Blake Harrell responds to NC State’s Dave Doeren saying he wants to ‘beat the shit’ out of ECU in 2025
Blake Harrell, head coach of East Carolina, has responded to NC State’s Dave Doeren after his fiery remarks about their upcoming 2025 matchup. Last season, ECU defeated NC State in the Military Bowl, and the two teams were involved in a scuffle. It seems the tension still lingers as the new season approaches.
In a heated exchange at ACC Media Days on Thursday, Doeren made it clear that he’s not just looking to win the game, but he wants to “beat the shit” out of ECU. His frustration stems from the way the game ended last year. “I told our team in the locker room, that’s the most embarrassed I’ve ever been as a coach,” Doeren said. “Not because we lost, but because of how we behaved at the end of it.”
The incident in question occurred when ECU wide receiver Yannick Smith allegedly grabbed the towel of NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley, leading to Cooley chasing Smith and other players getting involved. The altercation resulted in eight ejections, five of which were from NC State’s roster, and a bloodied official. Doeren clearly hasn’t forgotten the chaos.
Harrell, however, responded with a more measured tone when asked about Doeren’s comments on Friday. “Our main focus for the 2025 season isn’t about our opponents right now, it’s about us,” Harrell said at the American Athletic Conference Media Day. “We’ve got a lot of work to do. We’ve got to push every single day to get better.”
He emphasized that his team’s mindset is about constant improvement, and once they face their opponents, “that’s going to be the biggest game of the year, because it’s the next game.” Harrell also downplayed the significance of last year’s incident, saying, “We talk to our players all the time — no matter what happens, at some point, we’ve got to forget the event and learn the lesson.”
Harrell also stressed that sportsmanship should always take precedence. “There’s no place for how that game ended. Maybe it got blown more out of proportion than it really was. At the same time, there’s no place for that.”
Looking ahead, Harrell acknowledged that the rivalry adds to the excitement of the season opener but remained focused on the present. “It’ll be a great atmosphere in Raleigh on Aug. 28. Looking forward to it,” he said.
As for the betting line, NC State enters the game as an 11.5-point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 57.5 points, suggesting a high-scoring matchup. The game will take place at Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. ET, airing live on the ACC Network. It remains to be seen which coach has his team more prepared for this fiery rematch.
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