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Earlier this week I decided to go to my first away game. I have to say Dowdy-Ficklin Stadium has to be one of the toughest places to come in and play. Every break they are playing heavy smash mouth style music and never let the crowd rest. I swear the crowd was louder in the 4th than they were in the 1st. ECU is the real pirates cove. That being said,

Virginia Tech's defense was on point and is the only reason they escaped with a win. The offense used their size and endurance at the line to wear down ECU's defense and finally it broke in the 4th. The tailbacks were gashing ECU at the end but the defense shut ECU completely down the second half. Logan Thomas had some good plays but he was very chaotic including an interception in the end zone.

As a fan I was astounded at the verve of the pirates den and glad we got out of there with a win. As an analyst, the game should have never been that close. The lopsided rushing may have saved them but it shows a definitive weakness that definitely hurts them in my poll this week. They have some easier games to get it together and they'll be fine. I think their reservation on a spot in the national hunt takes a hit today.

As for ECU, I think they have an honest chance to make a run at a Conf USA title. UCF & SMU have to come into the pirates den. As the announcers and the scoreboard proudly boasted between quarters. "This is our house. This is our game."

I was happy to be on hand for Beamer's 200th win. It is a memory I'll carry with me for a while.

I've been to 5 games involving ECU - at Greenville twice (nice town), at Charlotte once and at Tech twice. That's five times I've witnessed ECU fans and they are the dumbest college football fans (maybe tied with UCF) on the planet. Yesterday, they booed the result of an official review when the play wasn't even a close call - it's pretty typical of them to cheer at the wrong time and boo the wrong thing. In '94, they rose to their feet and cheered loudly after our QB went down with an injury. And it wasn't because of a great hit. It was because a lineman fell on his leg. It's not just a few fans either - it's practically the entire fan base.

Yeah, I heard a few off comments as well. One of the fans said the only way they were gong to stop David Wilson was to break his legs. They were up in arms several times during the game. There was a kickoff when the fans were adamant the ball hit a hokie. I think the fans actually caused that replay. I had no way to refute what I was seeing as the replays, on the big screen, were pro-fan. When I got home and watched the game again there were several things I noticed. Virginia Tech racked up 12 penalties and ECU had 0. Specifically, Hosley intercepted a pass and then got called for Pass Interference. Even the booth people couldn't believe that call. There were several late hits on Thomas and Wilson that were not called on ECU. The cheap shot on Oglesby in the end zone was pretty nasty. You take a line inside the end zone to hit a runner IN the end zone and it's not called. Thomas was getting hit three and four seconds after he threw the ball. Granted quite a few bounced off. Then there was the play that was whistled dead for false start and the defender still came in and gave him a shot to the face. (Late hit, hands to the face?)

As for cheering at the wrong time, several cheered when Tech scored their first touchdown and then realized they were clapping for Tech. Every time ECU tried to pass East-West in the backfield the crowd would get irate. I agree, with VT's speed on defense and their well disciplined and coached players, it's was bad idea and it never worked for them. I'll admit I was sitting in the Pirate Club area where there is a minimum yearly donation required so I was exposed to the more devout and dedicated fans.