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Wolfpack hoping to avoid familiar slow starts
Written by AARON BEARD
The Associated Press
Posted on 08.14.09
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About N.C. State
-- COACH: Tom O’Brien, third season, 11-14 at school, 86-59 career.
-- LAST YEAR: 6-7 overall, 4-4 ACC, lost to Rutgers in Papajohns.com Bowl.
-- RETURNING STARTERS: 7 offense, 7 defense.
-- KEY PLAYERS: QB Russell Wilson, RB Jamelle Eugene, DE Willie Young, LB Ray Michel.
-- SCHEDULE:
| Date | Opponent | Pick |
| Sept. 3 | South Carolina | L |
| Sept. 12 | Murray State | W |
| Sept. 19 | Gardner-Webb | W |
| Sept. 26 | Pittsburgh | L |
| Oct. 3 | at Wake Forest | W |
| Oct. 10 | Duke | W |
| Oct. 17 | at Boston College | W |
| Oct. 31 | at Florida State | L |
| Nov. 7 | Maryland | W |
| Nov. 14 | Clemson | L |
| Nov. 21 | at Virginia Tech | L |
| Nov. 28 | North Carolina | W |
RALEIGH — Tom O’Brien’s first two years at North Carolina State have followed a familiar path: A slow start followed by a late surge that sent the Wolfpack into the regular-season finale playing for bowl eligibility.
This time, N.C. State figures it can do much more, especially if it can get off to a fast start for once.
The talent is there — starting with returning all-conference quarterback Russell Wilson — as is continuity entering a third season under O’Brien. So too is a favorable schedule, which includes eight home games and has the Wolfpack traveling outside the state only three times.
“There was a lot of uncertainty in our first year because we didn’t know who or what we had,” O’Brien said. “In a lot of the key spots, there’s more guys returning that have played in games, which gives you the opportunity to think you can be a better football team.”
Better than which team, the one that started the year or ended it?
The Wolfpack (6-7, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) started 2-6 before winning four straight games to end the year, which included a rout of ranked rival North Carolina followed by a victory against Miami that clinched a trip to the Papajohns.com Bowl. O’Brien’s first team started 1-5 before finishing 5-7.
N.C. State opens the year Sept. 3 against South Carolina, the first of four straight home games for the Wolfpack.
“The past two years, we’ve had to dig ourselves out of a hole,” center Ted Larsen said. “I think we’re in a position where we can come out and start fast and keep our foot on the gas all year long and not have to come from behind.”
Wilson’s return certainly gives N.C. State reason for optimism all by itself. He’s one of seven starters back for the offense, which will have added depth in the backfield with the return of halfback Toney Baker after he missed almost two full seasons with knee injuries.
Jamelle Eugene also returns after splitting carries with NFL draft pick Andre Brown last year, along with top receiver Owen Spencer (691 yards, five touchdowns).
The defense, however, is a bigger worry.
N.C. State figured its anchor would be linebacker Nate Irving, an honorable mention all-conference pick last year despite missing three games with injuries. But Irving suffered a broken leg and collapsed lung in a June car wreck.
Irving came out of the spring as the team’s top-rated defensive player. That will force the Wolfpack to rely more on young linebackers like sophomore Dwayne Maddox and redshirt freshman Terrell Manning to play larger roles.
That will also put more pressure on experienced players like senior linebacker Ray Michel (team-high 102 tackles), senior defensive end Willie Young (6 ½ sacks) and junior cornerback DeAndre Morgan (team-high 806 snaps).
The players know the fans will expect a significant step forward after a slow-and-steady building effort in the past two seasons. That includes maintaining dominance over the rival FBS instate programs.
The Wolfpack is 6-1 against Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest and East Carolina under O’Brien. That includes a sweep of all four teams last year, which prompted O’Brien to memorably note after a 41-10 road victory against the Tar Heels that N.C. State is “the best football program in the state, without question.”
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