Spring Football Notebook No. 14
April 15, 2009 | Football
April 15, 2009
GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina wrapped up the practice portion of its spring schedule with a two-hour session Wednesday on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.
While the enthusiastic shells-only workout completed the Pirates' weekday practice slate, it also served as a final tune-up for the program's annual spring game scheduled for Saturday beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
"I think it has been a very productive spring in regards to what we are trying to accomplish," ECU Head Coach Skip Holtz said. "I believe that we have made a lot of progress with the depth chart and the young guys that have come out here have gotten better. You look around as a coach and it is like glimpsing into the future. The real key now is to see what will happen in May, June and July. Every team has 15 days of spring practice and then 29 in the fall, but this team will really shape up this summer."
Holtz and staff have spent the last few days defining their current depth chart to solidify the first and second units, pushing their player draft back to Thursday morning to select roster positions for the Purple-Gold Game.
He also indicated the format of the scrimmage will resemble a true game as much as possible with the utilization of a game clock throughout all four quarters with live hitting permitted in all positions. The only exception to the norm will be the elimination of kickoff, punting and return situations. In addition, the Pirates will attempt all extra-point and field goal tries.
"I want to see us stay healthy this Saturday, first and foremost," Holtz explained. "If we can do that, I believe it will be a productive spring game. I also want to get another evaluation on these guys. This will be the only scrimmage that will have fans in the stands, and the players have to go out on the field and produce. There will be some who excel in this atmosphere but also those who have had great practices but will make mistakes. We still have those players that need to go through the maturing process a bit more. Nevertheless, we will have a lot of plays to evaluate."
Tickets, which are priced at $5.00 for the contest or $10.00 with the addition of a plate of bar-b-cue from the Pigskin Pig-Out Party, can be purchased online at www.ECUPirates.com or by calling (800) DIAL-ECU.
EAST CAROLINA'S 2009 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next/Last Workout: Saturday, April 18 (Purple-Gold Game, 3:00 p.m.)
