September 28, 2011
NC STATE FOOTBALL
Brett Friedlander (starnewsonline.com)
Wolfpack waiting for reinforcements, but can they arrive in time?
The good news is that Sweezy (broken foot), Rieskamp (shoulder), Slay (ankle) and several others – including linebacker Terrell Manning (knee) and running back Mustafa Greene (broken foot) – are all expected back on the field within the next few weeks.
But that may be like the fire department arriving at a call only to find the building they were supposed to save already burned to the ground.
It may be too late to salvage the season by the time the cavalry arrives. That doesn’t mean those left behind to defend the Alamo are contemplating surrender.
“Whoever’s out there, we’re good enough and we’ve got great coaches to get the job done,†said sophomore Darryl Cato-Bishop, who’s been moved from end to tackle this week in an effort to help fill the breach. “We would love to have those guys back and when they’re ready we’ll take them with open arms. But I don’t think it’s ever too late, because we’re never going to give up.â€
One thing the Wolfpack (2-2) has going in its favor is that O’Brien’s teams traditionally get better in the second half of the season. In three of his previous four years at State, his team has gone 4-2 inits final six games.
That, however, may not be enough to earn a second straight trip to the postseason.
Bona Jones (GoPack.com)
Program Spotlight: Wayne Crawford
Wayne Crawford, a fifth-year member of the NC State football team, earned his bachelor’s degree last spring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. In order to be deemed eligible to compete on the football field this fall by the NCAA, Crawford had to be enrolled in 12 hours of coursework, even though he has already completed his undergraduate studies.
On top of studying for his four classes and participating in hours of practice, Crawford is also the President of the NC State chapter of Uplifting Athletes.
Uplifting Athletes is a non-profit organization that works with college football players to raise money for rare disease research. A disease is categorized as rare if it affects fewer that 200,000 Americans. Due to the low number of people affected, there is a lack of financial incentive to make and market new treatments. According to Crawford, “What it does is it aligns college football teams with rare diseases so that we can raise rare diseases as a priority.”
Ryan Tice (TheWolfpacker.com)
Q&A: Archer talks about challenges of Tech offense
Of those young guys who wouldn’t be playing if it wasn’t for these injuries, who has impressed you the most?
I think obviously T.Y. has done some good things because we hoped we wouldn’t have to play him. Art was redshirted last year but he wasn’t going to have to play 60-plus [snaps]. Theo Rich has played, Sylvester Crawford has played so those guys; and the true freshmen linebackers – Michael Peek and Brandon Pittman have played because of the injuries to Terrell [Manning]. We have to get them in the game and get them some reps.
The Sports Xchange
TSX: Pack Has Issues
“I had too many things to talk to them about,” N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said of the postgame speech. “The list was too long.”
It’s the fifth loss by 30 or more points in O’Brien’s five seasons with the Wolfpack.
“I wouldn’t say it was an attitude issue or (that) we weren’t ready for it,” N.C. State linebacker Audie Cole said. “I don’t see anyone to blame but us for it. We got embarrassed. That’s not what we’re out here for.”
Akula Wolf (BackingthePack.com)
Death From, Well, Everywhere
As you’ve no doubt heard by now, the Georgia Tech offense is having itself a really good season so far. The Jackets lead the nation in total yards per game (630.5), yards per snap (9.4!), and scoring (53.3). They have almost 1600 yards rushing through four games. The early-season schedule is a factor in that, but these extremes would be sure signs of improvement under just about any circumstances.
CAULTON TUDOR (N&O)
Ga. Tech foes see triple
O’Brien said it’s vital this week that Wolfpack defensive backs don’t spend much time trying to follow the 6-foot Washington.
“They do a lot of things to try to work your eyes and get your eyes off your keys,” O’Brien said.“You can’t be staring into the backfield looking at the quarterback. You’ve got to be watching everything else that’s going on and not the quarterback if you’re going to have any chance at all against that offense.”
But that, too, can come at a price against the outside option read. If the safety and cornerback play too far off the edge, Washington can use his foot speed to split the run support and gain 10 or more yards before the defense closes.
BirdGT (Fromtherumbleseat.com)
NC State’s Effort vs. Wake Forest and Cincinnati
The running backs have done little to help Glennon. In both I-A games, State only picked up 6 first downs on rushes. For perspective, Tech racked up 45 first downs on the ground against Kansas and MTSU. State’s feature backs are Curtis Underwood and James Washington. Anthony Allen had 7 fewer carries in 2010 than they’ve both had in their entire careers (247 combined). Notorious TOB’s complete abandonment of the run against Wake and Cincinnati indicates, to me, that he has zero confidence in either back. Tom O’Brien’s top backs even with Russell Wilson behind center combined for roughly 20 carries per game from 2008-2010 so the 2011 run-less offense is a shock for TOB fans.
Sammy Batten (FayObserver.com)
N.C. State gets commit from Ohio offensive guard
N.C. State did manage one positive experience in the city of Cincinnati last week.
