Wolfpack Pride Archives
17 October 2000
·
The Wolfpack football team runs its record to 5-1 with
its 38-20
win over Carolina! The win puts the
‘Pack within a game of bowl eligibility.
State is now ranked #23 in the Bowl
Championship Standings, and is being projected to play in the Gator
Bowl on New Year’s Day.
·
The Excite news service had some interesting Wolfpack
notes, which included the following:
Ø Quarterback
Philip
Rivers is the first Wolfpack player to throw at least two touchdowns in
five straight games.
Ø Receiver
Koren
Robinson has a school-record streak of six straight 100-yard receiving
games. He also leads the country in kickoff returns at 36.3 yards per return.
Ø Six
players have caught at least 10 passes this season. The last time six NCSU
players had at least 20 catches each was 1993.
·
The 2000-01 Wolfpack basketball season gets underway on
28 October with the Red-White game. State is ranked #29 in the nation in preseason
polls.
·
Basketball coach Herb
Sendek was given a two-year contract extension, through the year 2005. Sendek continues to work marvels in the
recruiting area, with next season’s recruiting class
already ranked in the Top Five nationally.
Sendek has signed the following recruits signed for next year:
Ø Center
Jordan
Collins from Hyattsville MD, who is beginning his fourth season as a
starter at DeMatha High.
Ø Power
forward Levi
Watkins from Rockville MD.
Ø Forward
Josh Powell from Riverdale GA.
·
In other recruiting news:
Ø Women’s
basketball coach Kay Yow signed national Top-10 prospect Kelly
Greathouse to a scholarship. Greathouse averaged 21 points/game last year
for Ventura CA.
Ø Football
coach Chuck Amato signed safety Avery Gibson. Gibson was the leading tackler
last year for Hoover AL.
23 September 2000
·
State
beat Georgia Tech in an overtime thriller to increase its 2000 football
record to 4-0! The Wolfpack’s unbelievable
start to the 2000 football season is garnering national attention, particularly
for:
Ø Wolfpack
coach Chuck
Amato, who is beginning to be considered a national coach of the year
candidate.
Ø Freshman
quarterback sensation Phillip
Rivers, who is quickly becoming a lock for ACC rookie of the year.
Ø Also,
linebacker Levar
Fisher has been getting some notice, but mostly from opposing teams.
Georgia Tech tailback Sidney Ford was reported to have taken offense to some of
Fisher’s pregame comments.
·
In other games this season on the way to a 4-0 record,
the ‘Pack has:
Ø Defeated SMU
41-0, shutting down a powerful offense with three sacks by Nate Goodsen.
Ø Defeated
Indiana 41-38, with a last-second field-goal block by Terrence Holt.
Ø Defeated
Arkansas State 38-31, in an overtime thriller that was Chuck Amato’s first
game as Wolfpack head coach.
·
In other major news, Lee
Fowler was hired as the new NCSU athletic director, after serving in the
same position at Middle Tennessee State for six years. Fowler was recently named chairman for the NCAA Men’s
Basketball Committee for the 2001-2002 season.
·
In basketball recruiting news, at least five of the Top
100 prospects are considering playing for the Wolfpack. They are:
Ø #7. Julius Hodge SG 6-5/177 Bronx, NY
Ø #46. Josh Powell PF 6-8/220 Riverdale, GA (Committed to State)
Ø #49. Ed Nelson
PF 6-8/245 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Ø #69. Marcus Campbell C 7-0/250 Albany, GA
Ø #70. Levi Watkins PF 6-7/220 Rockville, MD
·
The Wolfpack cross country teams both swept the Adidas
Invitational for the sixth time in eight years, beating out ACC foes
Virginia, Georgia Tech, and others.
State’s David Patterson and Dean Bowker finished 1-2 in the men’s race.
·
State golf coach Richard Sykes
has been elected to the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame.
25 April 2000
· Jamie Barnette and Summer Erb were named
recipients of the H.C. Kennett
Award for outstanding athletes at the 2000 Wolfpack sports banquet.
· In baseball news, State beat
defending national champion Miami 5-4 at this year's Wolfpack Cookout.
· In football news, the Wolfpack recently
completed spring
drills, and it looks like State will have two talented quarterbacks to
replace Jamie Barnette:
- Phillip
Rivers, who is already attending classes as a true freshman, appears
to be the leading starter candidate.
- Olin
Hannum, one of the nation's top junior college quarterbacks, has
transferred to State from Snow College.
· Basketball recruiting news:
- State signed Trey
Guidry, a guard from Baton Rouge, who won the three-point contest at
the recent ACC/USA Hoops Challenge.
- Another signee, Scooter
Sherrill, also a shooting guard, played recently at State in the Sonny
Vaccaro classic.
24 March 2000
The
Wolfpack is heading to Madison Square Garden! The State basketball team has
plowed its way through the opening three rounds of the NIT tournament to
advance to the final four. In three games at the Entertainment and Sports
Arena:
16 March 2000
· The State basketball team continues the
Wolfpack tradition of a strong finish leading into the postseason:
- State ended the regular
season with a 70-51 defeat
of Florida State. This brought a convincing end to the Wolfpack's
slump in conference road games.
- State had a strong ACC
tournament performance with a 76-65 upset
of #3-seeded Virginia.
- State returned to the ESA
the following week in fine fashion with a 64-60 defeat
of Tulane in the NIT tournament. This avenged State's first loss of
the season.
· In football news, the latest addition to the
Wolfpack
coaching staff is former Pittsburgh assistant Curt
Cignetti, who will serve as recruiting coordinator and tight ends coach.
· State added a number of ACC titles at the
recent ACC
wrestling championships:
- At 149 lbs, Tommy Davis won
his second consecutive title (141-pound champion last year) with a
sudden-death tie-breaker against Virginia's John Pozniak for a 5-4
victory.
- At 157 lbs, Scott Garren won
10-2 over Maryland's Rob Booth in the title match, after taking a 5-0 lead
in the first period.
- At 165 lbs, Joel Dramis
wrapped up the Wolfpack's third title by beating Josh Weidman from
Maryland.
· The Wolfpack baseball team is off to a 13-7
start. Recent victories include:
- Two wins out of three games
against #20 Wake
Forest, including a 12-4 victory to clinch the series.
- Two wins out of three games
against George
Mason, including a 14-9 victory to clinch the series.
- Two wins out of three games
against Rutgers,
including a 5-4 victory to clinch the series.
21 February 2000
· New Wolfpack football coach Chuck Amato
has recruited an excellent coaching
staff, which is among the highest paid in the country. Returning to the
program are former Wolfpack assistants Buddy Green, Joe Pate, and Dick Portee.
Coming to State from Brigham Young is the new offensive coordinator, Norm Chow,
who is considered responsible for developing such quarterbacks as Steve Young
and Ty Detmer.
· The outstanding coaching staff may be one of
the reasons for the surprising Wolfpack
football recruiting class. This year's class includes:
- Alabama quarterback Phillip
Rivers, who has already started taking freshman courses at State.
