The 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2009-10 and played their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The team was coached by Skip Holtz, who was in his fifth and final year with the program. The 2009 Pirates were defending their first ever Conference USA Football Championship.
The Pirates finished the season 9–5, 7–1 in CUSA play, winning the East Division in their final regular season game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 25-20, and won their second consecutive CUSA Championship Game 38–32 against the Houston Cougars in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Pirates were invited to their second consecutive Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by Arkansas 20–17 in overtime.
[edit] Before the season
[edit] Recruiting
| 2009 Recruits |
| Name |
Hometown |
High school / college |
Height |
Weight |
40‡ |
Commit date |
Jimmy Booth
DT |
Greenville, North Carolina |
J.H. Rose High School |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
288 lb (131 kg) |
|
Jul 22, 2008 |
Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Michael Brooks
DT |
Yanceyville, North Carolina |
Bartlett-Yancey High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
280 lb (130 kg) |
5.1 |
Apr 28, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Jordan Davis
OL |
Fort Walton Beach, Florida |
Choctawhatchee High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
290 lb (130 kg) |
5.15 |
Feb 04, 2009 |
Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Michael Dobson
S |
Mount Airy, North Carolina |
Mount Airy High School |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
185 lb (84 kg) |
4.4 |
Aug 19, 2008 |
Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 80 |
Max Hay
OT |
Burlington, New Jersey |
Burlington City High School |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
310 lb (140 kg) |
|
Sep 15, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Ty Holmes
S |
Lexington, North Carolina |
Lexington High School |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
213 lb (97 kg) |
|
Jun 25, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Torrance Hunt
CB |
Durham, North Carolina |
Charles E. Jordan Senior High School |
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
160 lb (73 kg) |
4.4 |
Jun 16, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 76 |
Perry James
CB |
Mocksville, North Carolina |
Davie High School |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
4.4 |
Dec 20, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Rio Johnson
QB |
Tyrone, Georgia |
Sandy Creek High School |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
185 lb (84 kg) |
4.72 |
Jun 18, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 74 |
Justin Jones
TE |
Conyers, Georgia |
Heritage High School |
6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m) |
234.5 lb (106.4 kg) |
4.8 |
Jan 30, 2009 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 |
Lamar McLendon
OLB |
Fayetteville, North Carolina |
Seventy-First Senior High School |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
May 22, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Matt Milner
DE |
Raleigh, North Carolina |
Cardinal Gibbins High School |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
235 lb (107 kg) |
4.6 |
Sep 07, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 |
Zico Pasut
TE |
Charlotte, North Carolina |
Ardrey Kell High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
235 lb (107 kg) |
4.65 |
Sep 11, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 73 |
Marke Powell
LB |
Troy, North Carolina |
West Montgomery High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
198 lb (90 kg) |
|
Feb 04, 2009 |
| Scout:N/A Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Mike Price
WR |
New Bern, North Carolina |
New Bern High School |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
165 lb (75 kg) |
|
Jul 17, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Korey Reynolds
TE |
Senatobia, Mississippi |
Northwest Mississippi Community College |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
240 lb (110 kg) |
|
Jan 27, 2009 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Giavanni Ruffin
RB |
Visalia, California |
College of the Sequoias |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
215 lb (98 kg) |
4.4 |
Jan 10, 2009 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 |
Will Simmons
OL |
Ahoskie, North Carolina |
Hertford County High School |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
280 lb (130 kg) |
|
Jul 11, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 69 |
DaMonte Terry
RB |
Laurinburg, North Carolina |
Scotland County High School |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
203 lb (92 kg) |
4.5 |
Jul 03, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 74 |
Reese Wiggins
WR |
Durham, North Carolina |
Southern Durham High School |
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
181 lb (82 kg) |
4.66 |
Dec 18, 2008 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 73 |
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 82 Rivals: 94 |
- ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
- Note: In many cases, Scout and Rivals may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
- In these cases, an average of the two was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
|
|
[edit] Purple/Gold Spring Game
