"... I couldn’t help but think of how many people had helped me along the way. One of those people I wanted to personally thank for opening doors was Jimmy Raye. This book tells how some of those doors got pushed open. I’m sure you will enjoy reading about the journey!" - Tony DungyHolton Ahlers
Spring ball is over and summer work underway
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- East Carolina football returns some promising young wideouts, but whether one enjoys a breakout season to extend the Pirates’ streak of seven consecutive seasons with a 1,000-yard receiver remains to be seen. Even in this pass-happy era that today’s relaxed...
Houston remakes look of facilities and players
By Tom ShanahanGREENVILLE -- East Carolina coach Mike Houston is compiling “before-and-after” pictures to illustrate his new football program’s growth. That explained staging not one but two media sessions to open his first spring football.Friday marked the Pirates’ initial...
Pirates motivation in place for spring football
My News & Observer storyBy Tom ShanahanAn early task first-year coaches contemplate is identifying a rally cry that bonds players and coaches new to each other, but East Carolina’s Mike Houston took over with that check-list item gift-wrapped.The final chapter to ECU’s 3-9...
A final look back and the view that is ahead
Flipping the calendar to 2019 seems a good time to empty my East Carolina football notebook. Here is a look back at the chaotic dismissal of Scottie Montgomery followed by the ironically efficient hiring of Mike Houston four days later. Talk about turning the tables. In the...
Houston feels like he is back home at ECU
By Tom Shanahan, CorrespondentGREENVILLE -- Mike Houston, sporting a purple tie highlighted with East Carolina’s logo, stepped to the podium and said all the right things to win Tuesday’s press conference as the right fit as ECU’s new football coach.He noted he’s from...
NC State ends long season for Pirates
By Tom Shanahan, CorrespondentRALEIGH -- East Carolina thought it was a good idea to schedule a 12th game at N.C. State, but that was two months ago. Long before its tattered program arrived without a head coach and starting quarterback – not to mention an athletic director.The...
Blackwell on status of Ahlers and Snead
ECU defensive coordinator David Blackwell, who will lead the Pirates against N.C. State following Thursday’s dismissal of Scottie Montgomery, addressed the status of two true freshmen, quarterback Holton Ahlers of D.H. Conley High and wide receiver Tyler Snead of Millbrook...
Scottie Montgomery fired with one game left
For East Carolina’s last two home games, a loss to Memphis and a win over Connecticut, Lee Workman stood with a poker face at a side door to a team meeting room that doubles for post-game media sessions.Workman has been serving as the ECU athletic department’s acting chief...
Pirates believe more to season than record
GREENVILLE – Garrett McGhin, seated on an East Carolina team room chair, leaned forward his 6-foot-6, 302-pound frame. The senior offensive tackle earnestly explained reasons beyond last week’s 55-21 win over Connecticut he feels a winning foundation is finally in place. “He has...
ECU snaps losing streak with O and D
By Tom Shanahan, CorrespondentGREENVILLE -- Thank goodness Connecticut and its defense, ranked the worst in the nation, came to town.East Carolina shredded the Huskies to end a five-game losing streak for its third win and first in American Athletic Conference play with a 55-21...