Heartbreak in Tallahassee, Wolfpack Falls 45-42

Russell Wilson threw for a career-high five touchdowns and a career-high 349 yards but it wasn't enough to hold off the Seminoles as the Pack fell 45-42. It may have been the best offensive performance put on by the Wolfpack so far this season but again, it was the inability of the defense to get a stop that lead to the loss. Although Wilson and company racked up 538 yards of total offense, the most since 2004, the defense was only able to force three punts all game, allowing FSU to score on 7 of their 12 drives.

The Wolfpack defense has been punished so far this ACC season as they now fall to 0-4 in the conference. The Pack has been criticized for their soft secondary, but yesterday it was their inability to stop the run that allowed the Noles to take home the victory as they tallied 278 yards on the ground, 186 of it coming from sophomore Jermaine Thomas.

The game was a back and forth shootout with both offenses clicking on all cylinders. Wilson's career night coupled with Toney Baker's 112 yards on the ground and Owen Spencer's 165 yard receiving day kept the Pack within striking distance as they matched FSU, touchdown for touchdown all game long. With 3 minutes left in the game, the Pack took their first lead of the game, 42-38 and it looked like O'Brien's squad were going sneak out of Tallahassee with their first conference victory. Unfortunately, Christian Ponder, FSU's junior signal caller, marched the Noles down the field in under two minutes to punch in the game winning score.

It seemed as if NC State has been forced to play catch up all season long as the defense hasn't been able to find any answers. Opponents are scoring at an average of 44 points per game against the Pack, a league high. It has been disappointing to say the least for those who felt the Wolfpack were the ACC favorites coming into the season. The offense has been as billed, electric, consistent and unstoppable at times, however it's been the defense that has held back the Pack. With ten players already lost for the season, one of which being star LB Nate Irving, the Wolfpack has been trying to fill holes and plug gaps in what has turned into a patchwork defense. Tom O'Brien has had nowhere to turn. With seven different combination in the secondary already looked at, nobody seems to be taking the reigns. Freshman Jarvis Byrd was shown his first game action of the season yesterday and will look to break into the ever morphing rotation.

With the Pack now sitting at 3-5 and 0-4 in the ACC, it's back to Raleigh to take on Maryland in what will be a battle for the basement. If the Wolfpack can win they can move out of sole possession of last place, tying themselves with the Terps, probably not the stakes Pack fans were hoping for this late in the season, but with only four weeks remaining in the regular season, State will try to get back on track any way they can.

GAME PREVIEW: NC State vs. Florida State

NC STATE WOLFPACK VS. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

Kickoff: 12 Noon
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Television: Raycom
Records: Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3 ACC) , Noles (3-4, 1-3 ACC)

Coming off of their bye week, the Wolfpack is looking to turn around their season, as they take on the Florida State Seminoles. The Pack has struggled on both sides of the ball the past few weeks, but they have taken their off week to get back to the fundamentals. "We just had to get back to the basics, get back to doing the little things right." Said DeAndre Morgan who will start opposite freshman CJ Wilson this week in the NC State secondary. It's been the little things that have haunted the Pack thus far during ACC play. Missed tackles and costly penalties have been much more prominent than they were early in the season, however, those are not the only problems.

The injuries are starting to really mount up for Tom O'Briens squad. Ten players have now been lost for the season, and now Ray Michel, the veteran of the linebacker corps, will be sitting out with an injured ankle. Top punt returner and budding wideout TJ Graham will also be inactive due to an injured leg. The increasing amount of injuries do not bode well for a Wolfpack team looking to turn the corner, but if anyone knows something about post-bye week hot streaks, it's the Pack. After a bye week last season, Tom O'Brien and his men reeled off four consecutive wins, qualifying them for a bowl and making people pay attention to a team that looked to be all but finished after week 8.

If a 2008-esque turnaround is in store, it will have to start this weekend in Tallahassee. To do this, the Wolfpack front line is going to need to turn up the heat on Seminole quarterback Christian Ponder, who looked unstoppable last week against UNC. Ponder put up a very impressive 395 yard, 3 touchdown performance against a defense who has been, for the most part, very good this season.

For NC State, the defense has made it hard for the offense to get it rolling. Playing from behind most of the time during ACC play, Russell Wilson hasn't had the luxury of selling the play action to buy time. Playing from behind has also prevented RB Toney Baker from controlling the game with the run. The result has been an offense that has been forced to throw, creating a one dimensional offensive attack. It will be important this week for the Pack to strike early and be able to control the tempo. The past 3 match-ups have all been played at the opponents pace, something the Wolfpack can ill afford if they want to fly out of the sunshine state with a victory.

This week they face one of the best passing offenses in the conference. Christian Ponder is leading the league with 2,176 yards and has also tossed 12 touchdowns. He is a smart quarterback who doesn't take big risks often, but when he does he has the receivers to bail him out. Bert Reed, a 5'11", 165 pound wideout, leads the Noles with 438 receiving yards and is their go to possession receiver. Opposite Reed is their deep threat Rod Owens, who has already made a 98 yard house-call this season.

On the ground the Noles aren't much to be seen. Ty Jones is their leading rusher with just 228 yards and 4 touchdowns, meaning the Pack will have to stop the air attack, something they have not been able to do over the past 3 weeks.

Dead Heat*
Over the last 8 games, the Pack and the Noles are dead even in their W-L records, with all of those games being decided by 10 points or less. The average margin of victory in those last 8? 6.5 points.

Homecoming*
There are 17 players on the NC State roster that hail from the sunshine state, 13 of which are on the 2-deep, and six of which are starting.

Late Season Success*
Over the first two seasons of Tom O'Brien's reign, the Pack has gone 4-10 combined over their first 7 games, however, they made it a habit of turning it around late in the season. Over the final 5 games the past two seasons, the Pack has gone a combined 7-3. Last season, they lost their first 4 ACC games, only to finish .500 in the league at 4-4. They hope that these numbers are an indication of what is to come.

NC State vs. FSU Injury Report, Graham and Michel Out

OUT FOR FSU
T.J. Graham, WR/RET – leg
Ray Michel, LB - ankle
Jesse Riley, DB - knee

Dwayne Maddox will start at middle linebacker in place of Michel; Clem Johnson, Jamelle Eugene and Donald Bowens will return punts/kicks.

OUT FOR SEASON
Mario Carter, TE - knee
Ryan Cheek, LB - hip
Denzelle Good, OL - shoulder
Nate Irving, LB - leg
Colby Jackson, FB - knee
Everett Proctor, QB – shoulder
Jeff Rieskamp, DE – sports hernia
Rashard Smith, CB - knee
Javon Walker, S – knee
James Washington, HB - knee

Information provided by NC State Media Relations

Shrine Bowl Rosters Announced

The rosters were released today for the 73rd annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas that will be played on December 19th. Three NC State commits were selected to the prestigious game. Robert Crisp (OT) and Tyler Brosius (QB) will be representing North Carolina and Thomas Teal (DT) will be representing South Carolina.

There are also numerous NC State prospects on both teams that hold offers from the Wolfpack. David Amerson (S) and Ethan Farmer (DT) will be representing North Carolina and Justin Parker (LB) and Mustafa Greene (RB) will be representing South Carolina.

The Wolfpack Nation should be proud of Crisp, Brosius and Teal for receiving this honor.

Toney Baker: Post Practice Q & A

Q: Can you talk about your relationship with former coach and current Florida State associate head coach Chuck Amato?

A:  I thought he was a good coach. I liked him as a person. He recruited me here and I really don't have anything negative to say about him. I just wish him luck in the future.

Q: You were recently voted NC State's first half Offensive MVP, how does that make you feel?

A: It makes me feel real good, but it's only the first half. There's a whole second half to play. I look forward to keep improving and getting better. So, you know, I'm thankful for that, but we've still got a lot more season left. 