- Charlotte native and
defensive back T.
Alford, who has attended Hargrave Military Academy the past year.
· The lady Wolfpack basketball team recently
celebrated Kay Yow's 25th year of coaching with a 67-58 win
over Clemson. Afterward, State retired the jerseys of Gina Beasley, Trudi
Lacey, Chasity Melvin, Linda Page, Andrea Stinson, Trena Trice, and Susan Yow.
· In other recent ACC games:
· The men's basketball team recently enjoyed a
68-58 win
over Florida State, bolstering their chances for a bid to the NCAA
tournament.
· Wolfpack basketball coach Herb Sendek is
continuing to recruit top players to the program. Louisiana guard Trey Guidry
visited State over the weekend, and an offer has been extended to Shavlik
Randolph of Broughton High.
· State's wrestling team recently completed a season sweep
of Carolina, defeating the Tar Heels 22-18 after initially falling behind
15-3. State also enjoyed a comeback win
over UNC-Greensboro, 23-19.
· Wolfpack AD Les Robinson has announced that
State will field a ladies golf
team next year.
1 February 2000
· The men's basketball team has re-entered the
Top 25,
and continue to be undefeated in the new Entertainment and Sports Arena. Recent
home victories include:
- An 11-point win over Arizona
State behind the senior leadership of Justin Gainey.
- An 8-point win over ACC
rival Georgia
Tech behind the bench scoring of Ron
Kelley. Kelley had arthroscopic knee surgery on 30 January, and will
be out of action for a couple of weeks.
· The Wolfpack women recently had a thrilling
overtime win over #9 Duke, led
by Amy Simpson's 26 points.
· In Wolfpack wrestling, State beat Maryland
25-9 to give coach Bob Guzzo his 100th ACC
victory.
· New football coach Chuck Amato continues to
build for the future. The following recruits have committed to State recently:
- Cary's Austin
Herbert, the top kicker in North Carolina.
- Alabama's Pat
Winn, one of the nation's top-rated defensive linemen.
· Amato has also built a stellar coaching
staff:
- Pat
Chow will likely join the 'Pack as offensive coordinator from Brigham
Young.
- Todd
Strowd left Auburn to become State's new strength coach.
- Doc
Holliday comes to State as assistant head coach from West Virginia.
17 January 2000
· The men's basketball team is off to its best
start in ten years. The victories continue to pile up:
· Of course, the Wolfpack women also continue
to be dominant, not just in the ACC, but nationally. Recent victories include:
· New Wolfpack football coach Chuck Amato
is taking time in building his staff and recruiting new players. He has made it
clear that he is "shooting for the moon" in terms of player quality,
in order to avoid what he calls "a four-year disaster." Amato's
recruiting style is paying off already, as State has received a commitment from
Alabama high school player of the year Phillip
Rivers, a quarterback. Amato's
first season is predicted to be a good one for the 'Pack.
· In wrestling action, State beat
Carolina 21-18 in Chapel Hill. The 'Pack's Scott Garren, at 165 pounds, got
the only pin of the evening.
6 January 2000
· It's official! Florida State's Chuck
Amato has been named the new Wolfpack football coach! Amato, of course, led
the Seminoles to the national championship in the Sugar Bowl just two days ago.
4 January 2000
· The big news continues to be State's search
for a new football coach. An announcement is expected this week, and this site
will be updated when the announcement is made. Athletics director Les Robinson
has submitted a candidate
list to the chancellor. He has not announced any names on the list, but a
number of rumors are circulating:
- The Sporting News reports
that the most likely candidate is Florida State assistant Chuck
Amato. Amato is coaching the Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl.
- Robinson has reportedly
contacted Stanford coach Tyrone
Willingham, who guided the Cardinal to the Rose Bowl this year.
- Georgia coach Jim
Donnan has denied that he is a candidate, and Robinson has essentially
verified this.
- Alabama defensive
coordinator Ellis
Johnson has stated that he does not expect to get the job.
- Minnesota coach Glen
Mason said that there's "nothing" to rumors that he is a
candidate.
- Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill
Cowher has repeatedly denied that he is a candidate for the job at
State.
· The Wolfpack basketball teams continue their
winning ways. State's men entered the AP
Top 25 for the first time since 1990. In recent men's basketball action:
· The Wolfpack women are off to the team's
best-ever start,
· State
beat North Carolina 79-72 in Chapel Hill.
· State
beat South Carolina 69-55 in Raleigh.
· The North Carolina media have named the Century
Shapers, the 12 individuals with the greatest impact on North Carolina
sports. Of interest to Wolfpack fans:
· Also, Thompson was named one of the Top Five
College Players of the Century by Sports Illustrated.
20 December 1999
· The big news, of course, is that State's search for a
football coach continues, with some big names asking for consideration:
- Florida State assistant Chuck
Amato has been interviewed for the job.
- Georgia Tech offensive
coordinator Ralph
Friedgen has contacted State about the position.
- Alabama assistant Ellis
Johnson has spoken with Les Robinson about the job.
- The Raleigh media has issued
a list of coaches
to watch.
· While the coach search is ongoing, State has
been granted permission to speak with the football
recruits.
· Also, the 2000
football schedule has been released. State's nonconference schedule
includes Arkansas State, Indiana, and Southern Methodist.
· In basketball news, the Wolfpack men and
women both sit atop the ACC conference standings as the only undefeated teams
in the conference! In recent Wolfpack men's action:
· In Wolfpack women's action:
· A number of prominent college coaches, including
UNC's Bill Guthridge, recently paid tribute to former Wolfpack coach Jim
Valvano at the Jimmy V Classic in New York City.
2 December 1999
· In another early season thriller, State beat
#19 Purdue 61-59 in the inaugural ACC-Big
10 Challenge. The game bore a more-than-passing resemblance to the season opener
against Georgia, with the 'Pack falling behind early and winning on a last-minute
three-pointer. The win gave the ACC a 5-4 victory over the Big Ten.
· On the search for a new football coach:
- Les Robinson has named the
members of the search
committee:
- Robinson acknowledged that
he has spoken with two candidates
for the job.
- Georgia Southern coach Paul
Johnson has expressed interest in the job.
- Other interested candidates
are said to be FSU assistant Chuck Amato, Wyoming head coach Dana Dimel,
and former Texas head coach John Mackovic.
· The Wolfpack women's basketball team is
currently ranked #6 in the nation, having several exciting wins to their
credit:
23 November 1999
· In the big news, State has won the First Game
in the ESA by defeating Georgia 67-63, on the strength of a last-minute
three-pointer by Archie Miller. The new arena has been described as Reynolds
Coliseum with the volume turned up.
· The men's basketball team is in the Sporting
News Top Ten. Ranker Bob Segreti had this to say about the 1999-2000 squad:
An experienced team that has
underachieved. The addition of freshman Damien
Wilkins could be the spark that starts the fire, much like Mark Aguire did
for DePaul in 1979 and Pervis Ellison did for Louisville in 1986.
· The Wolfpack women's team is also in the Top Ten,
having posted big wins against #4 Rutgers in the Tip-Off Classic
and winning the Wolfpack
Invitational Tournament.
