However, East Carolina's success in 2002 will probably have more to do with replacing its stars than building on its foundation.

After four years of relying on the school's all-time total yardage leader, David Garrard, to get the job done at quarterback, East Carolina will turn to Paul Troth, a 6-5, 230-pound sophomore. Troth should be a better passer than Garrard, but isn't expected to match his ability as a runner and scrambler. To supplement ECU's offensive attack, coach Steve Logan will also make use sophomore Desmond Robinson's running talents.

"It has been a quarterback's league, and it will be again," Logan said. "I'm fairly confident that when people see our guy, they'll say, 'Well, East Carolina's got another one.' "

The Pirates must also replace RB Leonard Henry and his 1,493 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Between junior Art Brown and sophomore Marvin Townes, Logan says the Pirates will field "an extraordinary level of talent, quite honestly, at the running back position."

On defense, the Pirates need to replace two experienced linebackers, Pernell Griffin, a four-year starter and the leading tackler in the conference history, and Greg Lefever. Logan doesn't sound concerned, though, because he believes redshirt freshmen Chris Moore, Josh Chilsom, Richard Koonce, and Jermarcus Veal will be even better in time.

"The only thing is that these guys have not played a large number of snaps, but I'm not one of those coaches that talks about, "well, we're a young team" and all that," Logan said. "I give them about mid-way through the second quarter of the first game and then they are not young anymore. They have got to play and we've been preparing them to do that."

Copyright (C) 2002 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.