| The East Carolina University (commonly referred | | | | that these two schools are roughly 75 miles apart. |
| to as ECU) Pirates and the North Carolina State | | | | A distance of only 75 miles is for all intents and |
| University (commonly referred to as NC State) | | | | purposes a neighboring school by large college |
| Wolf Pack have a storied college football rivalry | | | | campus standards. The fact that students from |
| that dates back decades. The first time that | | | | either school can jump in their cars and be |
| these two neighboring football programs squared | | | | tailgating at the opposing campus in less than an |
| off was on October 10, 1970. The game was held | | | | hour and half is by itself enough of an ingredient |
| in Raleigh, North Carolina and the home team | | | | to build a sustainable rivalry. |
| North Carolina State University squad was | | | | Because of the close proximity of these two |
| victorious by a final score of 23-6. | | | | universities many students from both schools |
| Since the inaugural contest between these nearby | | | | have friends that they went to high school with |
| schools was played in 1970 the location of the | | | | that now attend the rival college. These folks |
| rivalry game has predominately shifted from the | | | | mark this game on their calendars as a date to |
| ECU home field in Greenville, North Carolina to the | | | | catch up with old friends in addition to being able |
| NC State home football stadium in Raleigh, North | | | | to enjoy some quality college football. |
| Carolina. When the game is played at the ECU | | | | An interesting dynamic about this rivalry is that |
| campus the players compete in Dowdy-Ficklen | | | | these two college football programs are each in |
| Stadium which can hold a capacity crowd of | | | | different conferences. East Carolina University |
| 50,000 screaming fans. Conversely, when the | | | | plays in Conference USA which ranks the |
| football game between these two institutions of | | | | University of Houston and the University of |
| higher learning is played around the North Carolina | | | | Central Florida amongst its most competitive |
| State campus in Raleigh the game is held at the | | | | football programs. North Carolina State University |
| Carter-Finley Stadium which seats 57,583 | | | | on the other hand is a proud member of the |
| comfortably. | | | | Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) which boasts |
| Much of the anticipation surrounding this game | | | | the University of Miami and Florida State as a |
| between non-conference rivals is due to the fact | | | | couple of its strongest football programs. |
