East Carolina Pirates: 5 Critical Games for 2016

Nov 28, 2015; Greenville, NC, USA; East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Isaiah Jones (7) runs with the ball after a catch against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Cincinnati Bearcats defeated the East Carolina Pirates 19-16. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 30, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren looks on during the third quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the 2015 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. The Bulldogs defeated the Wolfpack 51-28. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

NC State Wolfpack – September 10

This game is important on several levels. First off it is NC State coming to Greenville to play the Pirates. It is an in-state rivalry with a big brother-little brother feel. Victory against Raleigh and the ACC is always a point of pride for the Pirates.

Yet there is another reason for this game. This is the testing ground. The Wolfpack are not likely to be top tier in the ACC this season, but they are going to be hovering just above or just below bowl eligibility at the end of the season. A victory over NC State would therefore suggest the Pirates would be a bowl team at the end of their own season.

The third reason this game is important is because we will learn what kind of coach Coach Montgomery is. Game 1 against Western Carolina will not likely tell us much, but this game has a real foe and give some hints on how the rest of the season will look.

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