By Staff
 ECU Sports Information
GREENVILLE — The 16th annual Meet the Pirates Night, East Carolina’s preseason football fan fest, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 21, at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium from 6-8 p.m. This year’s event will once again be open to the public, family friendly and free for all in attendance.
 Pirate football fans and their families are invited to see the newly-expanded stadium. First-year head coach Ruffin McNeill, his staff and the 2010 team will also be on hand to sign autographs. Additional activities for fans include inflatable rides and games, photo taking stations, ECU Cheerleaders, ARAMARK concessions and a Dowdy Student Stores souvenir booth. Jeff Diamond, the radio host of the Pirates’ flagship station, 107.9 WNCT, will provide music and MC throughout the evening.
 The event will be held on the field at the Murphy Center end; fans are asked to enter through Gate 6 on the north side of the stadium.
 The Pirates open the 2010 season in Greenville Sunday, Sept. 5 at 2:00 p.m. against Tulsa in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Ticket information is available online at www.ECUPirates.com or by calling the ticket office at 1-800-DIAL-ECU.