PIRATE FOOTBALL
2.0
STRONGER, FASTER, WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE KIMMY CUMMINGS SOCCER STAR HELPS FAMILIES FIGHTING CANCER CLUB PAINTBALL PAINTING IT PURPLE ONE SHOT AT A TIME east carolina university
BAND CAMP HOT DAYS, LONG HOURS, AND HARDER THAN YOU THINK
SPRING SPORTS REGIONAL WRAP-UP PURPLE! 1
FANS STAND UP FOR EAST CAROLINA AFTER A TOUCHDOWN, A SLAM DUNK, OR A HOME RUN.
But what about the rest of the time? Did you know that alumni and fan support plays a significant role in how East Carolina is ranked among peer institutions in the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of the nation’s best universities? The East Carolina Alumni Association encourages you to become a member so ECU can reach new heights in these rankings. Not only does membership help with national rankings, but your tax-deductible membership contribution supports the programs and services offered by the Alumni Association, including networking events, alumni publications, student scholarships, alumni awards, faculty recognition, and numerous events held across the Pirate Nation. Membership is open to all who want to see ECU succeed; you do not have to be a graduate to be a member.
BECOME A MEMBER: ONLINE PirateAlumni.com/jointoday
BY PHONE Call 800-ECU-GRAD IN PERSON Stop by the Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center at 901 East Fifth Street in Greenville
As a member of the East Carolina Alumni Association, you make a tremendous impact on East Carolina University everyday! JOIN NOW AT PIRATEALUMNI.COM/JOINTODAY
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football
pirate football 2.0 East Carolina returns to the gridiron rebooted and recharged. by justin boulmay
16
10
soccer
goal oriented award-winning athlete and student kimmy cummings is fearless when it comes to hard work and loving children. by Jessica Creson nottingham
22
departments
letters......................................9
15 columns no quarter ruffin mcneill............................... 8
sports briefs.................... 10 club sports........................30 pirate spirit.......................34 fan cam................................. 40 east carolina university
ship’s log bryan edge.....................................38 cover: quarterback dominique davis, left, and defensive end matt milner. photo by jay clark
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No Place like home The ECU softball squad cheers on Priscilla Velasquez from home plate after she hit a threerun homer in the top of the third inning of the Conference USA championship game against Tulsa. ECU defeated Tulsa 4–1 to win their second consecutive C-USA title. The 2011 tournament was also the first championship to be hosted in the new softball stadium. photo by jay clark
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east carolina university
PURPLE! 5
eyes on the prize East Carolina centerfielder Trent Whitehead makes a diving catch during the NCAA regional game against Navy. The Pirates went on to win 6–1, eliminating Navy from the tournament. ECU also eliminated St. John’s the next day after a 6–4 victory, but was knocked out of the tournament by No. 1-seed University of Virginia that evening. photo by jay clark
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east carolina university
PURPLE! 7
no quarter Dear Students and Pirate Fans, I cannot express how excited we are about the 2011 season! We have been working hard this summer by pushing ourselves past our limit to put Pirate Football back in a familiar place as champions. The electrifying spirit of the Pirate Nation is second to none. All of you were recently recognized for making Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium one of the 50 loudest college stadiums in the country with a level of enthusiasm I’ve not experienced in my 26 years in college football. The game-day atmosphere in Greenville is simply impressive. Our season will kick off at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Speaking from the sidelines, I can’t tell you how important it is to everyone on the
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field to see purple and gold in the stands on the road as well! A Pirate football game is an event where we can celebrate our university and team with friends and family, but this also applies to our opponents’ fans. The Pirate Nation has a reputation for extending a first-class and hospitable welcome to all visiting teams and fans. It is the Pirate way to treat our opposing fans as guests during their time on our campus and in our football stadium, and they typically leave impressed. Going into this season, I ask all of you to take the time to welcome one and all to ECU events. Our guests will remember the warm welcome extended to them by the Pirates and maybe they will want to return, attend, or even recommend us to a potential student. We have been and want to continue to be the envy of even the biggest football
forrest croce
celebrating a new season of pirate football
ruffin McNeill programs in this country. Thank you for your support and loyalty! There would be no Pirate Football without our students and fans, and we appreciate each and every one of you. GO PIRATES! Coach Ruffin McNeill
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letter from the editor welcome to purple! Magazine PURPLE! magazine, geared toward students like you and the student athletes you share the classroom with, will highlight ECU athletics and campus programs that inspire school spirit, build enthusiasm about traditions, and exemplify the university’s motto, Servire. It will also celebrate the academic and athletic successes of our student athletes. Pirate football is undoubtedly one of the most highly anticipated beginnings associated with fall. For this inaugural issue, we sat down with Ruffin McNeill and some key players to provide you a preview of what to expect in a few weeks when the Pirates storm the field. You will see a stronger, faster, and sharper team this year thanks to a familiar face in Pirate football. Jeff Connors, the assistant athletic director for strength and conditioning, has returned to East Carolina with a mission to wear out our opponents to the very end of each game. In this issue, we also tell you the story of star soccer player—and triple major—Kimmy Cummings. Her remarkable transformation from a walk-on to team captain has not been an easy journey, but certainly an enlightening one. Not only has she found success on the field and in the classroom, but she has also developed a passion for a spectacular little girl and her cause. This story is an example of how PURPLE! magazine will showcase the character shown by ECU athletes on and off the field. Every two months, PURPLE! magazine will feature articles, profiles, and sidebars that bring you closer to the students who play on ECU’s fields and courts. Not only will official ECU sports teams appear in the magazine, but you will also find stories about those who keep our spirit alive: the Marching Pirates, dance team, and cheerleaders. Campus Recreation and Wellness and ECU Club Sports are also featured in addition to a column titled Ship’s Log, which brings you ECU sports-related stories from the past. You’ll even find shorter articles and news briefs detailing the very latest news on all your favorite Pirate sports teams. Sports, spirit, and tradition help define the East Carolina University Pirates. Purple! magazine will bring you the stories about the athletes who are doing things beyond their scope as student-athletes and about those who create a vibrant Pirate Nation with their love of purple and gold.
Where to find PURPLE! Online: www.ecu.edu/purple On Facebook: search Purple! Magazine
PURPLE! Volume 1, Number 1 purple! is published six times a year by East Carolina University marketing and publications 1206 Charles Blvd. Greenville, NC 27858-4353
editor jessica creson nottingham ’06, ’08 managing editor/art director jay clark copy editors Jimmy rostar ’94 spaine stephens Contributing writers justin Boulmay bryan edge ’97 meagan williford photography travis bartlett ’09 Thomas Briley jay clark forrest croce rob goldberg jr. michael litwin ’01 online content Laura Davenport bob dry bryan edge christopher schwing ’04 administration michelle sloan assistant vice chancellor for university marketing clint bailey special thanks to tom M c Clellan and ECU athletics media relations
East Carolina University is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. It is a public doctoral/ research intensive university offering baccalaureate, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts, sciences and professional fields, including medicine. Dedicated to the achievement of excellence, responsible stewardship of the public trust, and academic freedom, ECU values the contributions of a diverse community, supports shared governance, and guarantees equality of opportunity. ©2011 by East Carolina University U.P. 11-398
jay clark
We want to hear from you Letters to the editor can be e-mailed to purple@ecu.edu. Please include your full name, current student classification or graduation year for alumni (if applicable), and hometown. Letters may be edited for clarity and space. east carolina university
PURPLE! 9
SPORTS BRIEFS
NCAA regional roundup ECU Earns NCAA Postseason Representation in Six Spring Sports
track and Field
Men’s and women’s teams send record numbers to east regional By Jay clark
The ECU track and field program finished the season with a strong showing at the Conference USA championships, and set a single-season record by sending 15 athletes to the NCAA East Regional. Four of these athletes went on to the NCAA outdoor championships. East Carolina was also represented at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships by sophomore Tynita Butts and freshman Aiesha Goggins, who carried the Pirate banner all the way to Eugene, Oregon. “We are very proud of our kids,” head coach Curt Kraft said. “It just shows that our program is steadily growing and getting better each year. It is also a credit to our athletes and coaching staff who continuously strive to improve every day.” Seven women and eight men composed the squad that traveled to Bloomington, Indiana, for the NCAA East Regional. On the women’s team, Butts qualified after winning the C-USA championship for high jump and qualified in long jump. Goggins took home the C-USA title in the 400-meter event and then qualified for the 4x400 relay team. Freshman Tyshonda Hawkins qualified in the 200-meter dash and joined Goggins, sophomore Tiffany Harris, and freshman Tania Minkins in the 4x400 relay. Maegan Lewis and Kim Kanala both advanced in the hammer throw. On the men’s team, junior Dennis Aliotta and sophomore Montrell Morrow both qualified in the hammer throw. Aliotta also advanced in shot put, while Morrow moved on in the discus throw. Sophomore Austin Lewis qualified in the 100-meter dash and joined junior Isiah Gvasi, senior Mario Briscoe, and freshman Desmond Lawrence as a member of the 4x100 meter relay team. Briscoe also qualified in the 400-meter hurdles event. Rounding out the men’s team were seniors Jordan Neil in the 1,500-meter run and Spencer Barrick in the javelin throw. Aliotta almost made it to the NCAA nationals, but his shot put mark of 17.88 meters left him .03 meters short of advancing. “We had a great performance,” Kraft said. “We would have liked to qualify a few of the men to the next level. There were some injuries. A couple men came close, but it just didn’t happen.” The women’s 4x400 relay squad set a new ECU record at the NCAA East Regional finishing sixth with a time of 3:35.75, 10 PURPLE!