Q: The offense has struggled the past few games. What do you feel needs to be done to get back on track?

A: Just to get on the same page. Really, that's what we pretty much used that bye week for. We're working on timing and fundamentals. We're getting back to where we need to be. 

Q: Would you like to see them run the ball more?

A: Of course, I'm a running back, but we do what we do and I have no control over that. I just go hard, and we do whatever we have to do to win.

Q: How frustrating is it when you're running the ball well early in the game, but don't see many opportunities late in the game, because the offense is playing catch up?

A: Oh it's frustrating, but more because we're losing. I don't have control over that, and really it doesn't matter. It's all about winning. That's what's frustrating, and we're really tying to get that turned around. 

Q: As a leader of this team, what have you been saying or doing to keep the team motivated?

A: Oh, just making everybody understands that we can still have a great season. I'm just letting everybody know that there's no quit in us. We just have to be consistent and keep working, and I'm trying to do that and lead by example. I think everybody took the role that they need to and now we're headed in the right direction.

Thanks Toney!

Michael Lemon: The Coach's Perspective

NC State has been a fresh start for redshirt junior Michael Lemon. After playing 7 games as a redshirt freshman at the University of Georgia, and being named the Most Improved Defensive End during the '08 Spring Drills, Lemon went through a rough patch, and was asked to leave the team. He played last season with Georgia Military College coach Bert Williams, and it was just what the doctor ordered, to help the young man sort things out. Lemon finished classes in Georgia in May and was all ready to pack his bags, when he found out that he still had to take two more online classes before he left. Due to his academic obligations in Georgia, Lemon showed up 3 weeks after the start of preseason practice, but it didn't take long for people to notice #94. In NC State's season opener on ESPN against South Carolina, Lemon snuck into the flats and intercepted a pass. Since then, he has played 153 snaps behind starting defensive end Shea McKeen. That is the second most snaps behind J.R. Sweezy (156) on the second string defensive line. Through 7 games, Lemon has 11 tackles (2 for loss), 3 quarterback pressures, 1 pass break up and 1 interception. With all four of the starting defensive linemen graduating, Lemon will be counted on heavily next year at the defensive end position.

Recently we had the chance to talk with Georgia Military College head coch Bert Williams about his experience coaching Michael Lemon. Here is what he had to say:

"Michael Lemon is a great young man. He got dealt a tough hand. A lot of people have things they have to deal with, but the personal turmoil that he had to go through with the death of his mother was really tough. When things got rough for him down at the University of Georgia, things kind of snowballed on him. When he got here, he was amazing. I was like 'Golly, how could this guy ever get in a situation that would jeopardize where he was.' His attitude was outstanding every day. He played hurt the entire year."

It was funny when we watched the first game of the year against South Carolina. Michael intercepted two passes for us exactly the same way he did in that game. I wasn't sure at first what number he was, but I saw his body movement and then I saw him make that play, and I said 'That's got to be Lemon.'

He was a guy that went to work every day. He was driven and motivated to get back to the level that he knew he should be playing at. It was a good fit for Michael at NC State. He really liked Coach O'Brien from the first time he met him. He felt really comfortable with the situation up there. Leroy Burgess is a guy that had been here for two years, and I'm sure he spoke with him. Even though they didn't play together, they had a little bit of a kindred spirit. There was no doubt in mind that he was going to be successful once he got up to Raleigh."

NC State Commit Pete Singer: Junior Year Highlights

Pete Singer committed to run with the Pack back in April of this year. Singer is a 5'11", 185 pound safety, that runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. This video is from last season, Singer's junior year, at Chapel Hill High School. He now plays for Athens Drive High School.

Wilson Named NFC Defensive Player of The Week

Former NC State safety Adrian Wilson was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance this past Sunday against the Giants. Wilson put up a stat line that exemplified why he was a All-Pro safety last last season (Wilson was also All-Pro in '06). He had 5 tackles (2 for loss), 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 2 passes defended. Both of the turnovers that Wilson was responsible for, were game changing plays. Wilson's interception, which was his first of the season, set up the Cardinals game winning touchdown. His fumble recovery on the Cardinals own 44-yard line stopped the Giants final attempt to tie the game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Wilson is one sack and one interception away from becoming the 9th player in the history of the NFL to have 20 sacks and 20 interceptions in a career.

Adrian Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2001 NFL draft out of NC State, after foregoing his senior season. He tallied 254 tackles in his three-year stint with the Wolfpack, which was the most by a defensive back since James Walker collected 289 (93-95). This Greensboro native has represented the Wolfpack and the state of North Carolina well in his NFL career.

Recap of Coach O'Brien's Radio Show (10/26/09)

This is not a transcript of everything that was said in last night's radio show, rather it is a rundown of the main things that Coach O'Brien addressed.

-He discussed the bye-week. It was a great chance to look at the entire operation. They got to go back and dissect every offensive and defensive play that has been played. At this point in the season it is too late to make major philosophical changes, but personnel can be altered if available and minor tweaks can be made.

-James Washington's injury will not require surgery, but it will require 5-6 weeks of rest. Ten players are now listed as "out for the season." He said he had never experienced a team that had that many injuries, and doubts that many coaches ever have. He estimated that he didn't even have 10 players listed as "out for the season" in the entire 6 years he was at Boston College.

-The coaching staff is trying hard to keep the redshirts on, but it is becoming increasingly difficult. Seven out of the 10 players that are out, would have seen significant playing time.

-The defense has only caused 8 turnovers thus far, and that is not up to par. This defense is built around creating turnovers. They have been working really hard on stripping the ball. The offense needs to improve on 3rd down conversions, which would be a big help in keeping the defense off the field.

-One caller asked Coach O'Brien why he didn't show more emotion on the sidelines? He responded by saying that he can't get too hyped, because then he won't be able to think. Coach O'Brien described himself like a cup of coffee...eventually he cools off. Many coaches imitate other coaches and fail. It is important to be yourself. If he thought that doing cartwheels and jumping up and down would help his team win, he would do it, but he doesn't think it would help.

-Coach also mentioned that they had voted on offensive and defensive MVP's through the first half of the season. Toney Baker was the recipient of the offensive award and Alan Michael-Cash took home the defensive award.

Coach O'Brien Talks Bye Week Changes, Florida State

Washington's Freshman Season Ends Early

True freshman James Washington will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury suffered this past Thursday in practice. Coach O'Brien seemed hopeful that Washington would be able to return in time for the beginning of spring practice.

Washington turned a lot of heads coming out of the preseason as the #3 back over Curtis Underwood and Brandon Barnes. Washington had a game any freshman would remember against Murray St., collecting 3 total touchdowns (2 rushing and 1 receiving). Washington saw action in 6 games (47 plays) this season and accumulated 76 yards on the ground and 44 in the air.

This is unfortunate news for an already injury plagued Wolfpack team. At this point last year people thought that NC State was pretty banged up, with 4 players listed as out for the season. The total number of players currently listed as out for the season has now grown to 10.

NC State vs. Florida State: Depth Chart

Depth Chart Notables

-C.J. Wilson is listed as the starter at the boundary corner position, in place of the injured Rashard Smith. Justin Byers will back up Wilson.

-It seems like the coaching staff has been impressed with Dwayne Maddox as of late, making it a battle between him and Terrell Manning this week, to see who gets the nod on Saturday.

Wolfpack In The NFL: Week 7

Adrian Wilson was an absolute nightmare for the Giants last night. His 5 tackles (2 for loss), 1 interception and 2 pass deflections were pivotal in leading the Cardinals to a 24-17 win over the Giants. The interception was Wilson's first of the season.

Wilson has 26 tackles (6.5 for loss), 0.5 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception on the year.

