2010 NC State Football Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) WOLFPACK ÛiLiÀÊÈ]ÊÓä£äÊUÊ ÊUÊ Ê iÌÜÀ vs. TIGERS iÀ>Ê-Ì>`ÕÊnä]Î䣮
COACHES NC State Clemson BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC, PART 2 Name: Tom O’Brien Dabo Swinney Heading into the ninth game of the season, NC State controls its own destiny Alma Mater: Navy ‘71 Alabama ‘93 in terms of the ACC’s Atlantic Division standings. Although Florida State still Overall Rec: 97-68 (.588) 17-12 (.586) leads that side of the conference race with one more victory in league play, if the 14th year 2nd (full) year Wolfpack ends up tied with the Seminoles it would win the tiebreaker. At School: 22-23 (.489) 17-12 (.586) The Pack will also have to travel to Maryland, the team tied with NC State for 4th year 2nd (full) year second in the standings this week. Vs. Opp. 2-3 1-0 Going undefeated in the month of November is a feat that NC State has ac- complished in the not-so-distant past. In 2008, the Wolfpack opened ACC play SERIES INFORMATION 0-4, then won its last four league matchups, all in November, and ended up Overall: Clemson leads 50-27-1 qualifying for a bowl. In Raleigh: Clemson leads 18-15 Of the four teams in the hunt for the Atlantic Division title, the Wolfpack is the In Clemson: Clemson leads 21-11 only one that has to go on the road three times in the last four games. Here’s a In ACC Play: Clemson leads 30-21 look at the last four games remaining on those four teams’ schedules: First Meeting: 11/18/1899 (L,0-24) Last Meeting: 11/14/09 (L, 23-43) Florida State Maryland Clemson NC State UNC @ Miami NC State @ Clemson THE WOLFPACK’S RECORD Clemson @ Virginia @ FSU Wake Forest Overall (since 1892): 540-529-55 (.505) @ Maryland FSU @ Wake Forest @ UNC Under Tom O’Brien: 22-23 (.489) Florida NC State South Carolina @ Maryland In Carter-Finley Stadium: 171-96-6 (.637) In ACC Play: 197-185-4 (.516) STATE ‘PACKS’ UP FOR MONTH OF NOVEMBER Tom O’Brien and his Wolfpack squad will keep their bags packed in the LAST TIME OUT next month. NC State will begin the month playing Clemson in the aptly named NC State Defeated 16/15Florida St., 28-24 “Death Valley,” always a tough venue for the opposition. The Pack will return Clemson Lost at Boston College, 10-16 home for a Homecoming matchup with Wake Forest on Nov. 13, then will play down the road at Chapel Hill on the 20th and will travel to College Park, Md., to BROADCAST INFORMATION take on the Terrapins on Thanksgiving weekend. TELEVISION ACC Network The last time NC State played three road games in the month of November Announcers: Tim Brant, Play-by-Play was in 1973, when Lou Holtz’s Wolfpack squad won at South Carolina on Nov. 3, Dave Archer, Analyst lost at No. 6 Penn State on Nov. 10, won at Duke on Nov. 17 and then knocked Mike Hogewood, Sideline off Wake Forest at home on Nov. 24. That ACC Championship squad ended up RADIO Wolfpack Capitol Sports earning a bid to the Liberty bowl, where it defeated Kansas, 31-18. Flagship: WRAL-FM, Mix 101.5 Raleigh Announcers: Gary Hahn, Play-by-Play PACK HOPES TO BREAK LOSING STREAK TO TIGERS Johnny Evans, Analyst NC State has dropped the past six games to Clemson, a streak which ties Tony Haynes, Sideline Rep. as the longest in the series history between the two schools and is the longest Satellite: Sirius 214; XM 192 active losing streak for the Pack against any league team. Clemson leads the series handily at 50-27-1. MEDIA CONTACTS The Wolfpack has played better on the road than at home against Clem- NC STATE Annabelle Myers son during the current losing streak. The last three games at Clemson were Phone: 919.515.1181 decided by six, six and 18 points, while the three games in Carter-Finley were Email: [email protected] 21, 22 and 20-point margins. Website: GoPack.com NC State hasn’t defeated Clemson in Raleigh since 2003 (17-15) and at Clemson Tim Bourret Clemson since 2002 (38-6). Phone: 864.656.2114 Email: [email protected] Website: www.clemsontigers.com
Wolfpack Unlimited: Refuse to Accept the Status Quo Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3)
Óä£äÊ Ê-Ì>ÌiÊ-V i`ÕiÉ,iÃÕÌà Wolfpack Leaders Date St W-L Score Opponent Att./Time TV Rusher (Att-Yds-TD) Passer (C-A-Yds-TD-I) Receiver (Rec-Yds-TD) Tackler (Tkl) 9/4 H W 48-7 WESTERN CAROLINA 56,417 ESPN3 Haynes (13-69-1) Wilson (21-31-306-4-0) Graham (6-96-2) Manning (10) 9/11 A W 28-21 Central Florida 43,020 CBS CSN Greene (14-55-1) Wilson (10-30-105-1-0) Bryan (3-35-0) Cole (12) 9/16 H W 30-19 CINCINNATI 55,934 ESPN Greene (16-84-1) Wilson (26-40-333-3-0) Greene (5-54-1) Cole, Irving (7) 9/25 A W 45-28 Georgia Tech 48,825 ESPN Haynes (18-75-0) WIlson (28-41-368-3-1) Spencer (6-69-0) Irving (16) 10/2 H L 30-41 VIRGINIA TECH (23/NR) 58,083 ABC Greene (10-91-0) Wilson (21-49-362-3-3) Spencer (6-145-0) Irving (13) 10/9 H W 44-17 BOSTON COLLEGE 56,859 ACC Wilson (14-45-0) Wilson (38-51-328-3-2) Spencer (8-70-1) Amerson (8) 10/16 A L 27-33 (OT) East Carolina 50,410 CBS CSN Greene (16-75-0) Wilson (26-52-322-1-3) Spencer (6-98-0) Wolff (15) 10/28 H W 28-24 16/15FLORIDA STATE 56,807 ESPN Greene (17-76-0) Wilson (18-28-178-1-1) Williams/Washington (3-44/3-22) Wolff, Cole, Irving (8) 11/6 A Clemson TBA TBA 11/13 H WAKE FOREST TBA TBA 11/20 A North Carolina TBA TBA 11/27 A Maryland TBA TBA All times are eastern
INJURY UPDATE NC STATE QUICK FACTS PRONUNCIATIONS
NC State University OUT Duran Christophe, OT- Ankle City/Zip Raleigh, NC 27695 David Akinniyi ah KEEN ee Brandon Barnes, HB - Ankle Founded 1887 David Amerson AM urh sun Jarvis Byrd, CB - Knee Enrollment 33,815 Audi Augustin AWE dee awe GUS tin *Syl. Crawford, DE - knee Nickname Wolfpack Tyler Brosius BRO shus *Jesse Riley, DB - knee Colors Red (PMS-186) and White *Rashard Smith, DB - knee Audie Cole AWE dee Conference Atlantic Coast Conference Asanté Cureton ah SAN tay CURE tuhn Chancellor Dr. Randy Woodson * - out for the season Josh Czajkowski chuh KOW ski Athletics Director Deborah A. Yow Daniel Imhoff EM hoff Dontae Johnson DAHN tay NC State Football History Andy Jomantas joe MAN tus First year of football 1892 Markus Kuhn KYOON All-time bowl rec. 12-11-1 Natanu Mageo nah TAHN ew muh G’YO Yrs in postseason 25 Terrell Manning tuh RELL WHO’S UP, WHO’S DOWN? Last postseason app. 2008 Papajohns.com Bowl Result NC State 23, Rutgers 29 R.J. Mattes MAT is All-time record 540-529-55 Michael Mauer MOWER (rhymes with power) Upstairs (press box): Media Relations Mikel Overgaard MEE kel OH vehr gard Dana Bible (Off. Coordinator/WR/QB) Office Phone (919) 515-2102 Tobais Palmer toe BYE us Jim Bridge (Tight Ends) Fax (919) 515-3624 Hans Rice HAHNS Mike Reed (Defensive Backs) Media Relations Dir: Annabelle Myers Jeff Rieskamp REESE kamp Jon Tenuta (Linebackers) Cell Phone (919) 819-8302 Jeff Ruiz roo EEZ Downstairs (sidelines): E-mail [email protected] Jake Vermiglio vuhr MIGG lee oh Don Horton (Offensive Line) Asst. FB Contact Brandon Yopp Asa Watson AY suh Jerry Petercuskie (Special Teams) Cell Phone (919) 819-1826 Jason Swepson (Running Backs) E-Mail [email protected] Mike Archer (Defensive Coordinator) Keith Willis (Defensive Line)
WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Weekly press conference at Mur- Player interviews by request in Players by request in MR office. O’Brien available post-practice; In- phy Center: Media Relations Office: Players available post-practice. jury report released post-practice. Russell Wilson availability at 11:30 O’Brien meets with print media at Players available post-practice. am in Murphy Center Media Room No player availability 1:30 and electronic media at 2 pm. (call for dial-in info) Players meet with print media at O’Brien on ACC Teleconference. 2 pm and electronic media at 2:30 O’Brien radio interviews (call Media pm. Call for dial-in info. Relations Office to schedule). Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3)
