ECU football heads to Washington, D.C., for Military Bowl preparations

East Carolina’s football team is spending Christmas week in the nation’s capital as the Pirates prepare for their upcoming Military Bowl matchup against Pittsburgh.

The team departed Greenville around 11 a.m. Tuesday, loading onto five buses for the road trip to Washington, D.C. Head coach Blake Harrell rode on the lead bus as the Pirates left campus to continue bowl preparations.

While in the area, ECU is mixing business with some downtime. The team has scheduled practices but is also taking in professional hockey and football games during the trip.

The Pirates’ Christmas Eve schedule includes a practice in Springfield, Virginia, followed by community service and a team bowling event in Bethesda, Maryland.

ECU faces Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl on Saturday.

Panthers prepare for final home game

The Carolina Panthers, currently in first place, are preparing for their final home game of the regular season. Carolina will host the Seattle Seahawks, led by former Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold.

Panthers head coach Dave Canales spent 13 years with the Seahawks organization under longtime coach Pete Carroll and the team’s front office.

Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn was named to the Pro Bowl and is expected to face a challenge against Darnold and Seattle’s offense.

Christmas Day NFL matchups

NFL fans will have three games to watch on Christmas Day, including a matchup featuring former Wallace-Rose Hill standout Javonte Williams and the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Washington Commanders.

UNC routs ECU in college basketball

In college basketball, North Carolina had little trouble defeating East Carolina at the Dean Dome, winning 99-51.

UNC’s Caleb Wilson scored 21 points and added 12 rebounds, while Henri Veesaar chipped in 13 points.

ECU’s Giovanni Emejuru led the Pirates with 21 points, but the team struggled offensively, shooting 1 of 20 from 3-point range and committing 17 turnovers.

Both teams will break for the week before returning to conference play. UNCW is scheduled to be the first regional team back in action.