August 13, 2011
NC STATE FOOTBALL
JP Giglio (N&O)
State’s depth chart written in pencil
Watching football, instead of playing, was an adjustment for Tony Creecy last season.
The N.C. State running back redshirted in 2010 but will play this season. The question now is how much will Creecy play, and how good will State’s group of running backs be?
“We’re going to be good, all of us,” Creecy said.
JP Giglio (N&O)
State’s depth chart written in pencil
JP Giglio (N&O)
Frandsen finally finding niche at N.C. State
“We didn’t have too many plays at Snow,” Frandsen said. “In the spring, everything was thrown at me real fast, and sometimes, I felt overwhelmed.”
Frandsen uses “overwhelmed,” while his position coach, N.C. State assistant Keith Willis, prefers “struggled.”
Willis said he anticipated the complexity of State’s defense, where even the ends are asked to drop in pass coverage, would be an adjustment for Frandsen.
But as spring practice progressed, Willis was concerned that Frandsen wasn’t making enough progress.
“He struggled early on. In fact he struggled for a long time,” Willis said. “I had my questions about him, I’m not afraid to say it, but the kid had a [heck] of a spring game. He widened my eyes.”
JP Giglio (N&O)
Another concern at running back for Wolfpack
Add another question mark to N.C. State’s running back situation, if only temporarily.
Redshirt freshman Tony Creecy wore a walking boot on his right foot during “Meet the Pack” day on Saturday.
Creecy, who’s expected to help fill-in for injured running back Mustafa Greene, did not provide any details about the injury, and neither did coach Tom O’Brien. Creecy did say he has been practicing.
JP Giglio (N&O)
Pack’s defense well ahead, O’Brien says
“The defense is playing at a real high level right now,” O’Brien said. “They are ahead of the offense pretty good right now.”
Asked if anyone in particular had stood out, O’Brien said: “All of them.”
JOEDY McCREARY (AP Sports Writer)
NC State hopes they’re in good hands with Graham
The Wolfpack’s most prolific return man in school history clearly doesn’t want to fumble away his final year.
He says he’s had some drops but that was a matter of not being focused. So in the offseason, he’s taken the time to become a better leader and “making my hands a lot surer.”
Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
Tony Creecy Is In A Boot
Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
Defense Apppears Slightly Ahead Of Offense At This Juncture
The second scrimmage of fall camp took place on Friday, and in standard Tom O’Brien fashion, no individual offensive or defensive statistics were released, leaving us to speculate as to which guys are the new awesome and which guys blew substantial chunks. In a way this is preferable to the days when Chuck Amato would release a stat sheet that said simply “Marcus Stone: [sadface].” Ignorance is bliss.
By the look of things, the defense had its way with the offense in this scrimmage, though the persons responsible and the extent to which said persons were responsible is, again, a total mystery. Wasn’t anything to do with the long snapper, though. He was snapping the hell out of the ball. (“The snaps have been excellent. I’m very happy with what we’re getting out of the snapper.”)
Brett Friedlander (WilmingtonStarNews)
Mum’s the word on why State RB Creecy is wearing that boot
The N.C. State football team showed off its new form-fitting Adidas TechFit uniforms at its annual media day event.
But he was an accessory worn by one particular player that caught everybody’s attention.
Redshirt freshman running back Anthony Creecy, one of four ballcarriers in the mix for the starting job, showed up for Saturday’s interview session wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
Austin Johnson (PackPride.com)
O’Brien Discusses Second Scrimmage
“We’re ahead of where we’ve been on defense. Offensively, I don’t know if we’re where we’ve been or if we have to catch up a little more. Certainly there are some things we’ve got to… the receiving corp has to help us a little more. I think maybe they took a step back tonight.”
GoPack.com
Opening STATEment: Episode 5
DAY 10
Firmly entrenched in two-a-day mode, the Wolfpack has seen rapid improvement from every unit on the field. Coaches busy themselves fine-tuning in preparation for the Pack’s next scrimmage, taking place Friday.
But while on-field performance demands the majority of the team’s attention, players are about to be tasked with another aspect of life in the Pack. Saturday’s schedule includes media day, the team photo session, and Meet the Pack day. In the midst of preparing for the upcoming season, players have to stay in peak physical and mental condition to meet a variety of obligations.
In this episode’s video feature, cameras followed Art Norman through a full two-a-day, giving fans a look at the commitment required to train with the Pack.
Matt Carter (TheWolfpacker.com)
Friday Practice Report: Defense ahead of Offense
The freshmen trio of kicker Niklas Sade, punter Wil Baumann and long snapper Scott Thompson also apparently did well. Baumann punted 10 times for an average of 40.4 yards, and Sade made 4 of 5 fields, connecting from distances of 23, 41, 42 and 43 yards but coming up short from 53 yards.
“Those kids kicked the ball well, we caught the ball, the snaps were excellent,” O’Brien said. “I’m very happy with what we’re getting out of the snapper. We put the punter under a lot of pressure out there, as best we can, and he punt the ball well. He shanked one tonight but got a little bit of a roll on it. That helps, but that happens so we can learn from it and move on.
“If I had the chance in a game situation I might not have kicked a 53-yarder. It’s good to throw him out there at this point to let him try it. It was on target but a little short right now. He’s a little dead-legged because he’s been kicking a lot. Hopefully we’ll find his range as we go on.”
