2009 East Carolina Pirates football team

The 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season 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.

2009 East Carolina Pirates football
C-USA champion
C-USA East Division champion
Liberty Bowl, L 17–20 OT vs. Arkansas
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast
2009 record9–5 (7–1 C-USA)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorSteve Shankweiler (5th in succession, 15th overall season)
Co-offensive coordinatorTodd Fitch (3rd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorGreg Hudson (5th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumDowdy–Ficklen Stadium
(Capacity: 43,000)
2009 Conference USA football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
East Carolina x$  7 –1     9 –5  
UCF  6 –2     8 –5  
Southern Miss  5 –3     7 –6  
Marshall  4 –4     7 –6  
UAB  4 –4     5 –7  
Memphis  1 –7     2 –10  
West Division
Houston xy  6 –2     10 –4  
SMU x  6 –2     8 –5  
Tulsa  3 –5     5 –7  
UTEP  3 –5     4 –8  
Rice  2 –6     2 –10  
Tulane  1 –7     3 –9  
Championship: East Carolina 38, Houston 32
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

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.

Before the season

Recruiting

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]

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 512:00 pmNo. 1 FCS Appalachian State*
MASN/WITN-TVW 29–2443,279[3]
September 123:30 pmat West Virginia*
ESPN360L 20–3559,216[4]
September 1912:00 pmat No. 24 North Carolina*
ESPN2L 17–3158,000[5]
September 263:30 pmUCF
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
BHSN/WITN-TVW 19–1443,210[6]
October 312:00 pmat Marshall
CBSCSW 21–1726,814[7]
October 108:00 pmat SMU
MASN/WITN-TVL 21–2813,626[8]
October 173:30 pmRice
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
MASNW 49–1343,023[9]
October 278:00 pmat Memphis
ESPN2W 38–194,117[10]
November 57:30 pmNo. 22 Virginia Tech*
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNL 3–1643,569[11]
November 158:15 pmat Tulsa
ESPNW 44–1717,453[12]
November 213:30 pmUAB
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
MASN/WITN-TVW 37–2143,056[13]
November 281:30 pmSouthern Miss
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
CBSCSW 25–2043,006[14]
December 512:00 pmNo. 18 Houston
ESPN2W 38–3233,048[15]
January 25:30 pmvs. Arkansas
ESPNL 17–20 OT62,742[16]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Coaching staff

Staff
Position Name Years at ECU Alma Mater
Head Coach:Skip Holtz5thNotre Dame '86
Offensive Coordinator/
Quarterbacks Coach:		Todd Fitch3rdOhio Wesleyan '86
Defensive Coordinator
Linebacker Coach:		Greg Hudson4thNotre Dame '90
Offensive Coordinator
Offensive Linemen Coach:		Steve Shankweiler5th(15th overall)Davidson '74
Assistant Head Coach/
Defensive Backs Coach		Rick Smith5thFlorida State '71
Director of Strength & ConditioningMichael Golden4thCentral Connecticut State '92
Defensive End Coach/
Special Teams		Vernon Hargreaves3rdConnecticut '86
Wide Receiver Coach/
Recruiting Coordinator		Donnie Kirkpatrick5thLenoir-Rhyne '82
Tight Ends Coach:Phil Petty5thSouth Carolina '01
Director of HS Football RelationsHarold Robinson6thEast Carolina '72
Defensive Tackle CoachThomas Roggeman5thNotre Dame '85
Running Backs CoachJunior Smith5thEast Carolina '97
Director of OperationsClifford Snow5thCentral Connecticut State '83
Director of Football AdministrationReed Case1stOhio ‘95
Administrative Assistant to Coach HoltzRyan Mills6thNorth Carolina '02
Administrative AssistantAnn Coyle3rdEast Carolina '06
Offensive Staff Assistant CoachDwayne Ledford2ndEast Carolina '00
Defensive Staff Assistant CoachChris Bland1stElon '08

Game summaries

Appalachian State
1 2 3 4 Total
Mountaineers 0 7 0 17 24
Pirates 17 10 2 0 29
See also: 2009 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

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.

West Virginia
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 10 10 0 0 20
Mountaineers 7 14 7 7 35
See also: 2009 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

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.

North Carolina
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 7 7 0 3 17
Tar Heels 7 14 3 7 31
See also: 2009 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

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.

UCF
1 2 3 4 Total
Knights 7 0 0 7 14
Pirates 3 7 3 6 19
See also: UCF Knights football

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.

Marshall
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 7 7 7 0 21
Thundering Herd 0 7 10 0 17
See also: 2009 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

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.

SMU
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 0 7 7 7 21
Mustangs 0 7 14 7 28
See also: SMU Mustangs football

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.

Rice
1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 3 7 3 0 13
Pirates 14 14 0 21 49
See also: Rice Owls football

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.

Memphis
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 14 7 14 3 38
Tigers 3 7 3 6 19
See also: Memphis Tigers football

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.

Virginia Tech
1 2 3 4 Total
Hokies 6 7 0 3 16
Pirates 0 3 0 0 3
See also: 2009 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

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.

Tulsa
1 2 3 4 Total
Pirates 3 17 3 21 44
Golden Hurricane 0 7 10 0 17
See also: 2009 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

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.

UAB
1 2 3 4 Total
Blazers 3 0 3 15 21
Pirates 14 9 7 7 37
See also: 2009 UAB Blazers football team
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.

Southern Miss
1 2 3 4 Total
Golden Eagles 7 0 7 6 20
Pirates 3 14 0 8 25
See also: Southern Miss Golden Eagles football

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.

2009 Conference USA Championship
1 2 3 4 Total
Cougars 7 12 0 13 32
Pirates 7 7 10 14 38
See also: 2009 Conference USA Football Championship

2010 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
1 2 3 4OT Total
Razorbacks 0 0 17 03 20
Pirates 0 10 7 00 17
See also: 2010 Liberty Bowl (January)

[17]

Postseason

NFL Draft Picks

Awards
  • Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Year: Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR

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

Teams
  • ESPN The Magazine University CoSIDA Academic All-America team - Sean Allen, Sr. OL
  • Sporting News Second-Team All America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Rivals.com Third-Team All America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Sports Illustrated Second-Team All-America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • CollegeFootballNews Second-Team All-America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Phil Steele Magazine Fourth-Team All America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
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 Freshman Team
C-USA All Academic Team
  • Sean Allen - Sr. C
  • Patrick Pinkney - Sr. QB

Notes
  1. "26th Annual Great Pirate Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig-Out Party". East Carolina University. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  2. "ECU Tops Pirates In Spring Game, 31-10". East Carolina University. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  3. "Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  4. "East Carolina Pirates vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  5. "East Carolina Pirates vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  6. "UCF Knights vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  7. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Marshall Thundering Herd Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  8. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  9. "Rice Owls vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  10. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Memphis Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  11. "Virginia Tech Hokies vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  12. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  13. "UAB Blazers vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  14. "Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  15. "Houston Cougars vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  16. "Arkansas Razorbacks vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  17. "Future East Carolina Pirates Schedules". College Football Palace. January 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
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