u blast from the fast Freshman Aiesha Goggins won the C-USA title in the 400-meter dash and never looked back, qualifying for NCAA regionals, nationals, and the U.S. outdoor track and field championships. q Below: Sophomore Tynita Butts also qualified for the NCAA regionals and finished sixth overall in high jump at the U.S. outdoor championships.
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and were the only members of the team that moved on to the NCAA outdoor championships in Des Moines, Iowa. The four Pirates are the most women at one time to qualify for the national meet in the program’s history. Goggins also qualified individually for the 400-meter dash. “My coach used to tell me all the time in middle school that ‘greatness has no gender,’ and we should never feel like standing on the number one spot isn’t going to happen for us,” Goggins said. “As a freshman, I’ve done amazing things that still shock me to this day and to have done them with a great 4x4 every step of the way, I feel truly blessed.” On the first day of the NCAA outdoors championships, Goggins ran the 400-meter in 52.75, good for a 10th-place finish nationally. On the second day, bad weather and injuries took a toll on the 4x400 team and they were unable to compete in their event. “That was disappointing,” Kraft said. “It came down to injuries. We had two injuries, but only one alternate athlete. When you come this far, you really want to be able to do something. If we had been able to run, I think we would have done some neat things. I was proud of them.” Butts and Goggins wrapped up the season with a trip to the United States outdoor track and field championships in Oregon. The two AllAmerica performers finished strong in the high jump and the 400-meter dash. Goggins captured 13th place overall with a time of 53.56 in the 400-meter semifinal, but posted a better time of 52.84 earlier to qualify for that round. Butts’ performance in the high jump earned her a sixth-place finish. “I was pretty excited,” Butts said. “There were happy tears. I was a little overwhelmed.” Her season-best jump of 1.83 meters beat the 1.78 meter jump of current world-record holder Chaunte Lowe, a professional athlete sponsored by Nike. “I went over to Mrs. Lowe before the jump,” Butts said. “I asked if I could get her autograph after the meet. We ended up cheering each other on and she gave me a hug afterwards.” With most of his athletes returning next year, Kraft is optimistic about the team’s goal of winning a conference championship in the future. “We are continuing to improve, and that is the key thing here,” he said. “We are finishing higher than ever before. The women’s team broke 13 school records this year. We are moving in the right direction and we feel good about it.” ecu media relations
east carolina university
PURPLE! 11
SPORTS BRIEFS baseball
pirates eliminate two, fall to virginia at regional By Jay Clark
The East Carolina baseball team made its 25th NCAA regional appearance and earned a No. 2 seed at the Charlottesville (Virginia) regional in June. The regional tournament featured Navy, St. John’s, and No. 1-ranked Virginia. The Pirates learned of their at-large bid only a few days after the Conference USA championships, where they fell just short of making the championship game. “Yes, we’re disappointed we’re not playing in the Conference USA championship game,” said head coach Billy Godwin. “But I couldn’t be any prouder of the way these guys played.” The C-USA championship featured a new format, with teams splitting into two “pods” of four teams based on their rankings. ECU went 2–1 in their pod, but it wasn’t enough to make the final game. Instead, ECU finished the C-USA season with a Seth Maness-led 4–0 shutout win over Southern Miss, the regular season cochampion. The Pirates, who were 39–20 going into the NCAA regional, led off against the third-seeded St. John’s Red Storm, who were 35–20 before the tournament. The Red Storm managed a run in the third and fourth innings, and were able to shut out the Pirates 2–0. Maness returned to the mound against Navy the next day, throwing a complete game in a 6–1 victory that eliminated the Midshipmen from the tournament. Designated hitter Chase McDonald also made his presence known with a grand slam homerun in the seventh inning. “I believe this was my first grand slam of my career,” said McDonald. “I thought it was a fly ball, then it just kept carrying.” ECU faced St. John’s again before advancing to the championship game against Virginia that evening. Things went the Pirates’ way against the Red Storm, who was eliminated in a 6–4 loss to East Carolina. Reliever Brad Mincey earned the win for the Pirates. “We were fortunate enough to win,” said Godwin. “We were really proud of our players for fighting back after losing on day one and winning the last two.” With only a couple hours of rest, East Carolina returned that evening to face Virginia on their home turf with a hostile crowd. “Imagine our place, and they’re just not pulling for us,” Godwin told his players in preparation. “They’re going to have orange on instead of purple.” The stands were packed with 5,050 fans cheering on No. 1-ranked Virginia to a lopsided 13–1 victory over the Pirates. “They came out and played well and all you can do is tip your hat to them,” said graduating outfielder Trent Whitehead, who went 1 for 3 that evening at the plate. The Pirates finished 41–21 for the season and were ranked No. 25 by Baseball America and No. 29 by the National Collegiate Writers Association. Six East Carolina players, Seth Maness, Seth Simmons, Shawn Armstrong, Brad Mincey, Mike Wright, and Zach Wright, were drafted by pro teams. 12 PURPLE!
p Quick Pick First baseman John Wooten picks off a Red Storm baserunner on a throw from pitcher Brad Mincey. q Below: Freshman designated hitter Chase McDonald cranked this one out of the park for a grand slam against the Navy Midshipmen.
september/october 2011
softball
champions on the field and in the classroom By Justin Boulmay
For the second time in as many years, East Carolina University’s softball team won the Conference USA championship. The squad faced tough opponents on the road to victory in May, including the No. 4 seed Memphis, the No. 2 seed Tulsa, and the top-seeded contender Houston. East Carolina became the lowest-seeded team to ever win the tournament. The victory also earned the Pirates a bid to the NCAA College Park Regional, where the team eliminated the hosting Maryland Terrapins before losing to Baylor 1–0 in the final game. The team finished the regular season with a record of 41–22—the third consecutive year that they’ve hit the 40-win mark—and placed fifth in regularseason C-USA standings. East Carolina senior pitcher Toni Paisley capped off her ECU career on a high note. She was named Pitcher-of-the-Year in Conference USA and made history in NCAA Division I with the 18th-most victories and the 17th-most strikeouts. Paisley isn’t the only softball player who earned honors for her performance. Priscilla Velasquez was named the conference tournament’s most valuable player. She finished the games with seven runs. The Pirates’ softball team distinguished itself in more places than the field. The squad was one of 17 C-USA teams to earn the NCAA Public Recognition Award, a recognition that is given based on academic achievement. The team ranked among the top 10 percent of the scores compiled and were the only softball team in the conference to be recognized. “Academics have been extremely important to me and the team,” Paisley said. “Part of the credit for that focus goes to our coaches. Coming here with their discipline, they emphasized that good grades are not just for you, but for the team and university. I really respect my educational experience.” t two in a row Freshmen infielders Kristi Oshiro (smiling) and Chelsea Kaluhiokalani-Glackin celebrate after the final out of the C-USA championship game against Tulsa. ECU won their second consecutive C-USA title, defeating Tulsa 4–1. u Right: Senior Toni Paisley, who was named Conference USA Pitcher-of-the-Year for the third-straight campaign, ended her collegiate career with the 18th-most victories and 17th-most strikeouts in NCAA Division I history.
jay clark (4)
east carolina university
PURPLE! 13
SPORTS BRIEFS women’s golf
pirates advance to fourthstraight regional appearance by jay clark
ecu media relations/ rob goldberg jr.
