football
The 2012-2013 East Carolina University football program is hard at work preparing for what is sure to be a memorable season for Pirate fans everywhere. Third-year head coach Ruffin McNeill has identified three characteristics the team must have in all facets of the game to be successful: trust, belief and accountability. “Everybody knows they have to perform at a high level, play at their best, do things the way we want things done, or else they can lose playing time or their spot. I like the depth that we are developing,” says McNeill. “They have a chance to achieve what they want to achieve. I’m looking forward to seeing this group work and go to war.” After finishing the 2011-2012 campaign with a 5-7 (4-4) record, McNeill and the Pirates return 48 lettermen to a team that finished third in the Conference USA East Division. The team was highlighted by the nation’s 20th best passing attack in 2011, but after the loss of star quarterback Dominique Davis and receiver Lance Lewis, the offense has a few question marks at several key positions heading into the new season. The biggest is at quarterback. ECU enters 2012 with four quarterbacks battling for the starting job. Fifth-year senior Brad Wornick, junior Rio Johnson, redshirt sophomore Shane Carden and redshirt freshman Cody Keith have all taken equal reps throughout the offseason in the summer’s most interesting position battle. It was assumed that Johnson, the only quarterback on the roster who experienced playing time last season, would be the most likely candidate to take over in 2012. But with strong play from Carden, the comfort of Wornick in position battle situations, and flashes of talent from Keith, the starting quarterback will most likely not be named until just before the Pirates open the season on Sept. 1 against Appalachian State. The team is confident that its starter will rise from this heated competition. But with no clear starter at quarterback, or any of the other skill positions for the time being, the team has used McNeill’s instructions and learned to trust that whoever takes the field will be able to get the job done effectively. “Competition always brings out the best in everybody,” says Wornick. “Whoever wins (the 20 PURPLE!
jonesing for jones!
A healthy Justin Jones returns for his junior year after an injury-plagued sophomore seaon. His size and agility make him a playmaker, especially in the red zone.
MAy/june 2012