North Carolina State University Athletics
Bowl Diary, Day 4
12/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 17, 2001
Orlando, Fla. - Well, you can tell it's getting closer to game-day, because our local media is starting to arrive. We had more guys doing interviews after practice today and will have even more tomorrow. Our players don't do any interviews on the day before games, so tomorrow is the last chance for the media to catch our players before Thursday.
We had the same practice schedule today that we had Saturday and Sunday. The players got up around 7:00 a.m., had meetings, got taped and dressed and then we left for practice around 8:50. Even though we're only travelling a couple of miles now to get to our practice site, I'm still amazed at our police escort (even Coach Amato, who is coaching in his 26th bowl game, has been impressed!). Carl Smith has headed up our escort for the Orlando Police Department and has done an amazing job - we have six to eight motorcycles with us at all times - all of them with NC State helmet decals on their windshields. Today, we shot a photo of all of the policemen with their NC State caps on in front of their lined-up motorcycles.
Practice was very lively and physical today - sometimes the physical part went on even after the whistles were blown! Olin Hannum made the most impressive play of the day. He caught a pass, put his head down and knock the guy (who shall remain nameless) who was trying to tackle him on his bottom. Philip Rivers doesn't seem to be bothered too badly by his bum toe and other than that we're fairly healthy. They did mats again after practice and I heard a couple of seniors remarking that this would be the last time they would ever do mat drills. Funny ... they didn't seem too upset about that fact.
Pittsburgh's team arrived today and both squads went to Downtown Disney for a brief visit tonight. This afternoon, there were no functions scheduled and I would bet a lot of money that at least 90% of our players probably spent that free time relaxing in their rooms. Both coaching staffs are at a party for the bowl tonight and then both will be on the practice field tomorrow.