· In football, State won its last game in
Carter-Finley with a 30-16
victory over Maryland. Jamie Barnette set the ACC record for career
touchdown passes in his last game at home, including one to a returning Chris
Coleman.
· In football recruiting news, State has
received the following recent commitments:
- Cary kicker Austin
Herbert, the best kicker in the state.
- Millbrook lineman Jermicus
Banks, the 10th-best overall player in the state, according to
SuperPrep magazine.
- Lineman Matt Tarullo, the
eighth-best player in New York, according to SuperPrep magazine.
· In other sports:
- The men's and women's
Wolfpack swim
teams have been dominant, both winning at a recent ACC meet in
Raleigh.
- The men's Wolfpack cross
country team finished third in the recent NCAA championship.
5 November 1999
· State plays Maryland
in Raleigh this weekend, with a bowl bid probably on the line for both teams.
· Against Georgia Tech last week:
- Koren
Robinson had 168 yards receiving and was named ACC rookie of the week.
- Jamie Barnette tied the ACC
record for career touchdown passes.
· In other football news:
- Wide receiver Chris
Coleman will likely return for the 11 November game against UNC in
Charlotte.
- It has been announced that
State received nearly $760,000 for participating in the 28 August BCA
Classic, which resulted in a Wolfpack
victory over Texas.
- It was also announced that
the 20 November Wolfpack
game against ECU in Greenville will sell out Dowdy-Ficklen stadium.
48,000 are expected to attend, which will eclipse the stadium record of
42,000 set against Duke earlier this season.
· The 1999-2000 basketball season will mark
State's first season in the Raleigh
Entertainment and Sports Arena. 6500 were in attendance at the 'Pack's open
workout earlier this week. The stadium has received a positive write-up in The
Sporting News.
· The Wolfpack cross-country team won its
fifth consecutive title recently at the 1999 ACC
Championships, and broke their own tournament scoring record with a score
of 16. The 'Pack swept the first four positions, with Chan Pons wining the
event with a time of 24:19.4.
· Millbrook baseball star Joe Gaetti, son of
Cubs third baseman Gary Gaetti, has committed to play for State. Upon signing,
Gaetti said, "I really like the coaches, and I think we can contend for
the national championship in a couple of years."
29 October 1999
· Before the 1999 football season it was clear
that this one would be memorable, but Wolfpack fans have had a season's worth
of memories already. Among them:
· This weekend promises an exciting game as
State faces #7 Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The game is sold out. In Georgia Tech's
most recent press
release, Jackets coach George O'Leary says of the 'Pack, "We're facing
a quarterback who is a fifth-year senior with a lot of experience and is a
play-maker, and they run the ball and throw the ball consistently, so our
defense has its work cut out for it. They have outstanding running backs in
Spikes and Robinson. They do an outstanding job of running to daylight. They
keep you honest with the fullback inside. Their offensive line does a good job
of putting hats on people. Koren Robinson, the receiver, has come up with some
big plays in the passing game. They have a quarterback who knows what to do
with the ball. They're very dangerous offensively. Defensively, they've changed
somewhat from last year in that they mix it up a little more with three down
lineman and four down linemen. Recognition is key in making sure we understand
what's on the field."
· In basketball news, State opens the new
Entertainment and Sports Arena on Monday, 1 November, with a preseason
workout that is free and open to the public. Speaking of the arena, NCSU is
now asking for 35% of the resale of naming rights, which is expected to amount
to at least $14 million for the university. At the moment, Nortel Networks is
the leading contender to purchase the naming rights.
· The 1999-2000 basketball team features a
wealth of talented players at the guard position.
Justin Gainey, Archie Miller, Anthony Grundy, and Cliff Crawford are all
expected to see significant playing time.
· In order to balance the guard attack with
more big men, Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek has already done a tremendous job of basketball
recruiting for next season. Already signed are the top three players in
North Carolina: Mike Bell, a 6'-10" forward at Raleigh's Enloe High
School, Marcus Melvin, a 6'-9" forward at Fayetteville Byrd; and
6'-3" Scooter Sherrill of West Rowan. State is still actively pursuing
6'-10" center Chris Wilcox of Enloe.
· In administrative news, Jim Miller has taken
over the day-to-day athletic director duties, freeing Les Robinson to
concentrate on marketing issues.
5 February 1999
- The 'Pack is in good shape
in the middle of the ACC standings in mens basketball. Three recent
conference wins have boosted their post-season prospects:
- An 82-72 home
victory over Virginia,
led by Ron Kelley.
- A 70-59 home victory
over Wake
Forest, led by 20 points from Kenny Inge.
- A thrilling 51-50
road victory over Georgia
Tech, won with Justin Gainey's three-pointer and subsequent steal in
the final 15 seconds.
- In the final season of mens
basketball at Reynolds Coliseum, the old barn continues to make news:
- The long-term future
of the arena is being planned, so that it will continue to be an integral
part of campus. Read about it in A
New Beginning for Reynolds by Kim Gaffney. Gaffney says that
"The plans for Reynolds are much like Carmichael Gymnasium on the
Campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State's sister school in Orange
County." Whatever.
- Speaking of our
"sister school," it was revealed recently that crowd
noise at UNC is pre-recorded! Wolfpack broadcaster Tony Haynes had
this to say about UNC's deception compared to the way State handles
itself:
"For six years, I worked Duke games, and obviously you
didn't need any more crowd noise than you already had at Cameron, and now at
State, you're pretty much dealing with the same thingd. You certainly don't
need to enhance the effect of the crowd noise. We already have that
naturally."
Also, Bob Steele of the Poynter Institute, a national media
think tank in St. Petersburg FL, commented on UNC's tawdry practices:
"It's deceptive, pure and simple. It's giving the
listeners to the game an impression which is probably, at times, a false one. I
believe that coverage of sports, whether it's on radio or television or in the
newspaper, should be held to the same journalistic standards as coverage of
politics, coverage of the arts or coverage of any other news event. We should
not manipulate the reality of the moment. The commercialization of professional
and amateur sports is out of hand. If that commercialization prompts us to do
things that are deceptive or inaccurate or unfair in our coverage, it's a
violation of journalistic ethics."
"We are the logical ones. We should be the last game.
It's still going to be a great game. But if we would have been the last one,
regardless of whether we won or not, it would make for an even more special
night."
I have to agree with him. Wake is State's oldest rival and
has traditionally been the season finale. Anyone remember the four overtimes in
1989 that resulted in the 'Pack winning the ACC regular season outright?
- Led by Summer Erb, the
Wolfpack women continue to excel. Erb's performance in some recent
victories include:
- There will be no more #81
in State football uniforms. The jersey of Torry
Holt was justly retired after the season.
- In recruiting news:
- The Wolfpack
recruiting class is said to be the best ever under Mike O'Cain. The
strength of the class is in the secondary
where we signed seven defensive backs. State signed three of the state's
top 10 recruits, more than any other school, and four of the Wolfpack's
signees -- defensive backs Julius Patterson, Marcus Ellerbe, and Bryan
Peterson, along with defensive lineman Lee Tornabene -- chose the 'Pack
over its "sister school."
