An Update From AD Jon Gilbert

Pirate Nation:

We are so grateful to each of you and sincerely hope that you and your family are safe and healthy.

Our lives have been disrupted, but it's vital we continue to do our part to flatten the curve of the coronavirus. Let's keep the people affected by this pandemic in our thoughts - the healthcare workers, first responders - all risking their lives to save others.

We will eventually get back to campus, return to the boisterous crowds in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, be engaged in purple and gold chants and the many other experiences we miss about collegiate athletics, but right now we must focus on each other.

Our hearts ache for the local businesses that are adapting to this "new normal." Business owners are being forced to make difficult decisions while others remain open and rely on the community to show support. These business owners are part of Pirate Nation and we stand by them all. We are aware that many in Pirate Nation are experiencing financial hardship as a result of this pandemic. Please know we are thinking about you.

While we continue to do our part to control this pandemic, let's stay together as ONE PIRATE NATION, and understand when it ends, we are going to be stronger than ever.

Our commitment remains to each of you and we will continue to communicate with you regularly on actions we are taking during these challenging times.

Priority deadline postponed
As we continue to examine the impact this pandemic has on our department, we are making changes as necessary. I would like to inform you of the following changes to football season tickets priority deadline timeline.

The priority deadline for football season tickets set for May 1 has been postponed to a later date. We expect to announce the new deadline in the next 30 days.
All payment plans remain intact and we understand the hardships that have resulted from the coronavirus pandemic. All tickets on payment plan need to be paid in full by August 5.
The ECU Athletics Ticket Office staff are working remotely and can be reached at AthleticTickets@ecu.edu or you can leave a message at 252-737-4500.

Student-athletes in spring sports granted another year of eligibility
The NCAA Division I Council adopted several pieces of legislation Monday that will impact our spring sports of baseball, softball, lacrosse, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's track and field. Let's start with the basic information and then I will provide my thoughts.

Underclassmen and senior student-athletes who competed in spring 2020 may be granted another year of eligibility in 2020-21 provided they meet the following criteria:

The student-athlete used a season of competition in a spring sport during the 2019-20 academic year;
The student-athlete was eligible for competition when he or she competed during the 2019-20 academic year;
The student-athlete's season was ultimately canceled for reasons related to the COVID-19 outbreak; and
The institution retains documentation on file clearly demonstrating that the above three criteria were satisfied [in the compliance office].

In addition, institutions can apply a one-year extension of the five-year eligibility clock for all spring sport student-athletes who were eligible for competition during spring 2020. For baseball, the NCAA approved a 35-man roster limit exemption which means any senior who meets the eligibility waiver directive and returns to compete in 2020-21 will be exempt from the 35-man roster limit.

I'm excited for our student-athletes who had their seasons interrupted and will have an opportunity to compete for another season. These student-athletes came to East Carolina for a quality education and an opportunity to compete for the Pirates. This extra season allows them to finish their collegiate career on their terms.

Obviously, there is a financial component to this legislation, and while we don't have a final financial number, I know it will be significant. It's part of a financial plan we are currently working on internally as we navigate our way through these unprecedented times. I can't give you specific numbers at this time because we are still gathering data, but we are obviously going to see a significant decrease in revenue and distribution from the NCAA, AAC and other revenue sources. I commend our coaches and staff for their patience and understanding as we go through this process.

New content
Our staff is working hard to provide a variety of content for our fans to enjoy during this time. We are replaying past sporting events, creating games for children and doing as many videos as possible. I hope you have enjoyed the social distancing videos we have done with coaches, student-athletes and community leaders. We have several more planned in the coming weeks. Head coach Mike Houston will be doing a Facebook Live this Friday at 12:30 p.m. Please check out ECU Athletics on Facebook for additional information.

I ask that you join me and do your part to stay home and limit any activities to only essential ones such as getting food or medical supplies, going to work or helping someone in need.

Don't forget, we are all in this together Pirate Nation. Thank you for being a loyal supporter.

Go Pirates!

Jon

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