After a less than inspiring opener, ECU came oh so close to upsetting Florida on the road. The Pirates then were crushed by Navy in Annapolis before shocking Virginia Tech in Greenville. A different component shined bright in each game, but never did the whole team put together a complete performance that showed off their full potential.
Against SMU, the Pirates put on a show that ranks as one of the most impressive victories in head coach Ruffin McNeill’s six year tenure. The 49-23 win showed exactly how special this East Carolina team can be when its parts work together.