I was perusing on Facebook last night and came across a post that a friend of mine had commented on (Thanks Facebook for letting me know what my friends comment on, by the way). The ECU Football page posted an article from Gobbler Country, written obviously by a Hokie fan. Interesting tone to this article, and there are parts that I necessarily do not agree with- as if the author doesn't respect ECU.
I know we have played ECU a thousand times. In my opinion, their fans are great (not to mention, the ECU co-ed's, amirite?), ECU football is exciting, and I do respect the talent on the field and the job their coaching staff has done.
This has certainly got the ECU fans fired up calling it "Bulletin Board Material."
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Wow...I don't know where to begin, but I will say that I'm glad the editors on our site provide intelligent insight and respect to all our opponents, regardless of quality. Also, it looks really bad when one of their main editors, in fact their equivalent of Joe, is trash talking every ECU fan that comments on the post. Thank God for TKP!
This rebuttal would never come out of any of the TKP guys here... The editor of GC is obviously a bad apple in our fan base...
I refuse to defend GC. Those guys spent a good month after the Buzz Williams hire putting out daily articles to why it was an awful decision to fire James Johnson and hire Buzz.
Every time something about VT that comes out that might shine us in a negative light, they take the stance that shines us in the worst light and they run it into the ground.
Yeah, I used to read that blog years ago, before it was tied to SBNation. It was ok, but once I discovered TKP I did not find much reason to go to any other VT blogs.
I never read GC much, but I could definitely see where this describes them perfectly...
The arrogance/cocky is what irritated me with this article- TKP spoils us, because arrogance and cockiness are no part of the topics posted or discussed here, which makes it great
I like SBN sites. I am a regular member of the Auburn and Texas Rangers sites, and they are both decent to very good. GC is atrocious. I tried to read it last year, but their contributors and commenters are SUCH a beating that I couldn't stick with it.
The article reads as if it was written by an arrogant, elitist Bama fan, not a Hokie. They need to revisit what it means to be a Hokie outside of watching 18 to 22 year olds play sports. Because damn.
**EDIT** I did post a comment on that article under the usernam "Straw_Man". I couldn't help myself as I was already a "member" of the site.
The editor of the site is falling over himself trying to pat himself on the back for having a great site.
Well, whatever makes you happy. Just keep your commenters over there because we don't want them here.
Read your comments - well stated. Thanks! Exactly what was needed to be relayed to those guys.
Well done.
Thanks. Just about to close down the window and be done with the discussion. The editor there clearly doesn't respond well to criticism on his site, and won't listen when people tell him he's wrong for posting something.
I for one hope we stop giving the page views for the rest of the season. I don't like seeing VT-centric sites do poorly, but this article was in such poor taste that a message needs to be sent.
**EDIT** Just pulled up the editor's last comment. A couple things jump out at me.
1) He doesn't believe that he as the editor is responsible for the tone of his writers' articles. That's no how it works.
2) He refers to TKP as homer-esque which really is just saying it's a VT website for VT fans. Oh wait, GC is the same thing.
3) He seems to take pride in Gobbler Country being different just because they want to be different. Which is fine, but articles like this are counter productive to his desire to be heard as a dissneting/contrary voice/website.
Another bookmark deleted. Good riddance.
Have a leg for showing some Hokie respect
Yep, I remember just how far in the bag GC was for Johnson. Their 'perspective', if you want to call it that, is extremely skewed.
As my Mom would say, "If you don't have anything nice to say it's best to say nothing at all".
I stopped reading after the first paragraph.
If they want to use it to get fired up, more power to them. If Beamer was quoted as saying something along these lines, that would be something to get fired up about.
Instead he probably said "Those Pirates; they'll get afta ya. They got a great program down there, McNeil is doing great things, lots to be worried about with this QB..they play us close and bring the best out of both teams..looking forward to a good game in Lane...make sure to use Ntelos...shop at Stop-In...etc.etc"
Are you coaching him up like Nuke Laloosh? That was spot on. Leg.
