Coach Grobe: ACC Teleconference Before NC State vs. Wake Forest (9/30/09)

On NC State

"We've got our work cut out for us with NC State. I think they are playing great football right now on offense and defense. We've got an awful good football coming to town this Saturday. I hope our players realize how good of a football team we have coming to town this weekend in NC State."

On Russell Wilson

"I think there are three things that drive you crazy with Russell Wilson.

The #1 thing is that he has a good supporting cast. I like their offensive line. They've got a big tight end that's doing a nice job...I think he might be their leading receiver. He's also a good blocker. I also like his receiving corps. They've all got really good foot speed and can challenge you vertically. I also like their running backs. They are all running hard with authority...they're physical. His supporting cast is really good that's the first thing.

The other thing is that he is really good at running and throwing the football. People talk about him being a running quarterback and a throwing quarterback all in one package, but the real key is that he does them both really well. There are a lot of kids out there that run the ball great but they don't throw it real well, and vice versa. There are a lot of guys that are average at running and throwing, but this guy is great at both and can beat you both ways.

So there's a lot of sleepless nights going on with our defensive coaching staff."

Coach O'Brien: ACC Teleconference Before Wake Forest (9/30/09)

Key Quotes

On Riley Skinner:

"He's very mature in the pocket. He has a tremendous pocket presence. He doesn't take sacks. He understands where the pressure comes from. He's able to move around in the pocket. I think he's as experienced and as mature as anyone in our conference right now. You watch the football team...they respond to his leadership. I think that's the mark of a great quarterback. To be able to make plays at crunch time and he's done that consistently in his career."

On Russell Wilson:

"One of the joys of coaching Russell Wilson is that I think he totally understands what we are trying to accomplish each and every week as we implement the game plan, and he does a great job on Saturday going out and executing as good as any quarterback we've ever been around."

On NC State's Secondary:

"They are going to have to play well beyond their years this week. Wake Forest is very innovative in the way they do things. They are very good at exploiting weaknesses. Jim does a good job matching up his personnel in a way for them to succeed. Certainly we've had some problems with the secondary with inexperience and making some mistakes. We'll be holding our breath on Saturday I'm sure.

ACC Statistical Team Leaders After Week 4

Scoring Offense
1. NC State - 37.8
2. Virginia Tech - 30.8
3. Boston College - 30.5
4. Duke 29.0
5. Florida State - 28.5

Scoring Defense
1. Boston College - 14.0
2. North Carolina - 14.2
3. NC State - 14.8
4. Clemson - 16.2
5. Virginia Tech - 16.5

Total Offense
1. Wake Forest - 412.2
2. NC State - 406.0
3. Florida State - 401.5
4. Georgia Tech - 387.2
5. Miami - 379.7

Total Defense
1. NC State - 201.2
2. North Carolina - 250.5
3. Boston College - 264.8
4. Clemson - 289.8
5. Georgia Tech - 321.2

Rushing Offense
1. Georgia Tech - 262.0
2. Virginia Tech - 216.5
3. Wake Forest - 162.8
4. Clemson - 148.8
5. NC State - 142.5

Rushing Defense
1. NC State - 76.0
2. Georgia Tech - 106.0
3. Boston College - 108.8
4. Florida State - 112.0
5. North Carolina - 118.5

Passing Offense
1. Florida State - 271.5
2. Miami - 268.7
3. Duke - 267.2
4. NC State - 263.5
5. Wake Forest - 249.5

Passing Defense
1. NC State - 125.2
2. North Carolina - 132.0
3. Clemson - 143.8
4. Boston College - 156.0
5. Virginia Tech - 160.5

Wolfpack In The NFL: Week 3

- Manny Lawson had the best game of his career on Sunday in a 24-27 loss to the Vikings. He recorded a career-high 11 tackles (7 solo), which led all 49er's. His previous career high came in Week 8 last season against the Seahawks, when he collected 9 tackles. Manny almost sacked Vikings Quarterback Brett Favre on the last play of the game, but he came up short and Favre came up with a heroic touchdown pass as time expired.

Manny has 18 tackles through three games (6.0 avg).

Jerricho Cotchery - Over the first three games of the season Jerricho Cotchery has been quieting all the critics that doubted his ability to be a legit #1 receiver in the NFL. The chemistry between Cotchery and rookie Quarterback Mark Sanchez seems to be getting better each week. Cotchery's performance on Sunday in 24-17 victory over the Titans marked his best output thus far in '09. He had 8 receptions for 108 yards and a TD (He was targeted 12 times). Jerricho also reeled in a 46 yard reception, which is his longest through the first three games.

Jerricho has 18 receptions for 285 yards through three games (Avg: 6 receptions for 95 yards).

Stephen Tulloch - Stephen Tulloch led all Titans defenders with 10 tackles on Sunday in their 17-24 loss to the Jets. Tulloch has led the team in tackles twice through three games. Here is Tulloch's official stat line from Sunday's game: 10 tackles (7 solo), 1 tackle for loss and 1 pass deflection.

Stephen has 29 tackles through three games (9.7 avg).

Brian Williams - Brian Williams was extremely active this past Sunday in the Falcon's 10-26 loss to the Patriots. He recorded 8 tackles (7 solo) and 1 pass deflection.

Brian has 13 tackles on the season (4.3 avg).

Steven Hauschka - The Ravens crushed the rival Cleveland Browns on Sunday 34-3 and Steven Hauschka had his best performance of the season, scoring 10 points. He connected on both of his field goal attempts (36 and 33) and went for 4 for 4 on PAT's.

Steven has scored 25 points on the year (8.3 avg). He has also connected on 4 out of 5 field goal attempts (Longest: 44 yards).

Philip Rivers - Rivers was solid against the Dolphins this past Sunday passing for 303 (18/33) yards in the 23-23 victory. Even though he didn't throw a touchdown in the game, he ran one in from 5 yards out. This rushing touchdown was the second of his career, with the other one coming back in 2007.

Philip has thrown for 991 yards, 3 TD's and 3 int in three games (85.1 QB RTG). He is averaging 330.1 passing yards per game.

Torry Holt - Holt had 3 receptions for 57 yards in the Jaguars first win over the season against the Texans.

Torry has 12 receptions for 169 yards on the year (Avg: 4 receptions for 56.3 yards).

Tank Tyler - Tank had his quietest performance of the season, collecting 3 tackles (all solo) in the Chiefs 14-34 loss to the Eagles.

Tank has 16 tackles on the season (5.3 avg).

Mario Williams - Mario also had a quiet game in the Texans 24-31 loss to the Jaguars. He had 3 tackles (3 solo).

Mario has 14 tackles and 1 sack thus far (4.7 avg).

Adrian Wilson - Adrian had 3 tackles (3 solo), with one of them being for a loss in the Cardinals 10-31 loss to the Colts. Adrian and the rest of the Cardinal defense have had a little bit of a rough start this season.

Adrian has 11 tackles through three games (3.7 avg).

DaJuan Morgan - After not showing up on the box score in week 2, Morgan recorded 1 tackle (solo) in the Chiefs 14-34 loss to the Eagles.

DaJuan has 3 tackles on the year.

-Leroy Harris has seen action in all three games for the Titans this season, but this past Sunday marked his first start of the season against the Jets.

-Scott Kooistra saw action as a reserve in the Bengals 23-20 victory over the Steelers.

-Sean Locklear didn't play in the Seahawks 19-25 loss to the Bears due to an ankle injury.

George Bryan: Monday Press Conference (9/28/09)

KEY QUOTES
on whether the team was surprised when Coach O'Brien said "This is a bad football team.
" I believe we all agreed with him. There was a lot that could be improved from that game. We also agree with him how he said we learned how to fight for 60 minutes of the ball game, but there's a lot of stuff that we can definitely improve on."

on whether it was an advantage or disadvantage to start the season with 4 home games...
"I would consider it an advantage. We know how we're going to play at home, we're 3-1 now, we're playing well. The crowds backing us up good because theres a buzz about us. I think us playing home helped us come together and I think there wasn't as much pressure because we had people backing us up."

on how smart Russell Wilson is....
"Football wise, probably the smartest player that I've ever played with. He just understands the game so well and that's a credit to him because he's the first one in the film room, studying, breaking down film and stuff. He just puts in the work and it shows out on the field."

