Holtz Bolts Pirates

I am not one of these people that believes that the world is going to end for all the ECU football players now that Skip Holtz has moved to Tampa and South Florida after all any athlete who is getting a free education just because they run fast or catch a ball is living out a dream.

Whether it is Holtz,Kiffin, or Pete Carroll they have all live up to the requirements of their contract. If they hadn't lawsuits would be flying all over the place. I find them to be no different from me or you that if someone called and offered more money,more opportunity I'd jump too. We live in a society that people leave their jobs everyday for $10 a week more down the road.

What I feel in Skip Holtz case is to the naked eye South Florida doesn't look like a step up when in fact it is. They are in the Big East a conference that ECU would jump at in a minute if they were invited.

A major decision in athletics at ECU in the near future is non qualifying athletes. Southern Mississippi a member with ECU in Conference USA has for years tried to get other members of the conference including ECU to quit accepting players that don't meet academic standards after high school graduation.

This point is a major sticking point on why Carolina and NC State hate to play ECU in football. ECU accepts players that Carolina and State can't get in school. This is also a major reason ECU is in Conference USA and nothing better. This is why Skip Holtz is not being offered jobs like Tennessee because he hasn't proved he can win without the non-qualifiers.

Terry Holland has done a terrific job in Greenville as Athletic Director. I am sure ECU can bring in a coach who can continue the winning as Holtz has done.

Tonight high school sports cranks up again after the EOC break. The Gryphons jump in the frying pan taking on Hunt at Hunt. The Warriors and Gryphons are tied with Fike as the only undefeated team at 1-0 in conference play. A win by either side helps get a leg up in the early conference standings.

Back to college football for a minute. Rumors are flying that David Cutcliffe of Duke is on Tennessee's list as a possible coach. I know this would be bad for the Blue Devils but to me he seems perfect for Tennessee. If Tennessee says no to Cutcliffe, hey ECU Cutcliffe would look good in Purple! I doubt that Tennessee will not take him however.