BGP listener and contributor, Kempton Smith, has done some extra homework on some of our opponents this season. This is the first of many future pieces analyzing App State football opponents.

Rivalry Renewed

As conference mates in the 1970s, East Carolina and App State were thought to be second-tier academically. Both were colleges that a reasonably dedicated NC high school student could count on getting in, and both had areas of specialization that would attract some first-choice decisions.

Today, both App and ECU have grown, prospered, and have attractive niches, yet they have not lost their original identities that made them special. This could easily be a better rivalry than UNCC or Coastal. However, to be rivalry, our side has to win again.

Comparing History and Position

We have similar origins. Both App and ECU started as Teachers Colleges. ECU began classes in 1908 (almost a decade after App) as the East Carolina Teachers Training School. By 1920, it became a 4-year institution and was renamed East Carolina Teacher’s College (ECTC). In 1967 ECTC governing body felt it had grown beyond the vision of the legislature. East Carolina College (ECC) operated independently of the UNC Board of Governors. It returned to the UNC System in 1972, about the same time the state authorized it to begin teaching Medical Students. By the 1980s, they were accredited in some areas of medical specialization.

Today, ECU reports 28k+ students enrolled (App at 20k). Beyond size, the most significant differences academically between the schools is that ECU has a Medical School, a Dental School, and more Masters-level offerings. For undergrads, our entrance requirements are similar.

External Recognition

Both App State and ECU are well-recognized but in different categories.

Appalachian is highly ranked among the 134 in the SE Region:

# 6 Regional Universities

# 2 Best Undergrad Training

# 21 Best Value School

# 1 Most Innovative School

# 3 Best Public Schools

ECU is number 217 (of 388) on the rankings in the National University Category.

Notable Alumni

Notable Pirates include:

Authors: Rick Atkinson and Dan Neil (Pulitzer Prize-winning authors)
Screenwriter Kevin Williamson, creator of Scream and Dawson’s Creek
Entertainment Executive: Vince McMahon (WWE)
Musical Performer: Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers
Entertainer: Sandra Bullock (Miss Congeniality, The Blind Side, Hope Floats, Oceans (and various other screen projects) And Nia Imani Franklin, American composer and Miss America 2019
First-round draft pick Chris Johnson (Tennessee Titans)

Notable Mountaineers include:

Philanthropist and Minister: Franklin Graham
Authors Charles Frazier (award-winning author of Cold Mountain) Stephen J. Dubner (award-winning author of Freakonomics, journalist, and media personality)
Musical Performers Eric Church and Luke Combs (CMA Award-winners)
Olympian: Melissa Morrison-Howard, Mary Jane Harrelson (US Track and Field medalists)
Professional Coaches & Analysts: Alvin Gentry, NBA Coach, Daniel Jeremiah, Analyst NFL Network
NFL Players/Draft Picks: Bjorn Nittmo, Dexter Coakley, Dexter Jackson, Corey Lynch, Dino Hackett, John Settle, Armanti Edwards, Colby Gossett, Darrynton Evans, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Shemar Jean-Charles

Surrounding Lifestyle

Student life gets some identity from the surrounding community. App has the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone, and Watauga County. ECU’s surroundings are the Tar River, Greenville (NC), and Pitt County. The coastal plain of eastern NC is primarily farming. If you have not been there, it is hot, it is humid, it rarely snows, there are few hills of any significance, and it is not on the coast. There’s not much to do in Greenville, especially outdoors.

For most mountain-loving folks, comparing the two areas is like comparing a county fair to Disney World. The Boone area has so much to offer in all seasons. The evolution from Appalachian State Teacher’s College to the university today has been influenced by the students, faculty, and administrators who share a love for the fantastic surroundings of the high country.

Football Culture: Parking Lot, Stands, Scoreboard

Comparing Tailgating, the In-Stadium experience, Boosters, and Football expenditures

Good football culture comes from a loyal, engaged fanbase. No doubt, both teams have that, but ECU may have an edge here.

Parking Lot

Both teams are known around the state for good game day experiences in the parking lot. Like App, ECU’s stadium is on-campus, and many boosters contribute to get preferred parking. Game day parking lots in town fill early. Most lots sell out. Tents go up, food is cooked, and full coolers are emptied. While some fans may continue tailgating into pre-game warm-up, few will be late for kickoff.