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
0 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
| ECU |
10 |
0 |
14 |
7 |
31 |
The annual Purple/Gold Spring Game was held in the spring during the PirateFest and Pigskin Pigout weekend activities on April 18 in downtown Greenville, NC and put the "Pirates" team led by Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Josh Jordan against the "ECU" team led by Senior Quarterback Patrick Pinkney.[1] The ECU team defeated the Pirates team 31-10.[2]
[edit] Schedule
| Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
| September 5 |
12:00pm |
#1 FCS Appalachian State* |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC |
MASN/WITN-TV |
W 29–24 |
43,279[3] |
| September 12 |
3:30pm |
at West Virginia* |
|
Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV |
ESPN360 |
L 20–35 |
59,216[4] |
| September 19 |
12:00pm |
at #19 North Carolina* |
|
Kenan Memorial Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC |
ESPN2 |
L 17–31 |
58,000[5] |
| September 26 |
3:30pm |
UCF |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC |
BHSN/WITN-TV |
W 19–14 |
43,210[6] |
| October 3 |
12:00pm |
at Marshall |
|
Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, WV |
CBSCS |
W 21–17 |
26,814[7] |
| October 10 |
8:00pm |
at SMU |
|
Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX |
MASN/WITN-TV |
L 21–28 |
13,626[8] |
| October 17 |
3:30pm |
Rice |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC |
MASN |
W 49–13 |
43,023[9] |
| October 27 |
8:00pm |
at Memphis |
|
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN |
ESPN2 |
W 38–19 |
4,117[10] |
| November 5 |
7:30pm |
#24 Virginia Tech* |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC |
ESPN |
L 3–16 |
43,569[11] |
| November 15 |
8:15pm |
at Tulsa |
|
Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OK |
ESPN |
W 44–17 |
17,453[12] |
| November 21 |
3:30pm |
UAB |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC |
MASN/WITN-TV |
W 37–21 |
43,056[13] |
| November 28 |
1:30pm |
Southern Miss |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC |
CBSCS |
W 25–20 |
43,006[14] |
| December 5 |
12:00pm |
#18 Houston |
|
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC (C-USA Championship) |
ESPN2 |
W 38–32 |
33,048[15] |
| January 2 |
5:30pm |
vs. Arkansas |
|
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN (AutoZone Liberty Bowl) |
ESPN |
L 17–20 OT |
62,742[16] |
| *Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
[edit] Coaching staff
[edit] Rankings
Ranking Movement[17]
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. ██ Selected for BCS National Championship Game.
| Poll |
Pre |
Wk 1 |
Wk 2 |
Wk 3 |
Wk 4 |
Wk 5 |
Wk 6 |
Wk 7 |
Wk 8 |
Wk 9 |
Wk 10 |
Wk 11 |
Wk 12 |
Wk 13 |
Wk 14 |
Final |
| AP |
36[17] |
41 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
37 |
26 |
-- |
| Coaches |
46[17] |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
28 |
42 |
| Harris |
Not released |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
28 |
| BCS |
Not released |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
[edit] Game notes
[edit] Appalachian State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Mountaineers |
0 |
7 |
0 |
17 |
24 |
| Pirates |
17 |
10 |
2 |
0 |
29 |
The Pirates renewed their rivalry with their former Southern Conference opponent for the first time since 1979. The Mountaineers led the all-time series 19-10, but the two schools had only played once since the split of Division I college football, with the Pirates defeating the Mountaineers 38-21 in 1979. This marked the first time since 2001 that the Pirates have played a school from the Football Championship Subdivision. After being dominated in the first half, Appalachian State staged a comeback but fell short after a sack and a blocked pass with seconds left in the 4th Quarter. ECU would hold on to win 29-24, improving their record against the Mountaineers to 11-19.
[edit] West Virginia
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
10 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
| Mountaineers |
7 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
35 |
The Pirates went to Morgantown, WV to take on the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl Champion West Virginia Mountaineers, who remained undefeated at home in this series and led the all-time record 17-3. Last year, East Carolina blew out West Virginia 24-3 in Greenville. After going up 10-0 early in the first half, the Pirates would enter the second half trailing by 1, but the Mountaineers would pull ahead to win 35-20, improving their record to 18-3.
[edit] North Carolina
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
7 |
7 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
| Tar Heels |
7 |
14 |
3 |
7 |
31 |
The Pirates travel to Chapel Hill, NC to face their in-state rival North Carolina. In 2007, the Pirates beat the Tar Heels with a last second field goal to win the game 34-31. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series, 8-2-1.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Knights |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
| Pirates |
3 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
19 |
The Pirates face the 2007 Conference USA champion UCF Knights in Greenville, NC. Last year, the Pirates beat the Knights in Orlando, FL 13-10 in overtime and lead the all-time series 7-1.
