North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Closes Out Football Season Against Ohio
11/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2001
By Tony Haynes
Whether it wins or loses its regular season finale against Ohio on Saturday afternoon, NC State will leave the Carter-Finley Stadium field with the feeling that it could have done more this year. As preseason practice was progressing in August, many Wolfpack players displayed a high level of confidence as they spoke of moving the program to a new level, a championship level.
Some even reached for the stars, saying the goal was to play in the Rose Bowl, sight of the National Championship game in January.
But those goals of making it onto the national stage will have to wait for at least one more year. On Saturday, NC State will be fighting just to equal its 7-4 mark of a year ago when it hosts Ohio at 1:00 p.m.
"I guess I had high expectations," said versatile quarterback Olin Hannum, who along with the other NC State seniors will be playing his last home game on Saturday. "Coming into this season, I saw how much more talent we had and I thought our game plan was as good as ever. I guess I had higher expectations for us this year than last year. It's disappointing to me that we might end up with the same record even though we have a better team."
Hannum is not alone in his opinion that the Wolfpack missed out on an opportunity to climb up the national ladder this season.
"At the beginning of the season we set our standards very high," said sophomore wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. "Right now, I feel that we have underachieved. We were thinking championship. We weren't looking to the future, we were trying to be champions right now."
For now, the championship dreams have been put on hold. What matters is Saturday's contest, which will be witnessed by scouts from the Peach and Tangerine Bowls. More than likely, a win over the 1-9 Bobcats would send the Pack bowling for the second consecutive season. Last year, NC State rallied to beat Minnesota in the MicronPC.com Bowl in Miami.
Despite its dismal record, Ohio does one thing as well as anyone: run the football. The option-oriented Bobcats lead the Mid-America Conference and are fifth in the nation in rushing (250.8 yards per game). In a 42-18 loss to Marshall last week, Ohio churned out 318 yards on the ground.
"The thing that gets your attention is that they have two quarterbacks now that are doing a pretty good job," said Wolfpack head coach Chuck Amato. "When they get the football, you may not get it back for seven, eight or nine minutes. They don't throw very much and they keep the ball in bounds. When that kind of an offense gets going, it drives you absolutely crazy. That's what they'll want to do to keep our offense on the bench. Time of possession is going to be so important."
Dontrell Jackson and Freddie Ray split time at quarterback for the Bobcats last week.
The Ohio defense has done its best work while sitting on the sidelines. On the field, however, it's been a different story. The Bobcats are yielding an average of 446 yards of total offense to their opponents this season.
Also on Saturday, Wolfpack fans will say good-bye to a group of seniors who will be appearing at Carter-Finley Stadium for the final time. Players like tailback Ray Robinson, tight end Willie Wright, linebackers Levar Fisher and Brian Jamison, along with cornerback Brian Williams, defensive end Corey Smith and defensive tackle Darius Bryant have all put together productive careers at NC State. Starting offensive guards William Brown and Keegan Weir will also be bowing out on Saturday.
Hannum, who joined the Pack as a junior college transfer last year, has become one of NC State's more popular players because of his versatility.
"I don't know if it's really hit me yet that it's our last home game and the last time we'll be running out of the tunnel," Hannum said. "I'm just excited for the game. My focus right now is winning the game, not that it's my last home game or anything like that. We need to win this game to give ourselves a chance to get a better bowl game."
NC State and Ohio have met twice before. In 1984, the Wolfpack routed the Bobcats 43-6. The 1998 game, however, was much closer. It took a dramatic blocked punt for a touchdown in the final minutes to give NC State a come-from-behind 34-31 win in the rain.