- Dave Glenn of the
ACC Sports Journal said, "By beating [UNC] head-to-head for some
really good players, it could be the first sign that the tide among
in-state players is starting to turn toward NC State."
- Regarding Ellerbe,
Richmond football coach Daryl Barnes said his decision to go to State
should help end the perception that his star players always go to UNC:
"The kids here make up their own minds. We've had so many go to
Carolina that some people say I push them there. That's never been the
case."
- The women's
basketball team has landed a couple of top recruits in LaShonta
Johnson, a junior who leads Winston-Salem Glenn in scoring,
rebounding, steals, and assists, and Amy
Simpson, a senior at Eden Morehead who recently scored 39 points in
one game.
- The men's basketball
team is showing some interest in guard Reggie Brown of New York
Archbishop Molly. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons said Brown is one of the
top unsigned shooters in the country.
13 January 1999
- The ACC basketball season
has started, and the 'Pack already holds a home conference win over Georgia
Tech in a game led by Kenny Inge. A couple of big non-conference wins
to report also:
- The 1998 football season
ended with the 'Pack back in the postseason, earning a bid to the Micron
PC Bowl in Miami FL against the University of Miami. State bid a sad
farewell to wide receiver Torry Holt, who garnered a slew of postseason
awards, including:
- The 1999
Wolfpack Football schedule has been released. It includes a home game
against former State coach Lou Holtz in his debut with South Carolina, a
Thursday night game in Charlotte against North Carolina, and a
season-ending game in Greenville against East Carolina. Now if only we
could fit Western Carolina into the schedule. . . .
- The women's basketball
team has already given Kay Yow her 500th win with the school this season.
In two of the bigger games to date:
- In recruiting news:
- Damien
Wilkins one of the nation's Top 10 high school basketball players,
signed a letter of intent to State. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons had
this to say about Wilkins:
Damien could become the best player at N.C. State since
David Thompson. He is bigger [physically] than Thompson, has great
explosiveness and is an unbelievable athlete. I think State fans will be
thankful today that Schea Cotton, who had committed, didn't get in school.
Damien is a much better player.
- Ty
Reynolds, the top-ranked high school wrestler in the country, has
signed a grant-in-aid with State. A three-time defending high school
state champion at High Point Central, Reynolds never lost a prep match
and was ranked by Wrestling USA magazine as the #1 wrestler nationally in
the preseason, regardless of weight class. He had an 82-0 high-school
record, winning state titles at 119 pounds as a freshman, 135 pounds his
sophomore season and 140 pounds as a junior.
- State has received
two recent top football commitments: Brett Bucher, a tight end/defensive
lineman from Huntsville AL, had 15 receptions for 191 yards and three
touchdowns this season. He also made 77 tackles with seven sacks. J.J.
Washington, a defensive back at Stone Mountain GA, is rated the #50
prospect in the Dixie region by SuperPrep magazine.
8 November 1998
- With wins against Wake
(38-27) and Duke
(27-24) , the Wolfpack has taken the lead in the race for the State
Championship, which will culminate in Charlotte against UNC on
Thanksgiving weekend.
- In other conference action,
State
beat Clemson 46-39 a week ago in a wild game in which tons of
individual records were set. Heisman
candidate Torry Holt now needs only 6 receptions and 205 receiving
yards to solidify his position as the greatest receiver in ACC history.
- In non-conference action,
the 'Pack holds a victory over national power Syracuse
(38-17). State's second major upset of the season brought more
national attention, including that from CNN/Sports
Illustrated and USA
Today.
- At halftime of the Syracuse
game, former State center Jim
Ritcher was honored by the National Football Foundation and the
College Football Hall of Fame. He joins former Wolfpack players Jack
McDowell and Roman Gabriel in the Hall.
- In recruiting news:
- Football: Among the
recent commitments are Jerrick Hall, a 274-pound defensive tackle at
Hargrave Military Academy, and highly recruited fullback/linebacker Cotra
Jackson who rushed for 500 yards and averaged 11.2 tackles per game in
Birmingham.
- Baseball:
Commitments include Daniel
Caldwell, one of the nation's top pitchers and son of former State
standout Mike Caldwell, shortstop Ryan
Strain, who hit .450 with three homers and 16 stolen bases in 24
games as a junior last spring, and shortstop Chris Goodman, who hit .424
during his AAU summer season and was the most valuable player in the AAU
World Series as his Georgia team won the title.
- Men's
Basketball: Anthony Grundy, one of the nation's best prep school
guards, will enroll at State in the spring. Sugarland TX star George
Williams, 6-8, visited State along with Grundy but has not yet committed.
East Mecklenburg's Ray Henderson tried to commit to the Wolfpack, but he
was told there wasn't a scholarship available. The scholarship may be
held for Damien Wilkins, a 6-6 forward from Orlando FL, who apparently
will sign in the fall with either State or Georgia Tech.
- Ladies'
Basketball: The Lady Wolfpack team has received at least five oral
commitments, including Kaayla Chones, a 6-foot-3 center, who was the
co-player of the year last season in Ohio and starred on the US junior
team this summer, and Carisse Moody of Northern Nash and Amy Simpson of
Eden Morehead, who split North Carolina's two player of the year awards
last season.
- In other sports:
- The Wolfpack
gymnastics team has earned Academic
All-America honors and seven of its members have received individual
honors, led by Wolfpack freshman Jacquelin Clark, who tied for the
highest grade-point average in the nation (4.0).
- The Wolfpack golf
team won the Tennessee
Tournament of Champions, setting a new single-round record (274) in
the process, led by James Bunch, whose score of 65 tied the tournament's
all-time low score.
- In Wolfpack
motorsports, Cam
Strader beat out about 200 other racers for Rookie of the Year in the
Late Model Stock Car Division of the Winston Racing Series at Southern
National Speedway in Kenly.
- And finally, in
Wolfpack fishing, fisheries biology major Dustin
Wilkes won the first round of the $213,000 BASSMaster Virginia
Eastern Invitational on Kerr Lake in South Hill VA.
17 September 1998
- STATE
BEATS FSU!
- STATE
BEATS FSU!
- STATE
BEATS FSU!
- For those who dont know,
State beat nationally-ranked #2 Florida State 24-7 on Saturday. In
addition to the above links (each of which leads to a different NC
newspaper account), you can read what the national media had to say:
- As a result of the win,
State moved to #20 nationally in the AP
rankings and is now in the lead in the ACC
title hunt
- Wolfpack coach Mike
O'Cain had the following quotes:
- "We could be
average. But at least for now, we proved to people at this point in time
in history that we can be a pretty good football team."
- "It's been a
long time coming. It's gratifying to be given an opportunity to come back,
to get another chance at it."
- "A team is
made up of bonds -- bonds between players and coaches, players and
players, coaches and coaches. We lost that bond in '96. In '97, we got it
back."