Pretty disrespectful article IMO...
Didn't make it past "Chokies".
It hurts deep down to hear that
I didn't think Tech fans used that term, especially in the present tense.
While I am tired of playing ECU every year, and don't consider it a rivalry, I doubt the "Bullien Board Matieral" aspect of it will get the Pirates fired up anymore for this game than they already are. Those kids will come to play, regardless. If you are playing at ECU, you likely did not have any Power 5 conference scholarship offers, so I expect all of them to come in with a chip on thier shoulders.
They play us hard every year, which is actually one of the reasons I am getting tired of the series. There is more downside to a loss than upside to a win.
I understand your point about downside/upside, but ECU is a pretty solid bet to be a bowl team year in and year out. Last year they won 10 games. I'd rather lock in a game guaranteed to be against a top 50 opponent than fill that spot with more directional Michigans.
On top of that, the fan base is passionate, it's not a terrible trip to Greenville where you will find a plus tailgating atmosphere with friendly foes, and, as stated above, the co-eds really know how to make a sundress and cowboy boots work. I can think of far worse opponents to play each year.
EDITED> Seems I may be the only one that has had positive experiences down there, based on responses below. Carry on.
Just going to leave this here...
I love that this site keeps it classy.
I will say this about that article:
It was full of "D".
I'll stick with TKP, and Hokies Respect.
To quote one of the OSU fans that came over here "every fanbase has their assholes"
This one just has a bigger megaphone.
Look, I'm not going to say the article should have run...
But as someone who deals with a bunch of ECU fans on the regular down here, I'm not going to claim I wouldn't have wanted to pen one just like this myself. They are a very, very arrogant bunch who is overly in-your-face about how highly they think of themselves. They liken themselves to THE best fanbase in the history of fanbases, and will ensure you hear about it every opportunity they get. When they beat us in Charlotte way back when, the behavior I saw out of them was... well, I'll just say it was eye opening how little they are used to winning big games despite acting like they do it all the time. They were fingers in your face, screaming about how much you suck from seats to cars. When we went to their house the next year, and we won the game, there were numerous 'fuck you's and 'go back home you fucking Hokie' directed at me for doing nothing more than walking back to my car.
They are a 3rd tier university in this state, (Tier 1 - Duke & UNC... Tier 2 - NCSU, Wake... Tier 3 - ECU, UNCW, Charlotte) and they act like they're the holy grail of institutions. I can't wait for this series to be over so we don't have to deal with those fans anymore. They're the UVa academic braggards of the sports world.
This times a million. They act that way because they crave something they don't (and will probably never) achieve...relevance.
i feel your pain man its horrible down here in nc sometimes. i refuse to talk crap to any fanbase because ive seen vt lose games we shouldnt before and that feeling is horrible. but a majority of ecu fans that ive encountered are horrible for talking crap to other fans.
Yeah, I went down to Greenville for the VT game in 2011, and I'll just say they're less than welcoming to Tech fans. I'm pretty sure they burn maroon and orange shirts to start their BBQs in the offseason.
That sort of vitriol reminds me of some alternative universe where VT and LOLUVA reversed roles. It's definitely a one-sided rivalry, although I think it would be a lot more fun if they were in a power 5 conference.
P.S. The babes and Cookout trays made the whole trip worth it. 10/10.
P.P.S. In fact that should be their motto "Co-ed Babes and Cookout Trays. East Carolina University."
While I understand your venom - I wouldn't call them a tier 3 school behind Duke, UNC, NCSU, and Wake...if the played that schedule every year I would see them going 3-1 or 2-2 almost every year. They most definitely are a top Tier 2 team and we aren't at the top of Tier 1, yet. To me their is a major difference in disliking a fanbase and disrespecting a football team. I can not stand the WVU fanbase team, but whenever we play them I know there's a chance we lose, because they hate us just as much.