Andrew Wallace: 'Ready When Called Upon'

No matter where a player is on the depth chart, they have to approach each game with the mindset that they are going to step on the field. They have to be ready for anything. All week long they prepare themselves to play. While all of this may be true, no Redshirt Freshman expects the Junior starter in front of him to go down with a injury after just 14 plays in the first game of the season. Not to mention that the game was kicking off the college football season on ESPN on a Thursday night. Welcome to the world of Redshirt Freshman Andrew Wallace.

Junior Offensive Tackle Jake Vermiglio went down with a leg injury in the season opener against South Carolina after just 14 snaps. Andrew Wallace had some big shoes to fill in a hurry. He was rushed out onto the field under the bright lights to fill the void at Left Tackle, which is arguably the most important position on the Offensive Line, because it guards Russell Wilson's blindside.

Wallace had a little bit of a rocky start, picking up two quick penalties in a span of 4 plays. One of those penalties nullified a 45-yard strike down the middle of the field to Owen Spencer.

"Going into the game I wasn't really nervous," Wallace said. "There were two big mistakes by me. You learn from your mistakes and go out and get them next game. That's the way you have to look at it."

And that is exactly what Wallace did. He learned from his mistakes and went out and battled against Murray St. and earned the starting job at Left Tackle against Gardner Webb. Wallace gives a lot of the credit to the three Seniors on the Offensive Line, who have been encouraging leaders to follow.

"Once you get down they'll pull you up. It started in the summer. They would hold workouts out here," Wallace said. "They wanted everyone to be there. They really want this team to be the greatest."

When Vermiglio went down, Wallace took advantage of the opportunity presented to him and gained some valuable experience. In fact, in the 111 snaps that he has played thus far in the 2009 season, he has yet to give up a sack. Wallace looks back on his Redshirt year and can see how it is paying off in the present.

"My Redshirt year was real good. I got a lot of experience on the scout team," Wallace said." I really learned a lot going against guys like Alan-Michael Cash and Willie Young every day."

When deciding on a college, NC State was a logical choice for Wallace. Not only was Raleigh not to far from home (Charlotte, NC), but Wallace had grown up pulling for the Wolfpack. On top of fulfilling a dream of playing college football for the team that he had cheered for since childhood, Wallace saw the NC State coaching staff as the perfect fit to help him pursue even bigger dreams.

"NC State's been my school most my life. The coaches here are good," Wallace said. Coach Horton puts players in the league. So does Coach O'Brien, and that's what I'm looking for."

When you examine the fact that 3 of the 5 starters on the Offensive Line are Seniors, you begin to realize that Andrew Wallace and his roommate R.J. Mattes are the future of NC State's blocking committee. Andrew is right, Coach O'Brien does put players in the league, especially Offensive Linemen. Mattes and Wallace might be the building blocks, but you better believe that Coach O'Brien and his staff will surround them with big fellas that also believe that this staff can get them to the next level.

Tom O'Brien Monday Press Conference (9/28/09)

Wilson Named Offensive Back Of The Week...Along With A Couple Other Notes

-NC State Quarterback Russell Wilson was named the ACC Offensive Back of the week. Here is what TheACC.com had to say about Wilson:

"OFFENSIVE BACK – Russell Wilson, NC State, QB, So., 5-11, 208, Richmond, Va. (Collegiate)NC State sophomore quarterback Russell Wilson threw for four touchdowns and totalled 413 total yards—the ninth-highest in school history—in helping the Wolfpack to a 38-31 comeback win against previously unbeaten Pittsburgh. Wilson was 21-of-35 through the air for 322 yards and threw four touchdown passes for the third consecutive game. His team- and career-high 91 rushing yards gave him 413 of NC State’s 530 total yards (78 percent). As the Wolfpack trailed, 31-17, with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter, Wilson engineered three touchdown drives of 45, 83, and 71 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jarvis Williams, and a seven-yard strike to George Bryan to tie the game at 31-31. Wilson currently sits second in the ACC and 19th in the nation with an average of 271 yards of total offense per game, ranks second in Division I FBS with 12 touchdown passes, and has thrown an NCAA-record 364 consecutive passes without an interception."

-The kickoff times for the games on October 10th have been announced. The NC State vs. Duke game at Carter-Finley will kickoff at 4pm and will be televised on ESPNU. This will mark the Wolfpack's 3rd straight game on ESPNU.

-Look over to the right side of your computer screen. Right underneath our sponsors you will see our Site Menu. Notice NC State's roster, schedule, stats (offense, defense and special teams), depth chart, 2010 commits and history/records. We are bringing this to your attention because we have been working hard to get the Site Menu up to par. There is still some work to be done in the 2010 commits section, and we hope to wrap it up shortly. Our goal is to give you a product where you don't need to go other places looking for answers. The schedule, stats and depth chart will be updated every week. We hope you enjoy the Site Menu and the whole website as a whole for that matter. Let us know if there is anything we can do better or anything you would like to see.

Depth Chart For Wake Forest Game

Depth Chart Notables

-Even though last weeks depth chart had Andrew Wallace starting at Left Tackle, Jake Vermiglio actually started in the game versus Pitt after getting cleared off of the injury report last Thursday. He will start again this week as would be expected with a healthy Vermiglio.

-After starting at Free Safety versus Pitt, Brandan Bishop will start again this week against Wake Forest this week with Clem Johnson backing him up.

Wilson, Baker and Young Among ACC's Best

Passing Efficiency
1. R. Wilson (ST) - 169.6 (64.3%)
2. R. Skinner (WFU) - 156.4 (68.8%)
3. J. Harris (UM) - 152.6 (59.5%)
4. S. Renfree (DU) - 149.4 (67.4%)
5. D. Shinskie (BC) - 146.8 (62.5%)

Passing TD's
1. R. Wilson (ST) - 12
2. R. Skinner (WFU) - 8
3. T. Yates (UNC) - 6
4. J. Harris (UM) - 5
4. D. Shinskie (BC) - 5
4. T. Lewis (DU) - 5

Passing Yards
1. C. Ponder (FSU) - 1,082 yds (270.5)
2. R. Skinner (WFU) - 973 yds (243.2)
3. R. Wilson (ST) - 969 yds (242.2)
4. C. Turner (MD) - 962 yds (240.5)
5. J. Harris (UM) - 806 yds (268.7)

Rushing Yards
1. R. Williams (VT) - 492 yds (123.0)
2. J. Dwyer (GT) - 326 yds (81.5)
3. J. Nesbitt (GT) - 310 yds (77.5)
4. D. Scott (MD) - 297 yds (74.2)
5. C. Spiller (CU) - 288 yds (72.0)
6. M. Harris (BC) - 270 yds (67.5)
7. T. Baker (ST) - 250 yds (62.5)

*It should be noted that Toney Baker has the least amount of carries of any of the Running Back's in the Top-7.

Rushing TD's
1. R. Williams (VT) - 8
2. T. Baker (ST) - 5
3. T. Jones (FSU) - 4
4. J. Nesbitt (GT) - 3
4. D. Scott (MD) - 3
4. M. Harris (BC) - 3

Sacks
1. D. Morgan (GT) - 5.5
2. D. Watson (FSU) - 4.5
3. W. Young (ST) - 4
4. R. Quinn (UNC) - 3
4. Q. Coples (UNC) - 3

Tackles For Loss
1. D. Morgan (GT) - 7.0
2. W. Young (ST) - 5.5
2. R. Sapp (CU) - 5.5
2. D. Watson (FSU) - 5.5
2. A. Albright (BC) - 5.5
2. R. Quinn (UNC) - 5.5

Pack Makes A Leap In ESPN's ACC Power Rankings

NC State's win over Pitt on Saturday night left quite an impression with the people over at ESPN. In their latest ACC Power Rankings that came out this morning, the Wolfpack leaped 4 spots, landing at #4. Here is what they had to say about the Pack:

"4. NC State (3-1, LW: No. 8): The gritty win over Pittsburgh revealed that NC State is a more complete team than it looked after season opener, and anyone who’s been paying attention to South Carolina can see that loss wasn’t so bad after all. Now, on a three-game winning streak, the Pack have to continue that momentum at Wake Forest this week."

