An Update From AD Jon Gilbert

Pirate Nation:

I wanted to update you on a development concerning the Military Bowl and our expenses that occurred prior to the cancellation.

The American Athletic Conference informed me late last week the conference would be covering our expenses leading up to the bowl game. We deeply appreciate the conference taking action to assist the league's affected schools.

Our attention now has turned to the Bill Clark Military Bowl Fund. I want to give you a little background on how the fund originated. We received a phone call immediately following the news of the bowl cancellation from Lance Clark and other members of the Clark family. They wanted to assist with any bowl expenses incurred and to make sure our football team was honored appropriately. Bill, Lance, Heath and Hunter Clark made a significant gift of $200,000 from Bill Clark Homes.

The support from Bill Clark Homes just over the past year is truly phenomenal. The family made a six-figure lead gift to the We Believe Fund last December and a significant gift to purchase the upper deck tickets for our season opener against South Carolina. When we received the news Friday about the conference reimbursing expenses, we spoke to the Clark Family on how they wanted to move forward. They will be purchasing rings for the football program and will put the remainder of the funds toward the upcoming athletics capital campaign. It is a very classy gesture by the family and much appreciated.

In addition, Bob and Penny Barnhill, longtime ECU and Pirate Club supporters, donated $100,000 to the Bill Clark Military Bowl Fund. The Barnhill Contracting Company is based out of Rocky Mount. Bob called me last week and said he wanted to help with the situation. I spoke to Bob this morning, and he wants the donation to stay intact and be transferred to the Athletics Excellence Fund. Longtime Pirate Club donor Phil Houston made a $50,000 donation that will be moved to the Athletics Excellence Fund. We are so grateful for the support from so many individuals.

Due to the generosity of our Pirate Club donors who donated their ticket refund, more than $75,000 was donated to the Bill Clark Homes Military Bowl Fund. With our expenses now covered by the conference, we will be giving all individuals who purchased and donated bowl tickets through ECU Athletics a full refund. The refund should be complete within the next five business days.

Playfly Sports is new multimedia rights holder
You might have read last week about the new, exclusive multimedia rights holder for the athletics department. ECU and Playfly Sports agreed to a contract beginning in the summer of 2022 through the 2034 academic year. This agreement has significant financial implications for our department, and we are looking forward to the partnership.

During our meetings with Playfly, it became apparent they were going to enhance the ECU brand, fan experience and help us navigate through the evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics. It's imperative we continue to grow our revenue opportunities so we can invest more in our sports programs and student-athletes. You will see improvements in the coming months to several of our facilities and additional in-person and digital opportunities, along with in-arena and in-stadium signage as part of the new contract.

ECU and our athletics department have had a long and productive relationship with IMG-Learfield for nearly 20 years. Many individuals have worked on the Pirates' behalf to elevate the ECU brand. I am thankful for them and their work and partnership is much appreciated.

Basketball teams back in action
Both our men's and women's basketball programs are back in action after dealing with COVID-19 protocols. I give a lot of credit to our student-athletes, coaches and staff for fighting through adversity over the last couple of weeks with limited practices. The women were forced to postpone one game which will be made up this week while the men had two games impacted that we are working to reschedule.

We hope you were able to watch the Pirates' 88-80 overtime win against Tulane last Wednesday evening in Minges Coliseum. It was a total team effort against the Green Wave with five players scoring in double figures, including a career-high 32 points by junior guard Tristen Newton. With a 10-4 record and 9-0 mark at home, the Pirates play at Cincinnati on Wednesday before returning home on Jan. 15 to face Memphis at 4 p.m.

Head coach Kim McNeill and her Pirates are 7-7 as they prepare for three games in the next six days. ECU has back-to-back road games at SMU (Tuesday) and Tulsa (Thursday) before hosting Cincinnati on Alumni Day, which is scheduled for Sunday, January 16 at Minges Coliseum.

Priority deadline for baseball season tickets today
A reminder that the priority deadline for baseball season tickets is today. We are closing in on more than 1,500 season tickets sold as we await the season opener on Feb. 18 against Bryant. Fans can also utilize ECU's Online Ticket Center, reserve by phone or visit the ticket box office.

The Pirates were picked first in the 2022 AAC preseason poll, the fourth consecutive year they were the preseason favorite. ECU earned the regular season title in 2019 and 2021. Sophomore pitcher Carson Whisenhunt was named Preseason First-Team All-America from Perfect Game and was also selected as the AAC Preseason Pitcher-of-the-Year. Fellow sophomore pitcher C.J. Mayhue was named to the preseason all-conference team.

Final home meet for women's swimming team
The women's swimming team will host their final meet of the season on Jan. 22 in Minges Natatorium against Georgia Southern. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

ECU will return to the pool and diving well on Jan. 15 when they participate in the William & Mary Tri-Meet in Williamsburg.

Indoor season begins for track and field
The Pirates track and field program will kick off the indoor season with back-to-back trips to Columbia, S.C. ECU will compete in the Gamecock Opener on Jan. 22 and the Gamecock Challenge on Jan. 28-29.

Mark your calendars for the Bill Carson Invitational at the Bate Foundation Track and Field Facility in Greenville on April 1-2 in Greenville.

Women's tennis team back in action
The Pirates women's tennis team is back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 18 in Chapel Hill against North Carolina. The first home match for East Carolina comes on Saturday, Feb. 5 against Appalachian State at noon in the ECU Indoor Tennis Facility on 1750 Wimbledon Drive in Greenville.

Thank you very much for your continued support of our student-athletes, coaches and staff.

Go Pirates –

Jon

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