2010 CAPTAINS OPPONENTS TODAY, TEAMMATES TOMORROW? NC State quarterback Russell Wilson and Clemson signal-caller Kyle Parker will Elected by team vote in preseason be opponents when the Wolfpack and Tigers play this weekend, and they have been Nate Irving, LB opponents many times in recent years, both on the gridiron and on the baseball dia- Jarvis Williams, WR mond. Russell Wilson, QB The day may come soon, however, when Wilson and Parker will be teammates, only not in football. Both were chosen by the Colorado Rockies in last June’s Major COACHING STAFF League Baseball draft – Parker in the first round and Wilson in the fourth – and both signed contracts with the Rockies. Wilson spent the summer with the Tri-City Dust Coach Assignment Yrs. Coaching Devils of the short-season Northwest League. Parker signed late in the summer and Mike Archer (Miami ‘76) will not begin his professional baseball career until next April. Defensive Coordinator 35th Wilson and Parker are not the first college quarterbacks to move on to profes- Dana Bible (Cincinnati ‘82) sional baseball. The Rockies have two former QBs on their current major league Offensive Coor/QB/WR 33rd roster – first baseman Todd Helton (Tennessee) and outfielder Seth Smith (Ole Miss). Jim Bridge (Wittenberg ‘92) Should Wilson and Parker both make it to Colorado before Helton and Smith move Tight Ends 19th on, the Rockies would have more quarterbacks on their roster (4) than the crosstown Don Horton (Wittenberg ‘82) Offensive Line 30th Denver Broncos. Jerry Petercuskie (Boston College ‘75) And that’s not the end of the story of the Rockies and college quarterbacks. Wil- Spec. Tm/Recruiting Coor. 36th son’s Tri-City teammate this summer, starting pitcher Josh Sullivan, played quarter- Mike Reed (Boston College ‘94) back at Auburn, although mostly as a backup to current Oakland Raiders’ QB Jason Defensive Backs 12th Campbell. That gives the Rockies organization five college quarterbacks. Jason Swepson (Boston College ‘92) The Rockies’ QB quintet is just part of the latest wave of college quarterbacks Running Backs 19th to play professional baseball. They join a select group that includes the likes of Terry Jon Tenuta (Virgina ‘82) Harvey of NC State, Dennis Dixon of Oregon, Drew Henson of Michigan, John Elway Linebackers 30th of Stanford, Jay Schroeder of UCLA, and Rick Leach of Michigan. Then there are Keith Willis (Northeastern ‘88) Dave Shinskie of Boston College and Chris Weinke of Florida State, who took the Defensive Line 16th reverse route, playing professional baseball and then returning to college in their PRESEASON LISTS mid-20s to quarterback their college football teams. There is one question out of all this that begs an answer: Of all the former quar- terbacks ever to play professional baseball, how many, if any, have any gone from op- Preseason All-ACC ponents in college football to teammates in professional baseball? Wilson and Parker George Bryan, TE could conceivably become the first.
Preseason “Watch” Lists George Bryan, TE - Mackey THE TEXTILE BOWL Nate Irving, LB - Rotary Lombardi Although not many of the players in uniform know about it, for the past 30 years Owen Spencer, WR - Biletnikoff (since 1981), the series between NC State and Clemson has been dubbed the Jarvis Williams, WR - Biletnikoff Textile Bowl, as that industry has such a major economic impact on both states and Russell Wilson, QB - O’Brien, Manning both schools boast renowned textile colleges. The North Carolina textile manufacturers donate money to NC State’s scholar- ship fund every year in honor of the Wolfpack’s MVP from the game. 2010 HONORS Clemson posts a 21-9 advantage in the Textile Bowl.
ACC Player of the Week BEATING SEMINOLES A RUSH FOR WILSON Brandan Bishop - Boston College, DB In 2009, he threw for five touchdowns in a 42-45 loss in Tallahassee. This season, Audie Cole- UCF, DB Russell Wilson managed just one scoring pass against the 16th-ranked Seminoles. Mustafa Greene - Cincinnati, Rookie He more than made up for that on the ground, however. Wilson rushed for three Russell Wilson - Cincinnati, GT, Co-BC, touchdowns in the Thursday night matchup, marking the first time a Wolfpack field FSU general had run for three scores since Preston Poag did it against Western Carolina Nate Irving - GT, DL on Sept. 3, 1988. Wilson has now run for 13 touchdowns in his career. His three TD runs against Rivals.com ACC Player of the Week Audie Cole, UCF FSU was just one less than he had in the entire 2008 or 2009 seasons. Russell Wilson, FSU Wilson was named the ACC’s Offensive Back of the Week (for the fourth time this season) for his performance against the ‘Noles. Manning Award Star of the Week Russell Wilson, Cincinnati WILSON RUNS Junior quarterback Russell Wilson has now run for 917 yards in his career. That’s Walter Camp Football Foundation National more than any quarterback in school history with the exception of Johnny Evans, Defense Player of the Week who gained 1,259 yards on the ground and passed for 2,509 during his career, which Nate Irving, Georgia Tech spanned from 1974-77. Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) Wilson, whose 2010 passing mark of 2,302 is close to Evans’ four-year numbers, CAREER STARTS has rushed for 13 career touchdowns. Evans also rushed for 13 touchdowns during his career, passing for a dozen (Wilson has passed for 67). Player 07 08 09 10 Total Here’s a look at the top running QBs in school history: Zach Allen, OG -- -- 0 8 8 David Amerson, CB ------4 4 Name Years Rush Yds-TD Pass Yds-TD David Akinniyi, DE ------8 8 Johnny Evans 1974-77 1,259-13 2,509-12 Audi Augustin, DE 0 1 -- 1 Brandan Bishop, S -- -- 8 7 15 Russell Wilson 2008-pres. 917-13 7,284-67 George Bryan, TE -- 7 11 8 26 Scott Smith 1977-79 784-18 1,884-5 Justin Byers, S -- 8 3 4 15 Jack Klebe 1966-68 709-4 858-6 Jarvis Byrd, CB -- -- 3 3 Audie Cole, LB -- 0 12 8 20 SCORES ARE SCORING FOR NC STATE Rob Crisp, OT ------1 1 NC State is getting its scoring from many different spots this season. Fourteen dif- Josh Czajkowski, PK 0 13 12 8 33 ferent players have scored touchdowns for the Wolfpack this season, a mark that ties Darrell Davis, WR -- 1 4 4 9 Taylor Gentry, FB -- 2 5 4 11 as the fourth-highest in the nation. Four players have crossed the goal line four times T.J. Graham, WR -- 6 3 9 each, while nine have scored two or more TDs. Gary Gregory, OG/OT -- 0 0 1 1 In terms of positions, wide receivers (6), halfbacks (3), fullbacks (1), tight ends (1), Dean Haynes, HB ------8 8 defensive backs (2) and a quarterback (1) have been responsible for the Wolfpack’s Nate Irving, LB 4 9 -- 8 21 35 TDs this season. Dontae Johnson, S ------1 1 In 52 of the 57 years since the ACC was formed, NC State has scored fewer touch- Markus Kuhn, DE -- 3 -- 3 downs for the season than the Pack has already scored in eight games in 2010. Andy Leffler, P ------5 5 Here’s a look at the national leaders in number of players scoring touchdowns: Michael Lemon, DE -- -- 2 1 3 Sterling Lucas, LB -- -- 2 2 Dwayne Maddox, LB -- 4 11 15 Rk School Players Scoring TDs Natanu Mageo, DT -- -- 0 8 8 1. Stanford 16 Terrell Manning, LB -- -- 2 8 10 2. Oregon 15 R.J. Mattes, OG -- -- 8 5 13 Utah 15 Mikel Overgaard ------2 2 4. NC State 14 Jeff Rieskamp, DE -- 2 -- 7 9 Boise State 14 Jeff Ruiz, P -- -- 12 3 15 Fresno State 14 Brian Slay, DT -- -- 0 1 1 7. Idaho 13 Rashard Smith, CB -- -- 3 3 Owen Spencer, WR -- 13 10 8 31 TCU 13 J.R. Sweezy, DT -- 0 1 7 7 Jake Vermiglio, OL 3 8 9 7 27 PACK REMAINS INJURY FREE Andrew Wallace, OG -- -- 2 8 10 Knock on wood, throw some salt over your shoulder or grab your rabbit’s foot Cam Wentz, C ------8 8 before reading this note: Eight games into the 2010 season, NC State has not lost Jarvis Williams, WR -- 13 12 8 33 a single player for the season due to injury. C.J. Wilson, CB -- -- 6 8 14 There are a couple of players still sitting out who were injured last season and Russell Wilson, QB -- 11 12 8 31 Earl Wolff, S -- -- 4 8 12 haven’t returned (cornerbacks Rashard Smith and Jarvis Byrd) and offensive guard/ tackle R.J. Mattes missed the first two games of the year after his 2009 knee injury. Starting Streaks But so far in 2010, only one starter has been injured and forced to miss time. That was offensive tackle Mikel Overgaard, who started the first three games before injur- (Longest Active)# Jarvis Williams, WR 33 ing his elbow and being forced to miss three games. Josh Czajkowski, PK 33 This healthy trend is a complete reversal of Tom O’Brien’s first three years with Russell WIlson, QB 28 the Wolfpack program. His first three Wolfpack squads were decimated by injuries. Jake Vermiglio, OT 24 In the last three seasons prior to 2010 combined, players who were starters at one point in their careers missed an overwhelming total of 180 games. That’s an 2010 GAMES MISSED DUE average of 60 games missed per season. TO INJURY* Jarvis Byrd, CB 8 OFFENSE LEADS LEAGUE Brandon Barnes, HB 8 NC State enters the ninth game of the 2010 season with some of the best offensive James Washington, HB 5 marks in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Wolfpack currently leads the league in Mikel Overgaard, OT 3 pass offense (295.8 ypg) and total offense (438.6 ypg) and ranks second in scoring Duran Christophe, OG 3 offense (35.0 ppg), just two points behind league-leader Virginia Tech. R.J. Mattes, OG/OT 2 Those marks would rank among the top three in school history in each of those Quinton Payton, WR 1 categories if the season ended today. Jay Smith, WR 1 Markus Kuhn, DT 1 PACK WIDEOUTS STAND TALL *Doesn’t count players out for the season. The main thing that stands out about NC State’s wide receiving corps is that it’s very talented. Two members of that unit, Owen Spencer and Jarvis Williams, rank Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) among the all-time greats in Wolfpack history in receptions and receiving yardage, TOM O’BRIEN alongside names like Torry Holt and Jerricho Cotchery. 