North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Holds First Preseason Scrimmage
8/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 19, 2001
By Tony Haynes
When they arrived on the NC State campus this summer, junior college transfers Shawn Price and Terrance Chapman brought with them the reputation of being big-time pass rushers. Indeed, the LA Valley Community College bookends had racked up some impressive sack numbers in their two juco seasons on the West Coast.
But unlike their junior college days, Price and Chapman are finding out that playing time on the division one level must be earned. And if Sunday afternoon's scrimmage at steamy Carter-Finley Stadium was any indication, competition at the defensive end positions will be hot and heavy for the next few weeks.
You see, there are a couple of incumbents named Corey Smith and George Anderson who have decided that the playing time they've earned with hard work over the last few years is too valuable to give up without a fight.
Working mostly against the second team offensive line, Anderson and Smith often looked like they were playing a friendly game of `meet me at the quarterback' as they put plenty of pressure on Wolfpack signal callers throughout Sunday's two and a half hour scrimmage.
Although quick whistles protected the black-shirted quarterbacks, Anderson collected three sacks, while Smith was credited with two sacks and four tackles for loss.
Including his performances in the weight room and in conditioning tests during the preseason, Smith has been one of the Wolfpack's most impressive players this month.
"Corey Smith has really pushed his standards high," said NC State head coach Chuck Amato. "His commitment to excellence has really improved."
Amato also cited the efforts of senior cornerback Brian Williams, whose consistency at one of the corner positions will again be a vital ingredient for success this fall.
Offensively, quarterback Philip Rivers was 10-of-20 passing for 182 yards. Tailback Ray Robinson rushed six times for 66 yards.
"Ray Robinson ran very well," Amato said. "Ray is a good football player. Somebody needs to keep a statistic on how many yards he gets after he catches a pass. There are a lot of times we throw him short passes, and if we were running the option, he would get credit for more yards rushing. He's an outstanding player and he's been in a lot of wars. I hope he stays healthy because he's a heck of a football player."
Two projected starters missed Sunday's scrimmage. Receiver Bryan Peterson took a temporary leave of absence to attend a funeral, while senior linebacker Brian Jamison--crutches in both hands--watched from the sidelines.
A MRI conducted on Jamison's left foot, which was injured during a Friday morning practice, showed no fractures.
"The MRI was negative," said a relieved Amato. "He's putting weight on the foot. He said, `I'll be ready on Wednesday.' He'll probably be out for a week, which isn't all that bad because it will give us a chance to look at some of these young guys."
Sunday's scrimmage was actually moved back one day after frequent lightening forced Amato to pull his players off the field just minutes into the regularly scheduled workout on Saturday afternoon.
