ECU Spring Game Details, Format Announced
April 15, 2005 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- First-year head coach Skip Holtz and his East Carolina Pirates will officially complete their spring season Saturday with the playing of the annual Purple-Gold Game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium beginning at 3:00 p.m.
While the contest will feature many similarities of a regular season game in regards to scoring and an operative clock, ECU's mounting injury situation forced Holtz and his staff to scrap a scheduled draft and find alternate means to fill team rosters for the event.
In lieu of selecting traditional Purple and Gold rosters with alternating draft picks, the two teams will be divided up as "East Carolina" and "Pirates".
In order to promote competition between the top and equal units of the depth chart, the "East Carolina" squad will feature the program's first offensive unit and the remaining non-starters on defense. On the other side, the "Pirates" will field the top defensive unit and the second, third and fourth levels of the offensive two-deep.
Holtz identified the "East Carolina" offensive unit as Aundrae Allison (WR), Brian Howard (WR), Kevin Roach (WR), Robert Tillman (WR), Chris Johnson (RB), Jermarcus Veal (RB), Davon Drew (QB), Jay Sonnhalter (TE), Gary Freeman (OL), Eric Graham (OL), Trey Magee (OL), Chris Sellers (OL) and Drew Sutton (OL).
Players selected to head up the "Pirates" defensive efforts include Wendell Chavis (DL), Fred Hicks (DL), Shauntae Hunt (DL), Mark Robinson (DL), Richard Koonce (LB), Durwin Lamb (DL), Jarrett Wiggins (LB), Jamar Flournoy (FS), Pierre Parker (SS), Demetrius Hodges (CB) and Erode Jean (CB).
"We want this experience to be as live as possible, but we were very limited in what we could put together in terms of traditional team rosters," Holtz said. "We have nine upperclassmen who will not play because of injuries, and obviously, that stretched us pretty thin on experience."
Live hitting will also be permitted on all positions during the contest, depending on the game-day injury situation. Perhaps the only exception to the norm will be the elimination of kickoff, punting and return situations. If the defense stops an offensive drive, an automatic 40-yard change of possession location will be instituted. Yet, despite the limited personnel in the kicking game, the Pirates will attempt all extra-point and field goal tries.
In a special pre-game ceremony, Holtz and each position coach will recognize a player from their respective unit who will be cited for outstanding attitude, effort and leadership during spring drills.
"I know all of us are really looking forward to this," Holtz closed. "I want to see our players finally have the chance to play in front of some of the greatest fans in the country. The support of all Pirate fans has been tremendous, and that's an understatement."
Seating for the public will be on the north side of the stadium, adjacent to all of the activities of the Pirate Purple/Gold Pigskin Pigout Party. Game tickets will be available Saturday for $5.00, or $10.00 with the addition of a plate of award-winning bar-b-que from the Pig-Out Party.
As a courtesy to fans, complimentary roster flipcards containing a listing of players by uniform color (offense and defense), will be available at all entrance gates.
