Courtesy of Tom McClellan East Carolina University SID….
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Pirates Complete Last Practice of Spring Season
EAST CAROLINA SPRING NOTEBOOK NO. 14
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina wrapped up the practice portion of its spring
schedule in cool and breezy conditions Wednesday inside the Cliff Moore Complex, working for 90 minutes under partial sunshine and temperatures in the mid-50s.
While the shorts and helmets session completed the Pirates’ weekday workout slate,
it also served as a final tune-up for the program’s annual spring game scheduled for
Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m. Included on the last practice agenda was a heavy dose of team-versus-scout repetition and a pair of special teams dress rehearsals.
“I’ve liked the entire spring, from Day 1 to Day 14 so far,” head coach Ruffin
McNeill said. “I’m happy where we are and really pleased with where this group is
heading into the summer.”
McNeill indicated the Purple-Gold Game will again resemble more of an
offense-versus-defense scrimmage similar to those played during the last two
weekends, and will feature the top three levels of ECU’s depth chart. Live hitting will be permitted in all positions, except quarterback and during kickoff and punt return situations, and the Pirates will attempt all extra-point and field goal tries.
“We’re planning on getting in approximately 80 plays – 60 with the No. 1 offense
going against the No. 2 defense and vice-versa, and about 20 plays for the threes to
compete against each other,” McNeill explained. “There’ll be some positions that may blend due to depth and competition battles, such as the quarterbacks, running backs,
defensive line and secondary.”
Tickets, which are priced at $5.00 for the contest or $10.00 with the addition of a
plate of barbecue and soft drink from the Pigskin Pig-Out Party, can be purchased
online at www.ECUPirates.com or by calling (252) 737-4500 locally or (800) DIAL-ECU
outside the Greenville area.
NOTES: Wednesday’s gathering represented the last official position coach-supervised
team practice until the Pirates conduct their first workout of fall camp Friday, Aug. 3 … Other than the handful of players who have sat out the entire or portion (QB Shane Carden/right index finger, FS Damon Magazu/lower back and NT Leroy Vick/concussion) of the spring season with injuries, McNeill expects a full roster to be available Saturday …
Only senior ILB Daniel Drake (lower back) is listed as questionable heading into
the contest … Redshirt freshman QB Cody Keith tossed 25-yard touchdown passes to
senior RB Reggie Bullock and sophomore IWR Justin Hardy during the team segment … Junior QB Rio Johnson also contributed a scoring toss, finding junior OWR Reese Wiggins with a 30-yarder.
EAST CAROLINA’S 2012 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next/Final Workout: Saturday, April 14 (Purple-Gold Game, 2:30 p.m.)