East Carolina Pirates | |||
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Current season: | |||
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First season | 1932 | ||
Athletic director | Jon Gilbert | ||
Head coach | Mike Houston | ||
5th year, 24–34 (.414) | |||
Home stadium | Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium | ||
Field | Bagwell Field | ||
Year built | 1963 | ||
Stadium capacity | 51,000 | ||
Stadium surface | Tifton 419 Hybrid Bermuda | ||
Location | Greenville, North Carolina | ||
Conference | American Athletic Conference (AAC) | ||
Past conferences | Independent (1932–1946) North State (1947–1961) Independent (1962–1964) Southern (1965–1976) Independent (1977–1996) C-USA (1997–2013) AAC (2013–present) | ||
All-time history | |||
All-time record | 461–454–12 (.504) | ||
Postseason bowl record | 10–11 (.476) | ||
Conference titles | 7 (1953, 1966, 1972, 1973, 1976, 2008, 2009) | ||
Division titles | 3 (2008, 2009, 2012) | ||
Rivalries | Marshal North Carolina State (rivalry) Appalachian State Army Central Florida | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 3 | ||
Current uniform | |||
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Colors | Purple and Gold
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Fight song | E.C. Victory | ||
Mascot | PeeDee the Pirate | ||
Marching band | The Marching Pirates | ||
Outfitter | Adidas | ||
Website | ecupirates.com |
The East Carolina Pirates football team represents East Carolina University located in Greenville, North Carolina. The Pirates are a member of the NCAA FBS American Athletic Conference, having previously been a member of Conference USA. The Pirates play their home games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville and are currently coached by Mike Houston.
Team history[]
The Pirates have won seven conference championships and ten bowl games. The Pirates have 20 All-Americans over their history. Four players have their jerseys retired. Numerous Pirates have played in the NFL, including ten current players.
The team played its inaugural season in 1932. The first football coach in school history was Kenneth Beatty.[1] They played under the nickname Teachers because the school was a teacher training school. The team played five games, with two in Greenville. They however did not score a point the whole season, while opponents scored a combined 187 points.[2] The 1933 season started just as they left the 1932 season. The team lost the first four games not scoring a point. The first victory in school history came against Campbell on November 11, 1933. The final score was 6–0. The 1933 team lost their final game against Appalachian St. 14–0. Coach Beatty left after the season.[3] G.L. "Doc" Mathis was appointed the head coach after Coach Beatty left.[1] Before the season, the school decided to change their nickname. The Men's Athletic Association wanted a nickname to inspire "more spirit and enthusiasm." The name was changed from the Teachers to the present Pirates.[4] His first year, the team lost four games. But, they did win against Presbyterian Junior College and tied Old Dominion.[3] The 1935 season included three wins, which was the largest total so far in history. Coach Mathis left after the season.[5] The team played home games at College Stadium on the main campus from the 1949 to the 1962 season. With the exception of the 1999 Miami football game, they have played their home games at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium every year since 1963. The stadium is located south of East Carolina's main campus near the intersection of South Charles Boulevard and 14th Street. Dowdy-Ficklen underwent an expansion in 2010, raising the capacity of the stadium to 50,000. The Pirates announced a $55 million renovation project to Dowdy-Ficklen in 2016, which added a new tower above the south side stands, among other things.
The coaches and administrative support is located in the Ward Sports Medicine Building, which is located adjacent to the stadium. Strength and conditioning for the players occurs in the Murphy Center, a $13 million indoor training facility which was completed in June 2002 and which is located in the west end zone of Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium. The Pirates also practice and train at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility, which was fully renovated in 2005 and which has two full-length NFL-caliber fields.
Logos / Uniforms[]
Image gallery[]
Conference affiliations[]
- Independent (1932–1946)
- North State Conference (1947–1961)
- Independent (1962–1964)
- Southern Conference (1965–1976)
- 1977-1996 - NCAA 1-A independent
- 1997-2013 - Conference USA
- 2014-present - American Athletic Conference
Seasons[]
2020s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2024 | Mike Houston; Blake Harrell | 8-5 |
2023 | Mike Houston | 2-10 |
2022 | Mike Houston | 8-5 |
2021 | Mike Houston | 7-5 |
2020 | Mike Houston | 3-6 |
2010s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2019 | Mike Houston | 4-8 |
2018 | Scottie Montgomery; David Blackwell | 3-9 |
2017 | Scottie Montgomery | 3-9 |
2016 | Scottie Montgomery | 3-9 |
2015 | Ruffin McNeil | 5-7 |
2014 | Ruffin McNeil | 8-5 |
2013 | Ruffin McNeil | 10-3 |
2012 | Ruffin McNeil | 8-5 |
2011 | Ruffin McNeil | 5-7 |
2010 | Ruffin McNeil | 6-7 |
2000s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
2009 | Skip Holtz | 9-5 |
2008 | Skip Holtz | 9-5 |
2007 | Skip Holtz | 8-5 |
2006 | Skip Holtz | 7-6 |
2005 | Skip Holtz | 5-6 |
2004 | John Thompson | 2-9 |
2003 | John Thompson | 1-11 |
2002 | Steve Logan | 4-8 |
2001 | Steve Logan | 6-6 |
2000 | Steve Logan | 8-4 |
1990s[]
Season | Coach | Record |
---|---|---|
1999 | Steve Logan | 9-3 |
1998 | Steve Logan | 6-5 |
1997 | Steve Logan | 5-6 |
1996 | Steve Logan | 8-3 |
1995 | Steve Logan | 9-3 |
1994 | Steve Logan | 7-5 |
1993 | Steve Logan | 2-9 |
1992 | Steve Logan | 5-6 |
1991 | ||
1990 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 East Carolina Coaching Records. East Carolina History. College Football Data Warehouse (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ↑ 1932. 1930's Football. East Carolina University (2005-08-30). Archived from the original on 2008-09-04. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 East Carolina Yearly Results, 1932-1934. East Carolina History. College Football Data Warehouse (2008). Archived from the original on 2008-04-22. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ↑ Why Pirates?. Traditions. East Carolina Official Athletic Site (2008). Archived from the original on 2012-07-07.
- ↑ East Carolina Yearly Results, 1935-1939. East Carolina History. College Football Data Warehouse (2008). Archived from the original on 2008-04-22. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.