- "If we follow
it up this week, it will be the greatest win we've had at NC State. If we
don't, that victory will be hollow."
- Despite a lot of criticism
after the Ohio game, the Wolfpack
Defense now leads the nation in interceptions.
- Wide receiver Torry
Holt was named national player of the week by USA Today.
- This week the 'Pack takes
on Baylor in Waco TX. I have the intelligence report from the Waco
Tribune-Herald . Among the bits gleaned from that report:
- High-school
All-American Odell James will start at quarterback.
- The Baylor coaches
are planning to work more option plays into their offense Saturday
against State to take advantage of James' skills. The Bears hope to
exploit a Wolfpack rushing defense that is allowing 257.5 yards per game.
- James on State's
victory over FSU: "They run a true 4-3 defense and we'll try to run
the option against it. We'll need to run well to keep them off our
receivers and open up the passing game."
8 September 1998
- In the big news this week,
State
beat Ohio, 34-31 on Thursday night in a thriller. With less than two
minutes to play, Roderick Brown blocked a punt that was returned 13 yards
for a touchdown by Chris Coleman. Notes on the game:
- While the Wolfpack
defense received some criticism for giving up 361 yards rushing, they
only gave up seven second-half points against the team that was ranked
fourth in the nation in rushing last year.
- Torry
Holt had three catches for 71 yards, and 27 yards rushing on one
reverse play.
- Seven true
freshmen played for the 'Pack in that game, whereas only 11 true
freshmen played in the past three years.
- On Saturday, State
plays Florida State in Raleigh. This season I plan to provide some
counter-intelligence by looking at what the opponents are saying. So here
is this week's game preview from the Tallahassee
Democrat.
- More football season
previews:
- It's not too soon to start
thinking about next season. State will open the 1999 season against old
rival South
Carolina in Raleigh.
- In recruiting news:
- The football team
received another early commitment, this time from 270-lb. Cary lineman Scott
Kooistra.
- The lady basketball
team received a commitment from Carisse
Moody, the Gatorade girls high school basketball player of the year
in North Carolina last year.
- Lady Wolfpack basketball
player Summer Erb had eight points against Senegal to help the United
States win the gold medal in the Jones
Cup at Taipei, Taiwan.
23 August 1998
- Football
season is upon us again, and that means it's time for football previews.
Check out the Wolfpack season previews in the following media sources:
- State held its third preseason
scrimmage on Saturday. Personal achievements of note:
- Quarterback Jamie
Barnette was 8-of-13 for 104 yards passing.
- Backup quarterback
Grant Dorn was 4-of-4 for 52 yards passing.
- Rookie tailback Ray
Robinson rushed for 30 yards on three carries, scoring two touchdowns.
- Wide receiver Torry
Holt made five catches for 80 yards.
- Rookie receiver
Ricky Collins made three catches for 32 yards and one touchdown.
- Of course, the expected
star for the 'Pack this season will be Rahshon
Spikes. The big competition in preseason practice has been to
determine his backup. Ray Robinson, Carlos Doggett, Brian Williams, and KJ
Stone are all very talented and have had good preseasons. Coach Mike
O'Cain said, "We signed every one of them to play tailback, but at
the same time, we cant leave them all there. We're going to have to make
quick decisions. It might be unfair, but we will move two quickly."
- While on the subject of
football, recruiting for next season has gotten off to its best start ever
under O'Cain, due to the success of the team last season. The new
recruits:
- Craig
Moody, nephew of former 'Pack star Darrell Moody, is a potential
quarterback and wide receiver.
- Julius
Patterson led the state in interceptions last season with 11.
- Adrian
Wilson set the NC East-West punt return record with an 82-yard return
to lead the West to a 20-7 win this summer.
- Buddy
Smith is a 6-foot 4-inch, 285-pound tackle who can benchpress 375
pounds and run 40 yards in 5.1 seconds.
- In basketball
news:
- Herb Sendek's third
State team will play in the Puerto
Rico Holiday Classic in San Juan 19-23 December. They will compete
against such teams as Mississippi, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and of course
the American University of Puerto Rico.
- Ed Woolard, former
CEO of Dupont, recently pledged a quarter-million dollars to endow the Ed
Woolard Shooting Guard Scholarship.
- Sendek has already
received a committment from rising senior Clifford
Crawford, a six-foot three-inch point guard.
- Damon
Thornton and Justin
Gainey played in Raleigh's Chavis League this summer, and appear to have
overcome the injuries that plagued them last season. Thornton and Ron
Anderson both received medical redshirts this summer, so Thornton will
have three years remaining with the 'Pack.
- Adam
Harrington was one of 12 players chosen to play on USA Basketball's
Junior World Championship Qualifying team, under Syracuse coach Jim
Boeheim.
- Lady Wolfpack
player Summer
Erb was selected for the 12-member US team that is competing in the
Jones Cup tournament 23-27 August in Taipei, Taiwan, while Tynesha Lewis
was named to the USA Basketball Women's Select Team that played in a
four-team tournament in Puerto Rico in July.
- In baseball
news:
- Wolfpack pitchers
Bubba Scarce and Kurt Blackmon were selected in the recent major
league draft by the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.
- It must be the
field! State received two early commitments, and they had this to say:
- Jeremy
Dutton, shortstop: "When I walked out on the field, it was
unbelievable. State must have the best playing surface anywhere."
- Brennan
Hall, third baseman: "State's playing surface is the best I
have ever seen. It has to be one of the finest in the country."
- Finally, condolences to
the family of Wolfpack soccer player Robin
Morlock, who was killed in a car wreck in Raleigh this summer.
29 May 1998
- State and Carolina will
definitely meet in Ericsson
Stadium this fall. The N&O has published a preview
of the 1998 Wolfpack football team.
- In baseball news:
- The 'Pack finished
up its baseball regular season in strong fashion, with
wins over Carolina
(9-4) and Duke
(14-3). Jake Weber hit an 11th-inning grand slam to down the Heels, and
Brian Ward went 3-for-4 against the Devils.
- These wins were
followed with wins in the ACC Tournament over Virginia
(4-1) and Duke
(10-4), at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
- State also performed
well in the NCAA West Regionals at Stanford CA,
defeating Long
Beach State (12-3) and Alabama
(13-10). In so doing, the 'Pack broke Long Beach State's 11-game winning
streak with an 18-hit effort, and scored 10 runs in the eighth inning
against Alabama. Again, the heroes were Jake Weber and Brian Ward:
- Weber finished his
NC State career with an ACC record of 366 career hits. The previous mark
of 362 was set by Wolfpacker Tom Sergio a year ago.
- Ward set an NC
State single-season record in hits, with 106, by going 3-for-4 against
Long Beach State.
- State will retire the
jerseys of Dick
Dickey and Sammy Ranzino next season, the 50th in Reynolds Coliseum.
In other basketball news:
- Damon
Thornton returns to action, in Raleigh's Chavis summer basketball
league. His redshirt bid for the past season has still not been approved.