97-68 overall, 22-23 at NC State Together, that group has caught 117 passes this season (60% of the team’s total) 14th year and gained 1,523 yards (69% of the team’s total). √ In 2008, became first coach in ACC his- But what stands out just as obviously is that the group often looks down on its com- tory to lose first four league games and petition. The Wolfpack’s wide receiving corps (wideouts who have caught at least then win next four. one catch in 2010) boasts an average height of 6’3. That mark is the second-highest √ Served nine years in the Marines follow- among ACC schools (for wide receivers who have caught a pass in 2010). ing graduation, serving tours of duty at Quantico, Japan, and California. √ Reached rank of major in Marine Corps Wolfpack Wideouts School Avg. WR Ht. Reserve. Darrell Davis 6’4 UNC 6’3.5 √ Led Boston College to eight consecutive Jarvis Williams 6’4 NC State 6’3 winning seasons and seven consecutive Quinton Payton 6’4 Georgia Tech 6’2 bowl victories (his team won the 2006 Owen Spencer 6’3 Virginia 6’2 Meineke Car Care Bowl after he had come Jay Smith 6’2 Virginia Tech 6’2 to NC State). Steven Howard 6’2 Boston College 6’2 √ Posted more wins (75) than any head coach in BC history. T.J. Graham 6’0 Clemson 6’2 √ Led 2004 BC team to AFCA Academic Miami 6’1 Achievement Award for posting nation’s Florida State 6’1 highest GPA, team earned honorable Maryland 6’1 mention seven other times. Wake Forest 6’0 √ On Board of Directors for Marine Corps’ Duke 6’0 Toys for Tots Foundation.
COACHING EXPERIENCE HUNGRY LIKE EARL WOLFF 2007-pres. NC State Head Coach Redshirt sophomore boundary safety Earl Wolff was thrown into the fire early in 1997-06 Boston College Head Coach his career. He played in a dozen games and started four as a redshirt freshman last 1994-96 Virginia Off. Coor/OL season for the Wolfpack’s beleaguered secondary that ranked 69th nationally last 1991-94 Virginia Off. Coor/QB season in pass defense. 1982-90 Virginia Gds/Centers 1975-81 Navy Tackles/TE But last year’s growing pains have become this year’s experience, and Wolff has become the leader in the young secondary made up of a true freshman, a true PLAYING EXPERIENCE sophomore and another redshirt sophomore. College - Three-year starter at defensive end Wolff has led the team in tackles in each of the past two games, tallying 15 in the for Navy (1968-70); High School - Played at loss at East Carolina and tying for the lead with eight in the win over Florida State. St. Xavier HS in Cincinnati. He now ranks second only to Nate Irving in tackles among WOLFF-pack players. EDUCATION Graduated from St. Xavier HS in Cincinnati in WILSON IS LEAGUE LEADER 1967; Earned a BS in management from the Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson enters the Clemson game leading the ACC U.S. Naval Academy in 1971. in passing yards with 287.8 per game and total offense with 321.4 per contest. Both of those marks dropped after the win over Florida State, when he was held to just PERSONAL DATA 178 passing yards, his second-lowest mark of the season (both of his lowest passing Married to the former Jennifer Byrd of San totals this season - UCF and FSU - were Wolfpack wins). He more than made up for Diego. Three children: Colleen, an associate producer at ESPN; Daniel, who is a gradu- that, however, by rushing for 69 yards and three scores. ate assistant football coach at Alabama, and Wilson’s marks for passing yards and total offense rank 12th and fourth respec- Bridget Jean, museum coordinator for His- tively in the BCS this week. He is averaging 31.4 more passing yards per game and toric Charleston Foundation. 55.3 more yards of total offense than any other ACC quarterback. BOWL QUALIFICATION At NC State: 2008 Papajohns.com Bowl; At Boston College: *2006 Meineke Car Care Bowl, Scout Team Players of the Week 2005 MPC Computers Bowl, 2004 Continental Tire Bowl, 2003 Diamond Walnut San Fran- cisco Bowl, 2002 Motor City Bowl, 2001 Music Each week before a home game, the coaching staff selects scout team MVPs, who are City Bowl, 2000 Aloha Bowl, 1999 Insight.com then given the honor of leading the team onto the field at home games, carrying the Bowl; At Virginia: 1996 Carquest Bowl, 1995 Peach Bowl, 1994 Independence Bowl, 1993 North Carolina and American flags. Here’s a list of this year’s Scout Team Players of the Carquest Bowl, 1992 Gator Bowl, 1991 USF&G Week. Sugar Bowl, 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl, 1987 Game Offense Defense All-American Bowl, 1984 Peach Bowl; At Navy Western Carolina Andy Jomantas, OL Art Norman, DE (1-2): 1981 Liberty Bowl, 1980 Garden State Cincinnati Chaz McQueen, WR Zach Powell, DB Bowl, 1978 Holiday Bowl Virginia Tech Travis Leggett, HB Thomas Teal, DT * - team qualified for bowl under O’Brien’s guidance, Boston College Paul Horst, TE Ryan Cheek, LB but he did not coach actual bowl game. Florida State Logan Winkles, FB Rickey Dowdy, LB Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3)
Wilson has four more touchdown passes than any other QBs in league history. ACC signal caller. In the last four games, Wilson has thrown nine intercep- tions - 41% of the interceptions thrown in his 32-game career. SPREADING THE WEALTH NC State’s receiving corps was highly touted entering the PACK D HOLDS TOUGH ON 3RD DOWN 2010 season, with senior wideouts Owen Spencer and Jarvis NC State continues to lead the ACC and ranks 12th Wililams and tight end George Bryan getting the lion’s share nationally in third-down conversion defense this week. The of the attention. Wolfpack’s feisty defensive unit is allowing the opposition to And although those three players lead the team in recep- convert on just 32.4% of it’s third-down attempts (35 of 108). tions this season with 36, 30 and 22 respectively, they are just The Wolfpack has forced the opposition into 30 three-and- three of many who are contributing to the Wolfpack’s high- outs this season, an average of 4.0 per game. That mark is powered aerial attack. tied for 10th nationally this week. Here’s a list at the national Seventeen different players have caught passes this sea- leaders in defensive three-and-outs this season: son and eight have tallied double-digit reception totals. In five of the eight games in 2010, passes have been caught by 10 Rk Avg School (Total/total gms) or more different players. 1. 5.88 Ohio State (53/9) Ten different players have at least one touchdown catch 2. 5.55 TCU (50/9) this season. Williams and Bryan lead the way with three TD 3. 5.13 West Virginia (41/8) receptions. 4. 5.11 Texas (46/9) 5. 5.00 Boise State (35/7) WILSON ACCURATE THROUGHOUT CAREER 6. 4.88 Utah (39/8) Redshirt junior quarterback Russell Wilson has thrown 67 7. 4.63 Nebraska (37/8) career touchdowns, the second-best mark in school history. 8. 4.25 Buffalo (34/8) His touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3.0 to 1 is better than 9. 4.13 Florida State (33/8) even Philip Rivers, the Wolfpack’s all-time record-holder in 10. 4.00 NC State (32/8) every passing category, as Wilson has thrown 22 picks. 