I meant they were Tier 3 in an academic sense. Football-wise, I agree, they probably are the best program in the state (which says more about UNC and NCSU than anything).
My apologies - I see the UVA braggards of academics post at the end now. Makes much more sense.
I always find it extremely 'hoo-ish' to bring academics into a discussion about football program superiority as an excuse to downgrade some other program. Why? Because that's the first excuse the hoos grab when they discuss our program. I REALLY don't enjoy seeing Hokies pull a hoo card on other schools.
I think he was speaking of academics.
I agree....last time I was down in Greenville (2 years ago) I was told that VT was probably my "fall back" school. And how ECU is far superior in academics. Before that (4 years ago I think).....we had people walk by our tailgate and cuss us out. And even attempted to steal stuff from us as we were packing up. I don't have a lot of positives things to say about their fans.
Yup, they certainly are a violent bunch down there at ECU. I went to that night game down there when they debuted that pirate in the state logo they use at midfield when we beat them pretty good. We had a couple rows slowly clear out because one of their fans started getting very vocal and violent that the game wasn't going the way he expected, and his g'f couldn't control him.
Speaking of which, just went to the GC comments and saw this:
Internet Tough Guys... gotta love it
Can we finally get an Alum mute button?
One thing I am concerned with is the superiority complex. There really is no need for it. If you think you're better, you don't need to berate someone else to prove it.
Some (ok, maybe many) UVA fans have a severe superiority complex feeling the need to criticize "those farmboys" at VT. Berating ECU is very UVA-like, and really, just classless.
I lived in Cary for a couple years and worked in Raleigh, with an ECU grad. He was a good guy, but had a HUGE inferiority complex when it came to ECU vs other NC schools. It started with academics and spilled over into athletics. At the time, none of the state schools played ECU in any sport. It helped develop a fan base that's a little "over the top" in the way that they view themselves.
Agreed 100%. A good amount of my family are big ECU fans and I have a relative who graduated there so I usually pull for them when I can but that said I can't stand the rest of their fanbase. In the years we beat them you could congratulate them on a hard fought game and they would go on to say how overrated VT for playing them close when in reality they were picking ECU to win. I don't hate their fans, but they can be extremely annoying and come off as jealous from time to time. I do enjoy them making fun of UNCheat, however.
Yeah, one of my best friends on the Earth is an ECU alum. He's actually told me he won't give to their athletic dept because of how he's seen Pirates treat opposing fans, especially one specific incident with another friend of ours who is an NCSU fan. That being said I read some of what people are typing in this thread and just smh. I've certainly seen Tech fans starts shit for no reason with opposing fans.
Your experiences are far different than the numerous times I've been down to Greenville wearing maroon and orange. Then again, seems more people agree with you than me, so maybe I've just been lucky.
I actually read the entire article, but it wasn't easy. I saw a few shiny objections, thought about bunnies, and ate a gummy worm or two and had to start over a few times.
In the end, it was pretty funny if you take it for what it is: the babbling of an uninformed guy who had one too many natty lights, got fired up, pulled out the thesaurus and macbook and went to town.
Awww, are the pirates all butthurt all of a sudden? They know they're going to lose.
I did see one comment on the article to the effect of, don't worry, the ECU series will be replaced with a long series with ODU. I sure hope not (despite the recruiting advantages of playing in such a fertile recruiting area for us, I don't want another 10 year OOC series with anyone)
Well, we're playing them 7 times from 2017-2025.
Right, I almost forgot (may have blocked it out of my mind).
Oh well, like I said though, good to play there for recruiting reasons. Lots of recruits in that area can come see us play in their back yard.
Considering the amount of recruits and students that come out of that area, I'd much prefer ODU to ECU. ODU and VT were the only colleges I considered, so I love when the two schools play. And now they have football, so it makes it that much better.
