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Provo • It may be the most unusual matchup on this weekend's college football schedule: East Carolina at BYU.
The Pirates of Greenville, N.C., members of the American Athletic Conference, have never faced the independent Cougars on the football field, and will be making the second-longest regular season road trip in program history, 2,235 miles, for Saturday's 5:30 p.m. contest.
BYU football will complete the two-game contract at ECU's Dowdy-Ficken Stadium in 2017. That was supposed to be the series opener when the deal was struck in 2012, but in 2014, ECU's scheduled 2018 visit to Provo was moved to this year.
"I don't remember scheduling it, or how it came about," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, whom athletic director Tom Holmoe consults with on football scheduling since the Cougars went solo in 2011. "I like the game, though. They are a really good team."
Only in softball, where BYU owns a 4-0 record against ECU, have the schools met.
But that doesn't mean the football teams are not familiar with each other, don't have some ties that make Saturday's game any less than intriguing for a pair of 3-2 clubs that have played a pair of the better schedules in the country so far.
"You will be in your seats awhile, because they pass a lot, we pass a lot, and it will be maybe like the Houston game a couple years ago [a 47-46 BYU win]," said BYU senior receiver Mitch Mathews. "There will be lots of points scored, and it will be a game of resilience with a lot of ups and downs. They will score. We will score. … You realize that going in and so preparation will be huge this week."
Mendenhall said since longtime Texas Tech assistant Ruffin McNeill became ECU's coach in 2010, the programs have had "staff exchanges" where BYU coaches have visited Greenville and ECU coaches have visited Provo, mostly to talk defense since both units employ a 3-4 front.
"Ruffin is a great guy," Mendenhall said.
BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae knows that as well, having coached alongside McNeill at UNLV in 1997-98 and at Texas Tech from 2000-2004.
"Our families are very close," Anae said. "We came up through the profession together. … Our families are roughly the same age. Yeah, we have had a lot of great growing experiences together as families in this profession."
Anae also worked with new ECU offensive coordinator Dave Nichol at Texas Tech and Arizona (2011-12).
"They are very similar to our defense," Anae said. "If we had to go out and play against our defense, it would be a tough outing. … They are well-coached, and that is obvious. They are very athletic."
Ruffin has recruited the type of personnel that he does well playing with."
According to BYU's game notes, there's another connection between the schools. In 1947, Dr. Nephi Moroni Jorgensen started a football program at East Carolina Teacher's College, which eventually became East Carolina University in 1967. Jorgensen, a Mormon who died in 1988, has descendants who have played football for, or attended, both schools; All six of his surviving children are expected to attend Saturday's game.
"We have been watching them on film. They are an athletic, good team," said BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum. "They took Florida down to the wire and beat some other good teams [Virginia Tech and SMU] as well, so it is a really good challenge for us. We are excited for homecoming and to have a good turnout by the fans. It should be another good Saturday."
Twitter: @drewjay —
About the East Carolina Pirates
• From Greenville, N.C., they have qualified for a bowl game in eight of the last nine years.
• ECU uses coach Ruffin McNeil's "Air Raid" (spread) attack on offense and a multiple 3-4 alignment on defense.
• McNeil is 40-29 in his sixth season at ECU after a 10-year stint as an assistant at Texas Tech.
• Pirates have led "Group of Five" schools in attendance each of the last three seasons, averaging 45,349 fans.
• They almost upset No. 11 Florida, falling 31-24 late, but defeated Virginia Tech 35-28 two weeks later. —
East Carolina
at BYU
P Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TV • ESPNU