East Carolina UniversityAthletics Facts & Statistics

NCAA Division I-A

Football: Conference USA
Basketball: Conference USA

Purple and gold

PeeDee the Pirate

262 - 3%

182 - 2%

Football: 85
Basketball: 26
Baseball: 27
Cross Country/Track: 44
Other Sports: 141

Football: 60%
Basketball: 67%
Baseball: 50%
Cross Country/Track: 67%
Other Sports: 64%

Football is probably the most widely popular sport, but baseball is running a close second because they have actually had consistent wins recently. Basketball is popular, too, and sometimes the women are better than the men. Of course, the popularity of ECU's varsity teams depends on their win/loss record, but even that does not necessarily discourage the fans. Basketball has begun to emerge as a popular sport due to the team's recent success.

In general, the club sports are overlooked at ECU, yet they are sometimes more deserving of attention and have better records than the varsity teams. The club rugby teams are especially serious about the game and serious about celebrating their wins. Do not anger a rugby player, male or female. Softball is also a very overlooked.

As far as sports are concerned, no matter how bad the teams are and how much students complain about the sports teams, there are still fans (usually alumni) who will paint themselves purple and gold or wear all sorts of tacky purple and gold apparel, like a purple suit coat, yellow shirt, and purple and yellow striped tie. Sometimes the Pirate pride that accompanies athletics programs at ECU is almost frivolous, like the yards and yards of custom carpet in the club level at the football stadium, the surreal area where the carpet is purple with pirate hats all over it. Pirate pride is sometimes a mask to collect money from students, especially the unsuspecting orientation students, for Student Pirate Club membership. Joining the Student Pirate Club is a good way to meet other students, but new students should not be fooled by the cheery recruiters who may make the SPC sound better than other student organizations.

Signing up to be in the Student Pirate Club automatically gets your tickets for basketball and football games. It is something everyone should sign up for, so you don't have to wait in the long lines, or worry about the football games being sold out, because some of them are.

The Mall is beautiful, especially in the early morning or late afternoon. Fifth Street is pleasant, except during rush hour, and it is wonderfully shaded by the large trees that line both sides of the street. The Greenway system, which begins at Elm Street Park and ends at Greensprings Park, provides a quiet trail for walking, running, or biking, and expansion plans have been presented to the City Council. The Town Common features a river walk along the Tar River, five blocks from campus, down near the Willis Building and Town Creek Bridge.