YESS^^^^ I was literally just thinking this
it was pretty damn relevant response to that article. how does that guy not remember losing to them and playing close in almost all games recently? also they were super supportive after 4/16. and in the scheme of things, we haven't done jack squat in years to muster up that self-fart-sniffing mentality that writer/editor portrays.
The column sounds like something written by a teen boy who never was good enough to make his HS team in any sport. Now he feels empowered by insulting other schools. Not that long ago, we were kindred spirits with ECU in football. Well, two decades ago. For many on here, I understand that is nearly a lifetime ago. But for many Hokies, we know exactly the desire of the Pirate fan base to 'become relevant' as someone above said.
ECU might not be a Public Ivy, as if that even matters when discussing football (it does NOT). They might not play in a Power 5 conference. They do have a passionate fan base. A little excessive at times, but certainly not to the level of WVU. ECU fans are no worse than NC State fans or Clemson fans or Maryland fans. Their program would not be a cellar dweller in the ACC.
I'd much prefer playing them than playing all these MAC schools or WCU/AppSt/W&M/Liberty/etc. They test us. They're a notch below us, but they test us.
Lack of leadership?
I'm really curious what the author thought he should have said that could have "changed VT history." While I don't necessarily think Sean Glennon demonstrated a natural ability to lead, I don't think he could have said it better than this.
The fact that the author felt the need to take a shot at Sean Glennon for his "lack of leadership" after the April 16th tragedy is childish, stupid, and mean-spirited.
Really hope I never accidentally click another of his links, because screw that noise.
That reminded me of all those pathetically stupid people who read an article about Glennon a few years after he graduated from VT and was working in the DC area. The scumbags then trolled him online incessantly and even called his place of work harassing him. Keep in mind - they all thought they were loyal Hokie fans.
You have to wonder if the guy cringes whenever he thinks of VT. Such a disturbing example of insanity by those far too numerous.
Especially considering how his little sister could have easily been among the number that day.
Piling on a bit here, but I went to ECU in 2010 and it was by far the worst away game experience I have EVER had.
Their fans were horrible to us. Within 10 minutes of being there I'd already had people crack jokes about 4/16 and we had to move our tailgate because fans wouldn't stop harassing us. The game itself was even worse, I saw a group of male ECU fans attack a female VT fan, had an elderly woman cuss me out (when I asked her why she was yelling at me, she said "Because you're a fucking Hokie!"), was shoved by multiple fans while standing in line for concessions...I could go on. One of the people in our group went and found a police officer and requested he come to our section because we didn't feel safe. Some dude threatened to throw me off the upper deck for standing and cheering while we were on defense and tried to come after me when I told him I was just cheering for my team.
I'll never, ever go back to Greenville and I absolutely LOATHE ECU. I've never been to Morgantown or to a WVU/VT game but they fit the exact description of what I've heard about the Mountaineers.
I hope we win by a billion.
I had the exact opposite experience .. I lived in NC for several years, and watched VT play in Greenville multiple times going all the way back to 2000 .. and I always had a great experience there
Even before then. I remember we kicked their asses back in '98.
I've encountered the Gobbler Country editor firsthand. He lacks respect and integrity. Total a-hole. Will never visit his site.
This may not be a very popular opinion, but go back just a little over 20 years ago and VT and ECU could easily have switched places.
We obviously took advantage of a great opportunity when we were invited into the Big East in the early 90s, which ultimately led to our invite to the ACC.
But at the time, VT and ECU were on about the same level as football programs. In fact, the Pirates were coming off a couple of great years when they had Jeff Blake as their qb back then, including a year when they won 11 or 12 games and won the Peach Bowl. With a Big East invitation in those days, the Pirates could have easily ended up transcending their program to new levels just as VT did. That may be hard for some to accept, but it's the truth.