[edit] Marshall
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
7 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
21 |
| Thundering Herd |
0 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
17 |
The Pirates head back to West Virginia to face the Thundering Herd of Marshall. The Pirates won last year 19-16 in Greenville, NC after one overtime and lead the all-time series 7-3. In 2007, the Herd spoiled the Pirates' hopes in Huntington for a spot in the Conference USA championship.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
0 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
21 |
| Mustangs |
0 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
28 |
The Pirates face the Mustangs of Southern Methodist in Dallas, TX. The last time the two schools played was in Greenville, NC in 2006, where the Pirates won 38-21. East Carolina has won both games played in this series.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Owls |
3 |
7 |
3 |
0 |
13 |
| Pirates |
14 |
14 |
0 |
21 |
49 |
The Pirates face the 2008 Texas Bowl Champion Rice Owls at home. The two teams are tied in the series 1-1 after the Owls spoiled the Pirates' hopes to clinch the Conference USA East Division and participate in the Conference USA Football Championship in 2006.
[edit] Memphis
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
14 |
7 |
14 |
3 |
38 |
| Tigers |
3 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
19 |
The Pirates travel to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, TN to face the Tigers of Memphis. The Pirates won last year in Greenville, NC 30-10 and lead the all-time series 11-6.
[edit] Virginia Tech
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Hokies |
6 |
7 |
0 |
3 |
16 |
| Pirates |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
For the first time since 2000, the 2009 Orange Bowl Champion Hokies make the trip to Greenville, NC. Last year, the Hokies and Pirates squared off in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, with the Pirates winning 27-22 after a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nominated blocked punt was returned by T.J. Lee. The Hokies lead the all time series 9-5.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Pirates |
3 |
17 |
3 |
21 |
44 |
| Golden Hurricane |
0 |
7 |
10 |
0 |
17 |
In a rematch of the 2008 Conference USA Football Championship, the Pirates travel to Tulsa, OK to face the Golden Hurricane. Last year, the Pirates defeated the Golden Hurricane 27-24. Tulsa leads the all-time series 5-3.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Blazers |
3 |
0 |
3 |
15 |
21 |
| Pirates |
14 |
9 |
7 |
7 |
37 |
The Pirates face the Blazers at home
The Pirates faced the UAB Blazers at home in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. In 2008 the Pirates defeated the Blazers in Birmingham, AL for the first time in this series' history. The two schools are tied in the all-time series 4-4.
[edit] Southern Miss
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Golden Eagles |
7 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
20 |
| Pirates |
3 |
14 |
0 |
8 |
25 |
The Pirates will be hosting the rival Golden Eagles of Southern Miss. Of the 34 games played in this series, the Pirates have only won 8. Last year, the Golden Eagles beat the Pirates 21-3 in Hattiesburg, MS.
[edit] 2009 Conference USA Championship
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
| Cougars |
7 |
12 |
0 |
13 |
32 |
| Pirates |
7 |
7 |
10 |
14 |
38 |
[edit] 2010 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
OT |
Total |
| Razorbacks |
0 |
0 |
17 |
0 |
3 |
20 |
| Pirates |
0 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
17 |
[18]
[edit] Postseason
[edit] NFL Draft Picks
[edit] Awards
- Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Year: Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
[edit] Honors
[edit] Weekly Honors
- Oct. 19 Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week - Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
- Nov. 16 Conference USA Defensive Player-of-the-Week - Emanuel Davis, So. DB
- Nov. 23 Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week - Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
- Nov. 30 Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week - Ben Hartman, Sr. K
| 1st Team All C-USA |
- Sean Allen, Sr. OL
- Emanuel Davis, So. DB
- Matt Dodge, Sr. P
- Van Eskridge, Sr. DB
- Dwayne Harris, Jr. WR
- Linval Joseph, Jr. DL
- C.J. Wilson, Sr. DL
|
|
| 2nd Team All C-USA |
- Terence Campbell, Sr. OL
- Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
- Ben Hartman, Sr. K
- Nick Johnson, Sr. LB
|
|
| C-USA Team Honorable Mentions |
- Jeremy Chambliss, Sr. LB
- Dominique Lindsay, Sr. RB
- Levin Neal, Sr. DB
- Scotty Robinson, Sr. DL
- Jay Ross, Sr. DL
- D.J. Scott, Jr. OL
- Travis Simmons, Jr. DB
- William Smith, So. LS
- Willie Smith, Jr. OL
|
|
|
| C-USA All Academic Team |
- Sean Allen - Sr. C
- Patrick Pinkney - Sr. QB
|
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| Venues |
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| Bowls & rivalries |
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| Culture & lore |
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| People |
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| Seasons |
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