North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes, Part I
9/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 10, 2001
Ohio University (0-2) vs. NC State (1-0)
DATE: Thursday, September 13, 2001
TIME: Kickoff: 7:35 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 6:45 p.m. (EST) (Click for list of stations carrying game )
TELEVISION: MAC-TV (Regional). Satellite Coordinates: SBS 6, Transponder 9
A WIN -- Would give NC State its second straight victory this season and third straight at home dating back to last year. It would also mark the Pack's seventh home victory in its last eight games at Carter-Finley Stadium during the Chuck Amato era. For the fifth straight year the Pack would open the season 2-0. The Wolfpack's all-time record against Ohio University would improve to 3-0.
A LOSS --Would be the first of the 2001 season for the Wolfpack and first at home since Florida State beat the Pack 58-14 on October 28th of last year, breaking a 3-game home winning streak. Ohio would get its first victory ever against NC State since the series began in 1984 and a Mid-American Conference would record its first win over NC State since Kent State beat the Pack 23-21 in 1971.
LOTS OF OFFENSE -- NC State recorded 35 points and 361 yards in total offense vs. Indiana in its 2001 season opener, including 243 yards passing. This week, the Pack is No. 55 nationally in total offense (361 ypg.), No. 34 in passing offense (243 ypg.), and 22nd in scoring offense (35.0 ppg.). Ohio University is No. 45 in total offense (376.5 ypg.). The Bobcats are No. 3 nationally in rushing (281 ypg.), but 110th in passing (95.5 ypg.).
RIVERS STARTS ROLLING IN 2001 -- Quarterback, Philip Rivers, the 2000 ACC Rookie of the Year, started the 2001 campaign in red hot fashion by throwing for 243 yards and 3 touchdown against Maryland on September 6th. Last season, Rivers set 10 school or ACC records in his rookie year at NC State. He holds the single-season school record for completions, passing attempts, touchdown responsibility, and touchdown passes. His 3,054 yards passing were an ACC freshman record. Rivers also set ACC freshmen single-season records in passing yards per game (277.6), touchdown passes (25), total offense (2,967) and also set the single-game freshman record for passing yards when he threw for 413 yards against Duke. He is just the second NC State quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season. The 6-5, Athens, Alabama, native was 12th in the nation in total offense with his 269.7 yard average and 39th in passing efficiency. Rivers threw for five touchdowns against Indiana, tying Terry Harvey's school record set in 1995. He completed 237-of-441passes during the 2000 regular season with 10 interceptions.
NO SECOND HALF MAGIC NEEDED--NC State jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead and went on to beat Indiana 35-14 on September 6th. That was in sharp contract to last season when six of the Pack's eight wins were of the come-from-behind variety. The Pack was outscored 108-132 in the first half during the 2000 regular season. However, in the second-half, the Wolfpack outscored opponents 209-149, including 104-62 in the fourth quarter. Philip Rivers was 69-129 passing for 827 yards and 8 touchdowns in the fourth quarter last season.
IF THEY CAN GET TO 20 -- Since 1997, the Wolfpack is 27-9 (including bowl games) when scoring more than 20 points in a game. Only Florida State and Virginia held the Pack below 20 points in 2000.
UP AND DOWN RUSH -- The Wolfpack rushed for 118 yards in its season opener vs. Maryland, an improvement from its average last season (103.8 ypg.). Ohio University averaged a whopping 323 yards on the ground last season and is 3rd in the NCAA this week (281 ypg.).
RUSH FOR 200 AND WIN --NC State has a 45-3-1 since 1988 when rushing for 200 yards or more in a game. The defeats were: at UVA (211 yds. on 10/24/98) vs. Miami (297 yds. on 12/29/98) and at Maryland (218 yds. on 11/4/00).
FISHER IS MR. DEFENSE --Linebacker Levar Fisher, a preseason candidate for the Butkus and Nagurski Awards, recorded 13 tackles in the Wolfpack 2001 opener against Maryland. The aggressive senior won ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2000, marking the first time in history that an NC State player earned the award. Fisher led the nation in tackles last season with 166, the sixth-best total in school history. He totaled 12 of more tackles in 10 of NC State's 11 regular season games and averaged 15.1 tackles a game. Named a first team All-America by Football News and the Football Writers Association of America, Fisher recorded 21 tackles vs. Maryland, the third highest total in school history. He was a finalist for the Nagurski Award, given each year to the nation's top defensive player.
