By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — For now, Gerald Lawrence has one of the best “seats” in the house. He’s as close to the field as one can get without actually being on it. Boy, is he hungry to get between the stripes.
Lawrence, a former standout at Washington High School, transferred to East Carolina from Elizabeth City this year. Because of the transfer, Lawrence has to sit out this season.
While Lawrence, a linebacker who wears No. 40, would love to join his Pirates on the field, he’s using his time on the practice field and in the weight room trying to better himself.
Lawrence, a 5-10, 220-pound sophomore, is trying to absorb as much as he can from playing with ECU senior linebackers Pierre Bell and Quentin Cotton.
Since he joined the Pirates in the summer, Lawrence believes he’s taking big steps to joining the team on the field in 2009.
Getting a whole year of practice under his belt before he does suit up should make Lawrence more than prepared.
Lawrence, who travels with the team, enjoyed watching the Pirates knock off No. 17 Virginia Tech and No. 8 West Virginia in consecutive weeks. He was on the sideline with his teammates at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium when the Pirates picked up their biggest victory, which vaulted them into a No. 14 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
He’s hoping the wins were the first two steps in what could be a magical season.
With all of ECU’s success, Lawrence’s appetite to hit the field grows and grows.