With four straight NCAA regional appearances, the East Carolina women’s golf team is no stranger to postseason play. After finishing a disappointing seventh at the Conference USA championship, the team was chosen as the No. 19 seed in the NCAA Central Regional held last May in Notre Dame, Indiana. Three Lady Pirates, freshman Fanny Wolte, senior Amber Littman, and junior Amy Otteson, were named to All-Conference USA teams. Wolte was also named C-USA Freshman of the Year. Otteson and Wolte finished the Conference USA championship tied for 15th place, both shooting 13-over par. Littman and senior Colleen Estes finished tied for 21st, 15-over par. East Carolina finished the championship with a combined score of 917 (309–306–302), 53 strokes over par, good for seventh place. Despite their disappointing finish, the Pirates’ excellent performance during the regular season helped earn them an at-large regional bid from the NCAA Golf Committee. “I’m very excited for this team,” said head coach Kevin Williams. “This was our goal all season and for this senior class to become the first in school history to participate in four straight NCAA regionals is amazing. It’s a great reward for our team that worked so hard all year.” The NCAA Central Regional marked the final appearances of seniors Littman and Estes. Littman was the top finisher for the Pirates with a combined score of 232 (80– 78–74). Estes finished one stroke behind with a score of 233 (75–78–80). The Pirates finished 20th overall with a score of 945, 81 strokes over par. “This was a very tough golf course and we just didn’t play well all week,” said Williams. “I’m very proud of our team, especially our senior class and everything they have done for our program. Amber [Littman] and Colleen [Estes] will be missed and they epitomize what a studentathlete is all about.”
p super frosh
jay clark
Fanny Wolte, who is from Austria, was named C-USA Freshman of the Year and earned First-Team All-Conference honors. t Left: Amber Littman made secondteam all-conference and was the top Pirate finisher at the NCAA Central Regional held in Notre Dame, Indiana.
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men’s golf
five years in the making, ecu men break into postseason by jay clark
The East Carolina men’s golf team concluded the 2010–2011 season with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Virginia Tech Regional and a sixth-place Conference USA championship finish. In addition, juniors Harold Varner and David Watkins were both named First-Team All-Conference USA for their performance during the 2010–2011 season. Watkins led the Pirates at the C-USA championship finishing in third place at 5-under par, only two strokes behind the leader. Varner finished the championship tied for seventh place at one-under. Watkins’ third-place performance earned him a spot on the all-tournament team. The Pirates concluded the tournament at 10-over par, with a combined score of 874. The team’s performance during the season and at the C-USA championship earned them a first-ever at-large NCAA regional bid. Watkins and Varner continued to lead the way for the Pirates at Virginia Tech, both completing the tournament at six-over, tied for 19th place. As a team, the Pirates finished 42-over par in ninth place, 13 strokes short of making the top-five teams who would advance to the NCAA championship. The team’s NCAA regional appearance marked the first postseason play for the Pirates in the last 20 years. t “When we started to rebuild this be the ball program five years ago, this was one of our goals,” said head coach Press Juniors David Watkins and Harold Varner (below, right) McPhaul. “Being selected [for were both named First-Team regionals] gives us a great sense of All-Conference for the 2010– accomplishment and satisfaction, 2011 season. Watkins finished but it’s just a benchmark along the third individually at the Croad to making the finals.” USA championship. Varner
jay clark
east carolina university
ecu media relations/rob goldberg jr.
recently took first place in the North Carolina Amateur Championship and became the first African-American male to win that title.
PURPLE! 15
pirate football
2.0
East carolina returns to the gridiron rebooted and recharged. They are stronger, faster, and have something to prove to fans and to themselves.
STORY BY JUSTIN BOULMAY • PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAY CLARK
Justin Jones isn’t looking for another “Tulsa moment,” which is ironic because that play is a big reason why the Pirate Nation knows his name. It was September 5, 2010. ECU hosted the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at home in a touchdownfor-touchdown game under the hot midday sun. As the game was drawing to a close, it looked like ECU would leave the field with a loss—that is, until quarterback Dominique Davis threw a lastsecond Hail Mary, which Jones caught in the end zone, earning the Pirates a 51–49 victory (and an instantaneous roar of the home crowd). The receiver is hoping his team won’t find themselves in such a tight situation. But if it must happen, Jones would rather it happen for one of his teammates. “Everyone wants that,” says the sophomore, who later that season tallied a career-high 60 yards during the Military Bowl against Maryland, “but the last-second game winner, that’s something that comes around every blue moon. Hopefully we’ll be winning by enough that we won’t need any [saves] like that.” It won’t be long before the team finds out. The new season includes a tough schedule for the Pirates, who face challenging opponents such as North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and, for their season opener, the South Carolina Gamecocks. There’s also the regular Conference USA teams with whom the Pirates will reckon, including UCF, Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Marshall, UTEP, Memphis, and Tulane. Whatever victories the Pirates will have won’t come easy, but they’re certainly not impossible. Last year, the team finished with a 6–7 record overall, capping the season with a loss to Maryland in the Military Bowl. The offense strongly showed both its fans and opponents its potential. In scoring, the Pirates’ placed fifth nationally in offensive redzone efficiency, sixth in fourth-down conversions, eighth in pass offense, and 16th in scoring offense. The defense’s struggles from last year are well known, but the coaches’ changes to the Pirates’ defensive strategy promise to make them a thing of the past.
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“
We know we have to work harder than anyone else we play. We don’t mind that. That’s the East Carolina way.
”
HEAD COACH RUFFIN McNEILL
east carolina university
PURPLE ! 17
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER MARKE POWELL OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JUSTIN DIXON
nose guard MICHAEL BROOKS
strong safety BRADLEY JACOBS
the sultans of stop The 3–4 defense relies on a strong nose guard. It’s a tough, thankless position with Brooks handling two or sometimes three linemen at a time. While he is busy, watch for Dixon and Powell to use their speed to punch through on the blitz. Jacobs has to cover the middle and be ready to assist in stopping the run. One thing’s for sure, these guys will be working hard this year.
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football u return of the jedi Jeff Connors has returned to ECU as assistant athletics director for strength and conditioning. His philosophy of conditioning teams to play well in the fourth quarter translates into better play throughout every minute of the game.
Ruffin McNeill says he’s pleased with the progress his team has made, but the head coach has also progressed in his position. This will be his sophomore season with the team and as a head coach. McNeill replaced Skip Holtz, who accepted a position at the University of South Florida. For more than 30 years, McNeill has been coaching football in some form, but last year was his first time being head coach. In a year, he’s gained more experience in an administrative role even though his approach to players has remained the same. He will continue to “love them up and hug them up, but we also set some standards and expectations” as he put it during his first press conference at ECU. His coaching staff has also remained intact—the type of staff retention that the coach sees as crucial to any team’s success. “I’m excited about this opportunity to lead the program, and in my second year, I’m as excited now as I was when I first got the job,” McNeill says. A Force in the Fourth
Part of McNeill’s strategy for leading the team to victory included bringing back Jeff Connors as the assistant athletics director for strength and conditioning. During Connors’ decade-long stint at ECU in the same position from 1991–2001, the Pirates achieved notable accomplishments, such as not allowing a single point in the fourth quarter in the first seven games of the 1996 season. Connors joined UNC in 2001 but returned to Greenville in January, in part because he’s always loved ECU’s football program. The coach who has built a reputation on preparing teams to play well in the fourth quarter is now focused on sharpening the Pirates to be better conditioned to play during every minute of the game. That’s crucial, because the final minutes of a game could make all the difference for ECU. east carolina university
photo by forrest croce
When you look at practically any football game, Connors says, it’s rare that you’ll see one team dominating the other; the winning move usually comes toward the end of the game. So the Pirates have regularly been doing freeform and multijoint exercises—things that target the largest muscle groups because those have the greatest potential for growth—to be just as formidable in the last minutes of the fourth quarter as they were at the start at the first. As a result, the team has lost body fat, gained more muscle mass, and demonstrated a higher form of athleticism. “We want the opposition to bend over,” Connors says. “We want them to put their hands on their hips and hold themselves up. We want to see them leave the field. We want to see them tap their helmets. And those are things we never want to see on our side of the football.” A Few Surprises
Improving the team’s defense is one change the coaches are determined to make. By the end of the 2010 season, the Pirates’ defense was ranked 115th in first-down defense and 119th in scoring defense among all Football Bowl Subdivisions (FBS). But the most notable figure is where the Pirates placed for total defense—dead last at No. 120. In the spring, McNeill announced that the Pirates would switch to a 3–4 defensive scheme, something that he doesn’t see as that big of a change. He also points out that the entire coaching staff has previous experience working with this defense and the team already possesses the talent to make it work. It should be noted that the change was not based on the fall schedule and whether the teams may fare worse when they’re playing against a 3–4 spread. McNeill says that simply wasn’t a consideration. PURPLE! 19
PLACEKICKER MICHAEL BARBOUR
OUTSIDE RECEIVER LANCE LEWIS
QUARTERBACK DOMINIQUE DAVIS
putting up points Davis threw for 37 touchdowns last year, an ECU single-season record. Lewis caught 14 of them (also a new ECU standard), and had over 1,000 receiving yards. Barbour went 16–18 on field goal attempts, and put a total of 104 points on the board, another ECU single-season record.
