NC State's 7 ACC Championships rank 4th in ACC history. The Wolfpack's first title came back in 1957 with Running Back Dick Christy leading the charge. NC State finished the season with a 7-1-2 (5-0-1) record and they ended the season ranked 15th in the AP poll. The Pack's only loss of the season came at the hands of William and Mary and they tied both Miami (0-0) and Duke (14-14). Unfortunately NC State was not allowed to play in a bowl game, due to a recruiting infraction in basketball with Louisiana high school star Jackie Moreland. 1957 was the first year of a 4-year probation that prevented the Pack from participating in post-season play. Jim Oddo (Center) and Dick Christy (Running Back) both earned First Team All-ACC honors and Darrell Dess (Tackle), Bill Rearick (Guard) and Dick Hunter (Running Back) were placed on the 2nd Team. The Pack's offense completely revolved around Running Back Dick Christy. He led the team in rushing with 629 yards (4.3 avg), receiving with 211 yards (21.1 avg), kickoff returns 318 yards (45.4 avg). They barely put the ball in the air, averaging 187 yards on the ground and only 50 yards in the air. While Christy might have been a one-man wrecking crew, it was NC State's defense that led them to the promised land. This squad only gave up 236.4 yards per game, which was an NC State record until the '04 squad came along and trumped it with an average of 221.4 yards. They only gave up 6.7 points a game and produced 5 shutouts in half of the games they played.
Christy helped seal the deal in the final game of the season against South Carolina by scoring all of NC State's 29 points. He even kicked a field goal (47 yards) for the first time in his career on the last play of the game to lead NC State to a 29-26 victory over South Carolina, securing the school's first ACC championship. Christy went on to be the ACC Player of the Year in '57 and was a consensus 1st Team All-American.
Christy might have been the star, but it was Earle Edwards who was calling the shots. Edwards was honored with the ACC Coach of the Year award in this historical year for NC State. Edwards would go on to produce the 4th most ACC wins in the history of the conference.
Schedule
W 7-0 @UNC
W 48-13 @ Maryland
W 13-7 @ Clemson
W 7-0 @ Florida State
T 0-0 @ Miami
T 14-14 Duke
W 19-0 Wake Forest
L 6-7 William & Mary
W 12-0 Virginia Tech
W 29-26 @ South Carolina
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3 Responses to "ACC Time Capsule: NC State's 1957 ACC Championship"scary how that schedule looks like it could have popped up out of last years media guide in term of opponents. It's got ACC expansion teams and a little W & M Tribe action.
could you imagine if Russell Wilson kicked a 47-yard FG to beat U of SC on Sept. 3rd!? He would go down in history, and would be on every sports show in the country!
ppack, to your point, Chad Ocho Cinco kicked an extra point, and it is being shown everywhere...it is only an extra point, and he is a dufus.
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