After losing two straight games, the Chargers were in desperate need for Philip Rivers to come out and play his best, and that's exactly what he did. Rivers had his best game statistically yesterday, recording a quarterback rating of 122.6. At the end of the 37-7 victory over the Chiefs, he had thrown for 268 yards (60%) and 3 touchdowns (no interceptions).

Rivers has 1,787 passing yards (5th in the NFL), 10 touchdowns (3 interceptions) and has a QB rating of 96.1 (9th in the NFL) on the year.

Manny Lawson was active yesterday in the Houston Texans backfield, collecting 5 tackles (3 for loss), 1 sack and 2 QB hits in a 21-24 loss. Marcus Hudson also posted 4 tackles, his highest tackle total since week 5 of the 2007 season (he had 7 tackles against the Ravens).

Lawson has 32 tackles (4.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble on the year.

Hudson has 8 tackles on the year.

After playing 2 games without a sack, Mario Williams was able to break that streak and battle through the shoulder pain in the Texans 24-21 victory over the 49ers. He created havoc in the 49ers backfield, racking up 3 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack and 2 QB hits.

Williams has 24 tackles (6 for loss), 3 sacks and 1 forced fumble on the year.

Brian Clark caught his second pass of the season in the 7-35 loss to the Patriots. Clark's 13 yard reception was his first since week 1 versus the Cowboys.

Clark has 2 receptions for 30 yards on the year.

DaJuan Morgan had 1 tackle in the Chiefs 7-37 loss to the Chargers yesterday. The tackles was Morgan's first since week 3 versus the Eagles.

Morgan has 4 tackles on the year.

Tank Tyler had 1 tackle in the Panther's 9-20 loss to the Bills. This was Tyler's first game as a Carolina Panther, after being traded from the Chiefs last Monday.

Tyler has 23 tackles (1 for loss) on the season.

Scott Kooistra was inactive in the Bengals 45-10 over the Chicago Bears. Kooistra has been inactive in 4 straight games.

NC State Commits: Week 10 Recap

Tony Creecy (WR) - Southern Durham (8-1) dismantled East Chapel Hill 47-0 on Friday night. Tony Creecy was the first one to score, with a 28-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. He finished the game with 2 receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown.

Creecy has 489 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.

Tyler Brosius (QB) - Tuscola (7-1-1) beat West Henderson 35-0 in a rainy game on Friday night. It was the run game that won the game this week for the Mountaineers, rather than Brosius' arm. Brosius finished the game with 157 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.

Brosius has thrown for 1,892 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Robert Crisp (OT) and Pete Singer (S) - Athens Drive (6-3) lost to Fuqua-Varina 27-35 in a game that had big implications on the conference standings. The Jaguars currently sit 2 games back from first place Middle Creek.

D.J. Green (S) - For the 7th time this season, Westside (8-0) held their opponent to 7 points or less on Friday night, destroying Americus-Sumter 44-7. The Seminoles remain #1 in the Georgia 1-AAAA state rankings.

Thomas Teal (DT) - Marlboro County (9-0) defeated Wilson 21-14 on Friday night to remain unbeaten heading into the final week of their regular season. The Bulldogs allowed 14 points, which marks the most points they have allowed since the season opener, when they gave up 26 points to Cheraw.

Torian Box (OT) - After losing their first game of the season last week, North Clayton (7-1) came out this past Friday and made a statement, beating Stockbridge 50-0. North Clayton is ranked #4 in the Georgia 1-AAAA state rankings.

Logan Winkles (FB) - After losing 6 straight games, the Upson-Lee (2-6) Knights finally picked up another victory on Friday night, defeating Bainbridge 27-25.

Dontae Johnson (S) - The Pennington School (5-2) won their fourth straight game on Friday night, defeating Allentown 36-15. Even though Johnson plays primarily on the defensive side of the ball, he did reel in a 10-yard touchdown in the win.

Tobais Palmer (RB) - Georgia Military College (5-3) brutalized Louisburg College yesterday, by the score of 55-3. Palmer has 427 yards rushing and 8 rushing touchdowns on the year.

Wolfpack In The NFL: Injury Report Before Week 7

Jerricho Cotchery will not suit up against the Raiders tomorrow, and will miss his second straight week with a hamstring injury. Before suffering this injury, he was ranked 8th in the NFL in receiving yards, with 360 yards. Here is what New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan had to say about Cotchery's injury:

"Jerricho's not going to be able to play this week," coach Rex Ryan said yesterday to the New York Post. "I was hoping Jerricho [would] be able to do it, but to make that trip all the way out there, we feel it's best for him to stay back and rehab. . . . He's not going to play."

After playing through pain the past two weeks with an injured shoulder, Houston Texans defensive end Mario Williams is listed as questionable for tomorrow's match-up versus the 49ers.

After starting the first two games of the season, offensive linemen Sean Locklear has missed the past 4 weeks with a high ankle sprain. It has been reported that he is no longer wearing the boot and that he could be back in game shape with in a week or two.

After sitting out last week due to a concussion, offensive linemen Leroy Harris was hoping to get back into the swing of things this week. Word of his availability for tomorrow hasn't been released yet.

49ers cornerback Marcus Hudson is listed as probable with a shoulder injury in tomorrow's match-up against the Texans.

Offensive linemen Scott Kooistra has been inactive for the Cincinnati Bengals for the past three weeks.

Holt 3rd Fastest to 13,000

This past Sunday, Torry Holt reminded football fans across the nation that his name deserves to be mentioned in the short-list of greatest receivers to ever play in the National Football League. Holt showed up in a big way against his former team, posting his first 100-yard game since week 13 of the 2007 season. While crossing the century mark was a big deal for Holt, it was his 41-yard reception in the first quarter that made the most noise. The deep pass marked the longest of the season for Holt, but the most significant thing of this reception, was that it propelled him over the 13,000 yard milestone. Holt is the 12th player in NFL history to reel in 13,000+ yards in a career, and he accomplished this feat in 164 career games. Only two players in NFL history crossed the 13,000 barrier faster than Holt: Jerry Rice, 154 games; Marvin Harrison, 162 games.

Holt, who still has a couple of quality years left in the tank, will finish as one of the most prolific wide receivers to ever play the game. NC State fans should be proud that a player of Holt's quality, on and off the field, once donned the Red and White in Carter-Finley on Saturday afternoons.

ACC Time Capsule: NC State's 1963 ACC Championship

A lot of things can change in one year's time. In 1962, Earle Edwards NC State Wolfpack struggled mightily, finishing the season with a 3-6-1 overall record. Edwards went back to the drawing board after the '62 campaign. After winning a measly 3 games in '62, NC State did more than double that number in '63, finishing the season with an 8-3 record. The Wolfpack's 6-1 conference record was enough for a share of the ACC title with UNC. NC State clinched a share of the title when they defeated Wake Forest 42-0 in Riddick Stadium on Friday, November 22 of 1963. The thrill of clinching the school's second ACC championship, was trumped by the heartbreaking news that came just hours before kickoff, that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated.

Earle also picked up his 2nd ACC Coach of the Year award, and would eventually collect two more in '65 and '67. 1963 was a big year for the ACC, sending 2 teams to bowl games for the first time in the conference's young history. NC State faced off against Mississippi St. in the Liberty Bowl, which was the Pack's first bowl appearance in 17 years. It was also the Pack's fist televised game since 1958, when they lost to Clemson 6-13. Unfortunately the season didn't end the way that the Wolfpack would have hoped, losing to the Bulldogs 12-16.

All-Americans

Don Montgomery was a 2nd Team All-American.

All-ACC

1st-Team
Bert Wilder (T), Bill Sullivan (G), Bill Sullivan (G), Jim Rossi (QB)

2nd-Team
Don Montgomery (E) and Joe Scarpatti (RB)

Schedule

W 36-14 @ Maryland
W 14-0 @ Southern Miss
W 7-3 @ Clemson
W 18-6 @ South Carolina
L 10-31 @ North Carolina
W 21-7 Duke
W 15-9 @ Virginia
W 13-7 Virginia Tech
L 0-14 @ Florida St.
W 42-0 Wake Forest
L 12-16 Mississippi St.

