By By PETER WILLIAMS, Staff Writer
East Carolina University’s head football coach Skip Holtz has not determined the fate of Rob Kass, his 20-year-old starting quarterback who was arrested last weekend for drunk driving.
Kass was listed to start Saturday’s season opener at Virginia Tech, and Monday Holtz would not speculate on that.
Holtz wouldn’t rule out playing Kass, but he also could start either sophomore Brett Clay or junior Patrick Pinkney.
Kass has a court date scheduled for Nov. 13 in Pitt County. He was arrested after being stopped driving a 2003 Dodge Ram at a checkpoint on East Fifth Street and Green Springs Parkway. He had a blood alcohol level of .19, twice the legal limit.
Kass saw limited action in five games last year, completing 14 of 30 passes for 184 yards. He was less successful trying to run the ball, and had a net loss of 23 yards on seven carries.
The Pirates are facing one of the top defenses in the nation against the Hokies and Kass’s loss would add just one more question mark to an ECU offense that is already struggling.
Holtz did say the defense had the potential to be good, and clearly made a point that the defense will have to keep the team going while the offense matures. Northside graduate C.J. Wilson remains second in the depth chart for left defensive end.
Kickoff is set for noon in Blacksburg, Va.