- State was a co-host
(along with Duke and Carolina) of the Reebok/Bob
Gibbons Tournament of Champions. 'Pack signee Adam Harrington had
games of 41 and 50 points in the tournament, and recruit Joe Forte
averaged 32.8 points in six games. Gibbons recently rated Harrington 22nd
and signee Keith Bean 68th in his list of the Top
100 Players in the Class of 1998.
- Chastity
Melvin was the #2 pick in the American Basketball League draft, selected
by Philadelphia, and Jeremy
Hyatt was picked up by the USBL's Raleigh Cougars, reuniting with
former Wolfpack teammates Ishua Benjamin and CC Harrison.
- In spring sports, the
Wolfpack golf
team made the NCAA championships after finishing sixth in the East
Regionals, and the tennis
team earned its first-ever NCAA championships appearance after
finishing 16-7.
24 April 1998
- Lots of good baseball news
for the 'Pack:
- In a special Easter
Monday game at the Durham Bulls' stadium, State
beat Carolina 7-6 in an amazing finish when a line drive off the bat
of Tar Heel shortstop Brian Roberts ricocheted off the wrist of State
pitcher Kurt Blackmon, then off his head and was caught in the air by
third baseman Josh Ballard, who threw to second base for a game-ending
double play.
- State set season
records for hits and runs in a 21-4
victory over Wake Forest.
- State won
2-out-of-3 in its series against #20 Georgia Tech. In Game 1,
Noel Manley broke open a 4-4 tie in the sixth with a home run. In Game 3,
Blackmon got a complete-game victory as State won 8-5.
- There has also been an
awful lot of good news concerning recruiting:
- Schea
Cotton, who has been rated the #1 prep prospect, announced his intent
to play for NCSU next season.
- Al
Harrington, another top prospect, will visit State either 1 May or 8
May.
- Terrence
Holt, brother of current star wide receiver Torry Holt, and the
Greensboro News & Record basketball player of the year, announced his
intent to become a two-sport (football and basketball) walk-on.
- Brian
Keeter, a point guard at Cary, has accepted an offer to walk on the
basketball team next year.
- Ronald
Blackshear, the nation's 46th-rated basketball prospect, is being
recruited by State for the 1999-2000 season, as he will likely attend
prep school this year.
- State is also
pursuing some nationally ranked juniors:
- 6'-3" Tony
Robertson, a Raleigh native and point guard at Barrington (RI) St.
Andrews, who is ranked among the top 10 juniors nationally.
- 6'-5" Matt
Carroll of Hatboro-Horsham in Pennsylvania.
- 6'-9" Carlton
Aaron of Atlantic Shores Christian School in Chesapeake VA.
- In recent professional
sports drafts:
- NFL
draftees from State were fullback Carlos King (Pittsburgh) in Round 4
and receiver Alvis Whitted (Jacksonville) in Round 7.
- In the USBL draft,
the Raleigh
Cougars made Ishua
Benjamin their Round 1 choice, and his fellow 'Pack backcourter C.C.
Harrison their Round 3 choice.
- It was announced that
former State football center Jim
Ritcher will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
- The ACC recently announced
its top 16 scholar-athletes
, which included four Wolfpackers:
- Amy Lemerman,
volleyball -- Pre-med major and school career block assists leader and in
top 10 in four other statistical categories.
- Jennifer Peterson,
volleyball -- Biochemistry major who is school career leader, fourth in
ACC and seventh in NCAA in digs.
- Jake Weber,
baseball -- Technology education major and three-time All-ACC selection
with .357 career batting average.
- Joe Wirgau, cross
country and track & field -- Chemistry major and co-captain of ACC
championship cross country team.
- The State gymnastics team
became the first ACC school to qualify for the NCAA
gymnastics championships following its performance in the Southeast
Regionals in Athens GA on 4 April.
- In interesting tennis
news, the Pack's Blair
Sutton recently won a marathon (4-hour, 25-minute) match against
Maryland's Meg Griffin, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6.
3 April 1998
- The Wolfpack women's
basketball team made the Final
Four after coming back from a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat
third-ranked Connecticut 60-52 in the East regional final. It was the
first Final Four for legendary coach Kay Yow.
In other women's basketball news:
- The men's basketball team
had a respectable 2-2 record in the postseason. Postseason highlights
included:
- Defeating NCAA
tournament invitee Florida
State in the ACC tournament.
- Smashing Kansas
State at Reynolds Coliseum in the NIT tournament.
- Legends
Night at the ACC tournament saw David Thompson win the long-distance
challenge at the Greensboro Coliseum, where he won the 1974 national
championship. Thompson also teamed with Chris Corchiani to win the
two-man competition.
- In 'Pack baseball:
- State is 23-9, and
this weekend hosts Georgia Tech (21-9) in a series that will go a long
way toward determining the pecking order in the ACC.
- Jake Weber recently
played in his 215th consecutive game for State, tying the school record
set by Brian Bark.
- Former State
pitcher Mike Caldwell will be inducted into the NC
Sports Hall of Fame.
- And in football news:
- Charlie
Fisher, the head coach at West Georgia for the past five seasons, has
been appointed to the N.C. State football coaching staff as receivers
coach.
- State and UNC have
had talks concerning moving their annual football game to Charlotte.
25 February 1998
- State
beats #1 UNC! North Carolina was looking for its 20th consecutive home
victory, but got a wake-up
call from the Wolfpack. This was Herb Sendek's first victory over the
Heels. It instigated a return to Hillsborough
Street celebrations.
- Days earlier, State
routed Virginia 74-55. This was Ron Kelley's return to the 'Pack
lineup.
- C.C. Harrison and Ishua Benjamin
were recently honored for breaking the 1000-point career scoring totals.
- What does the Wolfpack's
recent good fortune in men's basketball mean in terms of championship
hopes?
- State has a chance
at a good seed in the ACC
Tournament that begins next week.
- Postseason
bid is virtually guaranteed, as the NIT will be attracted to State's
winning record, and the NCAA will wait-and-see what happens in the next
10 days.
- In women's basketball:
- In recruiting news:
- State received a
surprise when defensive end Adrian Williams signed after earlier
committing to ECU. Wilson led High Point Andrews in tackles.
- Basketball star Schea
Cotton made a campus visit and was in the audience at the State-Duke
game in Reynolds Coliseum.
- Finally, thieves
stole UNC memorabilia, including the Tar Heel insignia from the
Carmichael floor and Michael Jordan's jersey from the Smith Center. Why
anyone would want such things has not been determined.
4 February 1998
- The death of Garry
Dornburg this week leaves a very noticeable empty spot in the Wolfpack
family. His employer, WPTF 680 AM, has
set up a web site for you to leave messages for his family (mother Ruth
and brother Steve). The memorial service will be 11AM today at the
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Raleigh. Any donations can be sent to the NCSU
College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which is establishing an
endowment fund in Dornburg's name.
- The 'Pack will try to win
one for Garry tonight as it takes on Wake Forest at home. A win would put
State in fourth place in the ACC standings.
