Hard Work Is Brissett’s Lasting Legacy
11/28/2015 8:41:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - For each of his three years as NC State's head coach, Dave Doeren knew that Jacoby Brissett would be the quarterback that defined his program.
Though the coach knew the young player wouldn't be available the first year, after Brissett transferred to NC State from Florida, Doeren was comfortable waiting until Brissett was eligible as a junior.
For the last two years, Brissett has put up big numbers for the Wolfpack offense, just as Doeren expected. He helped the coach establish a program identity and is on the verge of taking the team to its second consecutive bowl game.
No wonder Brissett has zero regrets about pulling up stakes from his native state and moving to Raleigh in the summer of 2013.
"It's been fun," Brissett said following his final home game in a Wolfpack uniform. "It's everything I could have ever asked for, to be around a great group of guys and coaches. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.'
Like Philip Rivers, however, Brissett did not leave Carter-Finley with a victory. The Wolfpack fell 45-34 on Saturday at sold-out Carter-Finley Stadium. Brissett helped his team back into striking distance after the No. 11 Tar Heels jumped out to a 35-7 lead in the first quarter, but ultimately the comeback bid fell short.
For his part, Brissett was responsible for all four of the Wolfpack's touchdowns, hitting tight end David Grinnage twice on touchdown passes of 16 and 20 yards and running for two more on carries of 4 and 3 yards.
The loss won't diminish the Wolfpack's hopes of going to a second straight bowl game under Brissett's guidance. Bowl bids will be announced Sunday, Dec. 6.
"It [stinks] to go out on this note, but we have another game to play and we have to get ready for that one," Brissett said.
For the second consecutive year, Brissett rolled up triple digits in rushing yardage against North Carolina. He gained 167 in last season's 35-7 victory in Chapel Hill and followed up with a team-high 128 yards on 20 carries in Saturday's 45-34 loss at Carter-Finley Stadium.
He's just the second Wolfpack player to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against the Tar Heels. ACC-career-rushing leader Ted Brown, who had 106 as a freshman in 1975 and 125 as a sophomore in 1976 against the Tar Heels, is the only other. Brown had 189 as a senior in 1978, and both Joe McIntosh (106 in 1981 and 131 1984) and T.A. McLendon (164-2002, 117-2004) had nonconsecutive 100-yard rushing days against the Tar Heels.
Brissett's senior year has been steady, though not as balanced as last year, when he passed for 2,606 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 529 and three touchdowns. So far this season, Brissett has passed for 2,408 yards and 19 scores while rushing for 303 and four touchdowns.
He's thrown just nine interceptions in his 25 starts under center. That's five fewer than the quarterbacks Doeren used in his inaugural season of 2013.
Brissett will finish his career at No. 5 all-time in touchdown passes thrown. He has 42 in two seasons, with one game to go. With his 206 yards on 17 of 37 passing, he became the seventh quarterback in NC State history to surpass 5,000 passing yards. With 5,054 yards so far, he has a chance to overtake Shane Montgomery (1987-89) for sixth place.
In the end, however, Doeren won't judge Brissett's career on statistics or victories. He'll judge it on the attitude, work ethic and leadership Brissett showed in his three seasons with the program.
"He played hard, really hard, all the time," Doeren said. "That's what his legacy will be. He's a very competitive guy, and I'm proud to have been around him.
"I'm looking forward to coaching him one more time."
Though the coach knew the young player wouldn't be available the first year, after Brissett transferred to NC State from Florida, Doeren was comfortable waiting until Brissett was eligible as a junior.
For the last two years, Brissett has put up big numbers for the Wolfpack offense, just as Doeren expected. He helped the coach establish a program identity and is on the verge of taking the team to its second consecutive bowl game.
No wonder Brissett has zero regrets about pulling up stakes from his native state and moving to Raleigh in the summer of 2013.
"It's been fun," Brissett said following his final home game in a Wolfpack uniform. "It's everything I could have ever asked for, to be around a great group of guys and coaches. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.'
Like Philip Rivers, however, Brissett did not leave Carter-Finley with a victory. The Wolfpack fell 45-34 on Saturday at sold-out Carter-Finley Stadium. Brissett helped his team back into striking distance after the No. 11 Tar Heels jumped out to a 35-7 lead in the first quarter, but ultimately the comeback bid fell short.
For his part, Brissett was responsible for all four of the Wolfpack's touchdowns, hitting tight end David Grinnage twice on touchdown passes of 16 and 20 yards and running for two more on carries of 4 and 3 yards.
The loss won't diminish the Wolfpack's hopes of going to a second straight bowl game under Brissett's guidance. Bowl bids will be announced Sunday, Dec. 6.
"It [stinks] to go out on this note, but we have another game to play and we have to get ready for that one," Brissett said.
For the second consecutive year, Brissett rolled up triple digits in rushing yardage against North Carolina. He gained 167 in last season's 35-7 victory in Chapel Hill and followed up with a team-high 128 yards on 20 carries in Saturday's 45-34 loss at Carter-Finley Stadium.
He's just the second Wolfpack player to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against the Tar Heels. ACC-career-rushing leader Ted Brown, who had 106 as a freshman in 1975 and 125 as a sophomore in 1976 against the Tar Heels, is the only other. Brown had 189 as a senior in 1978, and both Joe McIntosh (106 in 1981 and 131 1984) and T.A. McLendon (164-2002, 117-2004) had nonconsecutive 100-yard rushing days against the Tar Heels.
Brissett's senior year has been steady, though not as balanced as last year, when he passed for 2,606 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 529 and three touchdowns. So far this season, Brissett has passed for 2,408 yards and 19 scores while rushing for 303 and four touchdowns.
He's thrown just nine interceptions in his 25 starts under center. That's five fewer than the quarterbacks Doeren used in his inaugural season of 2013.
Brissett will finish his career at No. 5 all-time in touchdown passes thrown. He has 42 in two seasons, with one game to go. With his 206 yards on 17 of 37 passing, he became the seventh quarterback in NC State history to surpass 5,000 passing yards. With 5,054 yards so far, he has a chance to overtake Shane Montgomery (1987-89) for sixth place.
In the end, however, Doeren won't judge Brissett's career on statistics or victories. He'll judge it on the attitude, work ethic and leadership Brissett showed in his three seasons with the program.
"He played hard, really hard, all the time," Doeren said. "That's what his legacy will be. He's a very competitive guy, and I'm proud to have been around him.
"I'm looking forward to coaching him one more time."
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