Welcome to Greenville; For those of you who don't know of the little slice of happiness I'm sharing with about 21,000 other students that we call East Carolina University, we study hard, know how to have fun, and most importantly LOVE OUR PIRATE FOOTBALL! Yes, while we may not be the largest school, or the most notable, we for sure house the best fans around. As I make my hour and a half trip to my hometown in Clayton, NC, I can't drive anywhere without seeing a ECU sticker on at least 5 cars.
Through my 2 years of school here I've learned something: ECU fans are incomparable to any other school in the nation. In terms of football we truly are spoiled. Led by Coach Ruffin McNeill (who we all affectionately call Coach Ruff) and the unbelievable dynamic duo that Is QB Shane Carden and WR Justin Hardy, we are treated week in and week out to SportsCenter Top 10 plays with high excitement and energy.
However, it's Justin Hardy whom I would like to focus on. Nothing taken away from Mr. Carden- he is a terrific QB and a key cog in the machine that is Pirate Football, but Justin Hardy is that Number 2. It holds a special meaning to all of us on this campus. Everyone is always in the stands yelling “THROW IT UP TO HARDY!” It usually ends in me high-fiving my friends and fraternity brothers screaming at the top of my lungs. Then we hear that beautiful phrase “TOUCHDOWN PIRATES! CAUGHT BY NUMBER 2 JUSTIN HARDY!” This guy is something I would have nightmares about if I was a defensive coordinator facing the Pirates. The size, speed, athleticism, and perfect route running all culminate into a receiver who broke the NCAA receptions record on Saturday vs Tulane. Going into this game Hardy's Stat line read as such: 80 Receptions, 1002 Yards, 7 Touchdowns, 12.5 yards on average per catch this year alone.
As a freshman I didn't have the slightest idea who Justin Hardy was. It didn't take me long to find out though. At my first ever college football game, Justin Hardy did what he does best. I was awestruck with the fluidity of the routes the ability to make cornerbacks look like little kids amongst men. That number 2 is comparable (in a loose way) to that other guy who wore number 2 for the Yankees... what's his name? Oh yeah, Derek Jeter.
That's right people, I just compared ECU's Justin Hardy to the Captain Derek Jeter himself. And if you think about it there's not too much of a difference. Yes, the sports are different but really think... both are some of the most recognizable people in their markets. Both are known by their home AND opposing teams for the sheer talent, both can single-handedly affect the outcome of a game for their respective squads (before Jeter's retirement this year). Those two seem to possess a supernatural talent level and fans go absolutely insane at the sight of them.
With that comparison I believe you can now understand the level of excitement, anticipation, and joy we as ECU Pirates were feeling knowing that Justin Hardy would OWN the NCAA receptions record. Hardy's time at ECU has culminated to the following stat line (before the game vs Tulane) Reminder: The Pirates still have 2 games remaining in this season @ Tulsa, and vs UCF: 346 receptions, 4049 yards, and 32 touchdowns. When this season ends and the 6 foot 1, 188 pound WR from Vanceboro, NC coming out of a rising school in North Carolina goes off to the NFL, we as a campus will partly be sad to see him go. But on the other side, we will be proud to know that when we are huddled around the TV next season on Sundays we just might see the likes of Manning, Brady, Brees or Big Ben heaving up touchdowns to a young man with unlimited potential. No matter how long Hardy decides to play after college, we as the Pirate fan base will always be able to say “I remember watching him back in Dowdy-Ficklen on those Saturdays."
It was quite a sight to see Carden throw his pass with about 5 minutes to go in the second quarter, a bullet to Hardy. He was tackled quickly and the energy level in Dowdy-Ficklen went through the roof. That's when the banner came down and It stated “Congratulations Justin Hardy, NCAA all-time receptions leader” with Hardy's signature solid, determined eyes peering through his helmet. It felt strange watching history in the making. But I couldn't be more happy to have been there for that moment.
So, Congrats Justin Hardy, we in Greenville have always known your greatness. Even when ESPN snubbed you for the Fred Blitnikoff award or when they said “The Pirates can't do this, and can't do that”. We always woke up on game days thrilled to once again place our belief in that now unmistakable number 2. Thank you for all of the extreme catches, rugged blocks, quick screens, and even the occasional TD pass!
We stand behind you for all of your future endeavors. Once a Pirate, Always a Pirate. Go, Pirates!
