[Rooster Cogburn]

Hearing there was a pirate captain sighting in Greenville tonight

[ToTheLeft]

How about Danny Rocco to MTSU? Do we need a thread for that?

[JK37]

Hearing there was a pirate captain sighting in Greenville tonight

If Leech is hired, ECU will officially be my third-favorite college football program!

(And coming full-circle, I'd bet ESPN would televise his debut.)

[ToTheLeft]

Hearing there was a pirate captain sighting in Greenville tonight

If Leech is hired, ECU will officially be my third-favorite college football program!

(And coming full-circle, I'd bet ESPN would televist his debut.)

I hate to be that guy, but...

[SuperJon]

If Leech is hired, ECU will officially be my third-favorite college football program!

And they'd quickly move from the 3rd best program in the state to likely the best.

[JK37]

Hearing there was a pirate captain sighting in Greenville tonight

If Leech is hired, ECU will officially be my third-favorite college football program!

(And coming full-circle, I'd bet ESPN would televist his debut.)

I hate to be that guy, but...

I'm lost...the typo? Or do I have my rumors crossed?

[ToTheLeft]

Yeah, just the typo. Nothing else to see here but my lame attempt at continue a trend that fell on it's face.

I agree tho, ECU with Mike Leach would be headline city for ESPN. Maybe Craig James could do color commentary.

[Sly Fox]

BoneyardBanter.com is now awash in references to Coach Rocco and most are surprised that his name is not being mentioned more by the media.

[SuperJon]

BoneyardBanter.com is now awash in references to Coach Rocco and most are surprised that his name is not being mentioned more by the media.

You're just trying to create more drama. There are two threads about Rocco on the first page, and one of them is almost completely saying that Rocco isn't the guy while the other is saying they'd rather have Lembo than Rocco. They're enamored with Stockstill and Bowden.

[Sly Fox]

When I posted my comment, one of those threads took up nearly a third of the front page. And the point of my post was to note that the media isn't giving his candidacy any traction.

[bigsmooth]

i think we are safe. i totally forgot about stockstill and his ECU ties. it appears their are some bigger names that will get this job...but who knows!!

[Sly Fox]

Report: Stockstill says he's spoken to ECU officials
By Nathan Summers
The Daily Reflector
Saturday, January 16, 2010

East Carolina appears on track to launch a thorough, but likely very quick canvass of the nation in search of a new head football coach, and appears poised to begin interviewing candidates Monday.

Two days after Skip Holtz announced he was leaving the Pirates to become South Florida’s head coach, the list of possible replacements was lengthy but there was at least one seeming favorite — Middle Tennessee State head coach and former Pirate assistant Rick Stockstill.

Despite reports Saturday suggesting Stockstill might have interviewed for the position, the timeline of Saturday’s events doesn’t support that theory.

And here is the mention of our coach ...

Other possible candidates include Bowling Green head coach Dave Clawson, Temple head coach Al Golden, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden, former Boston College head coach and ECU staffer Jeff Jagodzinski, former Texas Tech defensive coordinator and ECU alum Ruffin McNeil, Oklahoma offensive coordinator and Wilson native Kevin Wilson, Liberty head coach Danny Rocco and Navy defensive coordinator and Charlotte native Buddy Green.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

In his online message, Holland didn’t mention any potential candidates by name but evaluated different kinds of coaches and why he was or wasn’t looking in that particular direction.

Of the five groups he mentioned, Holland said his focus was “on those coaches who have taken over tough situations and who have built strong programs from the ground up with the assumption they may be there for the rest of their lives.”

Coaches that have been rumored to be candidates for the ECU job that appear to fit in this category include Stockstill, Liberty’s Danny Rocco, Grambling State’s Rob Broadway and Bowling Green’s Dave Clawson.

Click Here for Full Story

[Zeus69]

It would not shock me if Rocco ended up at ECU. Greenville is a great place and the university will put their full support behind him. Would be ironic since I left ECU to go to LIberty, but hey isnt life funny?

[pcguy09]

i know its not the most reliable scoop, but footballscoop is reporting that Rocco was supposed to interview, and now they are reporting that Stockstill will be the new coach. Take your deep breaths now flamefans

[Libertine]

i know its not the most reliable scoop, but footballscoop is reporting that Rocco was supposed to interview

Wrong. This was reported by Footballcoachscoop.com which is a slightly less reliable source than a magic 8-ball.

[pcguy09]

yeah thats what i meant, i went back to check to make sure i had the right one and didn't correct myself. And you're right, footballcoachscoop is horrible.

[Sly Fox]

A station in Nashville where one of my old assistants does sports is reporting that Stockstill has received an offer. I am trying to get more details but it appears the job is his for the taking.

[Sly Fox]

If my buddy's station is correct, then former Richmond coach Clawson is their backup plan at ECU.

News 2 has learned the other candidate for the head job at East Carolina is former Tennessee offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, who is now the head coach of Bowling Green State University.

Click Here for Full Story

[Racenut]

...been a life long Pirate fan and think that Rocco is our best choice. But my daughters will be attending LU in the future so I would like to see him stay. However, if he continues to be successful, he will be moving up in the near future and I would want him in Greenville should that occur. What's a fan to do? For now, I will not be pushing Rocco on the ECU message board, but I still believe that he would be an awesome choice.

[Sly Fox]

Coach Rocco is an outstanding coach and we are ridiculously fortunate to have him.

Welcome to the board!

[givemethemic]

The watch continues... Stockstill withdraws name from ECU coaching search
Earns second TSWA Coach of the Year award
Athletic Communications
Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill withdrew his name today from the coaching search at ECU. ()


MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill announced this morning that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the head coaching vacancy at East Carolina University.

Stockstill, who was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year today, led the Blue Raiders to a 10-3 season and a win over Southern Miss in the New Orleans Bowl in 2009. Stockstill, who also earned Sun Belt Conference Co-Coach of the Year honors this season, has twice been named SBC and TSWA Coach of the Year (2006 and 2009) in his four years at the helm.

Stockstill is currently on the road recruiting and has issued the following statement:

"I am very humbled and appreciative of the interest East Carolina University has shown in me about their head coaching position. ECU is an outstanding University, community, and its football program has a great tradition and has been very successful throughout the years.

"The timing is never good for a coach to change jobs. However, the timing of this opportunity came at a critical time in recruiting with both universities and to the fault of neither MTSU nor ECU.

"I have decided I will remove my name from consideration at ECU. I could not look in the eyes of these recruits and their families and tell them the things I believe in and what I want them to believe in and then leave Middle Tennessee with only two weeks left in the recruiting process. Also, I have so much respect and admiration for our current players that they were ultimately the reason I could not pursue this any further. We have invested a lot together during these four years which played a major role in this decision.

"Personally, I want to thank Dr. (Sidney) McPhee, Chris (Massaro), and Middle Tennessee for giving me the opportunity to be the coach of the Blue Raiders. They gave me a chance to be a head coach four years ago and I will always be grateful for that opportunity."

[olldflame]

I have to say that I have a lot of respect for a coach turning down what is clearly a better job for the reasons Stockstill stated. Of course the timing is not going to be any better for any other college head coach ECU might offer the job to at this point.

[Rooster Cogburn]

WOW, what a great statement. Now where does Terry look? I hope not Northwest.

[4everfsu]

I have to say that I have a lot of respect for a coach turning down what is clearly a better job for the reasons Stockstill stated. Of course the timing is not going to be any better for any other college head coach ECU might offer the job to at this point.

I agree, nice to see a head coach with some values. Rick makes FSU proud.