North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hoping to Build on Opening Day Win
9/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
The film has been diagnosed and dissected, and each player has been graded. In other words, NC State's opening night 38-31 double overtime win over pesky Arkansas State is now a thing of the past.
And while Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato won't allow his team to fall into the trap of satisfaction, it has been difficult for him to forget about his first game as NC State's football coach.
During his weekly press conference on Monday, Amato was peppered with questions about that first game and how its outcome may affect NC State's season.
But the number one topic of conversation on Monday was Philip Rivers. After passing for 397 yards and three touchdowns in his first college start, the Pack's freshman quarterback was named ACC Rookie of the Week.
"One game does not make a season and one game does not make an all-conference candidate, but it's a good start," Amato said. "He's the kind of young man that won't let this go to his head because he knows this is a team sport. But to do some of the things that he did was kind of remarkable."
In his Wolfpack debut, Rivers set first year records for passing attempts (57), completions (29), yards and touchdown passes.
And Rivers wasn't the only rookie that contributed to the Pack's win. A total of nine true freshmen saw action, including wide receiver Andy Bertrand, who hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter.
The other rookie who was making his debut was, of course, Amato. And if the first game is any indication, then NC State has itself a football coach who isn't scared of taking some chances.
"Bobby Bowden would have been very proud of the fact that I went for six fourth down plays, and made five of them," Amato said, referring to his former boss at Florida State.
Amato was also stunned when the 46,000 fans at Carter-Finley Stadium stood and cheered following the first play from scrimmage, a deep pass off of a fake reverse that fell incomplete.
"How would you like to get a standing ovation for an incomplete pass?" he asked quizzically. "For the first play of the game I wanted something that was a little razzle-dazzle, and it almost worked."
Also on Monday, Amato said that 6'3, 259 pound sophomore Derek Green would take over at center, replacing junior Keegan Weir who broke his right leg in the opener. Green made four starts after Weir suffered a similar injury last year.
Guard Alex Rice, who missed the Arkansas State game for disciplinary reasons, will return this week and will back up William Brown at left guard. Amato said William Pannell will also return this week. Pannell, a junior linebacker, was held out of last week's game for breaking team rules. Tackle Nate Goodson's suspension will continue this week.
The status of tight end Willie Wright is still up in the air. The 6'4, 213 pound sophomore will return once he's fulfilled certain academic obligations. There is a chance Wright could play at Indiana on Saturday, but a final decision on his status won't be made until mid-week.
