October 30, 2014

2013 Daily Bowl Update Dec. 21

Daily Recap - Dec. 21 Weather Today St. Petersburg: Sunny, 84 High, 69 Low Athens, OH: 63 High, 58 Low Greenville, NC: 78 High, 63 Low St. Petersburg Forecast for Dec. 22-23 Sunday: Sunny, 81 High, 69 Low Game Day: 73 degrees (inside Tropicana Field) Today’s News East Carolina Practice Ohio Practice Beach Bash Team Cruise Sunday’s Schedule 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Bay Pines VA Hospital Visit 10000 Bay Pines Blvd. Bay Pines, FL 33744 11:30 a.m. - Noon Media Availability Both Head Coaches Renaissance Vinoy Resort Noon Kickoff Luncheon Renaissance Vinoy Resort 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Ohio Practice (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Tropicana Field 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Battle of the Bands TradeWinds Beach Resort 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ECU Practice (CLOSED TO MEDIA) Tropicana Field 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Bowl Block Party Ferg’s Sports Bar 1320 Central Avenue Today’s News - Dec. 21, 2013 East Carolina holds third practice at Clearwater Central Catholic HS Quotes: Head Coach Ruffin McNeill On the team’s afternoon practice   “Another good practice today. The boys have done a good job compartmentalizing and really enjoyed themselves.” RB Vintavious Cooper On final practices and last career game “It’s been crazy, it’s gone by so fast. You try not to get too emotional but it’s bittersweet. I’m definitely excited about Monday. It would mean a lot to win the last game. I’ve met a lot of amazing people, everyone is family. Everyone’s bonded which makes our team click. It would be nice to end on a good note, to win would be amazing." K Warren Harvey On being in St. Pete“It’s good to have fun but this is a business trip, we’re here to win. We’re here for one reason, but we’re not afraid to have fun and it makes for a nice atmosphere to be around." QB Shane Carden On the Bowl experience “It’s crazy how fast this experience has gone by. Seniors have earned a team to be remembered by. It has been an awesome Bowl experience, it’s my favorite so far. FB Jimmy Booth On being in St. Pete“It’s been a pleasure being here, time has flown by. We’re going to put out the best product we can on gameday. These guys are my brothers, this has been a great experience.” Ohio holds second practice at Tropicana Field Quotes: WR Donte Foster On how it feels to play in a dome “There is a big difference in the perception. When we first got out here, it looked like the defense was two miles away. It shouldn’t be hard to adjust but it was a good to get a practice here.” On playing his final game “It’s been great career for me and I am going to have all the emotions come game day. The Bowl Committee has treated us amazingly. I am sure all the guys will be ready to help the seniors get one more win.” CB Devin Bass On East Carolina’s team “They have a very good wide receiver. There is not really a drop off between the best guy and the last guy; they are all pretty good. The QB is very efficient. He is really good at seeing what you’re doing and making the right throws. We are going to disguise what we do and catch him off guard.” CB Travis Carrie On today’s practice “We definitely feel confident. The last day of preparation is always trick play day. The coaches are putting things into order to get your mind going. We had great energy and it was good to get a practice inside the dome.” On shutting down the ECU offense “Frustrating the quarterback is going to be the key. We want to make sure he doesn't feel comfortable, we do not want to allow him to sit back in the pocket. If you allow him to sit back in the pocket, he will pick you apart.”

Beach Bash at TheTradeWinds Beach Resort

Competitions:

Hula Hoop

Participants:

ECU - J.T. Boyd, Terrell Stanley, Jonathan Powers

Ohio - John Prior, Antwan Crutcher, Jon Lechner

Winner: Ohio - John Prior

Coaches Crazy Leg

Participants:

ECU DL Coach - Marc Yellock

Winner: ECU

Water Balloon Toss

Participants:

ECU - Isaiah Jones, Lance Ray, Cam Worthy

Ohio - Jordan Reid, Chase Cochran, Sebastian Smith

Winner: ECU

Dance Contest

Participants:

ECU - DaShawn Benton, Reece Speight        

Ohio - Tim Edmond, Dyquan Stewart

Winner: Ohio

Belly Flop:

Participants:

ECU - Christian Matau, J.T. Boyd, Drew Gentry

Ohio -Watson Tautuiaki, John Prior, Antwan Crutcher

Winner: Ohio - John Prior

Quotes:

Ohio RB Tim Edmond On bowl week “This was a really big experience for our team.  Last year’s bowl we had 23-degree weather in Louisiana.  This is my third time ever being on the beach, so I’m enjoying every minute."

Ohio DL Watson Tautuiaki On his preparation for the Beach Bash Belly Flop competition “Oh my stomach hurts! My form, I used my imagination, took about 10 seconds, and it just came into my head.  The pregame meal helped, though." On the Ohio team camaraderie “We are all having a great time just hanging out with friends and teammates making memories.  Since I’m only a sophomore, I’m excited to learn from the older guys for future bowl games.”

ECU OL Drew Gentry On Beach Bash Belly Flop competition “I enjoyed participating; it was so much fun for me and the team. The judging had to be skewed though!"

Friday Night’s Team Cruise Recap

The first Bowl Week event that brought the two teams together took place on Friday evening.  As the sun was setting the teams boarded the Yacht Starship at the Renaissance Vinoy Boat Dock for a cruise tour along Tampa Bay providing stunning views of downtown St. Petersburg and the holiday lights dotting the shoreline.  Following a dinner on the main floor of the yacht, the teams headed up to the top deck where a DJ provided music and the remainder of the cruise turned into an opportunity for players on the two teams to show off their dance moves in an impromptu dance-off that’s becoming a Bowl Week tradition.