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football “Going to 3–4 was not a move for our schedule,” the head coach says. “It was a move for what’s best for East Carolina, which is always our first thought and my first thought.” The coaches also made the switch because they recruited new members to the Pirates who can contribute. The formation requires players who can use their mobility, strength, and athleticism on a play-by-play basis. Some of those young men include players like linebacker Justin Dixon who tied for the team lead with three sacks, even though an injury last year kept him from playing in the last nine games. He’s the only Pirate who had at least one tackle for a loss in the first four games of the 2010 season. Dixon says that he’s recovered sooner than the coaches anticipated. And when he and his teammates return to the field in a couple of months, they’re not going to be the same defensive team that fans saw last year. “We’re going to have a few surprises for everybody,” Dixon says. “We’re going to come out and try to play ball, try to play our game, try to be fast on defense, like we know how to do.” There’s also Marke Powell, who is returning this year after sustaining an arm injury last season. He is expected to be an outside linebacker in the 3–4 defense. Bradley Jacobs, an up-and-coming leader, tied for second last year among defenders with six pass breakups and placed third on the team with 45 solo tackles. Also returning is corner Emanuel Davis, who tied for 11th in Conference USA in pass breakups per game. The senior wants to spend his last season creating a “championship legacy” for the younger players on the team. He credits Connors’ work in getting the team ready for this season. “This whole offseason, we’ve been training for the fourth quarter,” says Emanuel. “Running sprints in the heat. Coach Connors turned it up on us [during the] second session, and we’re just going to be a wellconditioned football team all around the board.” ‘We Know What We’re Doing’
The defense isn’t the only part of the team that has good reason to feel optimistic about their chances this season. The offense carries some powerful players, including second-year quarterback Dominique Davis. Last year, Dominique, the now 6-foot-3, 222-pound team leader, threw for 37 touchdowns—a single-season record for an ECU quarterback. And, with his completion rate at 65 percent and total passing yards at nearly 4,000, it begs the question: what’s he going to do this time? Dominique doesn’t like to talk about his personal expectations of himself, but in regards to his performance for the team, he’s been east carolina university
working to improve his footwork. And with the way the team ended its 2010 season, the sophomore signal-caller says the expectations for the team are higher. “That’s the only way you get better. Just shoot for the sky, just hope to get there,” he says. When it comes to added pressure as the team’s quarterback, Dominique remembers something McNeill once said that sticks with him: if you know what you’re doing, there is no pressure. “I really bought into that,” says Dominique. “I’m just doing my job and doing what I’m supposed to do, just getting everybody around me the right way, doing the right things, and there’s really no pressure. Not as far as trying to be there for my team because they know I’m going to be there for my team.” Dominique isn’t the only one you should keep your eyes on this season. Included among the players who will make it a better season is Lance Lewis, the outside receiver who had 89 receptions and more than 1,000 receiving yards—the second highest in ECU history—and set a single-season record last year with 14 touchdown receptions. Inside receiver Michael Bowman gained 93 yards— a career best for him—against N.C. State last October and tied for third on the team with eight receptions on third down. McNeill says that one of the things Pirate fans can expect to see has improved for their favorite college-level football team is its speed. “It was pretty fast last year in its first year, but I think with the added spring and summer work … and with two-a-days, I expect it to be faster in the number of plays and the speed our players execute,” he says. The Pirates have something else going for them: they have more returning players than they did last year. For the entire team, 17 starters are returning; seven are on defense, six on offense, and four on special teams. The team also has 51 lettermen coming back. “Last year was everybody’s first year into the offense,” Dominique says. “Now that we’ve got a year on our belt, we know what we’re doing. We know how practice goes, and how the coaches want this, how they want that, and it’ll be a lot better this season.” The first game is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, when the Pirates and the Gamecocks will take the field against each other in Charlotte. McNeill says he’s pleased with the progress his team has made, but their work is never finished. “We’re not going to be in the excuse-making business, as long as it’s under my watch. We know we have to work harder than anyone else we play. We don’t mind that. That’s the East Carolina way.” PURPLE! 21
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soccer
Goal
oriented AWARD-WINNING ATHLETE AND STUDENT KIMMY CUMMINGS IS FEARLESS WHEN IT COMES TO HARD WORK AND LOVING CHILDREN. STORY BY JESSICA CRESON NOTTINGHAM • PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAY CLARK
slipping away from more than 100 female middle- and high-school soccer camp attendees who have taken over a Greenville hotel is not easy. Senior Kimmy Cummings was able to put her chaperoning duties on hold to reflect on her time here at East Carolina University. Not only is Cummings serving as a captain on the ECU soccer team this season, but she is also a triple major who has a special place in her heart for a local charity that helps the families of children battling cancer. Going into her fourth and final year as a student, Cummings has found much more than success on the field and in the classroom during her time as a Pirate. Knowing what it feels like and what it takes to climb from the bottom to the top has made her a humble, yet strong, leader. In a word, soccer head coach Rob Donnenwirth says it’s Cummings’ perseverance that makes her an exceptional student and athlete. Cummings maintains a GPA just under 4.0 in management information systems, for which she was named second-team Conference USA All-Academic as a junior. She is also a two-time Conference USA Honor Roll recipient and a four-time ECU Director of Athletics Honor Roll recipient. Last season, she started all 19 games at midfield and experienced career highs with three goals, four assists, 10 points, and 32 shots. In her three-year career at East Carolina, she has competed in 59 matches, scored six goals, made seven assists, and recorded 19 points. Big Fish, Small Fish
Shortly after arriving on campus as a freshman, Cummings realized she had some things to get used to: the student-athlete lifestyle at college and Division 1-level soccer. She walked out onto ECU’s soccer field for the first time and got something she did not expect—a rude awakening. “I came on and had no idea what it took to be a Division I athlete,” says Cummings. “I was fighting for minutes and it was a huge challenge. I had to have a never-say-die attitude, because it’s so easy to throw in the towel.” east carolina university
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soccer Just months earlier, she was the star soccer player at her small wonder high school in the small town of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Cummings’ slender size was a challenge she had outside Richmond. ECU to overcome as a walk-on. recruited her as a walk-on. She Managing classes and a was surprised by the amount of rigorous training schedule work that was in order to get plus learning to deal with the field time any player wants and overcome disappointment earned her a spot as desperately. team captain. “Kimmy came here with no scholarship money and used to being a big fish in a small pond in her small town,” says Donnenwirth, who has been the women’s head soccer coach at ECU for 13 years. “It was harder than she thought it would be, and she had to work harder than some of the other players.” She realized she had to forget the hype that surrounded the old, high-school Kimmy and get into the weight room as much as possible. It took time and a lot extra training for Cummings to progress, but once she got serious, there was nothing stopping her. t
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As one of six children in a close-knit and supportive family, being hours apart with a packed schedule was difficult. To cope, Cummings had to rethink the idea of family. “Being homesick was another mental drawback,” she says. “I had to learn that this was my family and to put in the work as you would with your immediate family.” Being a part of this new family meant Cummings had to adjust to her new coaching staff and do what’s best for the entire team, which took some time. As a freshman, if the team was winning, then she was satisfied. Now, if her performance during a game does not contribute to a win, it means she needs to work harder. “The work I’m putting in now, it’s for the team. As a freshman, I didn’t think that way,” she says. It is rare that walk-ons have a lengthy career as a college athlete, but it’s even less likely that a walk-on will make it as far as team captain. “She’s driven and she’s not scared of failure—and she’s dealt with failure,” says Donnenwirth. “She barely played as a freshman, just a little more as a sophomore, then we couldn’t get her off the field as a junior. That’s not easy. In a word, that’s perseverance. And she’s really organized.”