Despite enduring a 44-14 loss against the University of Cincinnati on Thursday, the Wolfpack still managed to secure an oral commitment from one of that city’s top college prospects.
Terry Davis, an offensive guard at Wyoming High in Cincinnati, entertained offers from many of the region’s major college schools, including Big Ten Conference members Illinois and Indiana.
But the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder decided to head South to play for the Wolfpack, which has seven players from Ohio on its current roster, three of whom are from Cincinnati.
Wyoming High coach Bernie Barre said hard work has made Davis a college prospect.
“He realized that he had a chance to be a scholarship Division I football player,” Barre said. “He got into the weight room and worked on football. He’s got great feet for a lineman. He’s just a big, strong kid.”
Davis is the 14th player to join N.C. State’s Class of 2012 and the second offensive lineman along with guard Eddie Gordon from Boiling Springs, S.C.
N.C. STATE: The Wolfpack is hoping to tap into some family ties to lure Harrisburg, Pa., defensive end Noah Spence to Raleigh.
Spence’s father, Greg, is a former N.C. State linebacker and the family still has relatives in the Triangle.
Noah is a 6-4, 245-pounder who Rivals.com rates a rare five-star prospect He made 104 tackles and 22 sacks as a junior.
There could be some immediate playing time for Spence at N.C. State next fall. But first the Wolfpack will have to outduel Florida, Maryland, UNC, Notre Dame, Penn State and Southern Cal for his services.
WILSON WATCH
COLIN FLY – ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wilson to face first true test
Wilson’s path to Wisconsin is unique.
He was a three-year starter at N.C. State who graduated a year early, opted to play pro baseball, wasn’t welcomed back to the Wolfpack and took advantage of an NCAA transfer rule to be immediately eligible to play for the Badgers.
Wisconsin had a big need after two-year starter Scott Tolzien graduated and the Badgers were growing impatient waiting for one of a group of unproven backups to emerge.
Wilson is second in the country in pass efficiency (218.4) and fifth in completion percentage (75.8 percent) – ahead of the school marks set by Tolzien last year.
He’s thrown for three touchdowns in three straight games and has 11 this season, marking the first time in school history that a Badgers quarterback has thrown multiple TD passes over four consecutive starts. If Wilson continues at this pace, he’ll surpass John Stocco’s 2005 school mark of 21 TD passes before November.
MULTIMEDIA/PODCASTS
Riddick and Reynolds
R&R Podcast: Episode 20 – Chuck Amato Returns Home To Amedeo’s
It’s been several long weeks for those of us waiting on his arrival, but Chuck Amato made his first on-site appearance on the podcast at Amedeo’s tonight and it was a good one.
We didn’t waste any time bringing him on, so he joins us in the first segment to talk about the Cincinnati game and also what to expect during this weekend’s Georgia Tech game.
Speaking of Georgia Tech, Winfield Tufts of www.FromTheRumbleSeat.com joins us for his take on the impending game. As you might expect, he’s pretty confident about Tech’s chances at this point.
The third segment features the oh-so-popular Sniff Ratings, and Amedeo himself, Dick DeAngelis, joins in the fun to admonish us all for our abysmal ratings. Were it not for Dick, there might have been nary a sniff to go around for the entire team after that shameful performance on Thursday.
Joe Ovies (ACC Sports Journal)
The ACCSports.com Podcast, Sept. 28
Joe Ovies, afternoon cohost on 99.9 The Fan in Raleigh, and Jim Young have returned with another edition of the ACCSports.com Podcast.
Among the topics they discussed:
• Did the ACC give back all its Sept. 17 gains with it disappointing performance last weekend?
• Is Joe starting to become a believer in Paul Johnson’s offense?
• Are the sacks that UNC QB Bryn Renner suffered on Saturday actually his fault?
• Why doesn’t N.C. State have a better offensive line in Tom O’Brien’s fifth year?
• What’s up with the new Clemson?
UNC FALLOUT
Erin Hartness (WRALSportsFan.com)
Former UNC safety speaks out about NCAA, social media
Former North Carolina football player Deunta Williams, who was involved in the NCAA and university investigation into the football program, talked about his experience Tuesday and said he was treated unfairly by the NCAA.
Williams was suspended for four games and paid more than $450 to charity as a result of the NCAA investigation.
Williams spoke as a part of a panel on campus about the First Amendment and the football team as part of First Amendment Day at UNC.
He said that although it wasn’t the case for him, some players are coming to schools for the exposure and hopes to make big money in the NFL.
“The famous tweet that Marvin [Austin] tweeted was a rap lyric, and a lot of people didn’t understand it like that. They said, ‘Oh he’s really doing these things in his tweet’,†said Williams.
Williams said that Austin was eventually found to have committed violations and agreed with then-head Coach Butch Davis that restricting football players from Twitter was a good idea.
