The Wolfpack open up their season tomorrow in a home game against Western Carolina in a matchup that has been historically friendly to NC State.
NC STATE vs. WESTERN CAROLINA
September, 4 2010 - 6pm - ESPN3
Carter-Finley Stadium – Raleigh, NC
NC State and Western Carolina have met five times on the gridiron, all within the friendly confines of Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack has won all five of those contests and has done so by an average margin of 36.6 points.
On September 1, 1990, Dick Sheridan’s Wolfpack squad opened the season against the Catamounts, winning by a score of 67-0. The team set a school At School:
record for rushing touchdowns with seven that day, gaining 400 yards on the ground and 592 yards of total offense.
Two of NC State’s top scoring games in school history have come versus Western Carolina. The 67-0 game in 1990 ranks seventh, while the 59-20 contest in 2003 ranks 11th.
YOUTH MOVEMENT:
The 2010 version of the Wolfpack football team has a central theme:
YOUTH. Of the 105 players listed on the roster, 60 (57%) are either true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores (redshirt or true).
Although the youth of this year’s team might be a concern heading into the season, it certainly bodes well for NC State’s future. On the opening depth chart, 39% (17) of the 44 players listed on the offensive and defensive two-deep charts are either true or redshirt freshmen or sophomores.
CUTTING IT CLOSE
Although a 5-7 record in 2009 wasn’t what the NC State coaching staff was hoping for, a closer look at the scores shows that the Wolfpack wasn’t too far away from being 8-4. Three of the team’s losses last season were by six points
or less: a three-point loss at Florida State, a six-point loss at Wake Forest and a four-point loss to South Carolina to open the season.
In 2008, the Wolfpack posted a 6-7 mark, winning four straight games to close the regular season and earn a bowl bid. Four of the seven losses that season were by nine points or less: a seven-point loss to BC, a nine-point loss to Florida State, a three-point loss to Maryland and a six-point loss to Rutgers
in the Papajohns.com Bowl.
In all, of NC State’s 14 losses in the past two seasons, seven have been by nine points or less, five by six points or less and three by four points or less.
NO BACKS ARE BACK
For the first time since he took over as head coach in 2007, Tom O’Brien does not have the luxury of having a returning starter at halfback this season. He inherited a trio of talented and experienced backs, Toney Baker, André Brown
(New York Giants) and Jamelle Eugene when he took the job prior to the 2007 campaign.
This season marks that first under O’Brien that at least two of those players aren’t vying for time in the backfield. Instead, a sophomore and a redshirt junior are among the top candidates to play at that spot.
INJURIES
PROBABLE – None listed
QUESTIONABLE – None listed
DOUBTFUL - None listed
OUT
Brandon Barnes, RB – ankle
Jarvis Byrd, CB – knee
Sylvester Crawford, DE – hip
R.J. Mattes, OG – knee
Quinton Payton, WR – finger
Jay Smith, WR – groin
James Washington, HB – hamstring
*Jesse Riley, DB – knee
*Rashard Smith, DB – knee
* – out for the season
NEW GAME DAY EXPERIENCE AT THE CARTER
RALEIGH, NC — The NC State Department of Athletics has worked diligently over the off-season to upgrade numerous aspects of the game-day experience at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Some of the improvements should be evident before fans even enter the stadium gates.
The Walk of Champions, which allows fans to greet the football team when it arrives at the stadium complex, will have a different location this season. The buses will drop the team off at the Stadium East lot, which will give a larger number of fans easier access to cheer on the coaches and players as they walk to the Murphy Center. (NOTE: Map that
shows the new route for the Walk of Champions is attached).
Tailgaters will find it much easier to recycle their trash at the stadium, as volunteers from WITH (Wolfpack in the House), the Wolfpack Club and the WE Recycle program will be distributing trash and recycle bags throughout the parking lots. Tailgaters may leave their bagged recyclables and trash on the ground next to them and the bags will be
collected by the end of the game.
Once fans are inside the stadium complex, if they have questions or need assistance, they will be able to visit Guest Services booths on the concourse level and even Guest Services tents in some of the parking lots. These areas will be manned by staff that have undergone extensive training to ensure that they are familiar with solutions for any issues
that may arise.
After kickoff, other changes should also be noticeable. There will be more student seating in the lower level of the stadium, giving the Wolfpack’s most vocal fans a chance to be closer to the action. A renovation of the sound system and a plan to implement more music from the NC State Marching Band, “the Power Sound of the South,” will also help enhance the atmosphere during the game.
If at any time during the contest, a fan notices an issue that requires staff or police assistance, they can utilize the new Wolftext service. Using a cell phone from any provider, a fan can text the word “PACK” followed by a space and the message to “69050” and the problem will be reported to an on-site Command Center.
Leaving the game should also be much easier in 2010. Athletic staff members have met with city and state officials to develop a plan to improve traffic movement into and out of the parking lots. Traffic flow should be smoother with the use of the new Edwards Mill Road extension that connects to N.C. 54.
*Game notes courtesy of NCSU Media Relations*