She’s driven and she’s not scared of failure—and she’s dealt with failure,” saYS coach donnenwirth. “That’s not easy. In a word, that’s perseverance.”
“I had to change my mentality,” says Cummings. “It doesn’t matter who you used to be, and that helps with my leadership. I am able to relate to the girls who are and are not playing. I can say, ‘I‘ve been there and look where I’ve ended up.’” Star in Training
Transforming from walk-on to team captain was not an easy process. Cummings does not have the frame and size typical of most soccer players, especially Division I soccer players. She confesses that her small, slender size has been one of the biggest challenges. “You will not outwork me” is a team motto each player is encouraged to apply to her personal training. “Even a player on our team could be working when you’re not,” says Cummings. This motto embodies the way she began to push herself as an athlete. “Kimmy is someone that always showed up early, stayed late, and came between classes, and that’s fun for a coach,” says Donnenwirth. “She’s been constant and has an unbelievable fitness level.” Managing classes and a rigorous training schedule is overwhelming for a new student-athlete alone, but it took more than this for Cummings to succeed. For the first time, disappointment and patience were now a part of soccer. “She had to learn how to deal with pressures of wanting to reap the reward for her hard work right away, and that was tough,” says Donnenwirth. “She’s had to keep her eye on the prize.” east carolina university
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“I had to mature and grow up,” admits Cummings. “I wasn’t as fit as I could have been, but I played more every year. Putting in the effort pays off. New Challenges
Now as a team captain and back on top, Cummings has had to work on a new set of skills. Being a captain means learning how to manage a number of personalities, stay organized, and lead by example. Meanwhile, Cummings acknowledges she has struggled to balance friendship and authority. “I can’t be everyone’s friend,” she said. “It’s hard to want to keep that family relationship and win championships.” “As a captain, she’s had to learn how to lead without being bossy,” says Donnenwirth. “She’s had some ‘aha’ moments and has grown a lot as a person.” Cummings is driven by an internal need to impress. She does not want to disappoint her team, her family, herself, and the spectators, especially the children who learn from the team and attend all their games. She also hates losing. The first year Cummings played at ECU, the team won the conference championship, but has not made it that far since that year. With this being her senior year, Cummings wants the team to get championship rings this season. “All I can think about is, ‘What are we going to do to get that ring?’” As a captain, Cummings mainly works to build team unity and to see that everyone is working hard. Her relentless drive PURPLE! 25
special bond To Kelly and Kirk Philpot, Cummings is just another member of their family. She helped care for Riley during her treatment, and the other Philpot children think of her as their big sister.
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soccer starts to show through when she discusses the role of team captain. “We can’t take a day off,” she says. “I need to make sure the girls are consistently showing up and working at a high rate.” Classrooms on campus have also been privy to Cummings’ work ethic. The College of Business is home to all three of her majors: management information systems, marketing, and small business entrepreneurship. “I realized that sometimes employers look down on athletes and I’d struggle,” explains Cummings. “I was interested in marketing, so I did that too. Then, it only took a few more classes to get the third major. It gives me diversity and will set me apart.” When looking toward this season, both Cummings and Donnenwirth are ecstatic about the new Olympics Sports Complex. This year’s team will be the first to play on the soccer field. “Every family needs a place to call home,” says Cummings. “We will be the first players on the field. That’s an honor.” Embarking on her final year on the team and as a student, Cummings’ finds it bittersweet. “The main thing I try to do, is cherish every single moment because it really does fly by,” she says. “I have literally been able to travel around the country being on the team and I want to cherish every trip and take it all in.” It Takes an Army
The ECU soccer team works with children on a regular basis by hosting soccer clinics and camps and attending reading days in schools. They have quite a following, which is apparent at any of their home games. Children from the community whom the team has impacted in some way are always in the crowd, says Donnenwirth. One little girl’s positivity and love for soccer particularly grabbed the team’s attention after crossing paths a few times at soccer-related events for children. Her name was Riley Philpot and she was battling cancer. When Riley was 4-years-old, she was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, which is a rare kidney cancer that primarily affects children and peaks around ages 3 to 4. It occurs only rarely after age 6, according to the Mayo Clinic. Riley’s ability to confront treatments, surgeries, and relapses with a level of maturity far beyond that of most 10-year-olds has been the inspiration for Cummings’s strength and perspective. Riley passed away at her home just outside Greenville on May 25, 2011, in her mother’s arms. In her short life, Riley inspired and brought together countless supporters who help provide care for local children and families struggling with cancer. These supporters have become known as “Riley’s Army.” “The group was started to honor what we called ‘Riley’s army,’ which is a group of people from the community that came together to help support Kirk and I and our family throughout Riley’s fight with cancer,” says Kelly Philpot, Riley’s mother. Riley’s Army is a local charity that has grown to support children with cancer and their families throughout eastern North Carolina. The organization provides individualized care with the help of volunteers who work with families to maintain a healthy environment at home. Volunteers might sit with the children while parents go to work, assist with finances, and provide meals. “[It] takes some of the pressure off of parents,” says Donnenwirth. According to Cummings, “We need an army to fight cancer.” Even though Riley’s parents are both physicians, they found her treatments difficult to navigate. In addition to caring for a child with a serious illness, the couple had to maintain full-time jobs and a household east carolina university
field of dreams Christianne Cordero, head coach Rob Donnenwirth, Amanda Malkiewicz, and Kimmy Cummings pose on the new soccer field.
new stadium highlights 2011 soccer season Four games against 2010 NCAA tournament participants and 11 homes at the new East Carolina Soccer Stadium highlight the 2011 ECU women’s soccer schedule. “The 2011 season will be a special one for us as we move into our new stadium,” says head coach Rob Donnenwirth. “Our team has been watching this stadium being built over the last year and they can’t wait to experience a game here. It’s going to be an awesome feeling for our team, alumni, fans, and everyone connected to Pirate Soccer when we open to face South Carolina on August 19.” Following a fifth straight season with at least nine victories, Donnenworth also announces seven student-athletes added to his 2011 roster. After an exhibition game on the road at Virginia Tech on Aug. 12, the Pirates will lift the curtain on the 2011 campaign August 19 at home against NCAA participant South Carolina before hitting the road for the first time at former Colonial Athletic Association foe Old Dominion on August 21. ECU then welcomes in a pair of in-state rivals in UNC Wilmington on August 26 and 2010 NCAA participant UNC Greensboro August 28. Three of its next four matches in nonconference play will be on the road against Davidson (September 2), Charlotte (September 4) and Francis Marion (September 18), while playing host to William and Mary on September 11. Unlike a year ago when ECU played seven road league games, this year they host seven home matches, four of them under the lights at the new soccer complex. Conference USA play commences for the Pirates on Sept. 23 at Colorado College. Other road games for ECU in 2011 include: UTEP (September 25), Tulsa (October 14) and SMU (October 16). The conference home opener comes on September 30 against UAB, which has been designated as Family Weekend. —ECU Media Relations
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soccer with three other children. It was a challenge of all challenges that the couple eventually realized they could not do alone. “When Riley was first diagnosed with cancer, her initial treatment was very simple in the course of cancer treatment,” says Kelly. “She was in the clinic one day a week for six months, and we could do that as a family on our own. But when Riley relapsed, her treatment course consisted of being in the hospital one week out of three for a little over a two-year period. The community rallied behind us bringing us meals and helping sit with Riley in the hospital so I could work.” The Philpots knew they would not need the support of Riley’s Army forever, but that other families and children still need the help. “We wanted to use what the community offered to us to give to other families and children who were going through the same thing,” says Kelly. “The community has done a wonderful job supporting other families and doing exactly what we’d hoped they would do—not only support Riley, but support a whole bunch of families and children going through this.” Between Riley’s love for soccer, the team’s love of children, and Cummings’ compassion for anyone battling cancer, the relationship between ECU’s soccer team, Cummings, and Riley’s Army came naturally. Riley was playing soccer just days before she found out she had cancer and she continued to play throughout her treatments. “Soccer was always very important to Riley throughout her time,” says Kirk. “It was something we were told, to never let her play again, but we let her get back to it immediately and she played almost all the years she was on treatment. She played amongst kids and that was the place where she was most normal. The team visited her in the hospital. ECU soccer has meant a lot to our family and to Riley’s Army.” The Unexplainable Bond
The team looks to Riley and her spirit for strength. According to Cummings, you would never know Riley had cancer if it weren’t for her hair loss. The teammates often refer to it as “Riley Strong,” and they wear pink Livestrong-type bracelets as a reminder of Riley’s strength and personality. Her favorite color was pink. “I can’t put it into words,” says Cummings. “I can’t describe how a 10-year-old changed my life. Every cancer patient I’ve met has changed my life. The amount of fight to deal with the disease … How could what I’m dealing with be so bad?” For the past two years, the team has hosted a Riley’s Army play day for children called Kicking Children’s Cancer that raises money for the charity. Each team member buys pink jerseys and auctions them off with all proceeds going to Riley’s Army. The teammates are planning to host another fundraiser similar to Kicking Children’s Cancer again this year during their regular season. “The teammates would go over to their house to play and swim with the Philpot children. It’s something they talk about—something bigger than soccer. It’s caused them to go out and do something together,” says Donnenwirth. “They want to be good people and remembered for the right reasons as a team.” 28 PURPLE!
