East Carolina football is the most fearless program in the country. And like the BCS computer, college football itself is often kind to the gutsy. The Pirates turned out victorious in their week 1 matchup with Virginia Tech when they returned a blocked punt for a touchdown late in the game, and yesterday things got even better.

In their first real home game (their game with Virginia Tech was held in Charlotte), the Pirates faced #8 West Virginia, a team for whom big things are expected this season. The Big East’s most highly-touted offense managed only three points against ECU on Saturday, as the Pirates did an amazing job of containing man of many talents Pat White. East Carolina led in every quarter of this game, and launched to the #14 ranking in the latest AP poll.

Beating Virginia Tech by virtue of a blocked punt may sound like the benefit of a bad snap or a good bounce, but this is Virginia Tech in question. Coach Frank Beamer has always brought a fantastic special teams unit to the field, and the Hokies are more far more likely to block a punt themselves than to have one blocked. Few teams put such an emphasis on both sides of the punting game as Virginia Tech, and to block a VT punt shows a great deal of determination. (That’s to say nothing of the first three quarters, when the Pirates put themselves within a score and kept a BCS conference power close, by the way.)

There’s no better way to restore legitimacy to a close victory than to follow it up with a blowout. That’s precisely what ECU did, holding West Virginia at arm’s length for the entire football game and sending a powerful message back to the mid-major Conference USA where the Pirates compete and beyond. The Pirates are serious, and they’re willing to play anybody.

Quarterback Patrick Pinkney was 22-28 on Saturday with no interceptions and 236 yards passing. In his two games, Pinkney is 41-50 for 447 yards and no interceptions, but the big story is the defense. The East Carolina defense has let up fewer points in two games (a grand total of 25) than their offense has scored in either of those games. In week 1, East Carolina intercepted Virginia Tech quarterback Sean Glennon twice. Yesterday, highly-touted tailback Noel Devine was held to less than 100 yards, as was White, who had more yards rushing (97) than passing (72)!

Thanks to the victories, East Carolina is a top 20 program right now. The Associated Press has the Pirates at #14, ahead of Oregon (who has been impressive in their first two wins), Brigham Young (fellow potential BCS-crasher, who was given credit for hubris’ victory over the Washington Huskies), and the new highest-ranked Big East team (South Florida).

Other poll oddities:

-Before the season began, Georgia was ranked #1 in both major polls. After a narrow victory over Georgia Southern and USC’s trouncing of Virginia, the Trojans took over the poll lead and moved Georgia back down to #2. Yesterday, Georgia splattered Central Michigan 56-17 while Southern Cal had the weekend off. Your #1 team in both polls after that? USC, who maneuvered the tough opponent that is game film and practice.

-All of the top seven teams received at least one #1 vote in the AP Poll: USC, Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio State, Missouri and defending champ LSU.

-Both the AP and Coaches’ Poll top tens are identical. Keep in mind all teams have played two or fewer games, and in both polls at least six teams receive #1 votes. It wouldn’t be difficult to debate moving any of those teams up or down, yet the top ten is agreed upon by both polls.

-Whose loss is more valuable? Illinois is not featured in the Coaches’ poll but ranked #24 in the AP. Clemson is not in the AP poll but ranked #23 in the Coaches’ poll.

-All the teams who have already had bye weeks are ranked in the same place in both polls. USC is #1, LSU is #7, and Fresno State is #21.

-Ohio State’s scare against Ohio moved them down to #5, but since they stayed in the top five it means that at least one top five team will lose next week. The Buckeyes were almost caught looking past the Bobcats yesterday to their tone-setting game next week against Southern Cal.

-Alabama and East Carolina are press darlings this week. Alabama is ranked #11 in the AP Poll, but #16 according to the coaches. ECU is #14 in the AP Poll, but #20 in the Coaches’ Poll. The two teams are the biggest disagreement between the two polls.

Early in the season, the polls are simply a lightning rod for debate. It’s not easy to make a poll that everybody can agree with at the end of a season, much less the beginning when every team has its own reason for optimism and promise.