Pirates limping to finish

Injuries are piling up against ECU

Some of the busiest people on East Carolina's football staff this season are the trainers and team physicians.

The Pirates are hurting and hobbling as they try to seize Conference USA's East Division title and reach the league's Dec. 6 championship game.

Nine players who have started -- or were projected to start -- have missed games and several are still sidelined. From the original 22-man depth chart, 19 players have been hurt.

The ailments range from head to foot, and several have been season-ending, surgery-requiring injuries.

Top linebacker Quentin Cotton (knee) and receivers T.J. Lee (broken leg) Dwayne Harris (fractured foot) are out for the season.

While refusing to use the mishaps as an excuse, perplexed coach Skip Holtz says he has never been associated with a team so plagued with pain. Should he call Dr. Phil -- or Dr. Lou?

"It's very strange; we've tried to put a finger on it," he said. "We haven't done anything differently. I don't know if it's the wear and tear of the schedule or playing three games in a 15-day day period [Nov. 2-15]. I've just really never seen anything like this before."

It started in preseason when tailback Dominique Lindsay went down with a knee injury. In the third game, Cotton, an all-conference candidate, also suffered a season-ending knee injury.

In addition to the physical issues, promising tailback Jonathan Williams and top receiver Jamar Bryant were suspended.

All that that has forced Holtz to do one of the biggest juggling acts outside a circus tent. So far, he has started 41 players -- 22 on offense and 19 on defense.

Only six Pirates have started all 10 games. The "Iron Men" are guard Cory Dowless, center Sean Allen and tight end Davon Drew on offense and tackle Jay Ross, end C.J. Wilson and free safety Van Eskridge on defense.

And more shuffling could come before Saturday's game at UAB, depending on the status of players listed as doubtful or questionable on this week's injury report.

"This is what we have; the hand we're dealt," said Holtz, who is depending on some younger, healthy Pirates to help in the team's quest for a first-place finish.