photo courtesy of kimmy cummings
Many of the teammates came p back in town from their summer ‘riley strong’ break to attend Riley’s funeral. Cummings played soccer and The ECU women’s soccer swam with the Philpot children team looks to Riley, bottom right, for her spirit and that day just as she would with her younger sisters and brothers. strength. For the past two years, the team has hosted “Kimmy is very special to a Riley’s Army play day us,” says Kelly. “She’s loved for children called Kicking our children from just meeting Children’s Cancer. them and she cared for Riley throughout her course. She is like one of their siblings. It’s enjoyable for us to watch that interaction. She’s loved our children with us and that’s special. She’s been an extra family member to us. We love her like one of our own.” Marching On
The Philpots are continuing with the mission of Riley’s Army. “We do not feel this effort should end and want to create a lasting force to care for other children and families in similar situations. Each family’s needs will be unique, but the diverse group of volunteers will allow us to meet the service needs of these families struggling to survive on this journey,” they wrote on the charity’s website, www.rileysarmy.com. “With the help of ECU soccer, we’ve raised more than $11,000,” says Kirk. “We would like to continue to work with ECU to help kids feel normal.” As for Cummings, it’s been a long journey with plenty of obstacles and hard work on the field and in the classroom at ECU. She has a lot more ahead of her this year as captain and as graduation grows near. “I’m excited to be opening up in the new stadium. I’m excited to be a senior. I’m excited to be a captain,” says Cummings. “But at the same time, you realize this is kind of it. It’s never going to be the same family that you experience right now. We still have four or five months and we’re expecting big things this year.” september/october 2011
East Carolina University School of Music ®
Tomorrow starts here.
Schedule of Events AUGUST Saturday, August 27 Trumpet Boot Camp Concert Featuring Rex Richardson A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Sunday, August 28 Trumpet Boot Camp Concert Featuring ECU faculty and students A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 3:00 p.m. Free. SEPTEMBER Thursday, September 1 Guest Recital Mary-Jean O’Doherty ’05, soprano with faculty member Eric Stellrecht, piano A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Thursday, September 8 Keyboard Department Faculty Ensemble Performance A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Thursday, September 15 Faculty Recital John Kramar/Eric Stellrecht A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Friday, September 16 Jazz at Christinne’s with Tom the Jazzman Christinne’s in the Hilton 8:00 p.m. $10/$5 student.
Saturday, September 17 ECU Symphony Orchestra Concert Wright Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Free.
Friday, October 14 Octubafest I A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free.
Tuesday, September 20 Faculty Recital Mary Burroughs, horn A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free.
Saturday, October 15 ECU Symphony Orchestra Concert Wright Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Free.
Thursday, September 22 Wind Ensemble Chamber Players Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Thursday, September 29 Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:00 p.m. $25 adults, $10 students. Thursday, September 29 Bands Concert Wright Auditorium 7:30 p.m. Free. Friday, September 30 Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 8:00 p.m. $25 adults, $10 students. OCTOBER Thursday, October 13 Chamber Singers Concert St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 7:30 p.m. Free.
Sunday, October 16 University Chorale Concert and St. Cecilia Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 3:00 p.m. Free. Sunday, October 16 Octubafest II A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Monday, October 17 Octubafest III A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Wednesday, October 19 Percussion Ensemble Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Thursday, October 20 Ladies & Gents - An evening of duets and songs from the great Golden Age of Broadway Musicals A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. $10 general public, $5 students
Friday, October 21 Guest artist recital Dr. Kola Owolabi, organ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 7:30 p.m. Free. For more information e-mail Andrew Scanlon at scanlona@ecu.edu Saturday, October, 22 Choirs in the East Concert TBA Sunday, October 23 Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival Next Generation Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 4:00 p.m. Free. Thursday, October 27 Premiere Performances Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free. Friday, October 28 Fourth Annual Alumni Concert A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:00 p.m. Free. Friday, October 28 Organ Spooktacular Recital St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 6:30 p.m. Free. For more information e-mail Andrew Scanlon at scanlona@ecu.edu Sunday, October 30 Faculty Recital Carolyn Meyers, vocal and Alisa Gilliam, piano A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall 7:30 p.m. Free.
For more information about these events, showtimes, or event locations, please call 252-328-6851.
To purchase tickets, call 1-800-ECU-ARTS, 252-328-4788, or visit www.ecuarts.com. east carolina university
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campus rec & club sports
Thomas Briley/impactmediaphoto.com
club paintball
paint it purple and gold By Jessica Creson nottingham
In just one year, the newly formed ECU club paintball team is commanding attention, and with their surprising success and committed members, that’s what they’re getting. In their inaugural 2010–2011 season, they combatted their way past all North Carolina club paintball teams to an impressive 32 seed of 98 universities from across the nation in the National Collegiate Paintball Association Championships in Lakeland, Florida. “As a group of paintball players, we’ve been able to increase exposure to the game and gain respect for the sport as a whole,” says Stephen Wright, who serves as the treasurer for the team. “As ECU students, the first year did a lot to help spread the name of the university and its club sports program to people around the country. And we had a blast while doing it.” In the fall of 2010, the group played in the Kennesaw State 30 PURPLE!
University’s Hooty Halloween Bash in McDonough, Georgia, with a Purple and a Gold team. This is one of the largest fall tournaments in the South-East Conference of the NCPA. The Purple team seeded second going into the semifinals. The Gold team missed the semifinals by mere points. “Our final standings at nationals put us first in the conference we were competing in, first in the state of North Carolina, and somewhere in the top 15 out of the 57 schools that competed in our division,” says Wright. Big plans are on the table for year two of club paintball at ECU. With growing interest in the sport on campus plus the tournament team returning this year, the goal is to play in eight tournaments and increase practices to twice a month. The team practices at the Real McCoy Paintball Field just outside of New Bern in Princeton, North Carolina. The ECU club paintball team had greater success in their first year than expected, but plans to be “a force to be reckoned september/october 2011
pirate fit
win a prize for exercise
Thomas Briley/impactmediaphoto.com
with” in their second, according to the team president and cofounder, Taylor Eaddy. “Most run and gun of the students from the other colleges were great and had a lot of helpful advice for us, Paintball is now a competitive club sport offered and sponsince we were newcomers.” sored by Campus Recreation People interested in joining the team, but and Wellness on campus for have little experience or interest in competing in students, faculty, and staff. tournaments, can still sign up. Opportunities to play recreationally will be new this year also. Currently, ECU offers a wide range of more than 40 club sports, which gives students the opportunity to participate in a sport they are passionate about competitively against other institutions. Student leadership and development is the driving force behind club sports. “Students do their own scheduling, budget, tryouts, fundraising, and everything,” says Gray Hodges, ECU club sports director. For more information about joining a team or attending a game, visit www.ecu. edu/cs-studentaffairs/crw/programs/club_sports/index.cfm or contact Gray Hodges at hodgesg@ecu.edu. p
east carolina university
Would you get off the couch to go to the gym if you had a chance to win an iPad? Two committed students did just that last year as participants in Pirate Fit, an incentive program that awards credits for just entering any Campus Recreation and Wellness (CRW) facility at East Carolina University. Starting September 26 and running until November 11, students, faculty, and staff who are members of the Student Rec Center can register online to participate in this program. Participants submit every CRW activity of their choosing to an online tracking program to receive credits. Once you reach a certain number of credits, you can claim a prize based on several different levels. CRW’s started Pirate Fit as a way to address the trends of inactivity, bad eating habits, and unhealthy lifestyles on college campuses nationwide. “The purpose is to give students a reason to get physically active when they don’t want to—that’s why there’s no time limit—we will reward you for five minutes of activity,” says Sam Combs, director of Pirate Fit. “That’s a step in the right direction.” Pirate Fit continues to demonstrate ECU’s commitment to fitness and being active. Even though incentive programs are nothing new, this program is innovative in that it offers credits for a range of activities and attending wellness classes. “One student came in to pick up a prize and said that it was this program that made them come in [to the gym] the week of Halloween when there were 20 other things to do,” Combs says. Approximately 350 people were active participants each semester last year and that number is anticipated to increase this year. To register for Pirate Fit, go to www. ecu.edu/cs-studentaffairs/crw/programs/fitness/index.cfm or click on “Fitness” from the Campus Recreation and Wellness homepage. — JCN
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jay clark (2)
campus rec & club sports
p beachy keen Canada geese have already been vacationing on the new North Rec beach. The Odyssey Challenge Course (at left) will focus on team-building exercises.
