Monday, December 26
Shreveport, La.
5 p.m. (ET)
NC State
vs
Vanderbilt
Wolfpack Looking to End Season with Victory
12/25/2016 12:37:00 PM | Football
Game Day Central | Saturday Football Notebook
Game 13: NC State (6-6, 3-5 ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5 SEC)
December 26, 2016 • 5 p.m. (ET) • ESPN2/ACC Network Extra
Shreveport, La. • Independence Stadium (48,975)
TV: ESPN2/ACC Network Extra | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network, Tunein, Sports USA
Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
SHREVEPORT, LA. - NC State will face off with SEC opponent Vanderbilt in the 2016 Camping World Independence Bowl on Monday at 5 p.m. (ET) from Shreveport, La. The game, a rematch of the 2012 Music City Bowl, will be televised by ESPN2, and can be heard on the Wolfpack Sports Network.
Both teams won two of their final three contests to earn a bowl berth, and at stake for the two 6-6 clubs is the opportunity to end 2016 with a winning record and head into the offseason with momentum.
"Winning this game would be three out of four, which would be a great finish, especially after what we went through in the middle," said NC State head coach Dave Doeren. "You beat your rival (UNC), and you beat an SEC team (Vanderbilt). Obviously, it could give us some great momentum going into the offseason and recruiting and everything else.
"It's a chance to have our third straight winning season, so the guys know what it is. We're playing a really good team that doesn't beat itself and plays physical ball. It's going to be a great game."
The 2016 Camping World Independence Bowl mark's NC State' 30th postseason appearance, and its the 12th bowl game since 2000. This season also marks the Wolfpack's third consecutive bowl trip under Doeren.
"Obviously, bowl season is very important for teams," said quarterback Ryan Finley. "It's just so many extra practices not only for developing your guys but also to just give them the best and more practices and some time to prepare for the bowl.
"We're just excited to have the opportunity to play Vanderbilt, an SEC team. It's one more chance for us to go out and show what we can do."
The Wolfpack's current record of 6-6 doesn't tell the true story of the 2016 season, as four of those losses were by seven points or less and two were by four points or less.
The Pack started the season with a 4-1 mark, including a gutsy 10-3 win in hurricane conditions against Notre Dame. The Pack then was within a last-second field goal of upsetting No. 3 Clemson on the road, but the kick sailed wide and the Pack then endured a four-game losing stretch.
NC State showed resilience down the stretch to become bowl eligible, winning its final two road contests of the season.
At Syracuse, the Pack totaled four rushing scores and limited the Orange to just 28 yards on the ground in a 35-20 victory. After falling to Miami in the home finale, the Pack turned around and jumped out to a 21-0 lead at North Carolina, downing the Tar Heels 28-21 to gain bowl eligibility.
Much like NC State, Vanderbilt fought tough down the stretch to get its sixth win.
"They are resilient," said Doeren "They didn't start the season well, but they've won four of six. They are feeling real good right now with the way they've finished."
The Commodores sat at 4-6 with two games to close out the 2016 regular season both at home. Vanderbilt rallied to become bowl eligible for the second time since that 2012 Music City Bowl with a 38-17 win over Ole Miss followed by a 45-34 win over Tennessee.
"They were 4-6 and they won the last two to become bowl eligible," said defensive end Bradley Chubb. "We had to win our last one to become bowl eligible. We definitely are similar in that aspect but we're definitely bowl hungry... hungry for this bowl win. We want to finish the season off with a winning record instead of going 6-7. Both teams have a lot to fight for and hopefully we'll see what happens on December 26. It'll be fun."
With a 5 p.m. (ET) kickoff, the Wolfpack Sports Network begins its pregame coverage at 3 p.m. with the Matthews Motors Countdown to Kickoff. In hour two of the pregame show from the radio booth, former Wolfpack All-American Johnny Evans takes question from fans on 'Ask the Analyst.' Questions about Pack football can be sent to Johnny via Twitter @packradio or by clicking HERE.
