We all know AE is THE best in the state.
THE. Best.
But the hype machine is also circling all those so-called BCS .. /giggle .. schools across the state. Word is, just about every NC program has a big dog of which to be proud.
Every. One.
From reigning Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year Russell Wilson at North Carolina State to Walter Payton Award winner Armanti Edwards at Appalachian State, there certainly won’t be any shortage of star power under center this year. The quarterbacks are shaping up as the dominant storyline for a widely anticipated football season in the heart of big-time basketball country.
It’s the Year of the Quarterback, Tobacco Road-style.
— Patrick Pinkney is back for a sixth year at East Carolina. He led the Pirates to attention-getting upsets of Virginia Tech and West Virginia, a spot in the AP Top 25 and the school’s first league championship in three decades.
— Edwards returns for his final season after leading the Mountaineers into the Big House two years ago and knocking off Michigan, and helping them claim two of their three Football Championship Subdivision national titles and last year claimed the Payton Award as the top player in the FCS.
And sure, the Manning “watch list” sounds pretty prestigious, but not if everyone else is on it too. There are 38 “watchees” in all.
I thought the exact same thing “wow, that’s cool that he made it!” Then I read the list… just what exactly qualifies someone to be on this watch list? A pulse?
Comment by Dan 08.18.09 @ 10:06 amWell being the only (and 1st ever) FCS QB on the list is something to be proud of.
Comment by Pfaff 08.18.09 @ 10:39 amWell 38 is a big number …But there are over 110
teams in 1A and maybe another 90 in 1AA all have a starting QB…right.
AE is the 1st 1AA to make the list….so there is merit in his selectioin.
Hope the foot heals….so we all can see him play
another year at ….full speed.
Pinkney is returning for a sixth year at ECU, while Armanti will graduate in 3 1/2 years. Pinkney is on the AARP Watch List, and is sponsored by Viagra and Depends.
Comment by craig 08.18.09 @ 10:52 amOn one of the ECU sites, ( ecupirates.com ), in the purple profile box for Pinkney under the experience heading they have “2L” which stands for “Too Long”! Ha!
Comment by Derek 08.18.09 @ 11:38 amI hope the media reminds readers in the state that Armanti is noteworthy because of all the things he has ALREADY DONE over 3 great years, while the other state QB is noteworthy more for what that MIGHT do. There is a difference…
Otherwise, I don’t have a problem with AE having to share the spotlight with other QB’s in the state. North Carolina is home both to more people and more FBS teams than any other recruit-rich, southeastern state besides Florida and Georgia. This state, one would assume, should be at a tremendous advantage over most of our neighbors. It’s about time this state starts producing nationally-competitive college football teams besides us.
Comment by Michael 08.18.09 @ 11:52 amWOW…what a nice sight… where is this billboard at? Now you know he is the real deal “Superman”… AE came into this world against all odds and now he’s a Hero to so many!! Go NEERS!!
Comment by DanT 08.18.09 @ 9:20 pmIt’s just on the internet, thanks to photoshop.
Comment by jonmac 08.18.09 @ 9:53 pmIs my monitor messed up or is AE’s jersey (God forbid!)Carolina Blue on the billboard image??
Comment by StuckinLodi 08.19.09 @ 3:04 pmYour monitor is pretty messed up. It’s our white jersey he is wearing.
Comment by Dominick 08.19.09 @ 4:56 pm