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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Nov 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Tyler Harris (8) throws a pass in the second half against the East Carolina Pirates at Bright House Networks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

UCF Knights – October 1

No, I am not putting another matchup against the Hokies in this spot. ECU is in a conference for a reason. That reason is to win the conference championship and position itself for the Gang of Five bid into the Bowl Alliance games. You have to win conference games to do that.

The Knights are the first item on the conference schedule. They had a down year and ended the George O’Leary era at the school. They too have a new coach and new ideas to return to form in the AAC. Those ideas need to stop in Greenville at the start of October.

As beaten up as the Pirates may be, their conference destiny starts in this spot. It doesn’t matter if UCF is not the titan it once was. It is the first conference game, a new measuring stick for the team, and a chance to snatch momentum going into the rest of the conference schedule.

Next: Navy

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