IMPROVED RUN DEFENSE--Last season, the Pack was 98th nationally against the run (191.0 ypg.). However, against Indiana in the 2001 opener, NC State allowed the Hoosiers only 106 yards rushing. Ohio is No. 107 nationally in rushing defense this week, allowing opponents 250.5 ypg. on the ground.
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS - The Wolfpack converted 8 of 17 third down opportunities vs. Indiana (47%), an improvement from last season's 36 percent. NC State was successful on its only fourth down conversion attempt against Indiana. Last season, the Pack was successful on 10-21 fourth down plays (48%). Ohio is 44 percent on third down this season (12-27), but its third down defense has not been good (15-26, 58%).
NO PASSING FANCY --NC State allowed only 170 yards passing and a TD vs. Indiana on September 6th. That is a carry-over from last season. In 2000, NC State ranked 18th nationally in passing defense and led the ACC, allowing 184 yards per game. Over the last 42 regular season quarters, the Pack's defense has yielded only 12 touchdowns through the air.
GIVE AWAY- TAKE AWAY -- The Wolfpack did not have a turnover vs. Indiana in the 2001 opener, while forcing three IU turnovers. Ohio has two give aways and two take aways. Last season, NC State tied for No. 39 nationally in turnover margin at +0.36 per game. The Pack has gained 24 turnovers and lost 20. The 20 Wolfpack turnovers marked a school record for the fewest turnovers in a single season.
SACK CITY-- NC State recorded two sacks against Indiana and allowed one. Last season, the Pack sacked opposing QB's 32 times, but allowed 35 sacks. Ohio has two quarterbacks sacks this season and has allowed two.
BLOCKED! -- Against Indiana, the Wolfpack used two blocked punts to score 9 of its 35 points. Brian Jamison blocked a Hoosiers punt that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown while Brian Williams blocked punt set up a field goal in the 2001 opener. Last season, the Pack blocked a school-record four field goals (vs Clemson , Indiana, FSU & Duke) and three punts (two vs. SMU and one vs. Indiana). The three punt blocks were converted into 17 points by the offense. Safety, Terrance Holt, blocked 3 field goals during the 2000 season. Holt and Brian Williams have each two regular season career punt blocks.
DOING IT ALL-- As a true freshman in 2000, Austin Herbert, punted 59 times for a 37.7 yard average and was the Wolfpack's kickoff man. In 2001, Herbert is handling all punting and place-kicking. He punted 6 times for a 31.8 yard average vs. Indiana and was 1-2 in the field goal department --making a 27 yarder. His 39 yard attempt was blocked by the Hoosiers.
THE COMEBACK PACK --During the 2000 regular season, the Pack came from behind to gain victory in six of its eight wins. NC State set the tone early in 2000 by using a fourth-quarter comeback in three of its first four games to win. One of the most incredible comebacks was at Indiana. Down by 12 points with 4:29 to play, NC State scored twice against the Hoosiers and blocked a potential game-tying field goal attempt to seal the victory. Since 1993, NC State has rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win 6 times. Three Wolfpack road losses last season (Clemson, Maryland, and Virginia) went down to the Pack's last offensive play.
SPREAD THE WEALTH-- Replacing wide receiver, Koren Robinson, now with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, won't be easy, but the Pack is using the strength in numbers approach. As a sophomore, Robinson led the Pack in receiving in 2000 with 62 receptions for 1,061 yards and 13 touchdowns. Against Indiana in the 2001 season opener, seven different receivers caught passes, led by Bryan Peterson's 6 receptions for 115 yards and a TD.
WOLFCUBS -- There are 104 players on the Wolfpack roster, but 36 are newcomers. That means 35 percent of the squad is made up of new players.
INJURIES--NC State: RB Carlos Doggett (broken foot) -out, WR Andy Bertrand (shoulder) -out for season, DB Rod Johnson (broken arm)-out. Ohio University: None reported.
NEXT GAME -- The Wolfpack will visit SMU on Saturday night, September 22nd. Airtime will be 6:15 p.m. (EDT) on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