- State had a very memorable
win Saturday, defeating Clemson
in overtime. CC Harrison tied the score at the end of regulation by
following up his own missed free throw, then hit a three-pointer at the
buzzer for a final score of 82-80.
- Today is national signing
day for football prospects, and some are saying this will be Mike O'Cain's
best recruiting class. Recently committing was Carlos
Doggett, one of the most prolific running backs in state high school
history.
- State's womens basketball
team took sole command of first place in the ACC with a win over Georgia
Tech, 85-60.
- In basketball recruiting,
some are saying that Al Harrington is likely to remain close to home,
either Seton Hall or St. John's, although State remains in the picture.
State's chances look better with 6-6 wing forward Schea Cotton, rated the
No. 1 junior in the country before missing his senior season with a shoulder
injury.
20 January 1998
- In men's basketball:
- Mounting injuries
leave the 'Pack roster depleted to only eight members -- not even enough
to scrimmage in practice. This places a lot of responsibility on some talented
freshmen such as Kenny Inge and Archie Miller.
- Despite the
depleted roster, State gave #2 Duke
all it could handle before coming up short at Durham. The 'Pack
outrebounded the Devils 35-30. As N&O columnist Caulton Tudor
summarized:
The good news for State is that the potential to [succeed]
surfaced at times against Duke. State has to think that if Duke could be
challenged in Cameron, most ACC teams can beaten in Reynolds Coliseum.
- One team that was
beaten in Reynolds Coliseum is Memphis.
The Wolfpack took a 71-60 win.
- The talent
situation should take a turn for the better next season. In addition to
State's highly touted incoming class, Notre Dame player Gary
Bell plans to transfer and play as a walk-on. Bell was one of the
nation's top high school players in 1995. Also, Schea Cotton, one of the
nation's top high school players in 1998, plans to visit.
- In women's basketball, the
Lady 'Pack finds itself ranked #8 in the nation and 1st
Place in the ACC. Included in their wins is a 67-59 win against Virginia
at Charlottesville.
- In football news, the strong
finish to the 1997 football season that gave the 'Pack a winning record
continues to pay dividends:
- Star wide receiver Torry
Holt has elected to stay at State for his senior season.
- Brian
Jamison, one of the nation's top high school linebackers, committed
to the 'Pack.
- Other notable
recent commitments include Joe
Lardino, a 300-lb offensive lineman, and K.J.
Stone, a running back from Graham High School.
- While NCSU did not receive
a post-season bowl bid, some State players and coaches were instrumental
in a couple of bowl victories:
- Coach Mike O'Cain
and offensive coordinator Robbie Caldwell directed the offense for the
South in the Blue-Gray
Bowl, resulting in a 31-24 victory.
- Tremayne Stephens
finished his college career in memorable fashion, leading the South's
game-winning 55-yard drive for a 20-19 victory in the Hula
Bowl.
- State's 1998 football
schedule has been released. It features home games against ACC champ Florida
State (12 September) and Big East champ Syracuse (1 October), and a
Thanksgiving-weekend finale at North Carolina (28 November). No game this
year against East
Carolina, although Les Robinson met with ECU AD Mike Hamrick in
Chicago to talk about continuing the successful series.
- Finally, long-time radio
personality Garry
Dornburg remains in Duke Medical Center and needs our thoughts and
prayers.
11 December 1997
- The goalposts came down as
State
beat ECU for the first time in ten years. The thrilling finish saw ECU
overcome a big State lead to even the score, only to see the Wolfpack
score two touchdowns in the final minute for a 37-24 win. The awesome
finish to the season did not get the 'Pack a bowl bid, but it means two
things:
- Mike
O'Cain will not only be back next year, but he signed a four-year
extension. This immediately led to new recruits signing. Coupled with
Mack Brown's recent departure from UNC and Carolina's inability to hire a
"big name" coach like Jim Donnan, O'Cain's job stability may
mean that some of Carolina's recruits will jump ship to the 'Pack.
- Tremayne Stephens'
awesome college career is over. After a great freshman season in which he
was the MVP of the Peach Bowl, he carried a young and inexperienced team
on his back the past two years. With a good supporting cast around him
this year, he was able to go out in style, with 170 yards rushing in his
final game. It is fitting that this performance was in Carter-Finley
stadium against archrival ECU.
- In basketball news, the
'Pack continues its undefeated streak against ranked opponents, as State
beat Georgia Tech 71-69 in overtime. CC Harrison was the hero of the
day, hitting the winning shot as time expired. With all the nailbiters the
'Pack has been in, in this very young season, it looks to be an
interesting year.
- Whatever State does this
season, it will have to do without Damon
Thornton. Thornton had just come back from the injuries that sidelined
him last year when he broke his foot in practice recently.
- Finally, the State women's
basketball team continues to surprise. The Lady 'Pack entered the Top 25
with a surprising win
over George Washington on the road. GW had won 31 straight home games.
20 November 1997
- The biggest news this week
is that the State
beat Virginia 31-24 on Saturday. Senior guard Lonnie Gilbert was named
ACC offensive lineman of the week and tackle Jarvis Borum was named top
rookie in the league by virtue of their performances in that game.
- This sets up an extremely
interesting weekend as State
plays ECU. A lot is on the line, not the least of which is pride. Most
importantly to Wolfpack fans, the winner may get a Peach
Bowl bid.
- In basketball news, the
'Pack had an impressive opener, upsetting #19 Georgia in the first round
of the Jimmy V classic in New Jersey. The big surprise was that Damon
Thornton started the game (as first reported here; see the archives). A super performance was turned in by
freshman Kenny Inge. See the game
story.
- Another great game the
next night in the championship
game against Princeton. As expected, this was a defensive battle.
Princeton took a 38-36 lead with 2.7 seconds to go on a goaltending call
on Ishua Benjamin, but Benjamin redeemed himself by following up a Damon
Thornton miss at the buzzer. Well, it could have happened.
11 November 1997
- Tonight is the 'Pack's
basketball season opener, and it's a big one. State plays #19 Georgia in
the first round of the Coaches v. Cancer tourney at the New Jersey
Meadowlands, 7:30 PM on ESPN2. The latest word is that Damon Thornton may
play! State's prime recruit, Al Harrington, is expected to attend the game.
For lineup, schedule, and season predictions, read the N&O's NCSU
College Basketball Preview.
- Harrington may not have
signed yet, but State landed another Top 100 recruit last week with Keith
Bean, ranked #57 nationally by Bob Gibbons. He chose State over
Michigan after Wolverines coach Steve Fisher was fired.
- Following the exhibition
loss to Marathon Oil, State basketball picked up its game with a win over
the California All-Stars, 72-62. Freshmen Ron Kelley and Kenny Inge
apparently looked good.
- In football news, the 'Pack
kept bowl hopes alive with a thrashing of Maryland on Saturday. With
nearly 500 yards of total offense, things are looking good for a strong
finish. See the game
story.
