Pack Plus Newsletter

A Message from Lee Fowler, Director of Athletics,
NC State University, January-February 2003, Pack Plus

A time to support our basketball teams
Football's success and much overall progress give our dept. an exciting future

We congratulate Coach Amato for the tremendous job he and his coaches and players have done in this record-setting year. Their success will have a long-term pos-itive impact on our entire athletics program.

We also realize once again, the value of the support we receive from our Wolfpackers and all fans. They helped us finish strong. The turnout of about 35,000 was one of the greatest displays of loyalty and spirit the Gator Bowl has ever seen.

The success our football team enjoyed has reminded us why winning is one of our highest priorities. But, as with life in general, all of our teams will also experience periods of adversity and losses. Our men's and women's basketball programs have struggled at times this season. But, they will get back on the winning track. Overcoming challenges is what makes us better and stronger.

So I want to encourage our staff (and all Wolfpackers) that now is the time for all of us to get behind our coaches and players and give them our full support. They are highly valued members of our Wolfpack family. It is a time to pull together and support one another. Naturally, when-ever any of our teams lose, there can be criticism-- some constructive and valid, much of it not.

But the fact is, things are very bright for us in many areas: football's success, other NC State programs that are winning and improving, new facilities in process or soon to open that will benefit all of our teams, the record financial support of our Wolfpackers, and season ticket records being set.

Both basketball teams have a lot of young players and a great future. Let's give coach Sendek and coach Yow our full support and encourage them when they need it most. Go Pack!