north rec complex adds beach, boats, and ropes By meagan williford
Imagine a place where East Carolina University students can kayak, walk, play sports, and participate in team-building exercises on a ropes course. Travel about 10 minutes from Main Campus on Highway 264, and you will spot every student’s dream—the ultimate recreational complex, complete with a six-acre lake and eight lush, green multipurpose fields available for club and intramural sports. This recreational paradise is the North Recreational Complex (NRC), a facility operated by Campus Recreation and Wellness (CRW) at ECU. Recently, construction workers have been hard at work with Phase II additions to the NRC. These additions include a sandy beach area, boathouse, sand volleyball courts, walking trails, outdoor fitness equipment, horseshoe pits, the Odyssey Challenge Course, and an 18-hole disc golf course. One of the newest additions, the Odyssey Challenge Course, is a linear-based, high-challenge ropes course. This course truly focuses on team building, according to Eric Gardner, leadership and team training specialist for CRW. “This course will encourage participants to push their limits and to think about how they interact with other people,” he said. “They will be challenged in these situations where they are a little out of their comfort zones, and we will be able to see how they react, support, help each other, and communicate as they go through the course.” 32 PURPLE!
Janis Steele, associate director for facilities at CRW, said the NRC is a great resource for students, and the Phase II additions will give a new dimension to the facility. “It’s important to offer students a facility like the North Recreational Complex because the opportunities offered here will help them round out their overall educational experiences,” she said. “A lot of their education obviously occurs in the classroom, but much of what students learn at the university, like social and leadership skills, actually occurs outside of the classroom. The intramural activities, team, and club sports offered here will address some of those needs.” David Gaskins, associate director of programs and marketing at CRW, echoed Steele’s thoughts about the importance of the facility to students. “North Rec is a place where people can relax, refresh, and enjoy being a part of East Carolina University,” said Gaskins. “In addition, we will do a lot of programming here that will provide practical experience for students and will complement everything they are learning in all different types of academic disciplines.” Other enhancements to NRC are planned for the future, including the addition of several softball fields, a construction research teaching laboratory, and a leadership center. “ECU is the leadership university, so here at Campus Rec and Wellness, we try to stay in line with the university’s mission and goals,” Steele said. “A lot of what we can do, whether it be through student employees, officers, or just being part of a team, is to help people develop future leadership and interpersonal skills.” september/october 2011
Pirates Helping Pirates
SUCCEED
P irate T utoring C enter The Pirate Tutoring Center is for ECU students and provides the following services: • Daytime appointment and evening walk-in peer tutoring sessions on 1000- and 2000-level courses
Evening tutoring sessions are offered during fall and spring semesters every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights at Joyner Library from
• Individualized academic skills coaching
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Tutoring referrals and resource support
No appointment needed—just walk in for tutoring help.
• Specialized academic success workshops • Tutoring sessions on College Hill starting fall 2011
All PTC services are free to ECU students.
To make a daytime appointment call 252-737-3009 or e-mail tutoring@ecu.edu.
Pirate Tutoring Center Joyner Library, Room 1015 252-737-3009 tutoring@ecu.edu
www.ecu.edu/piratetutoringcenter
jay clark (2)
pirate spirit
marching pirates
sizzling heat, forced marching, memory overload:
welcome to band camp! By Jessica creson nottingham
College Hill Field looks like a movie scene as the dance team, twirlers, the full 250-member Marching Pirates, and color guard all working through drills. Then, I look up to notice the tower, where Dr. John Franklin is perched watching the troop march one way, then turn, march back, and repeat. The sight is certainly impressive as even passersby also stop mesmerized by the organized mass precisely marching to the counts called over a microphone. It only takes a few seconds to observe that marching band is far from easy. “Because we are such a visible part of the game day atmosphere, we strive to perform and prepare at the highest possible level. This, of course, takes time, stamina, and more importantly, passion for what they do,” says Franklin, director of athletic bands. It’s Wednesday morning of ECU’s band camp that runs for 10 days in the middle of August from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. just weeks before football season every summer. Even though it is not even 10:00 a.m., everyone is shining with sweat, some have 34 PURPLE!
removed all unnecessary clothing, and the smell of sunscreen radiates off the marchers. “The students have been tremendously focused, despite working out in the heat for several hours each day,” says Franklin. “These students have had great attitudes and spirit throughout these first several days and I don’t know that you can find a group of students who love being a Pirate as much as they do.” As the practice continues, the “UGS” (undergraduate staff) and graduate staff lead, patrol, and inspect their section, especially as they learn a new style of march called the Peg Leg. “It’s very physically demanding,” says Zachary Cummings, a senior and music education major, who is going into his fourth year as a Marching Pirate. “It’s a high step while we play. I’m excited to see how we put it together.” To beat the heat, they get a three- to four-minute break every 20 minutes to drink water and find shade. At one point, the director shouted, “Shade!” and a stampede of students ran toward just a small corner of shady grass. Band camp prepares the “rookies” (new members) and “vets” (previous members) for the upcoming football season that conseptember/october 2011
Game-Day Traditions During football season, the Marching Pirates blast their spirit to a crowd of 50,000 from the Boneyard section. Animated band members in purple and gold uniforms guide us through the games with upbeat tunes, halftime shows, and familiar chants. Keep an eye (and an ear) out for these Marching Pirate game-day traditions and join in the fun. March to the Stadium One of the most iconic sights to behold at ECU home football games is the parade column of ECU Marching Pirates making their way from the practice field just below College Hill Drive to DowdyFicklen Stadium for game-day festivities. The Marching Pirates announce their arrival to the stadium by performing “EC Victory.” Call to Port Call to Port is the name of the pregame concert performed by the band approximately 90 minutes before kickoff at Gate 5 plaza outside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium before each home game. Pirate fans can get a close-up of fan favorite school spirit and halftime tunes, and witness the band members’ dance moves and choreography skills.
