Spring Football Notebook No. 13

By: Press Release | WNCT
Published: April 07, 2008

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina began its sixth and final week of spring workouts under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Skip Holtz and staff with a brisk two-hour session Monday afternoon on Hight Field inside the Cliff Moore Practice Complex.

The Pirates returned to action in shorts and helmets after conducting their second intra-squad scrimmage of the season Friday afternoon. After turning in its 13th practice of the spring period Monday, ECU has just one more workout scheduled before closing camp with the Purple-Gold Game Saturday.

Holtz opted to put the Pirates in shorts after Friday's physical contest for light correction work before returning to pads Wednesday.

"There have been a lot of positives this spring," Holtz said after having the chance to review film of the scrimmage. "There are still a lot of battles out there as the underclassmen are trying to prove which level they belong on. It's certainly been enjoyable to see the younger guys develop and grow during this process."

Holtz cited the play of sophomore cornerbacks Darryl Reynolds and Travis Simmons in particular as an example of the progress, a development that has enabled the Pirates to get a look at senior Leon Best at a safety position. Best started six of 13 games at corner in 2007, standing among the unit's top 10 tacklers with 41 stops while ranking second in interceptions.

After Wednesday's full-gear practice, East Carolina's coaching staff will conduct a player draft to select roster positions for the Purple-Gold Game, which is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

Tickets, which are priced at $5.00 for the contest or $10.00 with the addition of a plate of bar-b-cue from the Pigskin Pig-Out Party, can be purchased online at www.ECUPirates.com or by calling (252) 328-2300 locally or (800) DIAL-ECU outside the Greenville area.