[Bette]

The Pirates didn’t always sail smooth waters last season but in the end, coach Skip Holtz’s team collected some serious booty — a 9–5 record and the team’s first conference championship in 32 years — and did it by plundering and pillaging opposing offenses. East Carolina ranked in the nation’s top 30 in eight different statistical categories, including scoring defense (21.1), most interceptions (22) and turnovers gained (33). The Pirates knocked off BCS bad-boys Virginia Tech and West Virginia and had Kentucky walking the plank in the Liberty Bowl before faltering. And with a young, deep roster, Holtz hasn’t just built these Pirates for a short raid but for a long voyage.
QB Patrick Pinkney will return and is backed up by senior Rob Kass. Backfield could be a problem, but o-line and d-line look to be good. Kicking team looks to be strong again.



2009 East Carolina Pirates Preview - AthlonSports.com