North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Ready for a Steady Diet of Thomas Jones
10/15/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
3:30 p.m., Carter-Finley Stadium
By Tony Haynes
Virginia head football coach George Welsh prohibits anyone from watching his team's practices. Absolutely no one is allowed in---including the school's radio crew. But why does Welsh drape his team in such a cloak of secrecy? That's a good question when you consider the fact that just about everyone from Maryland to Florida knows what UVA will do on offense.
This Saturday afternoon at Carter-Finley Stadium, the NC State defense will be fed a steady diet of Thomas Jones left, Thomas Jones right and Thomas Jones up the middle. The Wolfpack knows what's coming, but can it be stopped?
"Whenever a team has its back up against the wall, you know it's going to go to its main man," said NC State linebacker Clayton White. "We pretty much know that Virginia is going to get the ball to Thomas, there's no doubt about it. They'll give it to him on first, second, third and maybe even fourth down."
There's really no reason to give it to anybody else. Barring injury, Jones will capture his second straight ACC rushing crown this season. The senior from Big Stone Gap, Virginia is averaging 148 yards per game, a figure that ranks him #1 in the ACC and #4 in the nation. He needs just 302 more rushing yards to break Tiki Barber's UVA career rushing record.
"He's the best overall back I've faced in the Atlantic Coast Conference," White said. "He just brings everything to the table. He's got speed, he can catch, he's quick, he's got great vision and he's durable."
What else is there? Oh yea---he received his Virginia degree in just three years.
"He's as good as anybody I've been around," said Cavaliers coach George Welsh, who's coached the likes of Tiki Barber, Terry Kirby and Barry Word. "I'm not saying he's better than some of our others, but he's right up there. He's having a great year."
While Jones is having a great year, Virginia, by its standards, is not. The Cavaliers have won at least seven games for the last 12 years, but a 3-3 mark through six games this season has placed that string in serious jeopardy.
"The Mathematics are starting to work against us," Welsh said. "I don't think we can think that way. When they (the Virginia players) read that kind of stuff they start saying to themselves, 'we gotta win this game because if we don't, we're not going to get to seven wins.' We've got to focus on North Carolina State and be in a position to play well because if we don't play well, we're not going to win."
Like NC State's offense, Virginia's defense has been decimated by injuries this season. However, the Cavaliers will be healthier than they've been in quite some time this weekend. Cornerback Antwan Harris, a Raleigh native who was injured in the opener at North Carolina, will return to the line-up this week. Another cornerback, Dwayne Stukes, is also working his way back into playing shape.
"They've lost a lot of guys who have been there and played quite a few years," said NC State offensive tackle Todd Boyle. "They've had a lot of young kids out there, but that doesn't mean they're not going to be ready to play."
The Wolfpack will be missing tailback Ray Robinson (knee) and receiver Chris Coleman (elbow) this weekend.
This will mark the 49th meeting in a series that dates back to 1904. Virginia has won three of the last four and nine of the last 13 meetings. NC State leads the overall series 30-17-1. The Wolfpack has a 12-8 advantage in games played in Raleigh.
Last year in Charlottesville, Virginia rallied from a 13-9 halftime deficit to post a 23-13 victory over the Pack. Thomas Jones rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Robinson ran for 202 yards on 27 carries in a losing cause.
