Game to be tough 'final exam' for Pirates

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Sunday, December 23, 2007

HONOLULU ? The East Carolina Pirates conclude their weeklong journey to Hawaii today with the football season's final exam. One year to the day since ECU's 24-7 disappointment at the hands of South Florida at the PapaJohns.com Bowl, the Pirates stand at a critical juncture tonight when they square off with 10-2 Boise State in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

Today's 8 p.m. EST kickoff inside Aloha Stadium is perhaps the most pivotal game of the three-year coaching stint of Skip Holtz. A win against the favored Broncos tonight would mean an 8-5 finish to the season, trumping last season's promising 7-6 campaign.




That will be a tall order, of course, as the defending Fiesta Bowl champs from last season look to put a positive end to their own season after losing to Hawaii in late November putting a damper on the regular season.

Last year's Boise team not only went undefeated, but trumped the NCAA's Bowl Championship Series by becoming the first non-BCS program to play in a one of the series' bowl games. There, they upset Oklahoma to cap a dream season for first-year coach Chris Petersen.

Despite their underdog status, Holtz said the Pirates maintained focus throughout the week in Hawaii. "They've had fun with the bowl functions, laughing and carrying on, but at the same time, they understand the game aspect and what they have to do when we go to meetings and the focus that it's going to take and the mindset that it's going to take," Holtz said.

The ECU players enjoyed the ultimate vacation the last six days, living a life of luaus and leisure. That ends today, as the Pirates hope to cash in what would amount to the biggest upset of the Holtz era at East Carolina. Holtz tried to maintain as much as possible a normal game week format since the team arrived last Monday.

"We practiced extremely hard physically in pads for the three days before we got on the plane to get here, a lot of scrimmage work, and we got a couple of good days in pads here," Holtz said.

Boise State is possibly the most balanced opponent offensively the Pirates have faced since their September trip to play top 10 West Virginia. Senior quarterback Taylor Tharp passed for more than 3,000 yards before arriving in Honolulu, while junior running back Ian Johnson ? despite being slowed by injury ? surpassed the 1,000-yard mark this season.




The biggest hole in a potent Bronco attack is 1,000-yard wide receiver Jeremy Childs, one of three players suspended by Petersen and left at home in Idaho for the week.






On the other side, the Pirates hope senior tailback Chris Johnson's final collegiate game will be a memorable one.

After eclipsing the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career, Johnson led the nation in all-purpose yards and became a complete player as a senior.

"He's grown up physically and he's matured," Holtz said of his lead back. "The game has slowed down for him, and the more carries he gets the more things slow down and the more he starts to understand defenses. He's a talent."

Holtz was mindful it will take not only a big effort from Johnson, but also a consistent day from co-quarterbacks Patrick Pinkney and Rob Kass.

 

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Murphy: BSU's edge lies in keeping its blue-collar attitude


Near the end of one of Boise State's pre-Hawaii Bowl practices, coach Chris Petersen yanked the Broncos from the friendly, warm environs of the Caven-Williams Sports Complex and finished the workout on the frigid blue turf.

The coach with the master's degree in educational psychology was at it again, using every tool at his disposal to make sure the blue-collar Broncos maintain an edge.

"Three or four years ago, we were out there practicing, happy as a clam that we were going somewhere," Petersen said. "Now we're in the indoor (facility) where it's nice and cozy. I just don't want them to take anything for granted around here."

It's a constant concern for Petersen, who, perhaps more than any coach, is always looking for subtle clues about his team's collective mental state.

"It's all about keeping an edge, and keeping that chip on your shoulder, and that's easier said than done," he said.

So he looks for the smallest clue.

At practice. In team meetings. In the the football offices. In position meetings or chats with players.

At no time is a team's collective mindset more apt to wander, more apt to be less than mission-like, than during the long layoff before a bowl game.

There are finals to take. Grades to be assigned. Holiday plans to be made. Job rumors to be denied. Professional decisions to be made. And the rigid football schedule that has been in place since early August relaxes a bit.

It's no wonder bowl games are so wacky and unpredictable. And Sunday's Hawaii Bowl against East Carolina is likely to be no exception.

It's close to impossible to know what to expect from Boise State, a team that has not played in nearly a month. One that is depleted in the secondary because of injuries and at wide receiver because of suspension. One that openly talked about enjoying their bowl experience in Hawaii. One that is now the big favorite after years of being the underdog.

A rare bowl opponent with more to gain by beating the Broncos than Boise State has by beating them.

It's enough to turn a coach's hair prematurely gray. To make him not enjoy Hawaii's beauty and see only its potential pitfalls. To employ every motivational trick in his book.

The blue turf excursion during bowl preparation was meant, "To remind us where we came from," said wide receiver Tanyon Bissell, who must play a bigger role with the absence of leading receiver Jeremy Childs.

Said Jeron Johnson, one of the injured defensive backs: "We're taking it just like we're the underdog. ... It'll never change, as long as coach Petersen is here coaching us. He's instilled that in all of us."

Sufficiently aware of where they came from, the Broncos are hoping not to slip back Sunday.

A victory against a tough, explosive East Carolina team will give them an 11-win season, a spot in the final Top 25 polls and a boost entering next season's rankings. A loss and the Broncos will finish on a two-game losing streak and out of the year-end Top 25 for the second time in three seasons.

So even at the Hawaii Bowl - a prime example of the gluttonous bowl schedule - there's plenty at stake.

And that should be plenty of motivation for a program unaccustomed to taking anything for granted.