In the summer of 1967, East Carolina achieved a major academic breakthrough, recognition as a regional university. That milestone had not come easily. The years prior were ones of ongoing political struggles. Opponents of East Carolina’s bid won the first round as state lawmakers voted to deny university status, but then later, following a political compromise including other campuses, legislative approval was secured. The victory resulted in large part from President Leo W. Jenkins’ incessant political maneuvering, working relentlessly with legislative powerbrokers to uplift eastern North Carolina and its citadel of learning, East Carolina. One of Jenkins’ strategies was the annual “Legislature Night” coinciding with a home football game in the school’s relatively new athletic showcase, Ficklen Stadium, during which state representatives got to see first-hand the school’s ongoing achievements.
East Carolina’s evening game with Louisville on October 14, 1967 was not simply another athletic contest, but a significant political event, headlining the university’s Legislature Night. The struggles of the summer of 1967, plus those Jenkins envisioned ahead over a medical school for the East, made the occasion even more consequential. In certain respects, the matchup mirrored ECU’s academic challenges: the Pirates were the underdogs, having lost to Louisville the year before, 21-7. Nevertheless, the Pirates were on a roll, having won, in the early fall of 1967, four games in a row. In hosting state legislators and their wives for such a challenging contest, the new university was putting its reputation on the line.
With quick and consistent hard play, the Pirates prevailed, 18-13, over the two-touchdown favorite. Throughout the game, Pirate defense was strong, holding the nationally ranked Cardinal quarterback, Wally Oyler, to limited yardage: Oyler completed seven of 18 attempts for 109 yards and ran for an additional 22, totaling 131 offensive yards. Previously, he had averaged 188 yards. Louisville’s team was ranked ninth nationally on defense, but Pirate tailback Neal Hughes, the team’s key offensive player, ran 55 yards for one touchdown and completed a 13-yard pass to wingback Tom Grant for another.
East Carolina’s victory over the Louisville was its fifth in a row. The Pirates won their next game, against Parsons, 27-26, extending their winning streak to six before narrowly falling to the Citadel, 21-19. Another defeat at the hands of West Texas State, also in Ficklen Stadium, left the Pirates 8-2. But the 1967 season was an improvement over the year before when the Pirates went 4-5-1. Given the political focus on the newly risen and still controversial university, the Pirate’s winning streak, extended with an upset victory over Louisville, gave skeptics little grounds for questioning the worthiness of the institution or the political wisdom of its president, Leo W. Jenkins.
Sources
- “Bucs Remain Undefeated.” East Carolinian. Vol. 43, No. 12. October 17, 1967. P. 6. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39308
- “East Carolina Scraps Tough Louisville Club.” Gastonia Gazette. October 14, 1967. P. 7.
- “East Carolina vs. Louisville.” October 14 1967. University Archives # UA40.01.02.10.04. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N.C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/27629
- “EC To Be Host To Legislators.” Rocky Mount Telegram. October 12, 1967. P. 5.
- “Hughes Aids Pirates With Touchdown, Pass.” East Carolinian. Vol. 43, No. 13. October 19, 1967. P. 6. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39309
- “Must Contain Deadly Passing Combo: Pirates Are Underdogs Against Louisville.” Rocky Mount Telegram. October 13, 1967. P. 11.
- “Pirates Post 8-2 in Football Competition.” Buccaneer. 1968. P. 92. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15319
- “Stomp Hell Out Of Louisville.” East Carolinian. Vol. 43, no. 11. October 14, 1967. P. 2. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39307