates !!!!
Dad
George
11/04/2009 07:44:48 AM
This is exciting for Greenville.A big financial boost as well.Pirate Fans and tailgators please be respectful of the property owners around the stadium in terms of littering and cutting across lawns. Go Pirates!!
Suggest removalPost a Comment
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