Spring Notebook No. 6 – Game Day Home, Game Day Practice
March 23, 2019 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina took the field at Dowdy -Ficklen Stadium on Saturday morning for the first time under Mike Houston and the new coaching staff.
The two-hour practice, a dress rehearsal for next week's first full scrimmage, marked Houston's inaugural trip as the Pirates' head coach to the place his new team calls home.
"This is a day I've been looking forward to," Houston said. "I can't wait until this fall where it will be a true game day environment, but we had a good practice today. The kids are working hard. We got better."
Despite the empty seats, the tempo mimicked a typical Saturday in the fall.
"Every time we step in the Fick, it's a different vibe," junior outside linebacker Warren Saba said after practice. "It's almost like playing a game, it feels totally different. Today was fun, hopefully the start of something special."
While both sides of the ball shined in pockets during the scrimmage, there was an overlying theme that couldn't be ignored.
Near the end of the session, sophomore quarterback Holton Ahlers broke huddle, glanced at the sideline to ensure he had the right call and executed a picturesque read-option keeper up the middle for a touchdown.
The void of Pirate Nation was replaced with roars from nearly every offensive player – on the field and sideline – to celebrate the play.
High-fives were exchanged and smiles were impossible to miss.
The energy was electric.
Houston, who has placed discipline at the forefront since he began spring practice a little more than a week ago, wants his players to enjoy the positive moments and soak it all in.
"I want us to have fun and play with emotion and enthusiasm," Houston said. "We are not going to do anything to get a penalty after a play, but if we have a big play, we better be celebrating with each other. We better be encouraging one another. I don't care if we are talking about offense, defense or special teams. The game is meant to be played with emotion and intensity and we are going to play it that way."
Senior wide receiver Deondre Farrier, who has been one of the clear offensive leaders so far, echoed his coach's sentiment.
"Coach is hard-nosed and right now he's just trying to get us to focus on better practice habits, teaching us how to carry ourselves and this will hopefully help us turn the program around. Today was fun. It was a much different atmosphere. Even though there was no crowd, it almost felt more like a game."
On the field, Farrier's speed, versatility and chemistry with the quarterbacks has been evident. The senior is poised for a breakout campaign after grabbing 30 receptions for 372 yards and two touchdowns in 2018 – the second-highest reception and yardage total on the unit – despite being slowed by an injury and limited to just seven games.
Farrier was just one bright spot on Saturday, though, and Houston reiterated the importance of team over self as he broke the huddle following the final whistle.
"We are a family," Houston said in his closing address. "It's no different than your biological family. We all must support one another."
- Sean Labar
NOTES:
Ahlers and junior Reid Herring took turns guiding the Pirates' offense during a 15-minute "live" goal line situational scrimmage at the end of Saturday's practice … Both quarterbacks recorded scores on their two respective possessions, which began at the 10-yard line … Ahlers engineered a pair of touchdowns, the first on a three-yard Darius Pinnix rush and the second on his own eight-yard scamper … Herring accounted for a TD and field goal, first connecting with TE Jaray Sampson on a 20-yard toss (following a holding penalty) before setting up Jake Verity's 21-yard three-pointer … Verity later added 27 and 35-yarders during a specialized kicking period, while Patrick Nations was successful on a 35-yard try … QB Bryan Gagg and WR Mydreon Vines provided an offensive highlight during a preceding team segment, hooking up on a 66-yard scoring pass play … Defensively, OLB Warren Saba and ILB Myles Berry teamed up on a sack … After a video evaluation and meeting day Monday, the Pirates will resume their on-field spring workout schedule Wednesday morning at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility.
ECU'S 2019 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Wednesday, March 27 (8-10 a.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 29, March 30 (scrimmage), April 1, April 3, April 6 (scrimmage), April 8, April 10, April 13 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:30 p.m.)
The two-hour practice, a dress rehearsal for next week's first full scrimmage, marked Houston's inaugural trip as the Pirates' head coach to the place his new team calls home.