Stands

In the Stands, the Pirate fans have nationally recognized traditions. When the Pirates take the field at home, the cannon booms, and Jimi Hendrix “Purple Haze” blares on the sound system as smoke creates a purple haze over the stadium. During the transition to the 4th quarter, the pirate flag for “no quarter” is raised. The flag’s message is that no prisoners of the battle will receive quarters (lodging). A national sportswriter with no ties to ECU gave them a decent acknowledgment of the in-stadium atmosphere.

Appalachian’s in-stadium traditions include the team’s entry video, “Welcome to the Rock” followed by the fight song and fireworks. Also of note, Bugler’s Dream is played during App kickoffs, with fan’s pointing in the direction we want the ball to go after the kickoff (toward our endzone). This tradition dates back to the early 80s when the kickoff specialist Bjorn Nittmo was new to football. Legend has it that the bench started this as a joke to help Bjorn remember which way to kick.

Scoreboard

App football does not need much introduction. The Mountaineers had one losing season since 2000, posted 8 of the last 10 seasons with double-digit wins, and were nationally ranked in 3 of the previous four years. They have outright won or shared the conference title 4 years since joining the Sunbelt six years ago and have 3 national championships during the FCS days. App has not missed going to a bowl since becoming eligible, and has not lost.

ECU’s recent football results are below standard as compared to App. Since 2000 ECU has had only 7 winning seasons and none since 2013. Over the span, the Pirates won 3 of 10 bowl games since 2000 and were nationally ranked twice.

ECU’s most recent winning seasons were under coach Ruffin McNeill, an ECU alum with ties to App. (His resume includes 7 years on the App State football coaching staff.) McNeill led the Pirates in four of ECU’s winning seasons. Peaking in 2013, the team posted a 10-3 record including wins over both UNC and NCSU. In 2014, the Pirates fell to 8-5, and he was dismissed from the program during the 2015 season. The ECU AD said that Pirate fans expected more wins. Many in Pirate nation felt the termination was short-sighted, given significant injuries may have led to the decline.

Boosters

Despite the coaching controversy and losing seasons, ECU’s fanbase continued to grow and contribute. They raised $32,866,955 in 2016 in capital and operational contributions, with $7.8m of that designated for the annual fund (athletic operations and scholarships). Donations to the annual fund continued to grow through 2019. Both 2018 and 2019 contributions for operations exceeded $14m. The Pirate Club today has over 17,436 members. (Source: Pirate Club Fundraising reports)

Supporters of ECU can be persuasive both politically and in fund raising. Pirate nation proved to be effective politically, with football games as a motive. In the 1990s, the ECU fan based complained to legislators that NCSU and UNC would not play them. By 1997 the Legislature passed a law requiring that NC State and UNC play games against ECU.

The Yosef Club (now called the Mountaineer Athletic Fund) contributed over $3.9m in 2020 for athletic operations and scholarships. This number is down slightly from the $4.3m average in 2018 and 2019. The Yosef club reports membership of 2,700.

Football Budgets

In 2019, ECU reported a total “Major Athletics” expense of $56.28m, with $15m spent specifically on football operations. App spent $37.77m on Major Athletics and almost $10m on football in 2019.

Ticket revenues at ECU are also nearly double App States ($6.19m to $3.23m) (Source: Knight Commission Database on Intercollegiate Athletics)

Pirate pride for football flourishes despite consecutive losing football seasons. They compete with the Mountaineer faithful in the categories of fans and stands. ECU boosters are much greater in number and out-contribute the Yosef Club by a wide margin.

History On The Field: ECU vs App

Back in the 60s to mid-70s, both ECU and Appalachian were part of the Southern Conference. They were rivals, playing “home and homes” every year. Since ECU left the SoCon, they have not played in Boone. Twice in the last 20 years, App has traveled to the coastal plain for games with the Pirates. Both times App returned home with a loss. The trend is worse as you go back further. ECU has won the last six in a row, but you must go back 40 years in history to find 6 games. What once was a great rivalry in the SoCon could return. We have a lot in common. Our fan bases are engaged, determined, passionate!

Final Thoughts

When comparing the Parking Lot, Stands, and Scoreboard App State and ECU both have strong showings but App State is probably stronger currently when it comes to the Parking Lot. Both schools are strong in the Stands and with a larger stadium and more season tickets perhaps ECU is slightly in the lead. But when it comes to scoreboard, it’s not even close. App State has the upper hand with on field results.

This. One. Matters. It is for more than in-state bragging rights. It is more than a Sunbelt vs. an AAC program. ECU has not played App in Boone in over 40 years and insisted on a neutral field this year. They will finally travel to Kidd Brewer in 2023. Let’s help their underclassmen anticipate what to expect in ’23.

Go App! BEAT ECU.