The intensity of the rivalry is driven by the proximity (both are UNC system schools and are only 83 miles apart via U.S. Highway 264) and the size of the two schools (NC State is the largest university in the state and East Carolina is the fourth largest).

Jim Valvano terminated NC State’s scheduling of East Carolina after Pirate fans tore down goal posts and the playing surface at Carter–Finley in 1987.

[2] NC State’s athletics administration had publicly warned ECU and Pirate fans after two consecutive years of minor vandalisms to the stadium.

East Carolina would win 26–21, but in the remaining 38 seconds, a massive brawl broke out between the two schools, including wounding a referee.

The outer face of the barrel is affixed with engraved colored plates denoting the year, final score, and winner of each contest dating back to 1970.

NC State won the most recent matchup between the two teams 90–79 on December 21, 2013, at PNC Arena.

On April 26, 2022, NC State finished off the 2nd meeting by beating ECU in Raleigh, 12–3.