Williams' '09 Campaign Ends Early

Former NC State defensive back, Brian Williams, will miss the remainder of the 2009 football season, after tearing his ACL in Sunday's win over the Bears. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the game, when Williams was defending a pass in the end zone, that was intended for Bears tight end Greg Olsen. The pass fell incomplete and so did the remainder of the 2009 season for Williams.

Williams, an 8 year veteran in the NFL, spent time playing with Minnesota (02-05) and Jacksonville (06-08) before joining the Falcons this season. After starting 7 games as a rookie for the Vikings, Williams has been a perennial starter at the cornerback position for his entire career. Through 8 seasons of play, Williams has played in 112 games and has accumulated 463 tackles, 60 pass deflections and 19 interceptions.

The loss of Williams will be a tremendous blow to the Falcons defense. Not only are they losing a starter, they are also losing a seasoned veteran that is a voice of leadership in the secondary.

Williams already had a good relationship with Falcons head coach Mike Smith before he landed in Atlanta prior to the start of the season. Smith was Williams defensive coordinator for two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Smith understands the magnitude of losing a veteran like Williams.

"It's going to be a big loss for us but it's going to be an opportunity for another player on our squad," Smith said to the AP.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Williams.

Coach O'Brien: ACC Teleconference During NC State's Bye Week

Coach O'Brien's opening statement
We certainly need to get back on the practice field this week. There are a lot of things that we've got to get corrected. We'll spend a lot of time on fundamentals. Hopefully we can come out of next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as a better football team.

On Rashard Smith's injury
Its exactly the same injury that Russell had. His knee drove into the turf in the second quarter when he knocked the ball down on a deep pass. He actually played the rest of the game after that and didn't tell anybody, which could have jeopardized his whole knee. It's a 12-week rehab period. Hopefully he'll be back by spring practice. Certainly its a setback for us. After starting 6 different groups in the secondary through seven games, we thought we would have a group set back there. Next week we need to work through and see where we are going to go and what we are going to do in the secondary now.

On the bye week
We have some guys that aren't on the field this week because of some bumps and bruises, and we hope that they'll be ready for practice next week. The mental part is big for this team right now. Over the past two weeks we haven't mentally been where we were the first 5 weeks. It's something we have to get back as coaches. I've got to get them back out there flying around. We've had effort, but there hasn't been that 'spark.' Mentally we need to get away from it and start our second season on Sunday as we prepare for Florida State.

The coaches have been recruiting this Monday and Tuesday and they will be back out there recruiting on Friday as well. They will get a day off on Saturday. We understand the situation we are in and we know we have to get this thing turned around. With that being said, they need some time off to spend with their family, and we will come back and get things started on Sunday and see what we can do in the second half of the year.

On having a good track record of winning after bye-weeks
I'm not sure. Hopefully we do a good job going back over the fundamentals and getting things structured. Every year is different. We still are in flux down here of getting things solidified with consistency. Our first year we didn't know the personnel, and we were trying to put square pieces in round holes. Last year we were trying to get everyone healthy. This year we are coaching the freshmen the same way that we would the starters. We've given everyone equal opportunity. The philosophy is that you "play for the day" but your also "playing for the future" every time you step on the practice field. This year, instead of people coming back around this time, now we have guys getting hurt. You would never have expected that we would have 9 guys out for the season this year, with 5 of those guys definitely being players who would make an impact. You also have to remember the two players that left the team before Spring practice, with one of them projecting as a starter in the secondary. He could have really helped solidify the secondary.

How big is an open date for recruiting?
We're working on this years class. We are excited about the direction that recruiting is going right now, but there are still some holes that need to be filled.

Tank Tyler's Trade Is A Homecoming

On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs traded former NC State defensive tackle Tank Tyler to the Carolina Panthers. Tyler was a third round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2007. He showed a tremendous ability to make an impact during the early stages of his NFL career. After seeing action as a reserve in 15 games as a rookie in '07, he moved into a starting role in 2008, starting all 16 games at defensive tackle. This season has proven to be a different story for Tyler. With the arrival of new coach Todd Haley also came a new defensive scheme. In the transition from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense, the number of defensive linemen necessary was reduced by 1. Last season Tyler got to start alongside veteran Ron Edwards, but this season the two had to battle for the position in the middle of the new 3-4 scheme. Coming out of the preseason camp, it seemed like the Chiefs were going to allow Tank to be the man in the middle, but after starting the first two games, Haley made the executive decision to insert Edwards as the starter.

The initial news of being traded was deflating for Tyler, but once he heard which team he was being traded to, his spirits were lifted.

“I mean, my heart just dropped,” Tyler told the Gaston Gazette. “And then when he told me where I was traded, my heart started smiling again. It’s a blessing.”

Tyler is a native of North Carolina, playing his high school football at E.E. Smith in Fayettville, North Carolina. Tank was also an All-ACC performer as a defensive tackle at NC State. Needless to say, the return to North Carolina was nothing short of a homecoming for Tyler.

“I grew up idolizing the Panthers,” Tyler told the Gaston Gazette. “The first NFL game I saw was in Charlotte. They played against (former New Orleans Saints receiver) Joe Horn, who was a Fayetteville guy.”

The Panthers addition of Tyler, brings much needed depth to a position that has been a weakness for the Panthers as of late. Tyler sees the Panthers defense as a perfect fit.

“This defense is attack-style as far as the line goes,” Tyler told the Gaston Gazette. “That is what I love to do. I love to attack. I just feel privileged to be a part of this defense. I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity.”

Tyler will begin practicing for the Panthers on Wednesday.

Wolfpack In The NFL: Week 6

Torry Holt's 101 yard performance (5 receptions) in the Jaguar's 23-20 win over the Rams marked the first time he has gone over the century mark this season. In fact, this was the first time that Holt has gone for over 100 yards since week 13 of the 2007 season, when he reeled in 135 yards against the Falcons.

Holt has 27 receptions for 407 yards through six games. It should be noted that Holt ranks 13th in the NFL in receiving targets, with 47.

The Denver Bronco's defense was a thorn in the side of quarterback Philip Rivers last night, and the Chargers fell below .500, losing 23-34. Rivers was sacked 5 times in the game, with one of them causing a fumble (he actually fumbled three times, but only one was recovered by the defense) in the fourth quarter that set up a field goal for the Broncos. Despite Denver's harassing defense, River's played well, throwing for 274 yards and a touchdown.

Rivers has thrown for 1,519 yards (6th in NFL) and 7 touchdowns (3 interceptions) through 5 games. He also has a quarterback rating of 91.8 and is completing passes at a 59% clip.

The Arizona Cardinals defense shut down the Seahawks with a very balanced effort in Sunday's 27-3 victory. In fact, the leading tackler only needed 4 tackles to lead the team, and that was Adrian Wilson. Wilson also had 2 tackles for loss and 2 QB hits.

Wilson has 21 tackles (4 for loss), .5 sacks and 1 forced fumble through 5 games.

To say that things were ugly for the Tennessee Titans defense on Sunday would be an understatement. The environment was perfect for a low-scoring game with the ground covered in snow, but Tom Brady saw it as a perfect opportunity to throw the ball for 380 yards and 6 touchdowns. In the 0-59 dismantling, Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch had 12 tackles. Tulloch has reached double-digit tackle totals in 4 out of 6 games.

Tulloch has 57 (6th in NFL) tackles (3 for loss), 1 sack and 1 pass deflection through 6 games.

