Everybody loves rankings, right? There’s been a lot of rankings-talk thrown around here lately, so why not dive into some ECU-centric ones. In light of the next Pirate football season being about three and a half months away, let’s take a look back at the five best seasons in program history.
5. 1978 – Final Record: 9-3
Led by the legendary Pat Dye, 1978 was the Pirates’ first year in Division I-A (now FBS). With an overwhelming defense and a vaunted rushing attack, the Pirates went 9-3 and claimed a victory over Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl.
The four-pronged rushing attack featured backs Theodore Sutton (621 yards, TD), Leander Green (307 yards, 4 TD) and Eddie Hicks (515 yards, 7 TD). The offense also featured the versatile Tony Collins, who ran for 479 yards and four touchdowns on the season. The defense, led by Charlie Carter and Gerald Hall, allowed just 11.3 points per game.
The Pirates only losses that year were to in-state ACC schools UNC and NC State, as well as Southern Miss in a 17-16 barnburner.
4. 2013 — Final Record: 10-3
Ruffin McNeill’s 2013 Pirate team featured an explosive offense, led by prolific quarterback Shane Carden. The 2013 Pirates averaged 40.2 points per game, finishing 10-3 after defeating Ohio in the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl. Carden ended up with 4,139 passing yards, 33 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions and led Conference USA with a 70.5 completion percentage.
The defense wasn’t too shabby either, finishing 49th in the nation by allowing just 24.8 points per game. A near-upset of Virginia Tech in September only galvanized the Pirates, as they won six of their next seven games. A loss at Marshall in the regular season finale denied ECU a spot in the CUSA championship game, but they bounced back with a convincing 37-20 win over Ohio capped off a fantastic season that featured the second highest win total in school history.
3. 1965 — Final Record: 9-1
The 1965 Pirates were led by running back Dave Alexander, who rushed for 1199 yards and 17 touchdowns. ECU bounced back from an early season loss to Furman to reel off eight straight wins, capped off by a second straight Tanerine Bowl victory. The Pirates defeated Maine 31-0 in that one.
2. 1999 – Final Record: 9-3
The 1999 Pirates, led by quarterback David Garrard, featured what is perhaps the best opening stretch in the history of ECU football and included one of the biggest wins in program history.
The Pirates opened the season 4-0, defeating four power conference schools. They dropped West Virginia 30-23 in the season opener in Charlotte, defeated Duke and South Carolina, and then pulled off a miracle comeback against No. 9 Miami.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26VgwuOwUZw
In the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd, the game was moved to Raleigh. Down 23-10 in the third quarter, the Pirates stormed back, scoring 17 unanswered points to drop Butch Davis’ Hurricanes in front of a national audience.
That win vaulted the Pirates up to No. 19 in the polls (they reached as high as No. 16) and into the national consciousness. The Pirates finished the regular season 9-2, losing only to Southern Miss and UAB before falling to TCU in the Mobile Bowl. Even with the 9-3 finish, 1999 is a year that no ECU football fan will ever forget.
1. 1991 — Final Record: 11-1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxQr7xs5vWs
Was there ever any doubt? The 1991 Pirates, led by quarterback Jeff Blake, featured the most wins in school history (11), and ended the season with the highest ranking in school history (No. 9).
The offense averaged 34.1 points per game, 10th in the nation that season. After a season opening loss to Illinois, the Pirates wouldn’t fall the rest of the way. ECU upset No. 15 Syracuse 23-20 in mid-October, which led to them receiving a No. 20 ranking. Then the very next week, they defeated No. 23 Pitt, moving them up to No. 17. A November 16 meeting with Virginia Tech remained the Pirates’ biggest test, but they passed with a 24-17 win, moving them to 9-1 and a No 14 ranking.
With the regular season closed, the Pirates received a New Year’s Day bowl, facing in-state rival No. 21 NC State in the Peach Bowl.
In the minds of many, the 1991 season remains the benchmark for ECU football.
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