ORLANDO, Fla.
Win and advance.
There was genuine jubilation emanating from the visitors’ locker room beneath Bright House Networks Stadium late Thursday night. It had been that long.
Another saturated night in the Sunshine State at its end, East Carolina had just beaten arguably one of the worst Central Florida teams ever assembled, 44-7. Regardless of opponent, it was a win-at-all-costs scenario for the Pirates, now 5-6 and in need of another win over Cincinnati next week in order for 17 seniors to play in a bowl game for the fourth time in four years.