Steven Hauschka had a chance to be the hero for the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday against the Vikings, with a chance to ice the game at the end of regulation with a 44-yard field goal. Unfortunately, Hauschka's kick went wide left and the Vikings escaped with a 33-31 victory. Hauschka did connect on a 29-yard field goal at the end of the first half and connected on all 4 of his PAT's.

Hauschka has connected on 5 of his 7 field goal attempts through 6 games. Each of his missed field goals came from beyond 40 yards. He has connected on all 22 of his PAT's.

Mario Williams had 3 tackles (2 solo) in the Texans 28-17 victory over the Bengals. It should be noted that Super Mario has been hampered by an injured shoulder over the past couple of weeks, which might give reason for his quiet statistics over that stretch. He has been held out of contact in practice for the past two weeks, but the Texan team doctors feel that he is close to being back to 100%.

Williams has 21 tackles (4 for loss), 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble through 6 games.

Jerricho Cotchery did not play in the Jet's 13-16 overtime loss to the Bills due to a hamstring injury.

Cotchery has 24 receptions for 360 yards and 1 touchdown in 5 games.

Tank Tyler had one tackle in the Chiefs 14-6 victory over the Redskins. Tyler was traded prior to today's trade deadline to the Carolina Panthers. We will have more details on this trade later today.

Tyler has 22 tackles (1 for loss) through 6 games.

Brian Clark played as a reserve in the Buccaneers 21-28 loss to the Panthers. Clark has seen action in all 6 games this season for Tampa Bay.

Clark has 1 reception for 17 yards through 6 games.

DaJuan Morgan played as a reserve in the Chiefs 14-6 victory over the Redskins. Morgan has seen action in all 6 games this season for Kansas City.

Morgan has 3 tackles through 6 games.

Scott Kooistra was inactive for the Bengals for the third straight week.

After starting the first two games of the season, Sean Locklear still remains inactive with an ankle injury.

Leroy Harris was in active in the Titans 0-59 loss to the Patriots due to a concussion. Harris had seen action in all 5 games going into week 6.

Smith and Rieskamp Out for Season

NC State head football coach Tom O’Brien has announced that freshman cornerback Rashard Smith and redshirt sophomore defensive end Jeff Rieskamp will miss the remainder of the season due to injuries. Smith, who had moved back into the starting lineup for the Boston College game, injured his knee in the second quarter of that contest. Rieskamp, who started two games in 2008, underwent surgery on Friday, October 16, for a sports hernia. He has not seen action in a game all season because of the injury.

Those two players bring the total of players lost for the season due to injury to nine for the Wolfpack. They join TE Mario Carter (knee), LB Ryan Cheek (hip), OL Denzelle Good (shoulder), LB Nate Irving (leg), FB Colby Jackson (knee), QB Everett Proctor (shoulder) and S Javon Walker (knee).

Information provided by NC State Media Relations.

Where Are They Now? Dantonio Burnette

Dantonio Burnette, known by many as “Thunder Dan,” was one of the greatest linebackers to ever come through NC State. An unforgettable moment for all Wolfpack fans was back in 2003, when Burnette spearheaded a heroic goal line stand against Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. Maybe you remember when he haunted Clemson back in 2001, collecting a Carter-Finley record 24 tackles (2nd most in a single game in NC State history). It is very likely that when many of you sleep at night, there are permanent highlight reels of Levar Fisher (#44) and Dantonio Burnette (#45) creating havoc for opposing offenses. However it is that you remember Dantonio Burnette, it is a certain fact that he should be remembered.

Burnette’s imprint on the NC State record book is unmistakable. He ranks 2nd in tackles in a career (476), 5th in sacks in a season (9), 5th in tackles for loss in a season (17), and 3rd for tackles for loss in a career (41). After finishing his Senior season as a member of the All-ACC 1st team, Burnette was not done giving back to NC State. In fact, since arriving in Raleigh in 1999, he has yet to leave. He has since served the NC State football program as a Graduate Assistant, and he is currently the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach.

We had the privilege of sitting down with Dantonio recently and asked him to share with us his story. We would like to give him the chance to tell his own story in his own words. Sit down in a comfortable chair with some coffee and enjoy as Thunder Dan tells his story.

How Thunder Dan Ended Up At NC State

Initially NC State was the first team to offer me a scholarship. They offered me right after my Junior year, and then a lot of other teams started coming on strong. My visit to NC State was actually the only one where I brought my mom and my sister. I went by myself to all of my other visits. It came down to NC State and Auburn. When Coach Bowden was fired, I decided I didn’t want to go to Auburn. I looked at NC State in a great way. I didn’t want to be too far away from home, but I also didn’t want too be to close.

When I came on my visit, I saw that it was a really young team. I saw it as an opportunity for me to come in and play. When I learned more about the academics at NC State, I decided that it was a place I would like to go spend 4-5 years. I ended up attending NC State and here I am 10 years later. I’ve gone from a player to a full-time assistant strength and conditioning coordinator.

Dantonio’s Top 3 Games Of His Career

Statistically my favorite game was probably against Clemson when I had 24 tackles (2001). I actually would have had around 30, but I missed 3 or 4 on Woodrow Dantzler. I think that was also one of the greatest games of his career as well.

I also think that one of my greatest games was against Georgia Tech when I had like 4 big stops on the goal line. I had 18 tackles and an interception. That game really stands out to me. I was the Chevrolet player of the game. It meant a lot to me because I was playing against my hometown team, Georgia Tech. My high school head coach’s son was actually the offensive coordinator for Georgia Tech at the time, so I sort of "had it out" for the running back that game.

But you can never forget the Gator Bowl. I had that big hit on Carlyle Holiday and then I came back into the game after I had been taken out. We had put the young guys in, and Notre Dame was about to score again, and I begged coach to put me back in, I was actually able to be a part of another goal line stand at the end of the game.

Life After Graduating College

Once I left NC State I was picked up as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were the first team to jump on me and I pretty much jumped on it quickly. I saw it as a great opportunity. It was also a pretty cool situation because Bill Cowher was a former NC State football player and he was known for spawning good linebackers. Then my agent ended up getting a call from the Atlanta Falcons, which was my hometown team, but I had already jumped on the train to Pittsburgh.

When I got to Pittsburgh I did a pretty good job. I made it all the way to the final cuts, and then I was released on waivers. After that I came back to Raleigh and was training here and also working as a personal trainer. During that time I got calls from NFL Euro, Arena League and Canadian League teams, but I was still set on seeing if there was a shot in the NFL.

It was while I was working as a personal trainer here in Raleigh that Coach Amato called me and asked if I was interested in being a Graduate Assistant. He told me that the position on the defense had already been taken, but there was an opening for a Graduate Assistant in the weight room. When he told me that I was excited and jumped on the opportunity. I always loved working out. It was something that was fun to me. I always saw it as an opportunity to help build up my body so I could put a better product on the field. This was a chance for me to start a career path. When I first came on with the staff I was still helping out some with the linebackers. As Coach O’Brien and the new staff were coming in, I was just graduating from Grad School. I got a degree in Sports Management for my undergrad and a Masters in Higher Education and Sports Management in grad school. Coach Rice and Coach O’Brien offered me an opportunity to stay here and work as one of the full-time strength and conditioning coaches. God opened up an opportunity and blessed me.

A Band of Brothers

When Coach O’Brien came here he started the Players Reunion and it has been a great thing. That’s one of the things that we look forward to every year, when we get to have all of the old players back. We’re all just one big family. The football team is like a fraternity to us. Since we were playing football we didn’t have the opportunity to go out there and be a part of different fraternities. We consider each other brothers and always look out for one another by always giving each other a call and trying to be a help to one another in any way that we can.

It was pretty cool playing with Levar Fisher because Levar was #44 and I was #45. It was hard to run away from us. Levar and I talk about it all of the time. We had some great years. When Levar and I stepped on the field we felt like we were the best group of linebackers. I also played out there with Brian Jamison, Pat Thomas and Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay. We called ourselves the ‘hunting dogs.’ We were the guys that made the tackles. We were the guys that made the big plays.

