North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack And Panthers Clash In Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl
12/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2001
By Tony Haynes
In the first Tangerine Bowl in almost 20 years, two of the hottest teams in college football will square off when NC State meets Pitt at Orlando, Florida's Citrus Bowl on Thursday night.
There was a time in mid-October when fans of both the Wolfpack and Panthers wondered if their teams would even win enough games to become bowl eligible. That all changed when, between them, the two clubs went a combined 9-1 down the stretch to land invitations to Thursday night's contest.
"We're definitely two of the hottest teams in the country," said NC State quarterback Philip Rivers, who will be trying to lead the Pack to a bowl win for the second straight year. "They've won five in a row and we've won four of five. It's going to be a fun and exciting game."
But not even NC State's impressive finish could top what Pitt did over the last five weeks of the season. Often looking lost and anemic during a 1-5 start that included a humiliating home loss to South Florida, the Panthers made an astonishing turnaround. And not only did Pittsburgh run off a streak of five consecutive wins, it crushed everything in its path.
"They look real good on offense," said Wolfpack linebacker Dantonio Burnette. "They had a couple of problems at the beginning of the year, but they got with their coach and made a drastic turnaround. They line up and try to play some smash mouth football with you."
"Smash mouth" seems to suit Pitt just fine. After experimenting with a no huddle spread attack early, the Panthers turned their season around simply by going back to the basics and running a more conventional style of offense.
And not only did the change help the offense, it made the defense better as well. Over their last five games, the Panthers gave up just seven points per game. They did it by stopping the run (41 avg.) and pressuring quarterbacks. Twenty-five of Pitt's 38 sacks came after week six.
"They're big on stopping the run," Rivers said. "We may have to spread 'em out and throw to the right and make 'em go get it, and throw to the left and make 'em run and go get it."
Rivers knows a little something about taking what the defense gives him. Although he didn't throw for as many yards and touchdowns as he did in his freshman season a year ago, Rivers was a more consistent and accurate quarterback this season, hitting 65 percent of his throws.
Pitt coach Walt Harris is well aware of Rivers' prowess. He also knows that the NC State defense is much improved over last year. And if that's not enough, there's something else that the Wolfpack does with regularity that really alarms the Panthers' staff: turn games around by blocking field goals and punts.
"Against Texas a couple of years ago was unbelievable (three blocked punts in '99)," Harris said. "That kind of stuff breeds confidence and desire. They can't wait to have you kick. We've just got to take care of our stuff and be air tight in the execution of our fundamentals and our techniques. If we do that we'll be solid."
Since the 1998 season, the Wolfpack has blocked 17 punts and 10 field goals. This season, coach Chuck Amato's team blocked three punts, five field goals and a PAT.
Perhaps the biggest play in NC State's come-from-behind victory over Minnesota in last year's MicronPC.com Bowl in Miami was a blocked punt by Brian Williams. The block ignited the Wolfpack's amazing comeback from a 24-0 deficit. Of course, the Pack hopes similar dramatics won't be necessary this time around.
"Last year was a big surprise for us because we worked so hard for the bowl game," Burnette said. "Minnesota jumped on us quick so went in at halftime and Chuck (Amato) got on us real good. We just went back out there and played hard. The special teams really got it started."
Containing the Pitt running game will be NC State's top priority on defense. After going away from the no-huddle spread at midseason, the Panthers rushed for an average of 141 yards over their last five games. The successful rushing attack opened up a play-action passing attack that highlighted the skills of All-Big East receivers Antonio Bryant and E.J. English. Quarterback David Priestly, who ranks second in the Big East in passing, threw for an average of 193.5 yards per game this season.
Bryant, who is projected as a first round draft pick, is being listed as questionable for the Tangerine Bowl because of a nagging ankle injury.
"It will be a game day decision," Harris said. "He can't just show up and play. We won't put him out there until he's ready to go."
NC State could be without starting cornerback Marcus Hudson, who suffered a neck injury during a pre-bowl scrimmage. Rivers, who fractured the big toe in his left foot in the Pack's final regular season game, says he is close to 100 percent.
This will mark the second time Pitt and NC State have met in the Tangerine Bowl. Back in 1978, Ted Brown rushed for 126 yards on 28 carries as the Wolfpack defeated the 16th ranked Panthers 30-17. Four years later, the Tangerine Bowl was scrapped and replaced by the Citrus Bowl. This year's game will be the first Tangerine Bowl in 1982.
The Wolfpack's all-time bowl record is 9-9-1. Pitt is 8-12 in its 20 bowl appearances. With Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett leading the way, the Panthers were named national champions after whipping Georgia in the 1976 Sugar Bowl, 27-3.
NC State and Pitt will be playing each other for only the eighth time. The series stands at 4-2-1 in favor of the Panthers.
Airtime on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network will be 6:45 p.m.
