North Carolina State University Athletics
Super Seniors
12/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 13, 2001
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-When NC State's seniors walk off the field for the last time following next week's Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, they'll leave behind a most impressive four years of football with the Wolfpack.
To be specific, this core group of fourth and fifth year seniors will have enjoyed three bowl trips. They'll also be able to take comfort in knowing that NC State never experienced a losing record during their careers.
But perhaps their greatest legacy will be not one, but the two victories they posted against perennial national powerhouse Florida State. Levar Fisher, Ray Robinson Brian Williams and company were there in 1998 when the Wolfpack stunned the college football world with a 24-7 win over the 'Noles. Then this year, the Pack became the first ACC team since FSU joined the league in 1992 to win in Tallahassee.
"The seniors on this team have never had a losing season," said Pack coach Chuck Amato. "These seniors have been outstanding leaders. When we were 3-3, I met with the seniors. We were point blank with them, I asked them, 'why are we losing these close games this year, when last year we won them? Why did this happen and why did that happen? I said stop pointing fingers.' That kind of took them back."
It also pulled them together. Following that meeting, the seniors had a closed-door conference of their own before addressing the entire team just a few days before the Oct. 27th home game against Virginia. From that point on, NC State was a different team that went on to record wins in four of its last five games.
This senior class features a former ACC Rookie of the Year in running back Ray Robinson. And Fisher, a linebacker from Beaufort, is a two time All-America, a two time All-ACC performer and winner of the 2000 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award.
"We're going to miss Levar Fisher so much." Amato said. "He's meant so much to this team in the two years that I've been here. He's such an outstanding player. I don't care what he's clocked in when the pros come here, he runs faster when he's chasing the football. You don't always get that. His motor never stops. That's something that he has, he's been taught at home to do everything as hard as he can."
Two of Fisher's senior teammates endured position changes that eventually filled major holes in the NC State defense. Used as a pass rushing defensive end in his junior year, Brian Jamison made a successful transition to the outside linebacker spot opposite Fisher this season. Brian Williams seemed destined to become one of the league's best free safeties before being moved to cornerback prior to his junior year. But rather than complain, Williams went out and established himself as the Wolfpack's most reliable cover corner.
"What Brian Williams did when we moved him at the beginning of two-a-days from safety to corner because he was the fastest person we had to play that position was so unselfish," Amato said. "He's done a really good job. It may have hurt him a little bit (with the pros). But we tell them that he's a safety playing corner."
The NC State defense also received a tremendous contribution from defensive end Corey Smith, who held on to his starting job in spite of the arrival of hotshot junior college transfers Shawn Price and Terrance Chapman. Now fifth on the Wolfpack's all-time sack list with 15.5, Smith caused six fumbles this fall. Amato has also cited the efforts of tackle Darius Bryant, who picked up the slack when starter Terrance Martin missed time after undergoing an appendectomy.
On offense, Robinson will leave as one of the school's best all-purpose backs. With 2,781 rushing yards for his career, the Hilton Head Island, S.C. native ranks fourth behind Ted Brown, Joe McIntosh and Tremayne Stephens. Robinson is also fifth in the school record book for all-purpose yards with 3,927.
The two comeback kids of this senior class are tight end Willie Wright and offensive lineman Keegan Weir. After being removed from the team following a well chronicled off the field incident early in his career, Wright was reinstated in 1999, but only for duty on the scout team. Over the last two years, however, he has become one of the ACC's best at his position. With 40 catches this season, Wright broke his own school record for receptions by a tight end.
Weir, who along with senior guard William Brown anchored the middle of the Pack's offensive line this season, suffered season ending leg fractures in the opener at Texas in 1999 and again in the first game versus Arkansas State in 2000. This year, Weir started and played in every game at right guard.
