“I love those kids up at North Carolina State,” Amato said Monday at FSU’s weekly press conference. “If I had one wish, it would be to meet them somewhere Friday night so I could hug every one of their necks.”
The Wolfpack, 3-9 in Amato’s final season, is 1-4 in Tom O’Brien’s first year as coach. The program is at a low ebb and confidence is lagging, while Amato has rejoined Bowden’s staff and helped the Seminoles regain their defensive snarl.
“I have never heard Chuck mention that or say, ‘I’m glad they got beat’ or ‘That’s what they get,’ ” Bowden said. “He recruited those guys. They’re his guys, and he wants them to do good.
“Now, he does not want them to do good against us. But he has not bad-mouthed N.C. State.”
Nor will anyone at N.C. State bad-mouth Amato.