Working For Coach Rice As The Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

Working for Coach Rice has been great. He’s the best strength coach in the country. I have never seen anyone who is so technically sound. He has an answer to every question that you could ask. I’m going into my third season in this position, and I have learned so much. It’s amazing how far I’ve come since the first year. At first I was just sitting back and learning things, but now it comes more naturally.

I tell the guys all the time that I wish I were in the position they are in today. Some of the stuff that we do now would have really helped my teammates and me when we were playing, especially when it comes to the area of stretching and flexibility.

The Chance To Give Back

I look at this opportunity as a blessing and a testimony for me. It’s a blessing for me to be able to give back. I know where I’ve come from and more than anything, I know where I’m going. I come from a single-parent home and I was the oldest of 6 kids. I was the father figure in the home. We have a lot of guys who come through the program who have been raised in similar situations. I want these players to always know that they can come to me with anything. I see these guys everyday and have a real good opportunity to get to know these guys on a personal level.

There is a story to every book. I come from a very religious family. Both my Uncle and my Grandfather are pastors. I grew up playing drums in the church. I always like to ask the players what church they go to. Russell Wilson’s actually started going to the church I attend. I am thankful for faith and I can always tell the guys that I know where my strength comes from.

What It’s Like Going Through The Tunnel On Saturday’s As A Coach

I still get goose bumps to this day coming out of the tunnel. The only thing that I miss these days is going out there and hitting people. I always tell the guys that when I come out of the tunnel that I feel like I’m still one of the players, but once I get back to the sideline it’s back to reality. Let’s get ready to watch guys like Nate Irving, Russell Wilson and Willie Young run around.

NC State vs. Boston College Game Notes

• Tom O'Brien and BC linebacker Mark Herzlich met privately before the game. O'Brien presented a check on behalf of NC State for over 7,500 dollars for the Uplifting Athletes chapter at BC that is raising money for the Ewing's sarcoma research.
• NCSU quarterback Russell Wilson had a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, his third-straight game with a rushing touchdown and third overall this season.
• Wilson threw a 27-yard touchdown to Jarvis Williams early in the fourth quarter, his sixth-straight game with at least one scoring toss.
• Wilson's passing yardage total for the day was 243, moving him past Jay Davis into 10th in school-history with 3,614.
• Toney Baker added 36 yards rushing to move into 13th all-time in NC State career history, passing Charley Young (1,657). Baker now has 1,673 rushing yards.
• Jarvis Williams' seven catches tied a new career high. His previous best was seven (for 126 yards) against Rutgers in the PapaJohns.com Bowl last season.
• Josh Czajkowski kicked two field goals on the day, a 25-yarder and 32-yarder. He now has made 23 kicks in his career, good for ninth all-time in school history.

Information provided by NC State Media Relations

NC State Commits: Week 9 Recap

Tyler Brosius (QB) - Tyler Brosius had a record breaking night this past Friday night, breaking the school record for the most consecutive games with at least 100 yards passing (24 games). In fact he had already broken this record by halftime, accumulating 268 yards passing in the first half. Tuscola (6-1-1) pounded Pigsah 41-10 on Friday night, and has now outscored their first AAC Conference opponents 183-31. Brosius finished the night with 305 yards passing and 3 touchdowns.

Brosius has thrown for 1,735 yards and 18 touchdowns through 8 games.

Robert Crisp (OT) and Pete Singer (S) - Athens Drive (7-2) dominated Panther Creek on both sides of the ball on Friday night, beating the Catamounts 46-6. We talked with Singer last week and he gave us his stats going into Friday night's game: 70 tackles (solo and assisted), 7 pass break ups, 2 interceptions, 2 touchdowns, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked field goal. Also, we will have some video of Crisp up sometime this week.

Tony Creecy (WR) - Southern Durham (8-1) solidified their position at the top of the Pac-6 on Friday night crushing Riverside 35-0. Creecy had 49 yards receiving on the night and has 437 yards on the season (4 TD's).

Thomas Teal (DT) - Marlboro County's (8-0) shutout streak is now up to 5 games. The last time an opponent scored on Teal's defense was back on September 11th, when Scott's Branch put up a measly 6 points. On Friday night the Bulldogs shutout Lakewood 41-0.

Logan Winkles (FB) - Unfortunately Upson-Lee (1-6) lost their 6th straight game on Friday night to Lee County 31-38. This was the most points that the Knights have put up on the board since their season opener back on August 28th, when they scored 39 points in their only win of the season against Berkmar.

Tobais Palmer (RB) - This past Thursday night, Georgia Military College (4-3) defeated VSU (JV) 34-7. Tobais Palmer had a 6 yard touchdown run in the game.

Going into Thursday nights game, Palmer had rushed for 377 yards and 7 touchdowns in 5 games. He also had reeled in 92 receiving yards and a touchdown as well.

Fre'Shad Hunter (DE) - Hunter did not play in Cary's (4-5) 5-34 loss to Middle Creek on Friday night. He was suspended from the game because of breaking team rules according to the head coach.

Boston College Dismantles Wolfpack 52-20

It’s back to the drawing board for Tom O’Brien and a NC State football team that has fallen to 0-3 in the ACC after being manhandled by a stronger, faster, and more physical Boston College team, 52-20. The past two games against Wake Forest and Duke, it was the NC State secondary that was exposed. This week it was the secondary, the front line and everything in between as Boston College unleashed Montrel Harris, who diced deep into into the Wolfpack D all night long.

The past three weeks, the Wolfpack defense has been on the wrong end of ‘record setting.’ Against Wake, Riley Skinner broke his career mark of passing yards in a game when he threw for 379 yards. He also threw for 3 Tds, which helped him set another record of most career touchdowns in Wake history. The next week, it was Thad Lewis who threw for a career best 459 yards and a Duke record 5 touchdowns. This week Montrel Harris took the ACC’s top run defense (62.8 yards per game) and carved up two BC records, 264 yards (most yards in a game) and 5 touchdowns (most Tds in a game), something that didn’t sit well with NC State head coach Tom O’Brien.

“We talked about it coming in. They have a good offensive line and he’s a big, shifty back, but its on us. There wasn’t anything they did that we didn’t practice. We got out executed and we got beat up.” Said O’Brien

Missed tackles, blown coverages and the inability to stop the run haunted the Pack all night. The questions about this defense are beginning to pile up as they have now allowed 131 points over their first three ACC games. After starting five different line-ups in the secondary, Tom O’Brien is running out of options and may be forced take off a few redshirts if things do not improve. The Wolfpack offense also have, for the second straight week, been shut down late in the game. Last week against Duke, the NC State offense was not allowed in the endzone after the first half. This week they snuck in only once in the second half, creating some alarm. One bright spot for the Pack was the continued success of Toney Baker. Baker had 82 total yards, however his opportunities have been few and far between thanks to the Pack constantly needing to play catch up, but not even Baker has the answers for the Pack.

“We just didn’t get it done. Its very tough at this point. Its another acc road game, and we just need to come back strong after this by week.”

The best medicine for the Pack’s ills will be the opportunity to regroup this off week before they head south to face another quality opponent in the Florida State Seminoles.

There is no mistaking, that this bye week will not be a week of rest, but a week of work for the Wolfpack.

“There is a lot that we need to take care of. The laundry list is very long right now. We need to go back to square one. The last 3 weeks we’ve regressed. We need to get back to how we played before that point.” O'Brien said.