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Game 13: NC State (6-6, 3-5 ACC) vs. Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5 SEC)
December 26, 2016 • 5 p.m. (ET) • ESPN2/ACC Network Extra
Shreveport, La. • Independence Stadium (48,975)
TV: ESPN2/ACC Network Extra | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network, Tunein, Sports USA
Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
SHREVEPORT, LA. - NC State will face off with SEC opponent Vanderbilt in the 2016 Camping World Independence Bowl on Monday at 5 p.m. (ET) from Shreveport, La. The game, a rematch of the 2012 Music City Bowl, will be televised by ESPN2, and can be heard on the Wolfpack Sports Network.
Both teams won two of their final three contests to earn a bowl berth, and at stake for the two 6-6 clubs is the opportunity to end 2016 with a winning record and head into the offseason with momentum.
"Winning this game would be three out of four, which would be a great finish, especially after what we went through in the middle," said NC State head coach Dave Doeren. "You beat your rival (UNC), and you beat an SEC team (Vanderbilt). Obviously, it could give us some great momentum going into the offseason and recruiting and everything else.
"It's a chance to have our third straight winning season, so the guys know what it is. We're playing a really good team that doesn't beat itself and plays physical ball. It's going to be a great game."
The 2016 Camping World Independence Bowl mark's NC State' 30th postseason appearance, and its the 12th bowl game since 2000. This season also marks the Wolfpack's third consecutive bowl trip under Doeren.
"Obviously, bowl season is very important for teams," said quarterback Ryan Finley. "It's just so many extra practices not only for developing your guys but also to just give them the best and more practices and some time to prepare for the bowl.
"We're just excited to have the opportunity to play Vanderbilt, an SEC team. It's one more chance for us to go out and show what we can do."
The Wolfpack's current record of 6-6 doesn't tell the true story of the 2016 season, as four of those losses were by seven points or less and two were by four points or less.
The Pack started the season with a 4-1 mark, including a gutsy 10-3 win in hurricane conditions against Notre Dame. The Pack then was within a last-second field goal of upsetting No. 3 Clemson on the road, but the kick sailed wide and the Pack then endured a four-game losing stretch.
NC State showed resilience down the stretch to become bowl eligible, winning its final two road contests of the season.
At Syracuse, the Pack totaled four rushing scores and limited the Orange to just 28 yards on the ground in a 35-20 victory. After falling to Miami in the home finale, the Pack turned around and jumped out to a 21-0 lead at North Carolina, downing the Tar Heels 28-21 to gain bowl eligibility.
Much like NC State, Vanderbilt fought tough down the stretch to get its sixth win.
"They are resilient," said Doeren "They didn't start the season well, but they've won four of six. They are feeling real good right now with the way they've finished."
The Commodores sat at 4-6 with two games to close out the 2016 regular season both at home. Vanderbilt rallied to become bowl eligible for the second time since that 2012 Music City Bowl with a 38-17 win over Ole Miss followed by a 45-34 win over Tennessee.
"They were 4-6 and they won the last two to become bowl eligible," said defensive end Bradley Chubb. "We had to win our last one to become bowl eligible. We definitely are similar in that aspect but we're definitely bowl hungry... hungry for this bowl win. We want to finish the season off with a winning record instead of going 6-7. Both teams have a lot to fight for and hopefully we'll see what happens on December 26. It'll be fun."
With a 5 p.m. (ET) kickoff, the Wolfpack Sports Network begins its pregame coverage at 3 p.m. with the Matthews Motors Countdown to Kickoff. In hour two of the pregame show from the radio booth, former Wolfpack All-American Johnny Evans takes question from fans on 'Ask the Analyst.' Questions about Pack football can be sent to Johnny via Twitter @packradio or by clicking HERE.
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Players Mentioned
DE
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