Here is a breakdown of the rest of this weeks ESPN ACC Power Rankings:

1) Virginia Tech
2) Miami
3) Georgia Tech
4) NC State
5) Florida State
6) Clemson
7) North Carolina
8) Boston College
9) Wake Forest
10) Duke
11) Maryland
12) Virginia

Click here to see the Power Rankings.

NC State Commits: Week 6

Tony Creecy (WR) - Southern Durham (5-1) and Hillside met on Friday night in N.C. Central's O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. These two cross-town rivals should battle for the Pac 6 championship at the end of the season, and it was quite a battle on Friday night. Southern Durham's Running Back Desmond Lawrence was the story of the game, scoring all 12 points that the Spartans put up on the board. He ran the ball in from 15 yards out in the first quarter and then returned an interception for 76 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Southern Durham went on to win 12-7. NC State commit Tony Creecy had 2 receptions for 11 yards in the contest. 

Robert Crisp (OT) and Pete Singer (S) - Middle Creek's Quarterback Garrett Leatham put up Tecmo Bowl type numbers against Athens Drive on Friday night. He finished the game with 416 yards passing accompanied by 4 touchdowns. By the end of the night Leatham was just to much for Athens Drive to overcome, losing to the Middle Creek Mustangs 26-46.

Fre'Shad Hunter (DL) - Cary (3-3) was shocked on Friday night, losing to Holly Springs 14-21. With less than a minute to play in the game, Cary was looking to pull some last-minute heroics, perched on their opponents 48 yard line. What the Imps didn't see coming, was their stud Running Back Chapman fumbling the ball, only to be returned by Holly Springs Linebacker Burnette for a touchdown to seal the deal.

D.J. Green (S) - Going into Friday nights game against Bainbridge, Westside (5-0) had only given up 14 points in their first 4 games. That number wouldn't change. Westside posted their 3rd shutout of the season, beating Bainbridge 17-0. NC State commit D.J. Green, who is the captain of this stellar defense that is only giving up 2.8 points per game, grabbed an interception on their own 5-yard line with less than 7 minutes to play in the game. Westside is now #2 in the state of Georgia (4-A).

Thomas Teal (DT) - Marlboro County (5-0) posted its second consecutive shut-out, crushing Dillon 28-0. Marlboro County is ranked #3 in the state of South Carolina (3-A). 

Torian Box (OT) - North Clayton (5-0) won their homecoming game against Mt. Zion on Friday night 34-13. North Clayton is ranked #5 in the state of Georgia (4-A).

Tobais Palmer (RB) - Georgia Military College (3-2) won its second straight game this weekend, defeating North Carolina Tech 47-14. NC State commit Tobais Palmer did not play in the contest.

Raynard Randolph (DT) - Hargrave Military Academy (3-1) defeated Frostburg State University 32-6.

A.J. Ferguson (DL) and Tyson Chandler (OL) - Fork Union Military Academy (2-2) lost in a close one to WV Wesleyan 20-22.

Hunter To Run With The Pack!

After last night's thriller at Carter-Finley, Fre'Shad Hunter, standout Defensive Lineman out of Cary High School (Cary, NC), didn't want to wait any longer to make his decision of where he would be playing college football. According to Scout and Rivals, Hunter decided to commit to the Wolfpack last night after NC State's 38-31 victory over Pitt. While many believed NC State to be Hunter's leader throughout most of his recruitment, the decision wasn't easy for the young man, considering the fact that some of elite football programs across the nation had thrown scholarship offers his way. He chose NC State over scholarship offers from Florida St., LSU, Tennessee, Syracuse, South Carolina, Purdue and ECU. You always love to have a kid commit that grew up a NC State fan, and that is what exactly happened last night with Fre'Shad Hunter.

Hunter is a consensus 4-Star Defensive Linemen that possesses great athleticism. Standing 6'5" and weighing in at 250lbs, Hunter boasts a 4.7 40-time, a 320lb bench press, 415lb squat and a 29 inch vertical leap. Rivals ranks him as the #12 Defensive End in the 2010 class and Scout ranks him as the #18 Defensive Tackle. With the addition of Hunter to the 2010 class, the Pack have commits from 3 of the Top-10 players in the state of North Carolina with both Scout and Rivals ranking him in the Top-5 (Scout - #4 and Rivals - #5). He joins NC State commits Robert Crisp and Anthony Creecy in North Carolina's Top-10.

Wilson Electric As Pack Outduels Pitt 38-31

The Big East doesn't quite see the ACC as a power conference on the gridiron. It's apparent by news articles, radio shows and internet message board talk leading up to the Pitt vs. NC State matchup. The Pitt Panthers are favored by many to be the top team in the Big East, a conference that holds their football pretty high. The fact is, Raleigh doesn't exactly take their football lightly either. Fueled by an electric Russell Wilson and the dynamic ground attack of Toney Baker and Jamelle Eugene, and a defense that has defied all expectation, the Wolfpack showed the nation that they are ready for the big time, as they defeated Pitt 38-31. In what was a old western style shootout, the Pack's Russell Wilson had the quickest draw. With Pitt's offense able to convert big plays, it was Wilson who kept the back within reach all night long, hitting Taylor Gentry, Toney Baker, Jarvis Williams and George Bryan for touchdowns. Wilson threw for 322 yards, rushed for a team best 89 yards and added those four touchdowns.

"I'm going to do whatever it takes to win because that's what matters. (The touchdown passes) helped us win tonight but I'll run the ball or throw it. I've got to credit the offensive line for giving me enough time to make the throws, and the wide receivers really caught the ball well in the crucial situations." said Wilson

This type of performance, Pitt simply couldn't keep pace with. While the Pack defense was not as dominant as they had been through the first three weeks, they came up with timely stops over and over again. This gave Wilson and company a chance to make something special happen, which is something Wilson has thrived at over his two seasons at NC State. This win, however, was not walk in the park. After clawing to stay in the game all night, Toney Baker's fourth quarter, 2 yard touchdown finally gave the Wolfpack the lead. After a defensive stop the Pack had to simply milk the final 2 minutes off the game clock, but a errant snap led to a turnover that put Pitt on the ten yard line with a chance to tie. That's when Brandon Bishop and the Wolfpack defense closed the door, denying Pitt a yard on four consecutive play and giving the Pack their third victory of the season.

"Our coaches put us in a position to make plays. When you're in the right position and you go out there to execute, good things happen. That's all that really ahppened today. We made some mistakes, but down the stretch we were able to make some plays and that does give you confidence" Bishop said.

The win gives the Pack a 3-1 record and drops Pitt to an identical 3-1. The feeling in Raleigh tonight is a bit different than it has been in the past. The fans saw a team come together tonight. They saw their ball club take on a bigger, more intimidating opponent and out-fight them to the very end. With the ACC opener less than a week away, the Wolfpack faithful can only hope this is only the start of something special.

NC State vs. Pitt: Unofficial Box Score

*Click to Enlarge

**Scroll down for video interviews and Coach Tom O'Brien's press conference recap to hear what the players and coaches thought of the Pack victory. **

Willie Young: Post-Game Interview After Pitt

Key Quotes
"Tackling is a 'want to.' In the field of play there's no right or wrong way to make a tackle, you just got to get them down. You approach the ball carrier in all different kind of ways, angles. You got to break down. they have a great running back. He's a very shifty, short guy. he's kind of hard to find."

"Deep down inside, we knew we were a better team than we showed in the first half. We knew that if we didn't come out ready to take it. We're at the point now were we're tired of losing. We don't want to get out to a slow start like we had been."

"This win was very important. It was just as important to defeat Murray State and Gardner-Webb. You just have to take it one game at a time. We have lot of thing we have to fix. 3-1 sounds better than 2-2 in any case."

Jamelle Eugene: Post-Game Interview After Pitt

Key Quotes
"This is the kind of game, in a way, it's kind of good, it's competition. We like to be out there competing, coming down to the wire. It brings the team together in the end. You have to rely on the offense and defense to make a play in a crucial situation. We relied on the defense to make a play and they made it, and when offense had to make a play we made it. That brings us closer."

"We do what we have to do to win games now. We have confidence in our quarterback and offensive line and receivers to make plays. Basically, we believe we can put up points."

"We still have a ways to go to get a lot better. The points show that we can be pretty good. Once we put it all together I think we'll be a great football team."