4.00 Alabama (32/8) To illustrate just how strong that number is, the other 15 4.00 Missouri (32/8) quarterbacks in ACC history with 50+ TD passes have a col- lective ratio of 1.6:1. In other words, Wilson’s ratio is almost CZAJKOWSKI SETS SCHOOL RECORD, LEADS ACC double the average amassed by the 15 most accomplished Senior placekicker Josh Czajkowski is now the NC State record-holder for point-after-touchdown kicks with 109 for his Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) career. The redshirt senior also ranks second in PAT percentage with a .982 mark TOM O’BRIEN VS. ALL for his career (he’s hit 109 of his 111 attempts). COMPETITION Earlier this season, Czajkowski set a school record for consecutive PATs, con- necting on 83 straight, dating back to the 2008 campaign. Opponent Home Away Neutral Total Czajkowski ranks fourth in school history in field goal percentage (.826) and is Arizona State 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 ranks fifth in field goals made (38). Army 3-0 1-0 0-0 4-0 He currently ranks second in the ACC in kick scoring and fourth in overall scor- Ball State 2-0 1-0 0-0 3-0 ing with 8.5 points per game. Baylor 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 Boise State 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 TOB LIKES T.O.P Boston College 1-1 0-2 0-0 1-3 Head coach Tom O’Brien has preached the importance of controlling the time of Brigham Young 1-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 possession since coming to NC State, but prior to this season, the Wolfpack was on Buffalo 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 the short end of that statistical category all three years that he has been the head Central Florida 0-1 1-0 0-0 1-1 coach. Central Michigan 1-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 The 2010 campaign is a different story, as the Wolfpack holds the edge in that Cincinnati 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-1 category over its opponents by almost six minutes. NC State currently ranks first in Clemson 1-2 1-1 0-0 2-3 the ACC and 10th nationally in TOP, averaging 32:53 minutes of offense per game. Colorado 0-0 0-0 0-1 0-1 O’Brien’s squad has controlled the time of possession in all eight games this Colorado State 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 season. Last season, the Wolfpack won the TOP battle in six games all season. Connecticut 3-0 1-0 0-0 4-0 Duke 1-1 1-0 0-0 2-1 The Wolfpack almost broke that streak on Oct. 16 in the overtime loss at East East Carolina 1-0 1-1 0-0 2-1 Carolina. The Pirates were on the field almost four minutes longer than the Pack in Florida State 1-2 1-2 0-0 2-4 the first quarter (9:25 to 5:35), but NC State dominated the time of possession stat Gardner Webb 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 in the last three quarters and ended up with a 32:31 to 27:27 advantage. Georgia 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 Georgia Tech 0-1 2-0 0-0 2-1 TURNOVER TURNAROUND Louisville 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-2 In the early part of the 2010 campaign, NC State did a great job taking care of Maine 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 the football. In the first four games of the year, the Wolfpack turned the ball over just Maryland 2-1 1-1 0-0 3-2 four times and was leading the ACC in turnover margin, have forced nine miscues. Massachusetts 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 However, in the last four outings, two of which have been Wolfpack losses, the Miami 1-4 1-4 0-0 2-8 Pack has turned the ball over 12 times, while forcing just nine. Murray State 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 Tom O’Brien’s squad still boasts a +4 mark in the turnover margin column. NC Navy 2-1 2-0 0-0 4-1 State has hauled in seven interceptions in eight games this season, after having NC State 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-1 eight in 12 games a year ago. North Carolina 2-0 1-1 1-0 4-1 NC State finished the 2009 season ranked 114th nationally in turnover margin, Northwestern 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 with 25 turnovers to just 14 takeaways. The Wolfpack is currently tied for 28th in Notre Dame 2-1 3-2 0-0 5-3 that category for 2010. Penn State 1-0 1-0 0-0 2-0 Pittsburgh 4-1 1-3 0-0 5-4 Rutgers 4-0 4-0 0-1 8-1 SPENCER MOVES UP CHARTS South Carolina 0-1 0-1 0-0 0-2 Senior wide receiver Owen Spencer has moved into fifth place in school history South Florida 0-1 0-0 0-0 0-1 in receiving yards with his play of late. He entered the Florida State game lead- Stanford 1-0 0-1 0-0 1-1 ing the ACC in receptions and receiving yards against league competition and still Syracuse 2-2 1-3 0-0 3-5 ranks third in those categories after catching just two catches for five yards in that Temple 3-0 3-2 0-0 6-2 Wolfpack win. Toledo 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 Spencer is now tied for 14th in school history in receptions with 102. He ranks Virginia 2-0 0-0 0-0 2-0 fifth overall in the ACC in receiving yards per game this week with 66.1 per game Virginia Tech 1-4 1-5 0-0 2-9 and seventh in receptions per game with 4.5. Wake Forest 2-1 0-4 0-0 2-6 For his career, Spencer has averaged 20.2 yards per reception (2,058 yards on West Virginia 3-1 1-3 0-0 4-4 102 grabs), and is on pace to challenge the ACC career mark of 22.0 as well (cur- Western Carolina 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 rently held by Herman Moore of Virginia). William & Mary 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 He set an ACC single-season record for yards per catch in 2008, averaging a Wofford 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 whopping 22.3 yards on 31 grabs. In 2009, he bettered that mark by over three TOTALS 59-27 32-39 6-2 97-68 yards, leading the nation with 25.5 yards per catch and in the process, breaking his own school and conference mark. Spencer led the team with 16 plays of 20+ yards last season. He also led the team in 2008 with 13 plays that went over the 20-yard mark. This season, he ranks sec- ond on the team lead with nine.
YOUNG SECONDARY GETTING OLDER The Wolfpack started the season with a young secondary. In one game this sea- son, two true freshmen actually started in that unit. Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) RECORD WHEN... But that group of young players is evolving into a group of veterans, as the two redshirt sophomores and one true sophomore who are seeing action have now played as many snaps as many of their older teammates. Playing at home ...... 4-1 The sophomores who are starters, Brandan Bishop, C.J. Wilson and Earl Wolff, Playing on the road ...... 2-1 have gained great experience during their brief careers. Bishop, the regular starter It’s day game ...... 2-2 at field safety, has played in 19 career games, starting 15. Wilson (field corner) It’s a night game ...... 4-0 played in all 12 contests last season, and has now started 14 games. Wolfe (bound- It’s a televised game ...... 6-2 ESPN Network ...... 4-0 ary safety) started four of the 12 games in which he played last season and all eight ABC ...... 0-1 games of 2010. ACC Network ...... 1-0 David Amerson, who has started the last four games at the boundary corner, is CBS College ...... 1-1 the lone rookie in the group now. Here’s a look at the number of snaps and games played by the Wolfpack’s young It’s September ...... 4-0 secondary: It’s October ...... 2-2 It’s November ...... 0-0 Name, Pos Year GP GS Snaps Playing a ranked opponent (AP) ...... 1-0 Brandan Bishop, FS Soph. 19 15 779 Playing an unranked opponent ...... 5-1 C.J. Wilson, FC RS-Soph. 20 14 908 Scoring First ...... 5-1 Earl Wolff, BS RS- Soph. 20 12 684 The opponent scores first ...... 1-1 David Amerson, BC Fresh. 8 4 309 Leading after 1st quarter...... 6-1 Trailing after 1st quarter ...... 0-1 THE OTHER WILSON Tied after 1st quarter ...... 0-0 There is one Wilson on the 2010 Wolfpack squad who gets a lot of attention: the Leading at halftime...... 5-1 Trailing at halftime ...... 1-1 one on offense wearing #16 on his jersey who has thrown for 19 touchdowns this Tied at halftime ...... 0-0 season. Leading after 3rd quarter ...... 5-1 But there is another Wilson, playing on the defensive side of the ball, who is Trailing after 3rd quarter ...... 0-1 also helping the Pack put up points in 2010. Redshirt sophomore cornerback C.J. Tied after 3rd quarter ...... 1-0 Wilson has now returned two interceptions for touchdowns this season - a 43-yarder at Central Florida and a 28-yarder in the win over Boston College. Scoring 0-19 points ...... 0-0 Wilson is the first NC State player to return two interceptions for touchdowns in Scoring 20-29 points ...... 2-1 the same season since 1966. That season, Greg Williams had two INT returns for Scoring 30-39 points ...... 1-1 Scoring 40+ points ...... 3-0 scores. Allowing 0-10 points ...... 1-0 Allowing 11-20 points ...... 2-0 300-YARDS Allowing 21+ points ...... 3-2 Quarterback Russell Wilson has thrown for 300+ yards six times in eight games this season, already the second-best single-season total in school history. For his With 100-yard rusher ...... 0-0 career, he’s crossed the 300-yard mark 10 times, which also ranks second ever for With 100-yard receiver ...... 1-1 a Wolfpack player and a mark that ties for sixth-place in the ACC record book. Allowing 100-yard rusher ...... 1-1 Allowing 100-yard receiver ...... 2-0 Wilson has thrown for three or more touchdowns in five games this season as Allowing 300-yard passer ...... 1-0 well, a dozen times in his career and in 11 of his last 19 contests.
