Eight bowl opponents highlight 2006 ECU football schedule

Published in Sports on February 10, 2006 2:20 PM

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GREENVILLE -- Eight contests against bowl participants, including home games against Nokia Sugar Bowl winner West Virginia and Virginia, highlight East Carolina's 2006 complete football schedule released Thursday by Conference USA.

In addition, the Pirates will open the season against the nation's top-ranked rushing attack when they meet Navy in Annapolis on Sept. 2 before closing the year by renewing their 23-game rivalry with Atlantic Coast Conference member North Carolina State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh on Nov. 25.

East Carolina's schedule will also feature a six-week stretch of five consecutive games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, a first in school history. On the back end, the Pirates will play four of their last five games on the road.

Of the eight bowl opponents on ECU's schedule, seven recorded victories in December and January. In addition to the Midshipmen (Poinsettia), Cavaliers (Music City), Wolfpack (Meineke Car Care) and Mountaineers, who posted a 38-35 win over Georgia, the Pirates will also face off against Conference USA post-season winners Memphis, Southern Miss and Tulsa.

"Needless to say, I'm excited about our non-conference schedule and the opportunity to spend nearly a month and a half of the season without leaving Greenville," ECU head coach Skip Holtz said.

2006 EAST CAROLINA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

9/02 at Navy

9/09 at UAB*

9/16 MEMPHIS*

9/23 WEST VIRGINIA (ESPN/ESPN2)

10/07 VIRGINIA

10/14 TULSA*

10/21 SMU*

10/28 at Southern Miss*

11/04 at UCF*

11/11 MARSHALL*

11/18 at Rice*

11/25 at N.C. State

Home games in ALL CAPS; *Conference USA game; game times will be established upon future television scheduling

ECU Sports Information