Russell Wilson: Post-Game Interview After Pitt

Key Quotes
"The offensive line did a great job tonight. The wide receivers, running backs and tight ends all stepped up and made big time catches and big time plays at crucial times."

"We started being in attack mode, but under control. We just played smart."

"We're a high powered offense, i fee like. We can score a lot of points but at the same time we can push the ball up and down the field but also score quickly. You also have to credit the offensive coaches, they're doing a great job and also the defense. The defense came through."

Brandan Bishop: Post-Game Interview After Pitt

Key Quotes
"It's just an exciting time for us as a whole football team. Getting this win was great. Now we're just focused on Wake Forest next weekend, going right into ACC play, getting into a rhythm and getting confidence."

"Our coaches put us in a position to make plays. When you're in the right position and you go out there to execute, good things happen. That's all that really ahppened today. We made some mistakes, but down the stretch we were able to make some plays and that does give you confidence"

Toney Baker: Post-Game Interview After Pitt

Key Quotes
"We felt pretty good. The key was to keep fighting, you know, we went through a lot of adversity tonight and i think we showed that we're a pretty resilient football team, we're able to bounce back. The key is that we just kept fighting and we were able to get the victory."

"We had a lot of mistakes that we have to clean up but the fact that we never stopped believing that we can win the ball game. As a whole we came together and we just kept fighting. That's what it came down to."

"I feel like I've been getting better each week in practice. I feel like I'm getting a little faster, I'm getting smarter, just getting more into the offense and it's really showing. I'm just thankful to the Lord that I'm able to do what I'm doing and just to be able to compete, in general, at this level is just a wonderful blessing."

Tom O'Brien: Postgame Press Conference : NC State vs. Pitt

KEY QUOTES
"Right now we're not good football team and I'm not a good coach. We had lots of penalties, we couldn't make tackles. I have a lot of work to do this week, the team has a lot of work to do this week. From a positive standpoint, we played hard, we didn't quit. The team was resilient, the kids hung in there. We have to look in the mirror before we start ACC play."

"We'll definitely take it. It was a really good win, but September is over and now we're heading into ACC play. Right now we're not a championship team. We have to play better."

"In the first half, we were too tight and too scared. We didn't have any confidence. They decided to come out and play in the second half. On offense we kept chipping away and chipping away and the confidence and game changed from there."

"Our (running)backs ran really well. It was great to get Jamelle Eugene back. He had a couple of runs at the end to ice the game for us."

NC State Postgame Notes Vs. Pitt

PACK STARTS FOURTH SECONDARY COMBO
NC State has now played four games and started fourd different line up of players in the defensive secondary. The only player to start every game in the backfield is senor corner-back Koyal George, who has started at both cornerback positions. Clem Johnson has started at both safety spots but missed last week and the start today after suffering an injury.

Injuries have been a major factor behind the changes. Corner DeAndre Morgan missed the first two games with an ankle inuuy, Clem Johnson missed last week with thigh injury and rookie corner Rashard Smith is out with an ankle injury.

CZAJKOWSKI MISSES FIRST IN 10 TRIES
When junior placekicker Josh Czajkowski missed a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter, it marked his first miss in his last 10 tries, dating back to the UNC contest of 2008. That streak was tied as the sixth longest in school history.

PACK POSTS NINE FIRST-HALF PENALTIES
NC State's penalty total in the first half, 9-61, was higher than any entire game this season and the highest total for hte Pack since being penalized 11 times for 69 yards in four quarters last year versus USF. In Tom O'Brien's 29 games as head coach at NC State, the Wolfpack has had more penalties in an entire game just three times than what it had in the first half today. NC state finished the game with 12 penalties, the most since the season opener against Virginia Tech in 2005 (12-105).

FIELD POSITION
NC State definitely had the disadvantage in terms of field position in the first half today. PItt's five offensive drives averaged a start at the 38.8 yard line, while the Wolfpack's four drives began on an average of it's own 18.5 yard line.

WILSON EXTENDS STREAK
Russell Wilson extended his record-setting streak of consecutive pass attempts with out and interception today , and has now thrown 364 straight passes without a pick. Wilson hasn't been picked off since the Clemson game on September 13, 2008, a span of 13 games.

WILSON SETS THREE-GAME MARK
In the last three games, Russell WIlson has thrown 12 touchdown passes, a mark which is the highest three-game tally in school history. That total broke Philip Rivers' record of 11 versus Duke, Virginia and FSU in 2003.

WILSON ON OFFENSE
Wilson passed for over 300 yards for the 2nd straight game and the second time overall in his career. Today, Wilson passed for 322 yards, and he had a career-high 345 yards passing in last weeks win over Gardner-Webb. He also set new career-high with 91 rush yards on the day.

COMING BACK LATE
NC State trailed 31-17 late in the third quarter before scoring 21 unanswered points to win the game. That comeback is the largest that late in the third quarter since NC State came back from a 31-14 hole against Ohio in 1998 (W, 34-31)

OFFENSE ROLLING
NC State finished with 530 yards of total offense, the most for a Wolfpack team in the last 59 games (577 versus UNC in 2004)

(information provided by NC State Media Relations)

NC State vs. Pitt By The Numbers

When NC State takes the field against Pitt today at 3:30, they will be looking to turn the tide in what has historically been a match-up that has gone in Pitt's favor. Coming into today's game, Pittsburgh has claimed 5 of the 8 games that the two teams have played. With that being said, the Wolfpack has never let the Panthers come to Raleigh and leave victorious (1-0-1). NC State has a lot to prove and defend today against Pitt in a day that has messy smashmouth football in the forecast.

NC State vs. Pittsburgh: Series Record
Overall: 2-5-1
Home: 1-0-1
Away: 0-4
Neutral: 1-1
At Carter-Finley: 1-0-1

Victory Margins
NC State: 13 (30-17, 1978)
Pittsburgh: 42 (48-6, 1952)

Longest Streaks
Pittsburgh - 2 ('52, '53)

Series Breakdown
1952 - Away - 6-48 (L)
1953 - Away - 6-40 (L)
1978 - Neutral - 17-3 (W) (Tangerine Bowl)
1985 - Away - 10-24 (L)
1986 - Home - 14-14 (T)
1987 - Away - 0-34 (L)
1988 - Home - 14-3 (W)
2001 - Neutral - 19-34 (L) (Tangerine Bowl)

Records Watch (Defense/Special Teams): NC State vs. Pittsburgh

Sacks

1. Mario Williams (2003-05) 25.5-156
2. Tyler Lawrence (1990-93) 24-157
3. Carl Reeves (1991-94) 22.5-197
4. Manny Lawson (2002-05) 21-163
Mike Jones (1987-90) 21-128
5. Ray Agnew (1986-89) 17-117
George Anderson (1999-2002) 17-94
7. Corey Smith (1998-01) 15.5-138
Patrick Thomas (2001-04) 15.5-98
Wilie Young (2005-pres.) 15.5-110

Tackles for Loss

1. Mario Williams (2003-05) 55.5-227
2. Carl Reeves (1991-94) 45-269
3. Manny Lawson (2002-05) 41-221
4. Dantonio Burnette (1999-2002) 41-153
5. Stephen Tulloch (2003-05) 40-113
6. Tyler Lawrence (1990-93) 38-139
7. Patrick Thomas (2001-04) 37-144
8. Oliver Hoyte (2002-05) 36.5-79
9. Willie Young (2005-pres.) 35.5-179

Special Teams

Field Goals Made

1. Mike Cofer (1982-84,1986) 50
2. Damon Hartman (1988-91) 48
3. Steve Videtich (1992-94) 42
4. John Deraney (2003-06) 40
5. Nathan Ritter (1978-80) 33
6. Marc Primanti (1995-96) 31
7. Adam Kiker (2000-03) 30
8. Gerald Warren (1967-68) 26
9. Kent Passingham (1998-2000) 22
10. Harold Deters (1964-66) 21
11. Jay Sherrill (1974-77) 20
12. Josh Czajkowski (2007-pres.) 19

Field Goal Percentage

1. Danny Deskevich (1998) 12-12 - 1.000
2. Marc Primanti (1995-96) 31-33 - .939
3. Steven Hauschka (2007) 16-18 - .889
4. J. Czajkowski (2007-pres) 19-22 - .864

PATs Pct.