I for one enjoy playing ECU because the games are usually very competitive, they have a passionate fanbase, and as mentioned, the school is close to our most rich recruiting base. Not to mention, I think it's good for us to get a game early against a spread offense to better prepare for similiar attacks later in the season.
To summarize, the writer of this article needs a good swift quick to the balls. I love my Hokies, but that article makes us all sound like a bunch of asshats.
I'm not really impressed with their body of work. That's just me.
One of the most disrespectful articles I've ever read.
I get the sense that GC is run by LOLUVA fans who are trolling...
Nah, they would have slipped and put a Zim a reference in there at some point.
I enjoy the pirates "fanbase" being upset as the next one, but why was there even a thread about this "article"
That article is why I never visit another site. TKP is the Tits! I feel like I need to take a shower after reading half of that article. I'm not thrilled with the loooong ECU series but I do respect them and their fan base. Would like to mix up our ooc schedule a little more but I have no issue playing these guys once in a while on a home-home basis. Much thanks to all the TKP staff and members for keeping this site fun, professional and informative. #HOKIES, #TKP!
Ecu fans are the WVU fans of the mid majors. if ECU is a rival of ours we need to drop our standards and go to the MAC.
Ugh. Even those articles are bad. The notion that because they have other "coverage" articles up they can write one sour was is ridiculous. One article is all it takes to make the fanbase look bad. Good articles don't circulate. I respect ECU. They have a heck of a program. Except that one with the Michael Vick comment. That was uncalled for. He did his time and has turned his life around, give the guy a break.
Now Marcus on the other hand...
poor furrer4heisman...his baby done grown up to be an asshole
For the record, this was his comment regarding the current state of the site:
Is furrer4heisman a TKPer?
If not, we need to recruit him over here - anyone got any Hardees Coupons that we could throw his way?
Off Topic, but i would KILL for a Hardees steak and egg biscuit right now....stupid west coast....
If by "TKPer" you mean has an account, then yes. But he rarely ever comments. In fact his last comment on the site was over a month ago and the one before that was over a year ago. He's more of the strong, silent type
He's a great follow on Twitter, though. Especially if you like punting and minor league baseball shenanigans.
OK some being the nosy guy I am, I went for one last look at this article. What do you know, the editor deleted 4-5 of his most douchey (sp?) comments and closed the comment section.
What a moron. From my twitter understanding, it looks like furrer4heisman was at that site and left. I can see why if the current "managing editor" and his assistants are what they appear to be from that site.
Oh well. Another chapter closed. Time for more TKP. Need to donate some money after seeing how bad it could actually be...
turkey leg for the donate comment. we all love TKP, let's all contribute to keeping these guys around!
Completely agree and donation sent last night! #supportTKP
Discovered Gobbler Country while it was still run by f4h and he stepped down while I was still actively reading it. I definitely found my way to the right place after that (read: TKP)
Seriously, nearly fell asleep attempting to force myself to read through that "article" (unsuccessfully).
Gobbler Country is a joke of a site that would have no following if not for the free clicks that SB Nation gives it.
They ran an article a few weeks ago proposing that we shelf Enter Sandman only for big games and that the team and fans hadn't earned it over the last few years.
The editors on that site are confrontational on both Twitter and their own comment section and basically tell anyone who disagrees with them that they have plenty of readers and don't need them. I know that blog has seen much better days and maybe one day it will be good again, but for now it's just disappointing.
I respect ECU and their fans and this article makes the Hokie fanbase seem like we're too big for our own briches. ECU was the team that we faced after 4/16 and they showed a lot of class in the days leading up to and during the game with them that season.
Just ignore them and they will eventually burn out. I know SB Nation won't let them keep going on this path if they lose readers and keep getting the comments that they are.
Ugh that means they'll be looking for a new Hokie site.
*Please not TKP.
I emailed Sean Glennon when all that was happening and said thanks for being a good hokie and that I thought he got a lot of blame that belonged on Newsome's shoulders. He replied and was a class act.