Spring Football Notebook No. 3
March 20, 2009 | Football
March 20, 2009
Skip Holtz Post-Practice Quotes 
GREENVILLE, N.C. - After conducting two non-contact sessions in shorts and helmets, fifth-year head coach Skip Holtz and the East Carolina Pirates began their spring practice schedule in earnest Friday afternoon by working in full pads for two-plus hours on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
Holtz guided ECU's first full-pad practice after pair of introductory workouts Wednesday and Thursday. The contact session was the first of 12 which will be conducted in full gear, including a pair of scrimmages and the Purple-Gold Spring Game on April 18.
"I was excited about our first practice in full pads because it gave us the chance to come out here and play football," Holtz said. "The players were excited and showed a lot of enthusiasm today. There is a lot of pride on this football team and a lot of players that have played a lot of football for us. However, there are still a lot of question marks on this team and we need everyone to come out here and give it their best to be where we need to be as a team."
Despite the addition of equipment, Holtz and his staff spent the majority of the workout stressing fundamentals while continuing the review process of ECU's schemes on both sides of the ball. The Pirates spent the second half of practice conducting a heavy dose of team work (11-on-11) before ending with their traditional and popular "three-on-three" drill that featured matchups between tight ends, offensive and defensive lines, wide receivers and defensive backs, running backs and linebackers at point-blank range on a shortened field.
"There was a lot of good work out here during the first three days," Holtz added. "The general attitude has been great and everyone is working extremely hard. I believe there is a ton of talent in this group of young men. We have many players that could take starting positions but the question is who is going to step up and do the little things necessary to earn those positions. That competition will make us a much better football team."
East Carolina will open its second week of work Monday, before returning to the practice facility Wednesday and Friday afternoons. The Pirates will follow those three sessions by eyeing their first scrimmage - set for Saturday, April 4 - the following week.
EAST CAROLINA'S 2009 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Monday, March 23 (4:00-6:00 p.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 25, March 27, March 30, April 1, April 3, April 4 (scrimmage), April 6, April 8 (scrimmage), April 13, April 15 and April 18 (Purple-Gold Game, 3:00 p.m.)