1. Danny Deskevich (1998) 29-29 - 1.000
2. John Deraney (2003-2006) 84-85 - .988
3. Marc Primanti (1995-96) 51-52 - .981
4. J. Czajkowski (2007-pres) 45-46 - .978

Kickoff Return Yards

1. Ralph Stringer (1973-77) 1,988 (25.5)
2. Alvis Whitted (1994-97) 1,929 (23.0)
3. Darrell Blackman (2004-07) 1,842 (26.3)
4. Chris Williams (1987-89) 1,358 (21.9)
5. T.J. Graham (2008-pres.) 1,103 (25.1)

Records Watch (Offense): NC State vs. Pittsburgh

Passing Yards

1. Philip Rivers (2000-03) 13,484
2. Jamie Barnette (1996-99) 9,461
3. Terry Harvey (1991, 93-95) 5,925
4. Shane Montgomery (1987-89) 5,298
5. Erik Kramer (1985-86) 4,602
6. Dave Buckey (1972-75) 4,286
7. Daniel Evans (2005-08) 4,004
8. Tim Esposito (1983-84) 3,847
9. Terry Jordan (1989-92) 3,695
10. Jay Davis (2002-05) 3,548
11. Tol Avery (1980-82) 3,335
12. Bruce Shaw (1971-73) 2,999
13. Roman Gabriel (1959-61) 2,951
14. Geoff Bender (1991-94) 2,713
15. Russell Wilson (2008-pres.) 2,602

Completion Percentage

1. Philip Rivers (2000-03) .636
2. Terry Jordan (1989-92) .601
3. Dave Buckey (1972-75) .578
4. Jay Davis (2002-05) .577
5. Russell Wilson (2008-pres) .572

Passing Touchdowns

1. Philip Rivers (2000-03) 95
2. Jamie Barnette (1996-99) 59
3. Terry Harvey (1991, 93-95) 38
4. Shane Montgomery (1987-89) 31
5. Erik Kramer (1985-86) 30
6. Russell Wilson (2008-pres.) 25


Pass Completions

1. Philip Rivers (2000-2003) 1,087
2. Jamie Barnette (1996-99) 637
3. Terry Harvey (1991, 93-95) 442
4. Shane Montgomery (1987-89) 421
5. Daniel Evans (2005-08) 370
6. Erik Kramer (1985-86) 334
7. Tim Esposito (1983-84) 333
8. Terry Jordan (1989-92) 303
Dave Buckey (1972-75) 303
10. Jay Davis (2002-05) 301
11. Tol Avery (1980-82) 294
12. Roman Gabriel (1959-61) 285
13. Geoff Bender (1991-94) 218
14. Russell Wilson (2008-pres.) 203

Pass Attempts

1. Philip Rivers (2000-2003) 1,710
2. Jamie Barnette (1996-99) 1,243
3. Terry Harvey (1991, 93-95) 785
4. Shane Montgomery (1987-89) 746
5. Daniel Evans (2005-08) 681
6. Erik Kramer (1985-86) 616
7. Tim Esposito (1983-84) 585
8. Tol Avery (1980-82) 547
9. Dave Buckey (1972-75) 524
10. Jay Davis (2002-05) 522
11. Roman Gabriel (1959-61) 506
Terry Jordan (1989-92) 504
13. Geoff Bender (1991-94) 427
14. Johnny Evans (1974-77) 397
15. Russell Wilson (2008-pres.) 355

Rushing Yards

1. Ted Brown (1975-78) 4,602
2. Joe McIntosh (1981-84) 3,642
3. Tremayne Stephens (1994-97) 3,553
4. Ray Robinson (1998-2001) 2,781
5. Anthony Barbour (1989-92) 2,575
6. Stan Fritts (1972-74) 2,542
7. Andre Brown (2005-08) 2,539
8. Willie Burden (1971-73) 2,529
9. T.A. McLendon (2002-04) 2,479
10. Billy Ray Vickers (1976-79) 2,189
11. Vince Evans (1981-85) 1,920
12. Dick Christy (1955-57) 1,817
13. Charley Young (1961-73) 1,657
14. Gary Downs (1990-93) 1,642
15. Charlie Bowers (1967-69) 1,595
16. Rahshon Spikes (1996-99) 1,446
17. Toney Baker (2005-pres.) 1,441

Rushing Touchdowns

1. Ted Brown (1975-78) 49
2. Stan Fritts (1972-74) 41
3. T.A. McLendon (2002-04) 33
4. Ray Robinson (1998-01) 30
5. Tremayne Stephens (1994-97) 23
Gary Downs (1990-93) 23
7. Willie Burden (1971-73) 22
Andre Brown (2005-08) 22
9. Joe McIntosh (1981-84) 20
10. Scott Smith (1977-79) 18
11. Anthony Barbour (1989-92) 16
Bobby Crumpler (1986-87) 16
Charlie Young (1971-73) 16
14. Roman Gabriel (1959-61) 15
Toney Baker (2005-pres.) 15

GAME PREVIEW: Wolfpack Looks to Make Statement Against Pitt

NC STATE WOLFPACK vs. PITT PANTHERS

Kickoff: 3:30pm
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Television: ESPNU
Records: Wolfpack: 2-1 , Panthers: 3-0

The last two weekends NC State has been nearly perfect. Over those two contests the Pack has outscored it's opponents 110 - 21, however, both games were against far more inferior opponents. This week they take on a team on the other end of the spectrum. The Pitt Panthers have been billed as: strong, efficient and physical. They come to Raleigh with at 3-0 record and as a popular pick to be the Big East champion. The Wolfpack on the other hand is looking to make a statement. To show the nation that the ACC is not just a basketball conference, and that their strong finish last year was no fluke.

PENN CONNECTION
Not only does this match-up with Pitt mean a lot for the 2009 season, but the Wolfpack also hopes that it has repercussions far beyond. Pennsylvania has been a recruiting hotbed for quite some time and Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack look to make a good impression with a win on Saturday. Three current player also hail from the Keystone State: Matt Kushner, Clem Johnson and Wayne Crawford. The coaching staff has pretty close ties as well, with defensive coordinator Mike Archer having coached with the Steelers, Dana Bible having been the offensive coordinator with the Eagles, Jerry Petercuskie being born there and coaching at Penn State, and defensive line coach Keith Willis having played for the Steelers.

RETURNING AT THE RIGHT TIME
Jake Vermiglio, Jamelle Eugene and Clem Johnson are all back in action this week, and not a moment too soon. With a big and physical defensive line, Vermiglio's size and experience will surely be needed if the Pack hopes to get their running game rolling. Speaking of running game, Eugene is back to help Toney Baker shoulder the load on the ground. Baker has been stellar all season long but the change of pace that Jamelle brings to the table will be key in keeping Pitt's front line honest. Lastly, the return of Clem Johnson is vital for a secondary that lacks experience. If the Wolfpack hope to tame the Panthers, these three will surely play big roles.

KEYS TO THE GAME: NC STATE
Stay physical. Pitt is coached by Dave Wannstedt (Cowboys, Bears, Dolphins), and Dave Wannstedt loves him some hard-nosed football. Pitt is going to hit and hit hard. It's up to NC State to take it, and hit them right back. The offensive line is going to
need to bring their "A" game because Pitt plays with some real big boys up front. They held Navy far below their rushing average, and have been stout against the run all season, so it will be up to Baker and Eugene to hit the holes fast and precise. A strong showing on the ground is important from the get-go as it will keep Pitt honest and unable to key on Wilson. Speaking of Wilson, the Pack's offense once again rests on his shoulders. He is without his key downfield target, Owen Spencer, who is out with a concussion. The good news is that he'll have a more than capable receiver in his place. Last week, Donald Bowens returned and got his feet wet with two catches for 17 yards. This weeks Bowens will be looked to for a little bit more. Out for over a season with a back injury followed by a knee injury, Donald is ready to pick up where he left off. In 2006 Bowens was the only true freshman to start a game for the Pack and as a sophomore he broke out, averaging a team best 15 yards per catch and giving the fans a glimpse of greatness as he he shredded the Virginia secondary on his way to 202 yards.

