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GREENVILLE -- First came wins against nationally ranked opponents Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Then came national rankings of East Carolina's own and the Pirates' first conference championship in more than three decades.

It's no wonder ECU isn't shy about wanting more in 2009: namely a shot at crashing the BCS. The Pirates just have to make sure they don't lose sight of the steady-gain formula that has made them so successful under coach Skip Holtz.

"Those are things we aspire to in this program," Holtz said of his players' BCS goals. "It doesn't mean that we're going to reach them. ... I think this is probably the first time we've had some confidence to believe that those things are attainable, so I think that's probably why you hear them maybe mentioning it a little bit more."

The fact that the Pirates can mention it at all is a sign of how far they've come in four seasons with Holtz as coach. They had lost 22 of 25 games -- 19 by double-digit margins -- when he arrived in December 2004.

But he guided them to a bowl game in his second season and a bowl victory in his third. Then last year, the Pirates (9-5, 6-2 Conference USA) upset the Hokies and Mountaineers to open the season before winning a league title for the first time since 1976.

The only hiccups were a three-game losing streak at midseason -- brought on by a loss of focus after the fast start and a series of injuries -- and a blown 16-3 halftime lead in a loss to Kentucky in the Liberty Bowl.

"When I got here (in 2004), we were probably on the lowest level of college football," said quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA because of an injury hardship. "It's a hard game. Once you get to that success, your target gets even bigger. You're going to get everybody's A-game."

The schedule will be just as unforgiving this year. The Pirates open with three-time FCS champion Appalachian State, travel to West Virginia and North Carolina, and play host Virginia Tech in a Thursday night game in November.

"We feel like we've proven with our schedule we can go out and play with anybody out there," senior defensive end Scotty Robinson said. "It's kind of like every year has been a progression. ... We want to prove that we belong. It's showing in everything we do."