NC State, ECU coaches say Military Bowl means ‘a little extra’ due to state’s long history
N.C. State and East Carolina are two programs happy to be bowl eligible after experiencing their fair share of struggles and disappointments this season. But coming from “the Birthplace of Independence” and one of the largest military communities in the nation, earning their spot in the Military Bowl holds more significance than most other games.
North Carolina earned its nickname for its rich history as one of the original 13 colonies and ties to the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The battleship North Carolina, located in Wilmington, was active in the Pacific during World War II.
The state includes roughly a dozen active military bases and offices from three of the four branches, and there are an estimated 130,000 military members living in North Carolina, according to the U.S. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Military and defensive operations are the second-largest employers in the state and provide an estimated $66 billion to the local economy.
Now, the Wolfpack and Pirates — whose campuses are only about 85 miles apart — will play on Dec. 28 in Annapolis, Maryland, at the United States Naval Academy.
“I love it, man,” N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said Sunday. “The (military) presence in our state is so incredible. … I’m really excited about the opportunity to go there. And, any time we can do anything that lets the military have football involved in it, where they can take a break from protecting us and enjoy a day — I’m all about it.”
On an individual level, the bowl game is particularly meaningful for the Doeren family. Doeren has shared regularly about his father, Bill’s, involvement in the Navy, but the military ties stretch much further.
Doeren’s father-in-law, Stan, served in the Army. His grandparents, and those of his wife, also served.
The 12th-year head coach was born in a Naval hospital in California, and he even applied to the Naval Academy when he was in high school. It was the only one that accepted him, Doeren said with a laugh.
N.C. State holds an annual Military Appreciation day every season, which includes a flyover, veteran and active military recognition and a field-sized flag used during the national anthem. Doeren said one of his favorite off-campus experiences since moving to the state was getting to spend a day at the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville.
“The military for us, it was meaningful. It was part of our upbringing. Living in the state, it’s very present, more present than any state I’ve lived in, as far as the number of bases, active military reserves and everything else,” Doeren said. “You do feel the pageantry of the military more here than you do anywhere, from my standpoint. … Playing on base at a place like that, there’s a lot of pageantry, a lot of special things that goes with being there.”
This will be ECU’s third time earning a spot in the bowl game, but it did not play in 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols. Blake Harrell is excited to take his team up to Annapolis and face a Power Four program, against which it has a strong history, and play in a bowl that holds additional significance.
“To be a part of a bowl that means more, a little extra — being in the Military Bowl adds to (the excitement),” Harrell said. Harrell was named interim head coach in October and recently hired as the full-time head coach in November. “We’ve been up to Annapolis to play Navy several times, so playing in those environments is pretty special. Kind of makes you know that there’s something more out there than just football. It’s a little deeper than that, and this certainly will be a representation of that.”
N.C. State holds a 19-13 all-time record over ECU. Doeren doesn’t necessarily consider the programs rivals since they don’t play yearly, but he appreciates the in-state crossover and looks forward to the upcoming iteration of the series.
The last time the two teams played, the Wolfpack pulled off a one-point win in Greenville. Additionally, the two teams have played once in a bowl game. ECU defeated N.C. State, 37-34, in the 1992 Peach Bowl.
The Pack and Pirates are set to play each other in the 2025 season opener, as well, but the coaches aren’t concerned about back-to-back games.
The way rosters and coaching staffs change, there will be plenty of differences come next August. For now, they’re focused on the one in less than three weeks.
“The opportunity to play in a bowl game is all they’ve dreamed about and worked for the last month and a half. Excited about that and excited to play against an ACC P4 team,” Harrell said. His squad played against FCS and Group of 5 opponents all year. “Respect the heck out of coach Doeren and the job he’s done there and their staff at N.C. State. For our guys to have a chance to do that on that level is pretty special.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