- Also at the football game
Saturday, State retired the jersey of Dick
Christy only the fourth State player to have his jersey retired. For
years, the MVP of the State-South Carolina game was given the Dick Christy
award in honor of his performance in 1957, as described by the N&O:
"On the road against South Carolina in 1957, with the
ACC title at stake, Christy scored all 29 of the Wolfpack's points, including a
46-yard field goal -- the first attempt of his career -- with no time left for
the Pack's 29-28 win."
- Torry
Holt was named ACC player of the week after his ACC-record
five-touchdown performance against Florida State. The rumor mill already has
Holt entering the NFL draft next year, but Holt has said that the return
of coach Mike O'Cain would make him more likely to stay at State for his
senior season.
2 November 1997
- First it was Syracuse, now
Florida State! The 'Pack scored five touchdowns and 35 points yesterday
against the nation's top defense, which must put State in the driver's
seat in the national title hunt. Torry Holt set an ACC record with his
five TD receptions. Check out the complete game
story.
- Also yesterday, in
basketball action, State
lost to Marathon Oil in overtime, 70-69. This can only be seen as a
good omen, since the last time this happened (a 104-103 loss in 1988) the
'Pack went on to be the ACC regular season champs.
- Some good news in football
recruiting, as offensive lineman Derek Green (three-year starter at 4A
West Charlotte) and tight end Jason LeMay (three-year starter at 2A Black
Mountain Owen) verbally committed to the 'Pack. Green and LeMay are the
38th and 39th rated prospects in NC, respectively.
- Basketball recruiting is
also going extremely well. Already signed is the nation's #3 guard
(according to Bob Gibbons), Adam Harrington. Other 'Pack recruits are
rated as follows: Al Harrington, #3 power forward; Keith Bean, #4 power
forward; Lloyd Price, #7 wing guard.
26 September 1997
- Another thrilling finish
last night. It looked bad when Wake Forest kicker Matt Burdick hit a
37-yard field goal with 43 seconds left to put Wake up 19-17. But State
drove to the Wake 41, and Chris Hensler booted a 52-yard field goal as
time expired to give State a 20-19 win. At least, that's how it could have
happened. See the game
story for full details.
- Just five days prior to
last night's game, State
beat Northern Illinois by a score of 42-14.
- The 'Pack's improved
attitude this year is partially due to the training of Ray
Pelletier, a motivational speaker who has apparently become a Wolfpack
fan.
- In basketball news, Athlon
Sports' preseason issue has hit the stands. They predict the 'Pack to
advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament this year.
16 September 1997
- After the 'Pack's stunning
defeat of Clemson on Saturday, people are talking national championship.
Things looked bleak when Clemson kicked a field goal with 21 seconds left
to go up 19-17, but Carlos King responded on the kickoff by returning to
midfield. Jamie Barnette's first pass to Torry Holt was ruled a trap, but
the second was completed at the 30 and Holt quickly stepped out of bounds.
Mark Primanti calmly stepped in and knocked through the winning field
goal. At least, that's how it could have happened. See the game
story.
- One week before the
Clemson game, State killed Duke 45-14 in Durham. It was the biggest margin
of victory in the series, which usually produces high-scoring nailbiters.
Again, see the game
story.
- After the Duke game, State
entered the Top 25
for the first time this season.
- In basketball news, State
received a commitment from point guard Adam Harrington, who is considered
one of the Top 20 high school players by those who rate such things. This
is already being considered the best recruiting win ever for Herb Sendek.
Harrington is not to be confused with Al Harrington, who most consider to
be THE top high school player, and who also is apparently leaning toward
the Wolfpack.
3 September 1997
- The big news this week, of
course, is the 'Pack's amazing overtime victory on the road at #13 Syracuse.
This was the lead college football story in most nationwide media outlets,
including:
- The win didn't move State
into the Top 25, but they came close, finishing 29th in AP balloting and 31st
in the coaches poll.
- Just before the Syracuse
game, the Raleigh News and Observer prophetically profiled the offensive
players who would go on to star against the Big Orange, including:
- State is Duke on Saturday,
and is an early 8-point favorite.
28 August 1997
- Maybe the biggest news
today is who wont be around this season: Garry Dornburg will not be the
color commentator for Wolfpack football games in 1997. He has been
replaced by former Pack quarterback Johnny Evans. A possible reason for
the switch was Dornburg's health problems of recent years, but the
reassignment was against his wishes.
- Of course, the 'Pack opens
its season Saturday against Syracuse, which opened its season last week by
trouncing Wisconsin in the Kickoff Classic. Now the Wolfpack's
Opener Looks Even Tougher.
- Tri-captains for the
Wolfpack football team this year will be Tremayne Stephens, Morocco Brown,
and Seamus Murphy.
- The football team will be
wearing rubber bands with the word "FOCUS" printed on them this
year, after getting the idea from a motivational speaker. The idea is that
it's difficult to break a bunch of rubber bands together, and hopefully it
will remind the guys to play like a team.
- The News & Observer
has a feature on Mike
O'Cain. It deals with the obvious fact that he needs to win this year.
- Former Wolfpack
quarterback Jose Laureano, who was kicked off the team last year for
undisclosed violations of team rules, has now also been kicked off the
team at Florida A&M. Apparently the violations at NCSU led to his
dismissal from FAMU.
- On the basketball side of things,
Damon Thornton is apparently recovering ahead of schedule, and may be
ready to play when practice begins. Thornton was injured late in the
season last year, and did not play in the 'Pack's successful run in the
late season and post-season.
21 August 1997
- The big news today is that
basketball coach Herb Sendek has agreed to be at State through 2003. It is
believed that the deal is worth about $500,000 annually. Read the details
from the News
& Observer .
- The Greensboro News &
Record has its Wolfpack
season preview today.
- Torry Holt is emerging as
one to watch. As I reported last time, he caught a 65-yard touchdown pass
in the Red-White scrimmage. Then, in practice on Monday, he made a
one-handed catch at the end of two-minute drills that has been described
as "spectacular."
- Also emerging as a
potential star is middle linebacker Tim Ramseur, who was named a starter
at that position over last year's leading tackler Morocco Brown. Brown
moves to outside linebacker, which means there is a lot of talent at the
linebacker positions this year.
18 August 1997
- Jamie Barnette and Tremayne
Stephens both had good performances in Saturday's Red-White scrimmage.
Barnette was 7 of 13 for 71 yards passing and one rushing touchdown, and
Stephens rushed four times for 26 yards and one touchdown Also impressive
was backup quarterback Charles Berry, who threw a 65-yard touchdown pass
to Torry Holt.
- Meet the Pack Day is this
Saturday, 23 August. See the N&O's Wolfpack
Notes for more details.
- Today's Atlanta
Constitution has a season preview feature on the 'Pack. I will link the
story to this site as soon as it becomes available.
14 August 1997
- It looks like Jamie
Barnette will be the starting quarterback for the upcomi ng season. See
the full story in the News
and Observer.
- Unfortunately, linebacker
Tramayne Simmons was injured in scrimmage yesterda y. The injury was
listed as a slight concussion, but Coach O'Cain expects him t o return to
action soon.
- Construction has begun on
the new Jim Valvano Memorial Arena. Here is your invitation.