A Message From Terry Holland
September 04, 2008 | Football
Sept. 4, 2008
GREENVILLE, N.C. Playing the ACC Champions and the Big East Champions on consecutive weekends is equivalent to playing in a BCS Bowl game on back to back weekends. Doing so with two or more hurricanes bearing down on the Pirate Nation is the supreme challenge.
As this Press Release indicates, the very best information available indicates that we will be able to play the game at its scheduled game time. However, there will be conditions that can not be predicted at this time and the Pirate Nation is going to be ready to pull together like everyone did during the days after Hurricane Floyd.
The current game plan is the result of a well coordinated effort between all members of the University and Greenville communities, including the university administration and city/county officials and the first responders of the immediate area. Many of these individuals who would normally support a Pirate game day may be called into service in other nearby areas or other parts of the state who are coping with the effects of this storm.
We are asking each of you to take actions at a personal level that can insure the best possible scenario under the circumstances for all fans of these two great football teams:
1. First and foremost, use your common sense and avoid any situations that put you and/or your companions in danger. We want you here on Saturday but is more important for you to be here the following Saturdays and in future seasons.
2. Our parking lots cannot be staffed, cordoned off, supplied with port-a-potties or anything else until the winds subside. Therefore, the parking lots will not be open until three hours before game time.
3. The parking lots may be flooded and certain lots will be closed completely while others may be partially underwater. Please help by putting as many Pirates into one vehicle as possible and observing the ban on tents, towed cookers, and oversize vehicles (larger than an SUV) in our parking lots for this one game. We are all going to be sharing a much smaller space than normal and we want everyone to be a part of this historic opportunity to play back to back games versus BCS Conference Champions.
4. We will do our best to get the stadium gates open as soon as possible so that you can enter the stadium and have access to those rest rooms and concessions. Having you in your seats as soon as possible sends a strong message to the team that the Pirate Nation is ready to rumble.
5. Share your space, tailgate or just conversation with the Mountaineer fans who are brave enough to drive into the teeth of a hurricane to support their team. Those who do so are worthy of being baptized as temporary Pirates without having to "walk the plank" as we would normally require.
6. We will contact you directly when possible if there is any new information but please monitor the web site www.ECUPirates.com for up to date information at any time.
