Tudor's take
The Ruffin McNeill era will begin with modest expectations and a mini-mystery about the starting quarterback. Odds are that both Dominique Davis and Brad Wornick will operate the new spread offense. The running-back situation should be decent. But defensively, it's anyone guess, and it will be for a few weeks. Tulsa is favored, but the Pirates will find a way, 30-28.
Observations
QB shuffle likely for Pirates
ECU fans must wait until game time to learn who starts at quarterback for the Pirates. Competition between Davis, a junior transfer, and Wornick, a sophomore, continued through training camp without what filmmakers call denouement.
Earlier this week, first-year coach Ruffin McNeill said the two quarterbacks were still "battling" for the right to run a new spread attack modeled after Texas Tech's "Air Raid" offense. McNeill coached there for 10 seasons and developed a keen sense of what a signal-caller needs in the no-huddle system.
"In this offense and what we do, the strong arm is great," he said. "But it's where to deliver the ball and when and how to deliver it that's important in this offense. Both guys are doing a great job."
ECU defense eager to attack
Take note of how often the Pirates' defense blitzes today. McNeill and defensive coordinator Brian Mitchell have raised expectations about the defense's aggressiveness. It's a leaner, faster look for the Pirates, who must replace nine starters on defense.
Player to watch
Jonathan Williams
East Carolina, SR., RB, 6-1, 196
The Greenville Rose product looks to end a modest collegiate career with a breakout senior season. He has earned the starting role after only one start in his career. In six games last season, he rushed 14 times for 38 yards.
By the numbers
2009
Tulsa | ECU | |
29.2 | scoring | 27.0 |
27.3 | scoring def. | 21.9 |
102.0 | avg. rush yds. | 152.1 |
92.0 | opp. avg. rush yds. | 120.3 |
134.0 | avg. pass yds. | 217.4 |
122.0 | opp. avg. pass yds. | 258.0 |
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It’s that time of year again. No. 5 North Carolina hosts No. 10 Duke tonight at the Smith Center. Some things to watch as these old rivals meet for the 233rd time. 
Even if it not for a 3-pointer in the final minute, Green Hope's boys basketball team had put together a powerful performance on its senior night. But team manager Nitin Reddy, who has autism-like special needs, made one of his six 3-point attempts as Green Hope routed Cary 61-34. Watch the video here.
A few years ago, I ran into an exasperated writer from a national magazine who'd been dispatched to Tobacco Road to find a fresh story about the Duke-North Carolina game. 
People who watch Kendall Marshall play basketball talk a lot about his vision, and how good it is, but in reality it has become worse over the years. 
Duke’s problems with consistency and intensity were on display in its 78-74 overtime loss to Miami on Sunday, when the Blue Devils fell behind by double digits in the first half against the Hurricanes and couldn’t quite come all the way back for the victory. 
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