Gaining less than 300 yds total offense ...... 1-0 YOUNG BACKS NOW SEASONED VETS Gaining 300-399 yards total offense ...... 1-0 Offensive coordinator Dana Bible says that in NC State’s offense, halfbacks Gaining 400-499 yards total offense ...... 4-2 have to be extremely versatile. They must be able to run, catch and protect. Committing no turnovers ...... 2-0 The Wolfpack’s freshmen halfbacks, Dean Haynes and Mustafa Greene, have Committing 1-2 turnovers ...... 4-0 done just that this season. Neither of those players had ever played in a collegiate Committing 3+ turnovers ...... 0-2 game before September 4. Now, two months later, they are playing like seasoned Forcing 0 turnovers ...... 0-0 vets. Forcing 1-2 turnovers ...... 4-1 Haynes has started every game of the 2010 campaign, although he moved over Forcing 3+ turnovers ...... 2-1 from the defensive side of the ball just two weeks before he was named the starter. Controlling Time of Possession ...... 6-2 He has tallied 326 yards on 80 carries, scored two touchdowns and caught 13 Opp. Controls Time of Possession ...... 0-0 passes for 118 yards and another TD. Haynes redshirted last season at safety and started off 2010 preseason camp playing in the secondary. The Tunnel Hill, Ga., native played quarterback and run- ning back in high school, leading his area in rushing with 878 yards and 18 touch- downs as a senior. Greene has come off the bench to rush for a team-high 495 yards on 102 car- ries, crossing the goal line four times. He is the Wolfpack’s fourth-leading receiver with 20 catches for 181 yards. He was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week after the win over Cincinnati. He rushed for a touchdown in each of his first four games - the first time a Wolfpack player has done that in his first four games since quarter- Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) back Tol Avery in 1980. MEDIA SERVICES Greene was ranked the 26th-best running back in the nation by Rivals.com last season at Irmo High School in South Carolina. He rushed for 1,387 yards and 18 Press Conferences touchdowns in eight games, averaging nine yards per carry. Tom O’Brien’s regular weekly press confer- The young tandem has combined for 1,106 all-purpose yards in 2010, an aver- ence/conference call will be held on Mon- age of 138.3 per game. days at 1:30 pm throughout the season in the media room of the Murphy Center. Two IRVING COMES BACK FROM INJURY ... AGAIN! players will also be available. If you wish Rebounding from an injury is something that senior linebacker Nate Irving has to dial into the conference, please contact gotten very good at throughout his Wolfpack career. In 2008, as a redshirt sopho- Media Relations for the number. more, he came back from injury during the season. Irving missed three entire ACC Coaches Teleconference games due to injury, coming back after the first two only to suffer a second injury The 12 ACC football coaches will be featured and miss a third game. on a weekly teleconference each Wednesday In 2010, he’s come back from even more devasting injuries. He sat out the from 10:30 a.m., to 12:30 p.m., (9/1 - 11/23). entire 2009 season after suffering a collapsed lung, broken rib, separated shoulder There will be an instant replay of each tele- and a compound fracture in his leg in a June 2009 car accident. conference on TheACC.com each Wednesday Last week, he had a mini-comeback from injury against Florida State. After afternoon. exiting the game with a hand injury, he came back in on the last series when Florida State was driving for a game-winning touchdown. With the Seminoles at Jim Grobe, Wake Forest 10:30 am the Wolfpack four yard line with second and goal, Irving jumped on a fumble to seal Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 10:40 am the Pack’s victory. Mike London, Virginia 10:50 am Irving, who was recently named to the semifinalist list for the 2010 Butkus Tom O’Brien, NC State 11:00 am Award, has shown throughout his career that he is a game-changer on defense. Butch Davis, North Carolina 11:10 am Evidence of that fact might be that when the senior middle linebacker is in the start- Randy Shannon, Miami 11:20 am ing lineup, the Pack posts a 15-6 record. In the win over Georgia Tech, Irving tallied a career-high 16 tackles, includ- Ralph Friedgen, Maryland 11:30 am ing 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks. He was named the National Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech 11:40 am Defensive Player of the Week by Walter Camp Football Foundation for his perfor- Jimbo Fisher, Florida State 11:50 am mance. He followed that game with another strong outing against Virginia Tech, tal- David Cutcliffe, Duke 12:00 pm lying 13 stops, including two for loss and a sack. Dabo Swinney, Clemson 12:10 pm Irving leads NC State and ranks eighth in the ACC in tackles. His 29.5 career Frank Spaziani, Boston College 12:20 pm tackles for loss has moved him into 14th-place in school history. He has also been named a midseason All-ACC choice and a second-team All-America choice by Phil Media Phone Number: 913-905-1084 Steele’s College Football.
ACC Satellite Feed BREAK FROM FOOTBALL NO PROBLEM FOR WILSON Each Wednesday, Sept. 2 through November Between the last practice before last year’s season finale against North Carolina 25 on the ACC will provide a 90-minute satellite feed from 2:30 to 4:00pm EST. The (Nov. 26, 2009) and the first practice of this year’s fall camp (Aug. 3, 2010), 250 feed coordinates are: days elapsed. That’s the amount of time that Wolfpack quarterback Russell Wilson DID NOT practice football. He missed spring practice. He missed seven-on-seven Galaxy 17, Transponder 24 (KU Digital) drills in the summer. He missed football workouts in the Murphy Center weight 91 degrees West room. Instead, he was playing baseball for the Wolfpack squad in the spring and Downlink Freq.: 12178.5 Vertical for the Colorado Rockies’ Tri-Cities Dust Devils in the summer Symbol Rate: 6.1113 Many people have said that Wilson couldn’t possibly be back to his previous Date Rate: 8.448 form after missing so much time. In the season opener, the Pack broke the huddle FEC: 3/4 with 12 men at one point, the type of thing that has been almost unheard of under Trouble number: ACC: 336/369-1205; Microspace Communications: 919/850-4565 Wilson’s leadership. And although he threw for 306 yards in the opener, he barely crossed the 100-yard mark at Central Florida and posted the lowest completion Collegepressbox.com percentage of his career, completing 10-of-30 throws (except for a 1-5 mark in his Log onto collegepressbox.com for game first college game versus South Carolina in 2008, when he left the game with a notes, game books, media guides, statistics, concussion in the first half). news conference quotes, media lists, news However, a look at Wilson’s overall stats in 2010 show that the days he’s been links, contacts and more from all 12 ACC back focused on football definitely outweigh the 250 he missed. teams. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in six of the eight games this season and for three touchdowns in five contests. He threw 136 passes without an interception this sea- Contact the Media Relations Office for a pass- son (168 in a row dating back to last season). He leads the ACC this week in pass- word. ing average and total offense and with 19 touchdown throws this season. He has four more TD passes than any other ACC quarterback this season. Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) OFFENSIVE PLAYS OF 20+ YARDS WILSON STREAKS AGAIN Although his streaking was a little more modest than when he did it last sea- son, quarterback Russell Wilson still posted a pretty impressive roll. Before being Name Rush Rec Total J. Williams, WR 0 10 10 picked off in the fourth quarter of the September 25 win at Georgia Tech, Wilson O. Spencer, WR 0 9 9 had thrown 168 passes without an INT, dating back to the Virginia Tech game last T.J. Graham, WR 0 6 6 season, including 136 this season. M Greene, HB 3 1 4 In 2008-09, Wilson put together a much longer streak, the longest in NCAA his- D. Haynes, HB 1 2 3 tory in fact, when he threw 379 passes without being picked off. D. Davis, WR 0 3 3 Since throwing that first pick, however, Wilson has been on another type of roll. G. Bryan, TE 0 2 2 In his last 186 attempts, he has thrown 10 interceptions. R. Wilson, QB 2 0 2 T. Gentry, FB 0 1 1 S. Howard, WR 0 1 1 BLOCKS ARE BACK S. Howard, WR 0 1 1 After eight games in 2010, the NC State special teams have been credited with A. Watson, TE 0 1 1 three blocked punts. At Georgia Tech, the first score of the game came when Asa Watson blocked a kick and Jarvis Williams scooped it up and ran it into the end- IN OVERTIME zone. In the win over Cincinnati, Colby Jackson blocked a punt. He did it again in the 8-5 record (since 1997) win at Boston College and this time the Pack recovered it for a touchdown. Reg. Final In the entire 2009 campaign, the Wolfpack blocked just one punt. The team Date Site Opponent Score Result 8/30/97 A Syracuse 24-24 W, 32-31 blocked two in 2008 and had just one in 2007. So in other words, the 2010 squad 11/28/98 N UNC 31-31 L, 34-37 has one less punt block than in the previous three seasons combined! 