ECU Football Preseason Camp Notebook #8
August 11, 2005 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. ? The East Carolina Pirates celebrated their own version of a ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon, moving over to newly-renovated Cliff Moore Practice Facility for the first time this season after opening fall camp with seven straight workouts at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
ECU also returned to its single practice schedule a day after completing its initial two-a-day session Wednesday, working three hours on the recently-sodded Bermuda Tift playing surface. While the Pirates conducted their practice on the east field Thursday, construction and ground crews remained at work, hoping to open the west field late next week. Other practice facility renovations in progress include increasing the lighting and drainage capabilities, and the installation of a third field in early October, which will feature a FieldTurf surface and run perpendicular to the pair of natural grass grids.
First-year head coach Skip Holtz and staff devoted a significant amount of time guiding ECU through redzone efficiency work, spending nearly 60 minutes on third-and-3, third-and-5 and first-and-10 situations inside the 20-yard line both from an offensive and defensive standpoint. The Pirates closed the session with traditional "coming out" drills that featured the offense starting inside its own five-yard line. The brief session was highlighted by a 48-yard pass play by a pair of true freshmen ? quarterback Rob Kass and receiver Kyle Johnson.
"The first day of reckoning for many will be Saturday's scrimmage," Holtz said. "We need to make some important decisions afterwards, ones which probably won't make me real popular. We need to put the best 11 guys possible at each position for us to have a chance to be successful. Today was one of those hot, dog days of the preseason, but I am still pleased with their enthusiasm and intensity. On the other hand, we still have too many guys still missing assignments and not being in the right place at the right time."
East Carolina will return to the Cliff Moore Practice Facility for another single workout Friday to finish preparations for Saturday's intra-squad contest at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The scrimmage, closed to the public, will precede the popular annual "Meet The Pirates Night" later that evening.
NOTES: Senior CB Demetrius Hodges recorded a pair of interceptions during the Pirates' redzone session ? Senior DL Lorenza Pickett (knee), senior TE Sean Harmon (knee) and senior LB Chris Moore (hamstring) sat out Thursday's practice but are expected to return to active status next week ? Redshirt freshman Jarrett Wiggins is listed as day-to-day after suffering a left wrist injury ? In addition to junior college signee Robert Lee, ECU also has invited a pair of walk-on kickers to its preseason camp ? Freshman Ben Hartman (Winston-Salem, North Davidson HS) and freshman Sean Russell (Raleigh, Broughton HS) were extended a roster position and are currently working with the Pirates' special teams squad ? Friday's Practice Time: 3:00 p.m. ? 6:00 p.m.; Season Opener: Sept. 3 vs. Duke (1:00 p.m.)
TICKET INFORMATION
2005 East Carolina Football tickets are currently available online at www.ECUPirates.com or at the ECU Athletics Ticket Office (adjacent to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium) from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reserved season ticket packages can be purchased for $125.00 (reserved), $100.00 (faculty/staff), $100.00 (economy plan) and $75.00 (graduate plan) while single game tickets can also be obtained for $25.00 (adults) and $15.00 (12 and under). To reserve your seats, please call (252) 328-4500 or 1-800-DIAL-ECU.