"This is a day I've been looking forward to," Houston said. "I can't wait until this fall where it will be a true game day environment, but we had a good practice today. The kids are working hard. We got better."
Despite the empty seats, the tempo mimicked a typical Saturday in the fall.
"Every time we step in the Fick, it's a different vibe," junior outside linebacker Warren Saba said after practice. "It's almost like playing a game, it feels totally different. Today was fun, hopefully the start of something special."
While both sides of the ball shined in pockets during the scrimmage, there was an overlying theme that couldn't be ignored.
Near the end of the session, sophomore quarterback Holton Ahlers broke huddle, glanced at the sideline to ensure he had the right call and executed a picturesque read-option keeper up the middle for a touchdown.
The void of Pirate Nation was replaced with roars from nearly every offensive player – on the field and sideline – to celebrate the play.
High-fives were exchanged and smiles were impossible to miss.
The energy was electric.
Houston, who has placed discipline at the forefront since he began spring practice a little more than a week ago, wants his players to enjoy the positive moments and soak it all in.
"I want us to have fun and play with emotion and enthusiasm," Houston said. "We are not going to do anything to get a penalty after a play, but if we have a big play, we better be celebrating with each other. We better be encouraging one another. I don't care if we are talking about offense, defense or special teams. The game is meant to be played with emotion and intensity and we are going to play it that way."
Senior wide receiver Deondre Farrier, who has been one of the clear offensive leaders so far, echoed his coach's sentiment.
"Coach is hard-nosed and right now he's just trying to get us to focus on better practice habits, teaching us how to carry ourselves and this will hopefully help us turn the program around. Today was fun. It was a much different atmosphere. Even though there was no crowd, it almost felt more like a game."
On the field, Farrier's speed, versatility and chemistry with the quarterbacks has been evident. The senior is poised for a breakout campaign after grabbing 30 receptions for 372 yards and two touchdowns in 2018 – the second-highest reception and yardage total on the unit – despite being slowed by an injury and limited to just seven games.
Farrier was just one bright spot on Saturday, though, and Houston reiterated the importance of team over self as he broke the huddle following the final whistle.
"We are a family," Houston said in his closing address. "It's no different than your biological family. We all must support one another."
- Sean Labar
NOTES:
Ahlers and junior Reid Herring took turns guiding the Pirates' offense during a 15-minute "live" goal line situational scrimmage at the end of Saturday's practice … Both quarterbacks recorded scores on their two respective possessions, which began at the 10-yard line … Ahlers engineered a pair of touchdowns, the first on a three-yard Darius Pinnix rush and the second on his own eight-yard scamper … Herring accounted for a TD and field goal, first connecting with TE Jaray Sampson on a 20-yard toss (following a holding penalty) before setting up Jake Verity's 21-yard three-pointer … Verity later added 27 and 35-yarders during a specialized kicking period, while Patrick Nations was successful on a 35-yard try … QB Bryan Gagg and WR Mydreon Vines provided an offensive highlight during a preceding team segment, hooking up on a 66-yard scoring pass play … Defensively, OLB Warren Saba and ILB Myles Berry teamed up on a sack … After a video evaluation and meeting day Monday, the Pirates will resume their on-field spring workout schedule Wednesday morning at the Cliff Moore Practice Facility.
ECU'S 2019 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Next Workout: Wednesday, March 27 (8-10 a.m.)
Remaining Workouts: March 29, March 30 (scrimmage), April 1, April 3, April 6 (scrimmage), April 8, April 10, April 13 (Purple-Gold Game, 1:30 p.m.)
Players Mentioned
Quarterback
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Inside Linebacker
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Inside Receiver
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Quarterback
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Quarterback
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Placekicker
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Running Back
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Outside Linebacker
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Tight End
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Placekicker/Punter
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Outside Receiver
/ FootballSaturday, April 18
Monday, April 13
Friday, April 10
Tuesday, April 07
