East Carolina Pirates: Ruffin McNeill Out After Six Seasons

Nov 27, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman holds up the AAC West Division Champion Trophy after the Cougars defeated the Navy Midshipmen 52-31 at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Third, the American Athletic Conference was enjoying success as a whole while the Pirates took a step backward. Temple, Navy, and Houston were mentioned as New Year’s Day bowl contenders at different times during the year. Memphis got its share of positive press.

Nowhere were the Pirates in that conversation. As the Pirates AD Jeff Compher said, “Our expectations are to play for championships.”

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