10/23/99 A Duke 24-24 W, 31-24 9/2/00 H Ark. St. (2ot) 24-24 W, 30-23 GENTRY BOYS 9/21/00 H Ga. Tech 23-23 W, 30-23 NC State has a pair of special-teams defenders this season with a few things in 11/4/00 A Md (2 ot) 21-21 L, 28-35 common. One, they have both handed out several chinstrap-stretching tackles on 9/21/02 A Texas Tech 45-45 W, 51-48 9/13/03 A Ohio St. (3 ot) 24-24 L, 38-44 special teams. Two, they both started off their careers as walk-ons to the Wolfpack 11/15/03 A Florida St. (2ot) 37-37 L, 44-50 program. Three, they both have the same last name. And four, well, they both have 10/2/04 H Wake Forest 21-21 W, 27-21 the same parents. 11/3/07 A Miami 16-16 W, 19-16 The Gentry brothers, fullback Taylor and halfback Zach, rank first and second on 9/20/08 H East Carolina 24-24 W, 30-24 the team in special-teams tackles this season. In 2009, Taylor led the team with 21 10/16/10 A East Carolina 27-27 L, 27-33 special-teams’ stops and 219 plays on the various special-teams units. This sea- son, Taylor and Zach have played 177 and 145 special-teams snaps respectively. ON THE AIRWAVES Taylor, a junior, is in his third season as the Wolfpack’s starting fullback and has earned a scholarship. He has never rushed the ball, but has pulled down 24 catches in his career and is one of just four NC State players with a two or more Tom O’Brien Radio Show touchdown receptions in 2010. The coaching staff says that he is a leader in the Mondays from 7 - 8 p.m., live from The Wolfpack huddle and has been a huge help with the young halfbacks who have Backyard Bistro. Callers can ask questions by dialing: seen the bulk of the action this season. 919.890.6278 or Zach, a sophomore, is a halfback, but has seen action only on special teams this 1.800.849.6278 season. The Gentrys’ mother, Kathryn Varner Gentry, was a featured baton twirler in the Tom O’Brien TV Show NC State marching band from 1984-85 while their father Rick also attended NC Shown on Sunday evenings throughout State. the state. Check for times and stations at GoPack.com. The show also can be COLE ON A ROLL seen on Fox Sports South on Mondays at Junior linebacker Audie Cole was the team’s leading tackler in 2009, but never 11:00 a.m. and Tuesdays at 6:00 p.m. had he dominated a game like he did against Central Florida on September 11. Cole was credited with a dozen stops in the contest, including nine solo stops, a 10-yard sack and two other tackles for loss. He also pulled down his first career interception and forced another fumble on a play that ended up being overturned. Cole, who had twice as many tackles as any other defender in the game (for either team) was front and center in the Wolfpack’s aggressive defensive scheme, making plays all over the field. He continued in that vein in the win over Cincinnati, tallying seven tackles in 60 snaps, including a six-yard loss. He also forced a key fumble in that victory. Cole, who was named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week and the Rivals.com ACC Player of the Week for his performance, is the Pack’s third-leading tackler for the season with 52. Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) The return of R.J. Mattes has helped the experience fac- YOUTH MOVEMENT tor on the offensive line greatly. Mattes, who started eight The 2010 version of the Wolfpack football team has a games at guard before suffering an ACL injury at Florida State central theme: YOUTH. Of the 77 scholarship players listed last season, played for the first time since the injury against on the roster, 45 (58%) are either true freshmen, redshirt Cincinnati and has started the last four contests. freshmen or sophomores (redshirt or true). Although the youth of this year’s team might be a con- 30 PLAYERS SEE FIRST ACTION cern early in the season, it certainly bodes well for NC State’s There were 30 players on the Wolfpack squad who future. On the depth chart for Boston College, 43% (19) of played for the first time in an NC State uniform in the win over the 44 players listed on the offensive and defensive two-deep Western Carolina. charts are either true or redshirt freshmen or sophomores. Six true freshmen saw action in the seaon opener for NC Here’s a look at the Wolfpack’s roster by class this season State, while one, offensive tackle Robert Crisp, started the (scholarship players): Wolfpack victory. In addition to Crisp, defensive backs David Amerson (CB), D.J. Greene (FS) and Dontae Johnson (BS) Year Sr Jr So RS - Fr. Fr. saw action. Freshman A.J. Ferguson, who actually graduated Players 15 17 18 11 16 from high school in 2009 but joined the team in January of Note: All classes except freshmen include true and redshirt this year, saw action on the defensive line, while true fresh- man Mustafa Greene played halfback. NO BACKS WERE BACK In addition to those six true freshmen, a whopping For the first time since he took over as head coach in 2007, 24 other players played for the Wolfpack for the first time. Tom O’Brien did not have the luxury of having a returning Transfers David Akinniyi (Northeastern) and Mikel Overgaard starter at halfback this season. He inherited a trio of talented (Snow College) both started, while Ellis Flint (Hofstra) kicked and experienced backs -- Toney Baker, André Brown and off twice. Jamelle Eugene -- when he took the job prior to the 2007 cam- Ten redshirt freshmen got into the game as well: Darryl paign. Cato-Bishop, Ryan Cheek, Duran Christophe, Donald This season marks the first under O’Brien that at least two of Coleman, Rickey Dowdy, Dean Haynes, Sam Jones, Everett those players aren’t vying for time in the backfield. Proctor, Hans Rice, and Anthony Talbert. Tight end Mario Entering the 2007 campaign, those three backs had com- Carter, who redshirted as a freshman and then missed last bined for 24 starts and 1,330 snaps. In 2008, those three season with an injury also played, as did linebacker William boasted 36 starts and 2,183 snaps between them (Baker Beasley. ended up sitting out the entire season with an injury). Last And finally nine walk-ons who had never played before got season, after Brown went on to the NFL, Baker and Eugene into the contest: Donovan Counts, Jackson Diaz-Cobo, Zach combined for 20 career starts and 1,684 career snaps heading Gentry, Tyler Kloc, Travis Leggett, Curtis Martin, Seth Pavarnik, into the season opener. Cameron Ray and Keegan Ray. Heading into 2010, the players who were battling for time at the halfback spot had combined for zero career starts and 157 WILSON PULLS DOUBLE-DUTY career snaps. While many of the Wolfpack players were involved in sev- Here’s a look at the experience of the Wolfpack’s halfbacks en-on-seven drills this summer, one key element of the team heading into the last three campaigns as compared to this was 2,700 miles away. Russell Wilson, the Pack’s starting year: quarterback each of the past two seasons and a utility player on the Wolfpack baseball squad in 2010, was drafted in the Year Combined Starts Combined Snaps fourth-round of the Major League Baseball draft in June by 2007 24 1,330 the Colorado Rockies. He spent the summer playing in that 2008 36 2,183 franchise’s affiliate in Pasco, Washington: the Tri-City Dust 2009 20 1,684 Devils. 