2009 East Carolina Pirates football team The 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2009 - 10 and played their home games in Dowdy - Ficklen Stadium . The team was coached by Skip Holtz , who was in his fifth and final year with the program . The 2009 Pirates were defending their first ever Conference USA Football Championship . The Pirates finished the season 9 – 5 , 7 – 1 in CUSA play , winning the East Division in their final regular season game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 25 - 20 , and won their second consecutive CUSA Championship Game 38 – 32 against the Houston Cougars in Dowdy - Ficklen Stadium . The Pirates were invited to their second consecutive Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by Arkansas 20 – 17 in overtime . Before the season . Purple / Gold Spring Game . The annual Purple / Gold Spring Game was held in the spring during the PirateFest and Pigskin Pigout weekend activities on April 18 in downtown Greenville , NC and put the " Pirates " team led by Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Josh Jordan against the " ECU " team led by Senior Quarterback Patrick Pinkney . The ECU team defeated the Pirates team 31 - 10 . Game notes . Appalachian State . The Pirates renewed their rivalry with their former Southern Conference opponent for the first time since 1979 . The Mountaineers led the all - time series 19 - 10 , but the two schools had only played once since the split of Division I college football , with the Pirates defeating the Mountaineers 38 - 21 in 1979 . This marked the first time since 2001 that the Pirates have played a school from the Football Championship Subdivision . After being dominated in the first half , Appalachian State staged a comeback but fell short after a sack and a blocked pass with seconds left in the 4th Quarter . ECU would hold on to win 29 - 24 , improving their record against the Mountaineers to 11 - 19 . West Virginia . The Pirates went to Morgantown , WV to take on the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl Champion West Virginia Mountaineers , who remained undefeated at home in this series and led the all - time record 17 - 3 . Last year , East Carolina blew out West Virginia 24 - 3 in Greenville . After going up 10 - 0 early in the first half , the Pirates would enter the second half trailing by 1 , but the Mountaineers would pull ahead to win 35 - 20 , improving their record to 18 - 3 . North Carolina . The Pirates travel to Chapel Hill , NC to face their in - state rival North Carolina . In 2007 , the Pirates beat the Tar Heels with a last second field goal to win the game 34 - 31 . The Tar Heels lead the all - time series , 8 - 2 - 1 . UCF . The Pirates face the 2007 Conference USA champion UCF Knights in Greenville , NC . Last year , the Pirates beat the Knights in Orlando , FL 13 - 10 in overtime and lead the all - time series 7 - 1 . Marshall . The Pirates head back to West Virginia to face the Thundering Herd of Marshall . The Pirates won last year 19 - 16 in Greenville , NC after one overtime and lead the all - time series 7 - 3 . In 2007 , the Herd spoiled the Pirates ' hopes in Huntington for a spot in the Conference USA championship . SMU . The Pirates face the Mustangs of Southern Methodist in Dallas , TX . The last time the two schools played was in Greenville , NC in 2006 , where the Pirates won 38 - 21 . East Carolina has won both games played in this series . Rice . The Pirates face the 2008 Texas Bowl Champion Rice Owls at home . The two teams are tied in the series 1 - 1 after the Owls spoiled the Pirates ' hopes to clinch the Conference USA East Division and participate in the Conference USA Football Championship in 2006 . Memphis . The Pirates travel to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis , TN to face the Tigers of Memphis . The Pirates won last year in Greenville , NC 30 - 10 and lead the all - time series 11 - 6 . Virginia Tech . For the first time since 2000 , the 2009 Orange Bowl Champion Hokies make the trip to Greenville , NC . Last year , the Hokies and Pirates squared off in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte , NC , with the Pirates winning 27 - 22 after a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nominated blocked punt was returned by T . J . Lee . The Hokies lead the all time series 9 - 5 . Tulsa . In a rematch of the 2008 Conference USA Football Championship , the Pirates travel to Tulsa , OK to face the Golden Hurricane . Last year , the Pirates defeated the Golden Hurricane 27 - 24 . Tulsa leads the all - time series 5 - 3 . UAB . The Pirates faced the UAB Blazers at home in Dowdy - Ficklen Stadium . In 2008 the Pirates defeated the Blazers in Birmingham , AL for the first time in this series ' history . The two schools are tied in the all - time series 4 - 4 . Southern Miss . The Pirates will be hosting the rival Golden Eagles of Southern Miss . Of the 34 games played in this series , the Pirates have only won 8 . Last year , the Golden Eagles beat the Pirates 21 - 3 in Hattiesburg , MS .