The Wolfpack defense will need to continue to impress if the Pack wants to slowdown the smashmouth running game that Pitt possesses. The defensive line will need to continuously create a new line of scrimmage and penetrate the pocket to disrupt the Pitt passing game, which is keyed by Senior, Bill Stull who has been good thus far. However, Stull is a drop-back passer who doesn't possess any real kind of dual threat. The real focus will need to be on Dion Lewis, who lately has been cleaning up touchdowns like they're going out of style. With three games in the books and on only 67 carries, Lewis has churned up nearly 400 yards and has already made 5 house calls. He runs behind a gigantic offensive line and a 6'2, 260lbs fullback, Henry Hynoski, who have literally steamrolled their opponents, but say what you want, they haven't yet faced a defense as potent as the Wolfpack's. Through three games, the Pack is sporting the number one defense in the ACC, and the 2nd best defense in the nation, and it's not as if they haven't faced any competition. They only allowed a respectable 256 yards and a mere seven points to a South Carolina team that went out and dropped a 37 spot on #21 ranked Georgia, and just recently up-ended the #4 ranked team in the nation, Ole Miss.

Three games is not an ample sample size to truly tell what this NC State team is capable of, but Saturday, when the final second ticks off of the clock on the Carter-Finley facade, we, and the rest of the nation will have a better idea of just how good this Wolfpack team really is.

Coach O'Brien Talks Before Pittsburgh

Willie Young Talks Before Pittsburgh

NC State Injury Report vs. Pitt

OUT FOR SEASON
Mario Carter (TE) - Knee
Denzelle Good (OL) - Shoulder
Nate Irving (LB) - Leg
Colby Jackson (FB) - Knee
Everett Proctor (QB) - Shoulder

OUT
Ryan Cheek (OL) - Hip
Jeff Rieskamp (DE) - Hip
Rashard Smith (CB) - Ankle
Owen Spencer (WR) - Concussion
Javon Walker (S) - Knee

Courtesy of NC State Media Relations

Willie Young: 'Leaving a Legacy'

NC State Defensive End Willie Young could have been playing football on Sundays in 2009, but he had unfinished business to attend to. In coming back for one more go-around, Willie allowed himself the chance to be a part of establishing a solid football tradition at NC State under Coach Tom O'Brien. On top of that, it turns out that 2009 would be a historical year for Young. He had the chance to establish himself as one of the best defensive players to ever put on the Red and White. Coming into this season it was inevitable that Young would shake up the NC State record books, sitting right outside of the Top-10 in sacks and tackles for loss.

In the Murray State game Willie cracked the Top-10 of both categories, collecting 2 sacks for a loss for 14 yards. Currently Young sits in 9th place in both categories with 35.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in his career.

Sacks

1. Mario Williams (2003-05) 55.5-227
2. Carl Reeves (1991-94) 45-269
3. Manny Lawson (2002-05) 41-221
4. Dantonio Burnette (1999-2002) 41-153
5. Stephen Tulloch (2003-05) 40-113
6. Tyler Lawrence (1990-93) 38-139
7. Patrick Thomas (2001-04) 37-144
8. Oliver Hoyte (2002-05) 36.5-79
9. Willie Young (2005-pres.) 35.5-179

Tackles For Loss

1. Mario Williams (2003-05) 25.5-156
2. Tyler Lawrence (1990-93) 24-157
3. Carl Reeves (1991-94) 22.5-197
4. Manny Lawson (2002-05) 21-163
Mike Jones (1987-90) 21-128
5. Ray Agnew, (1986-89) 17-117
George Anderson (1999-2002) 17-94
7. Corey Smith (1998-01) 15.5-138
Patrick Thomas (2001-04) 15.5-98
9. Wilie Young (2005-pres.) 15.5-110
10. Frank Bush (1981-84) 15-138

When I asked Willie what cracking the Top-10 in both of these categories meant to him, he became silent for a moment, (which if you spend much time around Willie, you know this is rare) took a deep breath and whistled.

"I mean, you just brought something to my attention that I wasn't even aware of. But that means a lot," Young said. "There's a lot of great guys up there that worked hard and earned a spot in that Top-10. Now that I've made my way up in there some how, I'll just look to continue to do what I'm doing and let the chips fall where they may fall."

It takes a special player to realize that their individual achievements are not solely theirs. Every great player is extremely talented in their own right, but they don't reach their full potential without the guidance of their coaches and the efforts of their teammates. Young clearly understands this, deflecting a lot of the praise to Coach Archer.

"Coach Archer does a great job at putting me in position to make great plays. That's all I can say," Young said. "He tells me where to go, how it should be played, where I'm supposed to be at, and I just try the best that I can to make the most out of that particular play."

Young will have a challenge on Saturday, going against a young man that he could possibly suit up against at the next level. Pittsbugh's Jason Pinkston is a 6-4, 305 pound Junior Left Tackle who has NFL written all over him. Young states that he is ready for the competition.

"That will be a great competition," Young said. "Whoever shows up on Saturday to play ball is going to win the battle."

Pinkston and the rest of the big boys on Pittsburgh's O-line have been a force to be reckoned with thus far. They have only allowed one sack through 3 games.

"When your approaching an opponent that has only been sacked once all year, of course your going to have guys saying "I'm going to see if I can't get the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th sack on them" Young said.

Young likes his D-line's chances. He happens to captain a defense that is tops in the ACC and second nationally in Total Defense. Willie believes a lot of that has to do with the Defensive Line.

"The game relies upon the defensive line. We set the tempo. We set the tone. It's up to the D-line," Young said. "We're getting off the ball. We're making plays. We're pressuring the Quarterback, which makes him throw the ball when he's not ready."

The front four has been a wrecking crew. They are only giving up 70 yards of rushing per game (2.0 yards per carry). According to Young, it has a lot to do with the mentality the four share in common.

"Man, we just stick together right now. We're tied together as tight as a knot," Young said. "We're not allowing anything to come up between us. Nothing down the middle. You can go over the top or try to go around, but we refuse to let anything go up the middle."

Willie Young is one of the biggest personalities that has suited up for the Wolfpack in quite awhile. He boasts a huge grin, you never know what he might say next and possesses a charisma and personality that is contagious. He plays the game with emotion and his teammates feed off of him. Young ignites his teammates and the fans in Carter-Finley anytime he brings down an opponent in the backfield. This season, Young has been jumping up after a tackle for loss or a sack, with a celebration that should be familiar to all Pack fans. In a tribute to injured NC State Linebacker Nate Irving, Willie Young as adopted his celebration move.

When asked if he had been using Irvin'gs celebration, Young chuckled, and said...

"Oh yes I have. Yes I have. And I will continue. I guess you could call it my tribute to Nate Irving. Soon as he's back in action, I'll give it back to him...Well, I'll think about giving it back to him..."

I'm pretty sure Willie will give Irving back his celebration. Not many players possess the wit and creativity that he has. With the legacy that Young is carving at NC State and the one that he will inevitably create in the future on Sunday's, you can bet that Young will come up with a repertoire of his own celebration moves.

Snap Leaders Through 3 Games

Snap Leaders Through 3 Games

Offense

1) R.J. Mattes - 168
2) T. Larsen -167
2) J. McCuller -167
4) R. Wilson -153
5) A. Barbee -150
6) Ja. Williams-136
7) O. Spencer -115
8) Ju. Williams-107
9) T. Graham -104
10) T. Baker -101




Defense

1) K. George - 130
2) A. Cole -128
3) D. Maddox -116
4) C.J. Wilson -103
5) R. Michel -95
5) S. McKeen -95
5) W. Young -95
8) L. Burgess -93
9) A. Cash -92
10) J. Byers -84

Coach Tom O'Brien: ACC Teleconference (9/23/09)

Key Quotes

"(The offensive line) could be a concern...we are starting our fourth different line the fourth game of the year."

"They put a lot of pressure on the quarterback. We have a lot of work to do to keep Russell free."

"This (game against Pitt) will be a great test to see who and what we are.."

"The problem (with 5'8 Pitt runningback, Dion Lewis) is that you have to find him. They play with a bunch of 6'4, 6'5, 6'6 offensive linemen. (They are) Big, powerful guys that get up in your face and knock you back. What he does a good job of is picking his seams and he kind of squirts through before you can find wehre he is, and he's had the ability to run away from people...he's got some power too, he's not just quick and fast."