NC State vs. Boston College By The Numbers

NC State vs. Boston College Series Breakdown:

Overall: 2-4
In Raleigh: 1-1
Away: 1-3

First Meeting: 12-7 (11/7/36, at Chestnut Hill)
Last Meeting: 31-38 (10/4/08 in Ralewigh)

Most Points Scored in 1st Half by NC State vs. BC

17 points – 2008

Least Amount of Points Allowed by NC State in 1st Half vs. BC

3 points – 2006

Most Points Scored by NC State in a Game vs. BC

31 points – 2008

Least Points Allowed by NC State in a Game vs. BC

7 points – 1936

Most Rushing Yards vs. BC

Andre Brown - 13 rushes for 97 yards (2006)

Most Receiving Yards vs. BC

Darrell Blackman – 6 receptions for 128 yards (2007)

Most Passing Yards vs. BC

Harrison Beck – 321 yards passing (2007)

GAME PREVIEW: NC STATE vs BOSTON COLLEGE

NC STATE WOLFPACK vs. BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES

Kickoff: 3:30pm
Location: Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Television: ABC
Records: Wolfpack (3-3, 0-2 ACC) , Eagles (4-2, 2-2 ACC)

Today the Wolfpack will be looking to notch their first ACC victory as they take to the road to face Boston college. After a heartbreaking loss to Wake and a complete second half collapse against Duke, Coach O'Brien and the Wolfpack are desperate for a victory. This week the Wolfpack secondary started from scratch and sured up some definite problems that were allowing opposing offenses to have career days against the Pack. "We just needed to get in the film room. This week guys are in the film room and making sure we're all on the same page." said safety Clem Johnson. With an offense that has been better than average, the Pack defense will need to stop a powerful running game at BC if they want to walk away victorious.

The Wolfpack will need to put the stops on BC runningback, Montel Harris, who is averaging near 5 yards per carry and already has amassed 492 yards and five scores. He's a compact runner that is still only a sophomore and is getting better each week. Stopping the running game is not something that the Pack has had much trouble with, it's been the soft secondary that has been the Achilles heel. Dave Shinskie, a freshman quarterback that has been decent for the Eagles will try his hand this week. The past two weeks, State has gone up against two extremely hot hands in seniors Riley Skinner of Wake and Thad Lewis of Duke who had been torching opponents prior to the matchup. This week they go against a pretty cold hand in Shinskie with only completed 1 of 12 passes for four yards and two interceptions against VT last week. Shinskie was replaced by Justin Tuggle last week, but has been renamed as the starter against the Pack. If ever there was an opportunity to turn things around
for the secondary, this is it.


O'Brien Returns to Chestnut Hill
Tom O'Brien will make his second return trip to Boston College this week, a place where he spent 10 seasons on the home sidelines. The first ACC game that O'Brien ever coached at NC State was also at BC on September 8, 2007.

During his tenure with the Eagles, the posted eight consecutive winning seasons, an NCAA-best six consecutive bowl victories and posted more victories than any other coach in school history with a 75-45 record. He also won the American Football Coaches' Association Academic Achievement Award in 2004 for posting a 100% graduation rate, and won honorable mention status several times.

The first time the Pack's head coach took his new team to play his old team, the result wasn't a good one for the Pack. Although they did lead 10-7 after the first quarter and was only down a touchdown at the half, seven turnovers led to a runaway 20-point BC victory. (BC was playing with all Tom O'Brien recruits)

Homecoming for Wolfpack Staff
Tom O'Brien isn't the only member of the Wolfpack staff who spent a great deal of time with the BC program. Six members of his staff at NC State followed the boss from BC when he took the job in December of 2006.

Another member of the staff played at BC before his coaching career. The Pack strength and conditioning coach and the director of operations both joined the Pack from the Eagles' program as well.

Pack-Eagles Close at Home, Not on Road
In the four games that State and BC have played against each other in 'modern' times, the Eagles have posted a 3-1 record over the Pack. In the last two games at Chestnut Hill, BC won by a 20 point margin each time. In the games played in Raleigh, the Pack won by two, two years ago and lost by only seven last year.

**Some information provided by NC State Media Relations

Wolfpack ACC Statistical Leaders After Week 6

Rushing Yards
1. Ryan Williams (VT) - 734 (122.3)
2. Jonathan Dwyer (GT) - 511 (85.2)
3. Josh Nesbitt (GT) - 503 (83.8)
4. Montel Harris (BC) - 492 (82.0)
5. C.J. Spiller (CU) - 360 (72.0)
6. Toney Baker (ST) - 365 (60.8)

Rushing TD's
1. Ryan Williams (VT) - 9
2. Ryan Houston (NC) - 7
3. Toney Baker (ST) - 6
3. Josh Nesbitt (GT) - 6
5. Jonathan Dwyer (GT) - 5

Passing Yards
1. Christian Ponder (FS) 1781 (296.8)
2. Riley Skinner (WF) 1694 (282.3)
3. Thaddeus Lewis (DU) 1601 (266.8)
4. Chris Turner (MD) 1493 (248.8)
5. Russell Wilson (ST) 1416 (236.0)
6. Jacory Harris (UM) 1225 (245.0)

Passing Efficiency
1. Riley Skinner (WF) 163.1
2. Josh Nesbitt (GT) 160.3
3. Tyrod Taylor (VT) 159.6
4. Jacory Harris (UM) 152.1
5. Christian Ponder (FS) 149.4
6. Russell Wilson (ST) 146.7

Passing TD's
1. Russell Wilson (ST) 15
1. Riley Skinner (WF) 15
3. Thaddeus Lewis (DU) 12
4. Jacory Harris (UM) 10
5. Christian Ponder (FS) 9
5. Chris Turner (MD) 9

Scoring TD's (rushing/receiving)
1. Toney Baker (ST) 9
1. Ryan Williams (VT) 9
3. Ryan Houston (NC) 7
4. Toney Smith (MD) 6

Punt Return Avg
1. Jacoby Ford (CU) 15.0
2. Da'Norris Searcy (NC) 14.9
3. Rich Gunnell (BC) 14.6
4. Johnny Williams (DU) 12.3
5. Greg Reid (FS) 11.6
6. T.J. Graham (ST) 10.4

Kickoff Return Avg
1. Dyrell Roberts (VT) 39.9
2. C.J. Spiller (CU) 37.1
3. Graig Cooper (UM) 28.6
4. Torrey Smith (MD) 25.4
5. T.J. Graham (ST) 25.0

Sacks
1. Willie Young (ST) 7.0
1. Robert Quinn (NC) 7.0
3. Derrick Morgan (GT) 6.5
4. Dekoda Watson (FS) 4.5
5. Demetrius Hartsfield (MD) 3.5

Tackles For Loss
1. Robert Quinn (NC) 11.0
2. Derrick Morgan (GT) 9.0
3. Willie Young (ST) 8.5
4. Quan Sturdivant (NC) 7.5
Dekoda Watson (FS) 7.5

2010 Commit Tobais Palmer: The Coach's Perspective

This season is Bert Williams' eighth as the athletic director and head football coach at Georgia Military College. Williams has established a dynasty at GMC, and his Bulldogs are respected as a perennial powerhouse within the NJCAA. Since 2009, when Williams took over as head coach, GMC ranks 4th in the NJCAA in wins. In seven full seasons Williams has led the Bulldogs to 3 national championship games, taking the crown in 2001 (GMC was the runner-up in '02 and '05).

Georgia Military College has also developed a little bit of a connection with NC State over the past couple of years, sending defensive linemen Leroy Burgess and Michael Lemon the Pack's way. Currently NC State commit Tobais Palmer is suiting up for the Bulldogs and will enroll at NC State in January. Palmer originally committed to the Pack back in March of 2007, but failed to qualify academically coming out of Northwood high school in Pittsboro, NC. Last season as a freshman at GMC, Palmer compiled 570 yards of total offense and 6 touchdowns (311 rushing and 259 receiving). He is lightning fast, running a 40-yard dash in the 4.2 range. Palmer was hard for opposing defenses to bring down last year, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He has done nothing but increase that average this season, with a gaudy average of 7.54. Through 5 games this year, Palmer has rushed for 377 yards and 7 touchdowns and also reeled in 7 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. When he arrives in Raleigh in January he will have two years of eligibility with a redshirt year available as well (3 for 2).

