G5 News and Issue original content:
Look for more G5 Conference predictions
in the weeks to come.
The East Carolina Pirates have an SEC spirit trapped in a G5 body. No other G5 school can boast the same game day atmosphere, fan support and culture that ECU has created over the past 3 decades of collegiate play. Why the Big East snubbed them a decade ago during realignment remains not only a mystery but one of the great blunders of that now faded conference. But I digress, this is not about the past mistakes of the Big East, this is about the future and ECU's new role in the AAC. A role that should allow ECU to become one of the most dominant players in the conference going forward. A role that also places ECU in the best position to win the AAC in their inaugural year of conference play.
The AAC is the top G5 conference at the moment. Anyone who follows the conference knows that there are many talented football programs in the AAC. Many of these teams, however, have too many question marks at too positions to be tapped as preseason favorites to win the conference. Cincinnati for example, has too many complicated QB Issues. UCF also has QB issues as well as winners fatigue. The Houston Cougars have broken way to many hearts over the years by failing to live up to their full potential to be counted on as preseason favorites. Schools like UConn, Tulane, USF, Memphis and Temple do not have the players nor the fire power to be considered Championship threats this year.
All of these issues, plus the fact that ECU is loaded for some serious ball this fall, makes the Pirates the best preseason pick to win the AAC. The ECU rose however, is not without its thorns. The Pirates have a brutal OOC schedule and will need for its young OL to bond and gel quickly in order for the season to be successful. What ECU does have in its corner, are some of the best offensive weapons in the conference, including one of the best QB's in the country, Shane Carden.
Carden will have his pick of talented WR's to throw to this fall including the future NFL bound Justin Hardy. On the defensive side of the ball, second year Defensive Coordinator Rick Smith has one of the best front seven groups in ECU history.( For a more in depth look at the Pirate Football team click here :ECU fall preview)
ECU also lays claim to the ubber charismatic, hard working , players coach in Ruffin McNeill. The Pirate program, after 5 yrs under his leadership, is now fully McNeill's. McNeill has installed a never say die attitude among his players, punctuated by his now famous, "want some get some", speech from a few years ago. Don't be surprised if McNeill and the ECU Pirates beat the South Carolina Gamecocks this year, clearly the most difficult team on their schedule this fall.
ECU has yet to achieve its most important goal as a program, to play in a P5 conference. The AAC, however, is fast becoming a very competitive league in its own right. Mike Aresco, by inviting the Pirates, strengthened not only the AAC but ECU as well. The Pirates will field a very talented and dangerous team this year. McNeill through good recruiting and with the assistance of one of the best walk on programs in the country, has assembled the best ECU team in years. ECU should be the top AAC football team this year. Win or lose however, Mike Aresco already looks like a very smart commissioner for inviting the Pirates to the conference. Stay tuned.
G5 CONFERENCE NEWS AND ISSUE:
AAC PREDICATED FINISH
1. ECU
2. UCF
3. CINCINNATI
4. HOUSTON
5. TULANE
6. TEMPLE
7. SMU
8. USF
9. MEMPHIS
10.TULSA
11. UCONN
Note: The best thing to do when you make a mistake is own up to it. Not only was SMU left out of the original countdown TULSA was as well. Definitely my mistake and a rookie one at that. Still does not change my top 6 and 1st pick overall, but a bad mistake anyway you look at it. Thanks to those who brought this to my attention. I rushed to finish the article and have paid for it. I transferred the draft copy to the page and did not look at it again until it was to late. My apologies to my regular blog readers and to SMU and TULSA fans. I definitely know that you are in the AAC.
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