2010 0 157 Wilson, who hit his first professional home run on July 11, played for that squad through July, then headed back to AND THEN THERE’S VERMIGLIO Raleigh in time for the opening of preseason camp on Aug. 3. Thank goodness for Jake Vermiglio! Heading into the (He actually came back to town on Aug. 1, giving him enough September 16 game versus Cincinnati, the senior offensive time to get engaged before practice started). tackle had started 21 games for his career. That tally was Wilson’s not only multi-dimensional when it comes to play- more than double the total of the other four starting offensive ing two sports, he even pulls double-duty in the sports that linemen combined! The other four players who started that he plays. For the Wolfpack baseball team in 2010, he saw contest had combined to start eight games prior to the win action in the infield, outfield and even pitched some. On the over the Bearcats. gridiron, he only plays one position, but don’t try to peg him Gary Gregory, who was subbing for the injured Mikel as a one-dimensional signal caller. Overgaard at right tackle that week, started his first career Wilson is NC State’s top returning rusher from last season game against UC. Andrew Wallace had started four, and and has rushed for 848 yards in his two-year-and-seven- guard Zach Allen and center Cam Wentz had started two game football career. He’s the most prolific runner for a before getting the nod in that Thursday night game. Wolfpack quarterback since Johnny Evans stood under cen- Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) ter from 1974-77 (Evans, who is now the color analyst for the Wolfpack radio network, tallied WOLFPACK PLAYERS IN THE NFL 1,259 rushing yards during his career). In terms of passing, Wilson already ranks third Name Team Position in school history with 7,106 career yards and Brown, Andre Denver Broncos Running Back second in career touchdown throws with 66. Cotchery, Jerricho New York Jets Wide Receiver Harris, Leroy Tennessee Titans Guard Hill, Anthony Houston Texans Tight End EXPERIENCED COORDINATION Hudson, Marcus Carolina Panthers Safety Wolfpack coordinators Mike Archer (defensive) Larsen, Ted Tampa Bay Buccaneers Center and Dana Bible (offensive) combine to boast Lawson, Manny San Francisco 49ers Linebacker Locklear, Sean Seattle Seahawks Offensive Tackle 66 years of experience on the college and pro McCargo, John Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle coaching levels. That mark ranks sixth among Morgan, DaJuan Indianapolis Colts Safety all coordinator tandems in the BCS ranks for Rivers, Philip San Diego Chargers Quarterback 2010. Tulloch, Stephen Tennessee Titans Linebacker Here’s a look at the most experienced coordi- Williams, Brian Atlanta Falcons Cornerback nators in college football: Williams, Mario Houston Texans Defensive End Wilson, Adrian Arizona Cardinals Safety Young, Willie Detroit Lions Defensive End Yrs Off. Coord. (Yrs) Def.Coord. (Yrs) School 81 Morris Watts (41) “Bull” Reese (40) Miami (Oh) TOM O’BRIEN COACHED PLAYERS IN THE NFL 78 Ken O’Keefe (35) Norm Parker (43) Iowa 71 Gary Tranquill (47) Bill McGovern (24) Boston Coll Name Team Position School 70 Jim Bollman (32) Jem Heacock (38) Ohio St. Ron Brace New England Patriots DT Boston Coll. 67 Noel Mazzone (32) Craig Bray (35) Arizona St. Andre Brown Denver Broncos RB NC State 66 Dana Bible (32) Mike Archer (34) NC State Ricky Brown Oakland Raiders LB Boston Coll. 64 Kim Helton (35) Eric Schumann (29) UAB Tim Bulman Houston Texans DE Boston Coll. Gosder Cherilus Detroit Lions OT Boston Coll. Marc Colombo Dallas Cowboys OT Boston Coll. CATCHES THAT COUNT Jo-Lonn Dunbar New Orleans Saints LB Boston Coll. A couple of NC State players have made their Matt Hasselbeck Seattle Seahawks QB Boston Coll. catches count (for six points, that is). Wideout Anthony Hill Houston Texans TE NC State Jarvis Williams and tight end George Bryan Chris Hovan St. Louis Rams DT Boston Coll. Mathias Kiwanuka New York Giants DE Boston Coll. have averaged a TD every 6.2 catches for their Dan Koppen New England Patriots C Boston Coll. careers, tied as the best mark in school history Ted Larsen Tampa Bay Buccaneers C NC State with former Wolfpack great Torry Holt. DaJuan Morgan Indianapolis Colts S NC State Another one of their teammates isn’t far BJ Raji Green Bay Packers DT Boston Coll. behind. In seventh-place is Owen Spencer, who Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons QB Boston Coll. Jamie Silva Indianapolis Colts CB Boston Coll. has reached paydirt every 8.5 times he makes a Chris Snee New York Giants OG Boston Coll. grab. Jeremy Trueblood Tampa Bay Buccaneers OT Boston Coll. Here’s a look at the touchdown frequency of Damien Woody New York Jets OL Boston Coll. the top receivers in school history: Willie Young Detroit Lions DE NC State
Rk. Name, Years Played Rec. TDs TD/Rec every 6.2 times he catches a pass. That mark ties as the 1. Jarvis Williams, 2007-pres. 111 18 6.2 best among the top receivers in school history. He has more George Bryan, 2008-pres. 80 13 6.2 career touchdown catches than any returning receiver in the Torry Holt, 1995-98 191 31 6.2 ACC for 2010. 4. Brian Clark, 2002-05 78 11 7.1 5. Koren Robinson, 1999-00 110 15 7.3 6. Haywood Jeffires, 1983-86 111 14 7.9 TENUTA JOINS WOLFPACK STAFF 7. Owen Spencer, 2007-pres. 102 12 8.5 Last season, NC State was one of just a handful of schools 8. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 147 17 8.6 that had boasted the same football coaching staff for three 9. Jimmy Grissett, 1993-96 107 12 8.9 straight years. For 2010, the staff has one change, as line- 10. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 200 21 9.5 backers coach Andy McCollum left for Georgia Tech and Jon Tenuta joined O’Brien’s staff. J-5 FOR SIX Tenuta’s resume reads like a who’s who in college football, With 111 career receptions, senior Jarvis Williams, known as he has now coached at five different ACC schools and in as J-5 to his teammates, now ranks 11th in school history in his three decades of coaching has spent 16 years as a defen- that category. Move over a column or two and check out the sive coordinator at seven different places. career touchdown reception chart and Williams, who wears His most recent stop was at Notre Dame, where he served the No. 5 jersey, is a little higher up the list: third to be exact. as assistant head coach, coordinated the defense and Of those 111 catches, 18 have been for TDs, including an coached linebackers. ACC-best 11 scores in 2009. Tenuta spent six years, the longest stint in his 30 years of The Orlando, Fla., native has pulled down a touchdown coaching, as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) at Georgia Tech (2002-07). mark for touchdown responsibility. Rivers holds the league record for TDR with 37 (34 passing, 3 rushing) in 2003. Last RISE AND SHINE! season, Wilson also ran for four scores, making him respon- If the early birds get the worm, then the Wolfpack should be sible for 35 touchdowns. in good shape this season. For the first time, Tom O’Brien’s squad is practicing in the mornings, beginning practice around ‘WATCH’ OUT FOR THE WOLFPACK 8:30 and leaving the field around 10:30. The student-athletes Several NC State players have been named to the pre- then head to classes and following their academic obligations season ‘watch’ lists for national awards. are done for the day. For the second straight year, tight end George Bryan is a O’Brien says that the main factor behind the move is the preseason candidate for the Mackey Award and quarterback amount of rest that it gives the team prior to a game day. In Russell Wilson is up for the O’Brien and Manning honors. previous seasons, the team might leave the field around 6 Senior wideouts Jarvis Williams and Owen Spencer are both p.m. on a Thursday afternoon. Now, even if a Saturday game on the preliminary list for the Biletnikoff Award, while Nate is scheduled to kick off at noon, the team has at least 48 Irving is on the Rotary Lombardi list. hours of rest between the last practice and the game. Bryan has been named to the midseason list for the Mackey Award as well. ALL ALL-ACADEMIC Not only did Russell Wilson play in two sports for NC State TEAM ELECTS CAPTAINS last season, he also made two Academic All-ACC squads. Linebacker Nate Irving, quarterback Russell Wilson and Wilson is the first student-athlete in NC State history to earn wide receiver Jarvis Williams were named team captains for league academic honors in two sports (not counting student- the 2010 NC State football squad by a vote of their team- athletes who made it in cross country and track), as he was a mates at the first meeting of preseason camp. first-team All-ACC Academic performer in football and base- “These three young men have shown leadership throughout ball. their entire careers as members of this program,” said head Wilson earned his degree in communications from NC State coach Tom O’Brien. “Their hard work and dedication earned in May (he didn’t actually attend ceremonies because the them the respect of their teammates.” Pack baseball squad was playing at Florida State that day) and is now enrolled in graduate courses. NOTING THE PACK