Matt Carter and Ryan Tice (TheWolfpacker.com)
Audio: O’Brien talks team at media day
– When asked if the offense will look any difference, O’Brien answered the offense will reflect redshirt junior quarterback Mike Glennon’s strength. O’Brien added that one positive about Glennon is that he does not feel pressure and does not get flustered easily.
O’Brien did say that the passing game must get better and has not developed the consistency it needs yet. He said that there were more dropped passes in Friday night’s scrimmage than there had been in most of the preseason.
The positive was that State did do a better job running the football Friday night, but at this point NCSU is more consistent on defense than offense.
Matt Carter and Jacey Zembal (TheWolfpacker.com)
Video: Tom O’Brien’s Media Day Press Conference
Tom O’Brien said the defense is ahead of the offense (WRALsportsfan.com) VIDEO
Audie Cole said he needs to stop second guessing himself (WRALsportsfan.com) VIDEO
Terrell Manning said we’re playing with a fast, physical mindset (WRALsportsfan.com) VIDEO
Graham said the offense is coming together to compete against the D (WRALSportsfan.com) VIDEO
Glennon said he always prepared as if he was the starter (WRALsportsfan.com) VIDEO
J.R. Sweezy said it’s just fun with this group of guys (WRALsportsfan.com) VIDEO
Andrew Jones (foxsportscarolinas.com)
ACC Rankings: Defensive Line
10 – N.C. State – The Wolfpack has some solid players, such as J. R. Sweezy, but there aren’t any dominating players up front, and as a collective whole, this unit must play exceptionally well together to move up from this spot. However, if any unit is capable of making a sizable jump this fall it’s Mike Archer’s bigs.
CONFERENCE EXPANSION
Jim Young (ACCSportsJournal.com)
SEC Expansion? Yow Says N.C. State Has “Sole Focusâ€
Another reason: this text message that Wolfpack AD Debbie Yow sent Friday morning to ACC Sports Journal editor David Glenn.
“State is a founding member of the ACC. Our goal continues to be to do our part to strengthen the ACC. That is our sole focus.â€
Ken Tysiac (N&O)
ACC shake-up unlikely
Sports talk radio hosts have lots of time to fill right now.
The NFL and college football seasons haven’t started yet. The NBA is in a labor stoppage, and NASCAR just isn’t as interesting as it used to be.
So when talk of the SEC raiding the ACC starts crackling through the airwaves and message boards, there is reason to be cautious.
But talk of Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 seems legitimate. Texas A&M has a legitimate reason to bolt because the Big 12 has sold its soul to keep the Aggies’ rival, Texas, in the conference.
AP Wire
Clemson: No move to SEC
Clemson University President James Barker says the school is not changing leagues, despite reports the Tigers might head to the SEC.
Barker said Saturday that the Tigers have no discussions with the SEC.
“We are committed to the ACC,” he says in a statement. “We have had no contact with the SEC.”
NCAA BASKETBALL
RushtheCourt.com
ESPN Announces GameDay Schedule For 2011-12
Why is the last game a “flex†game? If UNC-Duke is listed as an option, there can’t be much of a chance that they’d not go with that game. They’ve had UNC-Duke as the GameDay choice in every even-numbered year they’ve done this. We would have loved to have seen this as a double-header, even if they didn’t designate Texas-Kansas as the feature game. Hey, better yet, go with two (*gasp!*) GameDay crews and have face-offs between the fans at Phog and those at Cameron, i.e. who’s crazier/louder, best signs, and so on.
UNC FALLOUT
Ken Tysiac (N&O)
UNC system president, Board of Governors back Thorp
“We are well aware that there are some alumni and other friends of UNC-Chapel Hill who strongly support the decision to make a coaching change, some who vehemently oppose it, and others who support the decision, but not its timing,” the statement read. “We also know that making difficult and unpopular decisions comes with the job of being a university chancellor, and that Chancellor Thorp is committed to doing everything possible to maintain both academic integrity and athletic success at Carolina.”
ELLIOTT WARNOCK (N&O)
Butch Davis watches his son play in Kenan
Thursday night, Butch Davis was able to slip unnoticed by most fans into the upper deck on Kenan’s north side, where he sat alone to watch his son play. Security guards barred access by the general public to the upper deck.
About a dozen UNC football players, including defensive end Quinton Coples, stood near an end zone watching the younger Davis scrimmage.
Associated Press
McAdoo eligible for NFL supplemental draft
Noah Huffstetler, McAdoo’s attorney, said Friday the NFL has approved McAdoo’s request to be considered for Wednesday’s supplemental draft, which allows qualified underclassmen who didn’t request early entry into the regular draft to have a chance to enter the league.
Spencer Hall (EveryDayShouldBeSaturday.com) (aka: EDSBS.com)
BRYN RENNER IS THE REAL NAME OF UNC’S QUARTERBACK
Frontload all of this with a load of positive assertions, like “playing quarterback is hard,” and “You’re born with the name you have, and that’s all you can do,” and “even as a quarterback at a basketball school he will still get more sexual pleasure in his life than Tim Brando masturbating alone in a hall of mirrors.”
Say all this, and also admit the absurdity of your own name. For instance, our first name means “servant,” so in effect we were born with a butler’s nametag on at all times. That would be exceedingly misleading unless you’re looking for one of those tipsy, negligent butlers who takes their employers’ DUIs for them in exchange for open access to the brandy cabinet and a blind eye turned towards afternoon rendezvous with needy middle-aged maids in the pantry. If that’s the kind of servant you want, then servant it will be, sir.
