from Big Jim Modlin, courtesy of Tom McClellan ecu.edu:
THE GAME
East Carolina will attempt to clinch the Conference USA East Division
title while closing out a two-game league road swing when it
squares off against UAB Saturday beginning at 7:00 p.m. (EST).
The Pirates, who reached bowl-eligible status for the third-straight
season after posting a 19-16 overtime victory against Marshall on
Nov. 8, will try to bounce back from a 21-3 loss at Southern Miss
and make it four wins in their last five games. In addition to its four C-USA victories, ECU
also owns triumphs over No. 17 Virginia Tech (27-22) and No. 8 West Virginia (24-3)
this season. The Pirates will also attempt to move their C-USA road record to 3-1 and
tally their first-ever victory at Legion Field when they face the Blazers.
FAST FACTS
Record – 6-4 (.600); C-USA Record/East Division Standing – 4-2 (.667)/1st East
Division; Last 5 Games – 3-2; Last 10 Games – 6-4; Last 15 Games – 10-5;
SCHEMES
UAB utilizes a multiple offensive attack while employing a 4-3 defensive alignment. ECU
will also line up in a multiple offense and use a multiple look when defending.
THE COACHES
SKIP HOLTZ (Notre Dame ‘86) is 26-21 (.553) in his fourth season at East Carolina,
while overall, he is in year nine as a collegiate head coach with a 60-44 (.577) record.
NEIL CALLAWAY (Alabama ‘78) is in his second season at UAB and sports a 5-17
(.227) record. The appointment to the top Blazer football position, which was announced
Dec. 17, 2006, also marks his first collegiate head coaching assignment. Prior
to his arrival in Birmingham, Callaway spent six years on the Georgia staff as offensive
coordinator and helped lead the Bulldogs to 61 victories, two SEC titles and four bowl
wins. He started his career as a part-time assistant at ECU (1978-79).