We caught up with Coach Williams recently and asked him about what type of player Palmer was and what his experience has been coaching him:

On Tobais Palmer...
He's been a fun guy to coach most of the time. Most of the guys that have 'big play' potential are usually all fun to coach. He does some things sometimes that make you catch your breath. He's got a great burst. He's great in the open field. He's an excellent receiver out of the backfield. We actually line him up as a slot receiver a lot of times. He's a good ball player. He's been fun to coach. He's a conscientious young man. He comes ready to work hard every day. He does the things that he needs to do in order to get better.

On how Palmer's time at GBC has benefited him...
I think his situation has helped him grow up a bunch. Last year was a shock for him. He certainly was used to being the talented guy on the field anytime he played in high school. A lot of people come to Junior College and have a mistaken concept of the level of talent that is played. He had the same talent shock that most of our Freshmen have. He had to learn to work hard each and every day and push himself. Learning how to do the dirty work is tough for any skill player coming out of high school, because college football is a much more physical game.

On being a student athlete at GMC...
I think the job we do off the field will help him out a lot as well. The hard nosed responsibility and accountability that we put into all of our guys when they come into our program through the cadet corps and the way we run our football program can be quite a shock. It's a good growing experience and something that will help them be mentally tough on and off the field. They go to bed at 10:30pm every night and wake up at 5:30 every morning. It's a long and busy day. They are held to a very high level of expectation in regards to their behavior, the way they interact with one another, the staff and the people that surround them. It's a high dose of responsibility. They've got to keep their rooms up to a certain standard. They've got to keep their appearance to a certain standard. They do things to develop a good work ethic. Most these guys have never cleaned a locker room before. These guys learn how to value their space. It helps them appreciate things when they take the next step.

Thanks Coach Williams!

NC State Commits: Week 8 Recap

Tobais Palmer (RB) - Georgia Military College ( lost to the University of Southern Alabama 3-31 this past Saturday. Palmer had 13 rushes for 38 yards.

Palmer has ran for 377 yards (7.54 yards per carry) on 50 carries and has 7 touchdowns.

Robert Crisp (OT), Pete Singer (S) and Fre'Shad Hunter (DE) - This past Friday night the Athens Drive Jaguars (5-2) overcame a 14 point deficit to beat the Cary Imps (4-4) 34-28. Hunter who has been playing on the offensive side of the ball due to help needed on the O-line, helped spawn out a running attack of 242 yards.

Anthony Creecy (WR) - Southern Durham (7-1) thrashed Jordan 43-6 in a big conference game. Creecy put up another noteworthy performance on Friday night, reeling in 5 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Click here to see a video of Creecy's touchdown.

Creecy has 388 yards and 4 touchdowns through 8 games.

D.J. Green (S) - D.J. Green's Westside (7-0) defense was back to normal this past Friday night. After giving up an uncharacteristic 22 points the week before to Lee county, they returned to dominance this week holding Harris county to 7 points in a 37-7 victory. Westside is currently ranked #1 in the state of Georgia.

Tyler Brosius - On Friday night Tyler Brosius was responsible for putting 30 points up on the scoreboard in Tuscola's (5-1-1) 49-7 victory over North Henderson. He threw for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for 50 yards with 2 more scores.

Brosius has thrown for 1,430 yards and 15 touchdowns in 7 games.

Thomas Teal (DT) - Thomas Teal and the Marlboro County Bulldog (7-0) defense posted their 4th straight shutout. What was unusual was the lack of offense from the Bulldogs. Coming into the game this past Friday night, they had averaged 43 points per game. In Friday's contest against Crestwood, 7 points was all they needed. Marlboro is ranked #5 in the state of South Carolina.

Torian Box (OL) - North Clayton's (6-1) undefeated record came to an end this past Friday, when they lost to #1 Griffin 14-26. North Clayton is ranked #13 in the state of Georgia.

Logan Winkles (FB) - Upson-Lee lost their 5th straight game of the season on Friday night to Americus-Sumpter 10-24.

A Small Note...

Just wanted to let everyone know that the schedule, depth chart and statistics (offensive, defensive and special teams) have been updated. We hope to have these updated every Monday when the official stats come out. Sorry for the delay this week.

Wolfpack In The NFL: Week 5

Torry Holt - Despite the fact that the Jaguars got destroyed 0-41 by the Seahawks, Holt produced his best game since joining the Jaguars. He had 7 receptions for 95 yards and was targeted 11 times.

Holt has 22 receptions for 306 yards through 5 games.

Stephen Tulloch - Stephen Tulloch tied Keith Bulluck for the team high in tackles in Sunday night's 9-31 loss to the Colts, with 11 tackles.

Tulloch has 45 (8th in NFL) tackles and 1 sack through 5 games.

Brian Williams - Williams picked up his first interception of the season in the Falcons 45-10 beating of the 49ers. He also collected 3 tackles and a pass deflection.

Williams has 16 tackles and 1 interception through 4 games.

Jerricho Cotchery - In last night's 27-31 loss to the Dolphins, Cotchery posted his lowest statistical output of the season, recording 1 reception for 4 yards. The arrival of Braylon Edwards will likely decrease the amount of targets that Cotchery receives, but his addition creates a tandem to be reckoned with.

Cotchery has 24 receptions and 360 yards (8th in NFL) and 1 touchdown through 5 games.

Manny Lawson - Manny Lawson and the the 49er defense didn't put up one of their finer performances on Sunday, giving up 45 points to the Falcons. Lawson had 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble.

Lawson has 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, .5 sacks and 1 forced fumble through 5 games.

Marcus Hudson - Marcus Hudson picked up his 4th tackle of he season on Sunday in the Chiefs 20-26 loss to the Cowboys. Hudson has seen action in 3 games as a reserve corner behind Nate Clements.

Adrian Wilson - Adrian Wilson and the Cardinals got back on track this week, defeating the Texans 28-21. Wilson matched his season high with 6 tackles.

Wilson has 17 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble in 4 games.

Mario Williams - Williams was no where to be found in the Texans 21-28 loss to the Cardinals. Being hampered in practice with a minor shoulder injury last week in practice may have attributed to him not registering a tackle.

Williams has 18 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble through 5 games.

Tank Tyler - After starting the first two games at Nose Tackle, he has played in a reserve role behind Ron Edwards the past three weeks. Tyler recorded 3 tackles in Sunday's 20-26 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday.

Tyler has 21 tackles and 1 tackle for loss through 5 games.

Dajuan Morgan - Morgan has seen action as a reserve in all 5 games this season playing behind Mike Brown at Strong Safety. Morgan didn't post any stats in Sunday's 20-26 loss to the Cowboys.

Morgan has 3 tackles through 5 games.

Brian Clark - Brian Clark has seen action at wide receiver in all 5 games this season for the Buccaneers. Clark is third on the depth chart behind Antonio Bryant.

Clark's only reception of the year came in week 1 for 17 yards.

Steven Hauschka - Hauschka didn't have a field goal attempt in the Ravens 14-17 loss to the Bengals. He did connect on both of his PAT's.

Hauschka is 4 for 5 in field goal attemps and 18 for 18 in PAT's through 5 games.

-Scott Kooistra - Kooistra has seen action in two games this season as a reserve Right Guard, but didn't see action in the Bengals 17-14 win over the Ravens on Sunday.

-Leroy Harris - Harris saw action as a reserve at Center on Sunday night in a 9-31 loss to the Colts. Harris has seen action in all 5 games this season.

-Sean Locklear is still inactive due to an ankle injury.