"We hope (that we are ready for this Pitt football team). It's a big, physical football team. They play smash-mouth football, they come at you with a 5'8 tailback and 6'2 260lbs fullback in front of him blocking."

"When we lost Rashard Smith we were very fortunate that (DeAndre Morgan) finally been able to get a weekend of practice in and get back on the field. He gave us an experience factor that we really don't have in the secondary."

NC State Commits: Week 5 Recap

Tony Creecy (WR/RB) - Southern Durham (4-1) held off Millbrook 17-14, despite going scoreless in the second half of the game. NC State commit Tony Creecy filled in at Running Back because both of Southern Durham's starters did not play in the contest. Creecy ran the ball 15 times for 62 yards. Video.

D.J. Green (S) - After winning the first 3 games by an average of 43-6, Westside (4-0) faced their first big challenge of the season in Jones County. Despite the fact that Jones County held Westside to their lowest scoring output of the season thus far, the Seminoles were still able to beat Jones County 27-7. Westside has yet to give up more than 7 points in a contest through 4 games and they are currently ranked #2 in the state of Georgia.

Thomas Teal (DT) - Marlboro County (4-0) continued to play tenacious defense and put massive numbers up on the scoreboard this past Friday night, defeating Conway 52-0. The Bulldogs are holding their opponents to 9.75 points per game through 4 games and they are putting up an average of 46.25 themselves.

Torian Box (OT) - The North Clayton Eagles (4-0) defeated Ola 27-0 last Thursday night. Torian Box and the rest of the Offensive Line did an outstanding job blocking, considering the fact that North Clayton Running Back Clarence Jackson ran for 214 yards.

Tobais Palmer (RB) - Georgia Military College (2-2) got a much needed win against Arkansas Baptist College 41-6. GMU came into the season ranked in the NJCAA's Top-10, and this is the type of performance that the voters were expecting to see out of them. NC State commit Tobais Palmer ran the ball 7 times for 41 yards and a Touchdown. He is averaging 81 yards rushing per game.

Tom O'Brien Press Conference: Sept. 21, 2009

Part 1

Part 2

Practice Makes 'Close To' Perfect

Senior linebacker, Ray Michel was all business on Monday when he met with the media to talk about a defensive unit that has been utterly dominate through three games this season, and who are looking to make a major statement on Saturday when they take on Big East bigshot, Pitt. Coming into the season it was the Wolfpack defense that had people asking whether this team could truly contend in a very balanced and talented ACC. Mike Archer's defensive unit has answered the call early this season. The Pack has been downright stingy, giving up only 28 point through 3 games, the best mark by a Wolfpack defense since 1991. Add that to the fact that this unit is allowing a miniscule 198.7 yards per contest through 3 games, good for 2nd in the nation, and you start to wonder, can this unit really be this good?

So far the answer has been yes...but how do they do it? How does the Pack defense prepare to stop a team that plays hard-nosed, smash mouth, run the ball up the gut type football? Ray Michel has a theory...

"I would say, Coach Archer came up with a tackling drill we been doing the past couple of weeks. The main thing is focuing on tackling. We've watchid our last games and we've have the guy in the backfeild tackled but nobody seems to come up with it. He just breaks through and gets more yards. So we talked about it and realized that it was the tackling. " Said Michel, when asked about how the defense has been able to stop the run so well. And just what is this drill? "Basically, somone with the ball runs runs as hard as they can and we tackle them." he said with a smirk

It's small things like these that have this defensive unit on a serious roll. However, this weekend the Pack will face a hungry Pittsburgh team that recently walked away from Navy with a 27-14 victory after gaining 369 yards of total offense, led by quarterback BIll Stull and his favorite target, Jonathan Baldwin, coupled with the run first attack headed up by Dion Lewis (who through 3 games already has amasses a monterous 398 yards and 5 TDs). This will be the Wolfpack defense's first challenge since they dominated the South Carolina front line, allow a single (but game deciding) touchdown more than 2 weeks ago. South Carolina has now gone on to score 75 points in their last two games, including 37 against the #21 ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

The Wolfpack defense has been able to put up this kind of performance three weeks in a row, thanks to a defense who's motor never stops. Look back at the game film, this team swarms. Every single one of them is around the ball within seconds of first contact. When asked how they practice this, Michel answered:

"That's another one of Coach Archers drills. It's called the two-whistle drills. After a guy makes a tackle, you have two seconds to get there and get your hand on the ball....or else you do up-downs till Coach gets tired of blowing the whistle."

It's this type of stress on the little things that has an entire defensive unit playing together on the same page. "We've come together as one." said Michel when asked what the most important thing has been early on this season. However, their toughest challenges are still ahead of them. So can the Wolfpack sustain this nationally ranked defensive performance they've shown so far. "We don't worry about stats, we just worry about winning. Actually I didn't even know that (we were ranked.)"

Wolfpack In The NFL: Week 2

-Jerricho Cotchery led the Jets in receptions and receiving yards with 4 receptions (6 targets) and 87 yards in their stunning 16-9 victory over the Patriots. Cotchery caught a 45-yard pass down the middle of the field during the third quarter, that set up the game-winning touchdown.

Through two games Cothcery has 10 receptions for 177 yards receiving.

-Tank Tyler led the Chiefs with 7 tackles (7 solo) in the Chiefs 10-13 loss to the Raiders. Tyler has collected 7 tackles in each game so far this season.

Through 2 games Tank has 14 tackles, 1 tackle for loss.

-Philip Rivers was 25/45 for 436 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions (QB Rating: 85.0) in the Chargers 26-31 loss to the Ravens. Rivers nearly led the Chargers to their second victory in the final minutes of the game when he threw a pass to Naanee in the end zone that went right through his hands.

Through 2 games Rivers has thrown for 688 yards (60.5%) with 3 TD's and 3 INT's (QB Rating: 84.8)

-Mario Williams collected his first sack of the season in the Texans 34-31 victory over the Titans. He had 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 QB hits.

Through 2 games Mario has 11 tackles (10 solo), 1 sack, and 2 tackles for loss.

-Adrian Wilson was back to his normal self this week, loading up the stat sheet with 6 tackles (5 solo), 0.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 QB hit in the Cardinals 31-17 victory over the Jaguars.

Through 2 games Wilson has 8 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 tackle for loss and 1 fumble recovery.

-Stephen Tulloch showed consistency, posting 7 tackles (4 solo) in the Titans 31-34 loss to the Texans.

Through 2 games Tulloch has 19 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.

-Torry Holt had 6 receptions (targeted 11 times) for 65 yards in the Jaguars 17-31 loss to the Cardinals.

Through two games Holt has 9 receptions for 112 yards.

-Steven Hauschka connected on his only field goal attempt from 33 yards out in the Ravens 31-26 victory over the Chargerrs. He was also was 4 for 4 in PAT's.

Through 2 games Hauschka is 2/3 on FG's and 9/9 on PAT's

-Brian Williams had 1 tackle (solo) in the Falcons 28-20 victory over the Panthers.

Through 2 games Williams has 5 tackles with 1 fumble recovery.

-Manny Lawson had 4 tackles (2 solo) in the 49ers 23-10 victory over the Seahawks.

Through two games Lawson has 6 tackles.

-Sean Locklear suffered a high ankle sprain in the game against the 49ers and is out indefinitely.

-Scott Kooistra has been moved from the inactive list to the active list.

Updated Depth Chart

Depth Chart Notables:

-Andrew Wallace has moved into the starting Left Tackle position and Julian Williams has moved back to starting at Left Guard. Zach Allen has moved to Left Tackle and is backing up Wallace and Andy Barbee is backing up Williams at Left Guard.

-T.J. Graham has moved into the starting spot at Wide Receiver in place of the injured Owen Spencer, and Donald Bowens is backing him up.

-Brandon Bishop is starting at Free Safety due to Clem Johnson suffering from an injury (thigh), and Justin Byers is backing him up.

-DeAndre Morgan has moved back into the starting spot at Cornerback and C.J. Wilson is backing him up.