sists of intricate pregame and halftime shows, which splendor in the brass are different at each game, plus about 40 songs that Horn player Jimmie Smith practices marching fundamentals during are played from the stands band camp. t Left: Color guard throughout the season. member Megan Burns leads the “Usually our incoming way as the 250-member band freshmen are not prepared performs marching drills. for the intensity and amount of performing that we do,” says Franklin. “Most come from high school bands who perform the same show throughout the entire season and play a much smaller play list of stand tunes.” The amount of time the Marching Pirates spend together has already created a family-like bond between not only the band members, but also with ECU. “We all leave [band camp] with a sense of pride for what purple and gold is all about and who the Pirates are,” says Derek Burcham, a senior information computer technology major and twirling drum major who is known for his crowd-pleasing high-kick strut to center field and mace toss. For freshman Emily Trapani, the most impressive and surprising part of her first ECU band camp experience has been the sense of community. “All the vets came in on our first day and sang the alma mater to all the rookies. It was really nice and welcoming.” Just the day before, she experienced another unexpected welcome. Ruffin McNeill paid the spirit teams on College Hill Field a visit. “I really liked how the football coach told us how much we mean to them.” Paula Rodgers, the senior piccolo section leader, also commented on McNeill’s support. “He acknowledges us at games and it’s great to have the support from the football teams.” The respect and support the members already have for each other is apparent. They cheered each other on during demonstrations and once the group heard “Relax” or “At ease” through the loudspeaker, chatting and horseplay immediately followed. “I’ll make a lot of long-lasting friends,” says Trapani. “When these students work, sweat, and perform together, it creates an experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else,” says Franklin. “I’m fortunate to work with some of the finest students and teaching assistants ECU has to offer.” p
east carolina university
Pirate Fans Dance When you hear “Hey, hey, Pirate fans, let me see your Pirate dance!” during a game, look over to the band to see a few band members run to the front of the band section to lead all the Marching Pirates in a choreographed dance. Pregame According to the Bleacher Report, the ECU Pirate football pregame show is ranked 28 of 120, which is in part due to the fight song, “EC Victory,” played by the Marching Pirates. The band performs a 15-minute pregame show that starts with a march to the scaffold by the drumline and sousaphone section playing “Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me.” Then, the drum major makes a high-kicking strut to the 40yard line and makes an acrobatic mace toss. This cues the entrance of the rest of the band members and “E-C-U!” chant. The band performs the traditional pregame fanfare toward the press box sections, the upper deck sections, and finally to the Boneyard section at the endzone before playing the beloved “EC Victory.” The band then splits into thirds to spell out E-C-U covering the entire length of Bagwell Field. The Marching Pirates go quickly into the outline of the state of North Carolina, starring Greenville. This is the formation in which the Marching Pirates perform the national anthem and the ECU “Alma Mater.” Finally, the band marches to a block formation to play “Here’s to the Pirates!” During the shout chorus, the block expands to spell out “P-I-R-A-T-E-S.” This is followed by the classic march “Purple Pageant” during which the Marching Pirates form a block outlined “EC” in the center of the field before moving the formation to the west endzone to create a tunnel for the Pirate football team and coaching staff to run though as they make their grand entrance to the field for game time. So You Think You Can Dance? Beginning in the 2010 season, the drumline began a tradition of performing a semi-choreographed dance routine to music that is played over the stadium loudspeakers. In the final few games of the season, this tradition expanded to other band sections and even to the students in the Boneyard. Cheers and Chasers The Marching Pirates play between most offensive and defensive plays during Pirate football games. The drumline and full band alternate downs when the Pirates are on defense with the drumline playing from a selection of cadences such as “One” and “Single Ladies.” The full band adds to the action with power-chord driven “chasers” and other swashbuckling tunes after second down. Of course, nothing punctuates a third down defensive hold like the traditional playing of the theme song from The Godfather! This information can also be found on the Marching Pirates’ website at www.ecu.edu/band.
PURPLE! 35
Don’t miss another exciting year !
stage door September 29–OctOber 4, 2011 By Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman
Bright lights and big-city dreams have brought this group of would-be actresses to New York. The hopes and ambitions of 16 young women are revealed in this bittersweet and witty comedy with lots of subplots. One gives up in despair, one gets married, but will any of them make it to Broadway? General Public – $12.50 ECU Student/Youth – $10
Scan for information and tickets.
NOvember 17–22, 2011
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Music by Richard Rodgers
Their first collaboration set the standards and established the musical theatre genre we know of today. It’s the story of the handsome cowboy and the winsome farm girl. Although the road to true love never runs smooth, with these two headstrong romantics holding the reins, love’s journey is 1as bumpy as a surrey Page 1 of ride down a country road. General Public – $15 ECU Student/Youth – $10
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Department for Disability Support Services at least 48 hours prior to the event at 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY). Printed on recycled paper with nonstate funds. Dates and titles subject to change.
Photo by Jenni Farrow
www.ecuarts.com * 252-328-6829
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september/october 2011
pirate spirit
michael litwin
cheerleading
Cheerleading tryouts draw record numbers michael litwin
dance team
they know they can dance
peedee photo by forrest croce
By Jessica creson nottingham
For three consecutive years, ECU’s dance team has received bids to compete in the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship (NDA) hosted in the spring in Daytona Beach, Florida. This year, the team finished second in the challenge cup with their performances in two Division 1A categories, dance and hip-hop, eliminating key schools like N.C. State. “The first priority for the dance team and for me is to support the university,” said Kristin Jefferies ’04, ’06, who is going into her eighth year as coach and was also on the dance team as a student at ECU. “However, it is really nice after working so hard to support others throughout the year to do something that represents our abilities in competition.” The team of 18 dancers works to prepare its routine for this competition up to 12 weeks beforehand. “The prep work really shows me how dedicated and talented the team is,” said Jefferies. “We perform so many times during the season for athletic events that we don’t always get to show off all of our talent. At nationals, it is all about technique and performance, and it really builds character in the team.” Since 2005, the dance team accompanies the ECU Marching Pirates during home and occasional away football games. They also perform at men’s and women’s basketball games and regular season baseball games at home. The team also participates in events, like Pirate Palooza and dance clinics for high school students. east carolina university
With record-breaking turnouts for the 2011–2012 East Carolina University cheerleading tryouts, the cheerleading squad is more competitive than ever. Each year, all previous and interested cheerleaders who meet the qualifications try out for the 36 spots on the all-girls and co-ed cheerleading squads. This spring, an overwhelming 98 men and women showed to fill the spots. Candidates traveled from as far as Florida and the state of Washington and ranged from incoming freshmen to rising seniors. The tryouts attracted such a high level of talented cheerleaders that some returning ECU cheerleaders did not make the team. “This was the toughest year for the judges,” said Susie Glynn, the head cheerleading coach for East Carolina. Third-party judges are brought in to assist in the selection process. The close-knit and family-like environment of the cheerleading squad is strong, which is appealing to candidates and lingers among alumni. “Just cheerleading alumni alone make up more than 200 season tickets a year,” said Glynn. — JCN
Do you have what it takes to be PeeDee the Pirate? Tryouts for the ECU mascot position will start at the end of August. If you are interested, contact Susie Glynn, ECU cheerleading and mascot head coach, via e-mail at glynns@ecu.edu or by calling 252-737-4510.
PURPLE! 37
ship’s log ecu archives
7-0 ... 70 years ago By bryan edge
November, 1941...
Under the leadership of football coach John Christenbury, East Carolina Teachers College finished its 1941 football season undefeated with a record of 7–0. ECTC defeated Tusculum College, Portsmouth Naval Apprentices, Western Carolina Teachers College, Naval Hospital, Erskine College, Bergen College, and Belmont Abbey College that year. ECTC had very little success in football prior to Christenbury’s arrival. In his first season as coach, he guided the 1940 Pirates to a 5–3 record. Players were not only learning how to win, but also how to conduct themselves on and off the football field from Christenbury. Players nicknamed their new coach “Honest John.” Shortly after the triumphant 1941 season ended, Pearl Harbor was attacked
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and the United States entered World War II. ECTC would not play football from 1942 through 1945. Despite his age of 37, Christenbury immediately enlisted in the Navy, which inspired his players to also join the armed forces in support of the war effort. One of these players, William M. A. Greene (No. 21), would graduate from ECTC in 1943 and serve 30 years in the United States Navy, eventually becoming an admiral. Christenbury’s fate was not so fortunate. Shortly after enlisting, he was killed in California when an ammunition ship exploded. The coach would be the only member of the 1941 team who did not return from the war. East Carolina’s Christenbury Gymnasium is dedicated to his memory and service. No Pirate football team, before or since, has ever matched the team known as “Honest John and the Unbeatable Pirates” of 1941.
p Christenbury’s crew The only Pirate football team to go undefeated, members of the 1941 squad drew inspiration from their coach, “Honest John” Christenbury (below). Christenbury, who enlisted in the Navy after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was killed tragically in an explosion on an ammunition ship.
ecu archives
september/october 2011
east carolina university
PURPLE! 39
fan-cam
fan-cam
A record crowd of 50,410 attended last year’s game against in-state rival N.C. State on October 16, 2010. East Carolina defeated the Wolfpack 33–27 in overtime after freshman defensive back Damon Magazu intercepted a pass on the last play of the game. photo by jay clark
40 PURPLE!
september/october 2011