Spring Football Notebook No. 15
April 13, 2007 | Football
April 13, 2007
2007 Spring Game Rosters (PDF)
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GREENVILLE, N.C. - 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.
Similar to last season, the two teams will be divided up as "East Carolina" and "Pirates" but unlike Holtz' first two spring clashes where one squad featured the program's first offensive unit and the other fielded the top defensive unit, Saturday's rosters were compiled in true draft fashion with alternating picks by ECU's coaching staff.
With the exception of the top three quarterbacks currently on Holtz' depth chart, all players have been selected to a particular team. Junior Patrick Pinkney and sophomores Rob Kass and Brett Clay are expected to rotate between the two squads in order to get the maximum amount of repetitions.
Starters identified for "East Carolina" include Jamar Bryant (WR), Ricky Johnson (WR), Josh Coffman (OL), Doug Palmer (OL), Fred Hicks (OL), Matt Butler (OL), Travis Melvin (OL), J.R. Kraemer (TE), Chris Johnson (RB), Jason Simmons (FB), Phillip Henry (WR) and Kyle Johnson (WR) on offense and Marcus Hands (DE), Nweike Osemene (DT), Mark Robinson (DT), Zach Slate (DE), Lorenzo Osborne (OLB), Fred Wilson (MLB), Dalvon Mack (OLB), Dekota Marshall (CB), Van Eskridge (SS), Chris Mattocks (FS) and Jerek Hewett (CB) on defense.
Players selected to open the contest for the "Pirates" are Alex Taylor (WR), Steven Rogers (WR), D.J. Scott (OL), Sean Allen (OL), Stephen Heis (OL), Josh Stahl (OL), Willie Barton (OL), Davon Drew (TE), Dominique Lindsay (RB), Kevin Gidrey (FB), Dwayne Harris (WR) and Jeremy Bullard (WR) on offense and C.J. Wilson (DE), Jay Ross (DT), Wendell Chavis (DT), Scotty Robinson (DE), A.J. Johnson (OLB), Nick Johnson (MLB), Jarrett Wiggins (OLB), Leon Best (CB), Melvin Patterson (SS), J.J. Milbrook (FS) and Travis Simmons (CB) on the defensive side of the ball.
In regards to special teams assignments, Ben Hartman will kick, Matt Dodge will punt and Wilson Raynor will snap for East Carolina while Murphy Paderick, Nathan Przestrzelski and Corey Bass will handle those aforementioned duties for the Pirates.
The contest will feature many similarities of a regular season game in regards to scoring, officiating and an operative clock while live hitting will also be permitted on all positions.
In addition to a handful of players who have sat out the entire spring season for rehabilitation assignments, Holtz indicated that junior DT Khalif Mitchell (ankle) and sophomore LB Jeremy Chambliss (leg) will also miss the contest because of injuries.
In a special pre-game ceremony, Holtz and each position coach will recognize the most improved player from their respective unit and also cite individuals who have displayed an outstanding attitude, effort and leadership skills during spring drills.
"Without question, this is an event we certainly all look forward to," Holtz said. "Anytime we have the opportunity to play in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in front of the greatest fans in the country, it's an overwhelming experience."
Seating for the public will be on the south side of the stadium and fans are asked to enter through Gate 2. 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 24th Annual Great Pirate Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig-Out Party.
Bar-b-que will be served beginning at 11:00 a.m., rain or shine, at the big white tent located in White Lot (grass) adjacent to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. For convenience in case of rain, there will also be a drive-thru pick-up location near Clark-LeClair Stadium.
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.
