Five most critical ECU football games of the 2009 season

Every summer before preseason practices start, all NCAA football fans analyze their respective teams' schedule when it is released.

Some teams don't have to worry about tough non-conference games and others have to see when they will square off against their in-conference rival.

The 2009 ECU Pirates football schedule is no different than it is any other year. It is full of Top 25 non-conference opponents, instate rivalries and tough Conference USA showdowns.

These are five of the most important games of the 2009 season for the up and coming Pirates.

1. Nov. 28: vs. Southern Miss.

Southern Miss has been a thorn in the Pirates' side since they joined Conference USA. The Golden Eagles handed the Pirates a 21-3 loss at M.M. Roberts Stadium in 2008 and a 28-21 loss at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in 2007.

Larry Fedora's Southern Miss team is one of the up-and-coming teams in the nation with two straight solid recruiting classes. Highly touted wide receiver DeAndre Brown will lead Southern Miss's offense and could create a huge match-up problem for the whole conference, much less the Pirates.

ECU and Southern Miss are perennial C-USA-East division powers. This year's game will surely be a battle that could be for a spot in the C-USA championship game.

2. Sept. 19: at North Carolina

Since the removal of N.C. State from the 2009 schedule, the only in-state rival that remains on ECU's schedule is dreaded North Carolina.

The Pirates and the Tar Heels didn't square off in 2008, but the Pirates have the momentum in the series after their 34-31 home win in 2007.

Once again, Coach Holtz and his team have a tough non-conference schedule to start off the season with Appalachian State, West Virginia and UNC. This makes the battle in Chapel Hill even more important for the Pirates to pick up a crucial non-conference win and first in Chapel Hill since 1975.

3. Nov. 5: vs. Virginia Tech

After last year's epic showdown between the Pirates and the Hokies, this could turn into an annual battle.

This year's showdown will be nationally televised as an ESPN Thursday night contest late in the season.

Virginia Tech has reloaded as usual and they look to be stacked with talent for the 2009 season. Even with a roster trenched with talent, the Pirates have home field advantage in the series for the first time in years.

A packed Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium could even the playing field for this year's showdown.

4. Oct. 3: vs. Marshall

The Pirates have struggled against the Thundering Herd in past years. After a tough first four games of the year, the Pirates cannot overlook their trip to Huntington in week five.

Marshall has a solid team every year and this year's team looks to be no different. The Pirates dominated the East division of Conference USA this last season and if they are going to exemplify dominance again, they are going to have to get past the Thundering Herd.

5. Sept. 5: vs. Appalachian State

The first game always sets the tone for the rest of the season and the 2008 season was a testament to this theory.

Who can forget the monumental 3-0 start last season when ECU defeated national ranked Virginia Tech and West Virginia?

If the Pirates can start off hot again, it could be another great year in Greenville and it all starts with Appalachian State.

The Mountaineers will be making their first trip to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium since 1978 and the game will have a lot on the line. Appalachian State is constantly looking for national and state respect. The FCS powerhouse will be pumped up to be playing a FBS opponent.

The Pirates need to be ready for a feud with the spunky Mountaineers and try and start the season on a positive note for the second season in a row.