A SECOND CHANCE √ Russell Wilson has been named the ACC Offensive Back This time last year, senior defensive end David Akinniyi was of the Week four times this season. pretty sure that as a senior, he would be a starter. He just √ In the last four games, Wilson has thrown nine interceptions had no idea that it would be at NC State. - 41% of the interceptions thrown in his 32-game career. Akinniyi spent the first three years of his career at √ NC State has scored in 27 of 32 quarters this season. Northeastern, where he was a two-time member of the Fourteen different Wolfpack players have scored a Colonial Athletic Association’s All-Academic team and tallied √ 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. However, in late November, touchdown this season. he and his teammates were informed that the school was √ When the Wolfpack was ranked 23rd by AP following the dropping its football program, leaving Akinniyi with a year of win at Georgia Tech, it marked the squad’s first time in eligibility and no place to play. the polls since September of 2003. Fortunately for Akinniyi and NC State, he has found a home √ The Pack’s 45 points against Georgia Tech marked the in Raleigh, even moving into the starter’s slot at defensive end most in ACC action under Tom O’Brien. NC State put up for the season opener, when he tallied a seven-yard sack. 44 against Boston College. Akinniyi’s parents, Akin and Gloria, who now live in √ 58,083 fans packed into Carter-Finley Stadium for the Carrollton, Texas, came to the U.S. from Nigeria in 1982. His Virginia Tech game - the third-highest attendance total in older brother, Akin, played linebacker at Arizona (2002-06), school history and the highest in 25 years. his sister Deborah ran track at Stanford and is now in medi- √ Two members of the Wolfpack squad have already cal school, and another sister, Dorcas, is a heptathlete at earned their degrees from NC State: quarterback Rus- Wisconsin. sell Wilson and snapper Michael Maurer. √ The Wolfpack lost 12 starters from last year’s team, ASSUMING RESPONSBILITY more than any other ACC squad. Russell Wilson has been responsible for 80 touchdowns in √ NC State is facing the defending champions from three this less-than-three-year career, second in NC State history different conferences in 2010. The Wolfpack played host only to Philip Rivers (112) and a mark that ranks fifth in ACC to defending Big East Champion Cincinnati, and travels history. Wilson’s numbers include 67 touchdown passes and to defending ACC champ Georgia Tech and Conference 13 rushing scores. USA champ East Carolina. Last season, his 31 touchdown throws marked the second- √ In Tom O’Brien’s 14 years as a head coach, a fullback highest total in NC State history (Philip Rivers had 34 in 2003) has never rushed the football. and tied as the fourth-best mark in ACC history. Wilson also came within two scores of Rivers’ single-season Game 9: 23/25NC State (6-2, 3-1) vs. Clemson (4-4, 2-3) NC State Career Records Watch
Total Offense 13. Jimmy Grissett, 1993-96 1,504 107 Field Goals Made Rk. Name, Year Rush Pass Total 14. Don Buckey, 1972-75 1,734 102 Rk. Name, Years Md.-Att. 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-03 98 13,484 13,582 Owen Spencer, 2007-pres. 2,058 102 1. Mike Cofer, 1982-84, 1986 50-68 2. Jamie Barnette, 1996-99 177 9,461 9,638 2. Damon Hartman, 1988-91 48-75 3. R. Wilson, 2008-pres. 917 7,284 8,201 Receiving Yards 3. Steve Videtich, 1992-94 42-53 Rk. Name, Years Rec. Yards 4. John Deraney, 2003-06 40-58 Passing Yards 1. Torry Holt, 1995-98 191 3,379 5. Josh Czajkowski, 2008-pres. 38-46 Rk. Name, Year Cmp. Att. Yards. 2. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 200 3,119 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-03 1,087 1,710 13,484 3. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 147 2,351 Field Goal Percentage 2. Jamie Barnette, 1996-99 637 1,243 9,461 4. Nasrallah Worthen, 1984-88 131 2,247 Rk. Name, Years Md.-Att. Pct. 1. Danny Deskevich, 1998 12-12 1.000 3. Russell Wilson, 2008-pres. 562 975 7,284 5. Owen Spencer, 2007-pres. 102 2,058 2. Marc Primanti, 1995-96 31-33 .939 6. Mike Quick, 1978-81 116 1,934 3. Steven Hauschka, 2007 16-18 .889 Pass Touchdowns 7. T.J. Williams, 2002-05 98 1,916 Rk. Name, Years TD 4. J. Czajkowski, 2007-pres 38-46 .826 8. Koren Robinson, 1999-00 110 1,914 5. Nathan Ritter, 1978-80 33-41 .805 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-03 95 9. Chris Coleman, 1996-99 122 1,909 2. Russell Wilson, 2008-pres. 67 10. Bryan Peterson, 1999-02 139 1,894 Most PATs 3. Jamie Barnette, 1996-99 60 12. Don Buckey, 1972-75 102 1,734 Rk. Name, Years Att. Md 13. Haywood Jeffires, 1983-86 111 1,733 1. Josh Czajkowski, 2008-pres. 111 109 Pass Completions 14. Jarvis Williams, 2007-pres. 111 1,526 2. Mike Cofer, 1982-86 108 97 Rk. Name, Years Att. Yards Cmp. 15. Jimmy Grissett, 1993-96 107 1,504 3. Damon Hartman, 1988-91 101 97 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-2003 1,710 13,484 1,087 4. Adam Kiker, 2000-03 102 94 2. Jamie Barnette,1996-99 1,243 9,461 637 Touchdown Receptions 5. Steve Videtich, 1992-94 97 93 3. Russell Wilson, 2008-pres. 975 7,284 562 Rk. Name, Years TD Rec. PAT Percentage Pass Attempts 1. Torry Holt, 1995-98 31 2. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 21 Rk Name, Year Md.-Att. Pct. Rk. Name, Years Comp. Yards Att. 1. John Deraney, 2003-2006 84-85 .988 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-2003 1,087 13,484 1,710 3. Jarvis Williams, 2006-pres. 18 4. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 17 2. J. Czajkowski, 2008-pres 109-111 .982 2. Jamie Barnette, 1996-99 637 9,461 1,243 Marc Primanti, 1995-96 51-52 .981 3. Russell Wilson, 2008-pres. 562 7,284 975 5. Koren Robinson, 1999-00 15 6. Nasrallah Worthen, 1984-88 14 Consecutive PATs Made Completion Percentage Haywood Jeffires, 1983-86 14 Rk Name, Year No. Rk. Name, Years Comp. Att. Pct. 8. Bryan Peterson, 1999-02 13 1. J. Czajkowski 83 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-03 1,087 1,710 636 George Bryan, 2008-pres. 13 2. John Deraney 76 2. Terry Jordan, 1989-92 303 504 .601 10. Jimmy Grissett, 1993-96 12 3. Dave Buckey, 1972-75 303 524 .578 Tramain Hall, 2003-05 12 Kickoff Return Yards 4. Jay Davis, 2002-05 301 522 .577 Owen Spencer, 2007-pres. 12 Rk. Name, Years Att. Avg. Yards 5. Russell Wilson, 2008-pres 562 975 .576 1. Ralph Stringer, 1973-77 78 25.5 1,988
Yards Per Reception 2. Alvis Whitted, 1994-97 84 22.96 1,929 Receptions Rk. Name, Years Rec.-Yds. Avg. 3. T.J. Graham, 2008-pres. 81 22.7 1,923 Rk. Name, Years Yds. Rec 1. Owen Spencer, 2006-pres. 102-2,058 20.17 1. Jerricho Cotchery, 2000-03 3,119 200 2. Elijah Marshall, 1974-77 65-1,196 18.40 Kickoff Return Average 2. Torry Holt, 1995-98 3,379 191 3. Pat Kenney, 1970-72 63-1,145 18.17 Rk. Name, Years Att. Yds. Avg. 3. Eddie Goines, 1991-94 2,351 147 4. Torry Holt, 1995-98 191-3,379 17.69 1. George Marinkov, 1954-56 27 760 28.1 4. Bryan Peterson, 1999-02 1,894 139 5. Koren Robinson, 1999-00 110-1,914 17.40 2. Darrell Blackman, 2004-07 70 1,842 26.3 5. Nasrallah Worthen, 1984-88 2,247 131 3. Lamont Reid, 2001-04 38 994 26.2 6. Tramain Hall, 2002-05 1,466 125 Touchdown Responsibility 4. Ralph Stringer, 1973-75, 1977 78 1,991 25.5 7. Chris Coleman, 1996-99 1,909 122 Rk. Name, Years RUN PASS TDR 5. Mike Clark, 1961-63 25 631 25.2 8. Mike Quick, 1978-91 1,934 116 1. Philip Rivers, 2000-03 17 95 112 6. Anthony Barbour, 1988-89, 91-92 33 823 24.9 9. Ray Robinson, 1998-01 865 113 2. Russell Wilson, 2009-pres. 13 67 80 7. T.J. Graham, 2008-pres. 81 1,923 23.7 10. Haywood Jeffires, 1983-86 1,733 111 3. Jamie Barnette,1996-99 15 59 74 8. Bobby Hall, 1966-68 35 825 23.6 11. Jarvis Williams, 2007-pres. 1,526 111 12. Koren Robinson, 1999-00 1,914 110
Climbing the NC State Charts Wide Receiver Jarvis Williams needs... Quarterback Russell Wilson needs...... 3 touchdown receptions to tie Jerricho Cotchery for second ... 1,438 yards of total offense to pass Jamie Barnette for second place. place. ... 3 receptions to pass Ray Robinson for 9th place. ... 2,178 passing yards to pass Jamie Barnette for second place. 208 receiving yards to pass Haywood Jeffires for 13th place. ... 29 passing touchdowns to pass Philip Rivers for first place. Placekicker Josh Czajkowski needs... Wide Receiver Owen Spencer needs...... 3 field goals to pass John Deraney for fourth place. ... 190 receiving yards to pass Nasrallah Worthen for fourth place. Returner/Wide Receiver T.J. Graham needs... 6 receptions to pass Jimmy Grissett for 13th place. ... 7 yards in kickoff returns to pass Alvis Whitted for second place in school history. 2010 Game Recaps
NC State 48, Western Carolina 7 NC State 28, Central Florida 21 3EPTEMBER s PM 3EPTEMBER s PM #ARTER &INLEY