DeAndre Morgan Post-Game Interview: GWU

George Bryan Post-Game Interview: GWU

GAME RECAP: NC State: 45 - GWU: 14

By: Joe Duprey
The Runnin' Bulldogs out of Boiling Springs, NC came into last night's game with a decisive game plan: execute their offense mistake free in order to maintain possession, while on defense pin their ears back and keep blitzing. After winning the coin toss and electing to kick off to the Wolfpack, one thing became certain in the early stages of the contest. This was that NC State Offensive Coordinator Dana Bible had prepared expertly and he had the one weapon needed to prove it. Russell Wilson. Make no mistake about the feats the RS Sophomore accomplished last night- BCS vs. FCS, ACC vs. Big South or comparisons otherwise. RW was spectacular. With the timely aid of a supporting cast that stepped up in droves last night in the first half the contest quickly became a one sided affair with the receiving corps running strong routes and catching all the strikes Wilson attempted. Baseball Coach may seriously want to consider putting this young man on the mound come spring time. The OL with its third different starter at LT in as many games continued it's growth towards becoming a menacing unit. Starting RB Toney Baker's production was also a clear indicator that the play calling and execution of this unit was superb as he racked up 107 total yards and two TD's with the 13 touches he received - 7.1 yards per rush and 12.3 per catch brought smiles to the 50,000 + Red and White faithful in attendance as "Touchdown Toney" continues to impress. The scoreboard at halftime read 31 - 0, all snaps taken by Wilson, with five scores on six possessions (4 TD's, 1 FG and a punt). By the end of the night his stat line read an impressive 26 of 36 pass completions for a crowd pleasing 345 yards to go along with 4 TD's. Oh, and I suppose it's worth mentioning that he threw zero interceptions-since it did set a NCAA record for consecutive attempts without throwing a pick. The previous record was 325 by Kentucky QB Andre Woodson (a serious Heisman contender early in the decade) and the streak will be put on the line against a strong Pitt Panthers team next week. Before any talk of next week here are the highlights to mention from last nights contest which was the second game in a row not televised.

1st Quarter

Official attendance was listed at 53,452 and excitement filled the air as usual. The buzz going around was how would Gardner-Webb stack up in comparison to last weeks foe, fellow FCS opponent Murray State. Could a Coach O'Brien team that looked so out of sync just two weeks ago against South Carolina really put up another scoring free for all?

A decisive answer to second question was seen just over four minutes into it when Toney Baker scored the first of two rushing TD's. This one on a second and goal following a loss of six yards from the previous play. The burst through the line of scrimmage timed well with OL block up front and got Baker to about the two yard line when a pair of Bulldog defenders decided to go low for the stop. Baker showed he is not all brute force when he lept forward and vertically sailed over the would-be tacklers. 7-0.

The defense was out to prove that over the week of practice they continue to improve and gel as a unit. A three and out after making a third and one stop shed light on things to come. Gardner-Webb not converting went on as the theme as the Wolfpack D held them to just 1-13 on third down conversion.

The Wolfpack got the ball back after the ensuing punt and it was obvious that the Runnin' Bulldog D were going to go blitz package nearly every time. Wilson countered with the poise and accuracy that would lead to a brilliant performance with strikes of 19 yards to TE George Bryan (career night 6 catches, 89 yards and 2 TD's) and a huge 25 yard gainer on 4th and 7 to Darrell Davis (career night 4 catches for 71 yards). Gardner-Webb brought a safety blitz and Wilson burned them. Bakers two yard TD made it 14-0.

The second drive the Defense got on the field saw the best chance for a turnover narrowly missed. On third down the coverage down field was excellent and as G-W QB Stan Doolittle tried the middle only to have LB Audie Cole and DB Rashard Smith converge. The simultaneously made jumping grabs and the kept one another from getting the INT.

On the third Offensive possession G - W kept sending in extra pass rushers only to have Wilson punish them again. The blocking up front worked and the receivers were making all the plays again. A Jarvis WIlliams 33 yard gain got the ball in position for the first passing TD of the game, this one a 24 yard strike to TJ Grahm (5 catches a career high). Route on, 21-0.

2nd Quarter

A Wolfpack FG for Josh Czajkowski came after a good start to a drive that stalled following a sack and delay of game penalty. 24-0 and thoughts that maybe besting the previous weeks 65 points were rising. The next drive for the Wolfpack resulted in a punt, but the next time out saw Wilson dissect the G - W defense once again. The scoring drive ended with a pinpoint accurate throw to Bryan from 17 yards out. 31-0.

3rd Quarter

Wilson came out with the first team in the second half and after yet another strong stand by the defense it was time to close in on makign his mark on NCAA history. Baker's biggest rush of the night of 23 yards was followed up by another TD pass to Bryan. The 12 yard TD pass was another example of the dangerous combination of Wilson - to - Bryan that many hoped to see this year. 38-0.

The next possession belonged to the Runnin' Bulldogs and it was a memorable one. On a key 4th and 10 and short pass was delivered well short of the marker only to see S Earl Wolff get flagged for throwing the ball carrier when he was already out of bounds. Later on the drive G - W got on the board after a highlight reel dive at the pylon by Marquis Sanders from 18 yards out. The end around run showed this athlete's amazing quickness and his headfirst dive came with him spreading the ball out out and breaking the plane while his body flew out of bounds. Great play, 38-7.

4th Quarter

On a possession that started in the 3rd quarter the QB with the white hot hand became Russell Wilson the record holder. The record of consecutive passes without an INT may count completions and incompletions the same but that wasn't the type of night Wilson was having and this drive epitomized that. Five out six completed with a 16 yard TD fastball to Jarvis WIlliams putting a exclamation point on a fantastic game effort from #16. 45-7.

Gardner-Webb would not lay down and showed that they had come to fight for a full two halves. The first answer of the night in how much more capable of opponent the Bulldogs were then the previous FCS team the Wolfpack played was finally answered. These players competed hard and executed their game to the best of their abilities (some mental lapses involving penalties and dropped balls did come in the 1st half). A thirteen play drive covering 41 yards was capped by a fourth and 1 TD keeper after a first and goal from the four. The third try from the one yard line proved the charm after the Wolfpack D, led by strong play from JR Sweezy and Sterling Lucas, threatened to make the goal line stand hold up. 45-14.

The tune up part of the schedule was now over and the grueling tests coming up for TOB's squad begins in earnest today in the film room. Count on the Offense led by Russell Wilson to put the bloated stats, along with the team and NCAA records, in the rear view mirror. This team knows what they are capable of and that they will have to bust their butts to meet their expectations.

On the flip side you won't have to worry much about the Defense getting a swelled head. The two 2nd half TD's by Gardner-Webb left the remaining onlookers at Carter-Finley with some questions- This was for all 2 deep on the depth chart players? Coach O'Brien's post game comments certainly revealed that he was going to set the tone early for this unit as they prepare for a very skilled Pitt team.

Russell Wilson Post-Game Interview: GWU

Tom O'Brien: Post-Game Press Conference After GWU

Wolfpack Bites Runnin' Bulldogs 45-14

Russell Wilson led the Pack to another convincing 45-14 victory on Sunday, over the Gardner Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, throwing the ball 36 times for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns. Those 36 throws came without and interception, and as most of you probably are aware, it puts Wilson as the all-time leader in consecutive passes thrown without an interception. However, Wilson was not worried about the record as his focus was set on getting the win. He hooked up with TJ Graham, Jarvis Williams and George Bryan twice in the victory. The win puts the Pack at 2-1 with Pitt next up on the schedule.

The win today was a complete effort by both the offense and the defense, as Wilson, RB Toney Baker (71 yards and 2 scores) and TE George Bryan (89 yards and 2 scores) led the charge for the offense, while the defense put up another stellar performance, limiting Gardner Webb to a measly 213 yards.

Another positive from Saturday was the return of Donald Bowens, one of the most talented receivers on the Wolfpack roster. Bowens, who hadn't played a game since the 2007 season, hauled in two passes for 17 yards. However, while Bowens is officially back, Owen Spencer maybe lost for a few games, as he came down awkwardly on his head while trying to make a catch. Fortunately he escaped with only a concussion.

Next up for the Pack are the Pitt Panthers, who many believe could finish atop the Big East this season. This will be the first real test the Wolfpack has faced since the opener against South Carolina where the Pack only allowed one touchdown in a 7-3 loss.

**Video Interviews and the Postgame Press Conference to Follow