"... 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
Pirates rebound to nearly upset Cincinnati
By Tom ShanahanGREENVILLE -- East Carolina, with no answers in four previous AAC double-digit losses, came up with two school-record performances and eight scoring responses to take No. 17-ranked Cincinnati down to the final seconds.The AAC East-leading Bearcats needed a 32-yard...
Another AAC opponent overpowers Pirates
GREENVILLEAmerican Athletic Conference commissioner Mike Aresco visited East Carolina hoping to see progress in a struggling a Pirates program that new coach Mike Houston inherited. He’ll need to visit another time.Another week of conference play showed ECU isn’t ready to measure...
Temple wears down Pirates in Thursday game
East Carolina opened its “Paint It Black” night on ESPN’s Thursday night national TV game with an impressive 12-play, 90-yard scoring drive. Then reality set in.The Pirates hung around with Temple for about 44 minutes before being worn down by the the Owls, who pounded out 237...
Pirates paint black their Thursday night return
East Carolina football is back on the ESPN Thursday night game radar after a three-year blackout. The Pirates are eagerly promoting their own definition of a blackout, telling fans to dress for a “Paint It Black” night.That includes the players wearing all-black uniforms when the...
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...