North Carolina State University Athletics
Amato: Pack Won't Sneak Up On Seminoles
10/23/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
In its last visit to Carter-Finley Stadium two years ago, Florida State was ambushed. The improbable 24-7 Wolfpack victory stunned the college football world and nearly ended FSU's hopes for a national title.
Now, as it prepares to welcome the 'Noles back to Raleigh for the first time since that faithful September afternoon in 1998, NC State is hoping for a repeat performance. But if the Pack thinks it will catch Florida State napping this time around, it might want to think again. Just take it from a man who knows: former Seminoles assistant and current NC State head coach, Chuck Amato.
"I know the mentality because it happened two years ago on the second game of the year when NC State beat Florida State," Amato said. "Because of the Miami loss, I guarantee you that somebody is saying, 'we are in the playoffs now at Florida State.' Their goal is to win the national championship every year, not once every 10 years. To have a chance to win the national championship, they have to win out. They're going to play one at a time and there doesn't have to be any pep talks. You don't win 10 games or more 13 years in a row, or end up in the top four 13 years in a row if you don't set your standards high."
After spending 18 years on the Florida State sidelines, Amato fully understands the anxiety and urgency that's being felt in Tallahassee right now. A 27-24 loss to in-state rival Miami two weeks ago has left the sixth ranked Seminoles (7-1) with very little margin for error in their quest to defend the title they won last year with a perfect 13-0 campaign.
A sneak attack by the Pack? Forget about it. Said Amato: "We're not going to Pearl Harbor them, believe me. Nobody's going to do that to them for the rest of the season. They're not going to overlook us because of what's going to happen the following week (when they play arch rival Florida). If something happens this week, the following week is a moot point to them. It's like you're in the water and you're swimming around and you cut your toe and there's five sharks coming at that blood. They smell that blood down there; they want to get a piece of it because they want a piece of another ring."
Other Wolfpack Notes: Although backup kicker Bobby Moore booted a pair of extra points following NC State's last two touchdowns at North Carolina on October 14, Amato says that senior Kent Passingham will likely continue on as the Pack's No. 1 place-kicker this week. Wide receiver Koren Robinson, who underwent minor thumb surgery one day after the win in Chapel Hill, should not be hampered by any post-operative soreness this week. Tailback Ray Robinson (sprained foot) is also expected to be at full strength for the Florida State game.
Defensive end Drew Wimsatt continues his recovery from back surgery. The 6-4, 244 pound Northwestern transfer, who was listed as a starter coming out of spring drills, has been practicing for about two weeks.
"He's real rusty," Amato said. "It's good to know that he could be available for the game, but he still has a ways to go. He's getting better. He feels good about himself and his back."
Wimsatt missed the Pack's first six games and all of the preseason after undergoing back surgery in July.
