North Carolina State University Athletics
Part II Of Gary's Game Notes
9/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 19, 2001
NC State (1-0, 0-0) at Southern Methodist University (0-2, 0-1)
DATE:Saturday, September 22, 2001
TIME: Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. (EDT) at Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME: 5:45 p.m. (EST) (Click for list of stations carrying game )
TELEVISION: Fox Sports Southwest (Regional) Satellite coordinates: Galaxy 11 Transponder 23.
THE OPPOSITION--Southern Methodist, a member of the WAC, started the season with a 36-6 loss to Louisiana Tech and then dropped a 38-10 decision at home to arch-rival Texas Christian on September 8th. Its game at North Carolina scheduled for September 15th was postponed.
Offensive problems have plagued SMU as mirrored by its 109th NCAA ranking in total offense (217 ypg.). The Mustangs had four defensive touchdowns scored on them in their first two games (two in each contest) while crossing the goal line only once offensively. In the TCU game, the Horned Frogs returned a fumble for a score and recovered another fumble in the end zone for another touchdown. An SMU interception was returned to the one-yard line setting up a third TD. SMU is tied for 79th nationally in turnover margin (-1.00).
Sophomore, Kelan Luker, made his second career start against TCU, but was not impressive. He completed only 7 of 19 passes for 50 yards with an interception and a fumble and was pulled from the game in the third quarter. The Ponies rushing game has been almost non-existent. SMU ran for only an average of 55 yards in its first two games and is 109th in the latest NCAA rushing stats.
SMU's defense is allowing 37 points per game, but been constantly put in poor field position by its offense. Taking that into consideration, the Mustangs have not played that badly on defense, allowing an average of 267.5 yards in their first two games. SMU is 25th in this week's NCAA total defense rankings. NC State is 29th (276 ypg.).
The stars of the SMU squad are junior runningback, Chris Briggs, and junior linebacker, Vic Viloria. Briggs, a candidate for the Doak Walker Award, rushed for 828 yards last season. However, he managed only 53 yards on 21 carries in the Mustangs first two games. Viloria is on the watch list for the Butkus Award and is playing well. He recorded a team leading 24 tackles in the first two games, including three for loss. Viloria also forced a team leading two fumbles. The Mustangs big play receiver, Johnnie Freeman, had only two catches for 21 yards in the first two SMU games.
Senior, Adam Walterscheid, has punted 16 times for a 38.5 yard average (34.8 ypp. net) with one attempt blocked. Last season, the Wolfpack blocked two SMU punts. Senior, Jacob Crowley, has made 3 of 4 field goal attempts and is 2-2 from beyond 40 yards with a long of 48.
NC STATE PLAYER UPDATES
RAY ROBINSON--The senior tailback rushed for 69 yards on 19 carries vs. Indiana, including a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He also caught 5 passes for 4 yards. A 2001 preseason candidate for the Doak Walker Award for the third straight year, Robinson needs 96 yards to crack the Top-10 on the NC State career list for all-purpose yards. He is 8th in NC State career rushing yards (2,117) and is 6th in career rushing touchdowns (21). He needs 73 yards to pass Billy Ray Vickers and take 7th place on NC State's career rushing list. The South Carolina native set the school record for rushing attempts in a game (40) while running for 178 yards vs. Maryland in 2000. Robinson was the Pack's top rusher last season with 788 yards (4.1 ypc.). As NC State's No. 2 receiver (41 catches for 366 yards), he ranked among the nation's Top-20 in receiving among running backs. Robinson was the 1998 ACC Rookie of the Year.
PHILIP RIVERS -- The Pack's sophomore quarterback was a star in NC State's season-opening win over Indiana, completing 22 of 33 passes for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rivers had a marvelous season in 2000, earning the ACC Rookie of the Year award and National Rookie of the Year honors from ABC Sports and Football News. He was ACC Rookie of the Week a record eight times and set 10 school or ACC records in his first season at NC State. He holds single-season school records for completions (237), passing attempts (441), touchdown responsibility, and touchdown passes (25). 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 only 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 last season with his 269.7 yard average and 39th in passing efficiency. He fired five TD passes against Indiana, tying Terry Harvey's school record set in 1995.
WILLIE WRIGHT -- The redshirt senior tight end/wide receiver opened the 2001 season in a big way by catching 5 passes for 63 yards and 2 touchdowns vs. Indiana. Wright is the No.2 returning pass catcher from the 2000 season after hauling in 31 passes a year ago (3 for touchdowns) for an average of 12.9 yards per catch. He possesses the best hands of any player on the team and has added weight for the 2001 campaign. The Greensboro native tips the scales at 240 pounds, 40 pounds more than he weighed as a freshman.
BRYAN PETERSON --This 5-11, 189 pound junior was the Pack's leading receiver in its 2001 opener vs. Indiana with 6 catches for 115 yards, including a 55-yard TD. Peterson is pound-for-pound the strongest player on the 2001 Wolfpack squad. He ranks as the team's strength index champion. As the most experienced returnee at wide receiver, Peterson has played in 24 career games. Last season, he was No. 4 on the team in receptions with 28 for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns. Peterson became the first player in NC State history to throw a touchdown pass and catch one in the same game when he pulled off the feat vs. UNC last season (Philip Rivers also did it later vs. UNC). He also tossed a 38-yard TD pass vs. SMU.
BRIAN WILLIAMS -- Blocked the fourth kick of his career in NC State's 2001 season opener vs. Indiana when he stopped a punt that set up a second quarter Wolfpack field goal. Last season, Williams started every game and made some big plays after he was switched from free safety to cornerback in preseason. His fourth-quarter tackle for a 9-yard loss on fourth down vs. Arkansas State completed a successful goal-line stand that allowed NC State to regain possession of the ball and send the game into overtime. Williams blocked a punt at Indiana that set up a touchdown and broke up a third-down pass in a game-saving play in the fourth quarter. His third quarter punt block against Minnesota in the MicronPC.com Bowl sparked the Pack to a come-from-behind victory.
LEVAR FISHER -- The aggressive senior linebacker led the Pack with 13 tackles in its season-opening win over Indiana. Fisher was a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Award last season as the nation's top defensive player, but voters for the Butkus Award, given to the nation's best linebacker, snubbed him. That was strange given the fact that Fisher led the nation in tackles (15.1 tpg.) and was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. This season, Fisher is on preseason "watch" lists for both the Butkus and Lombardi Awards. The Lombardi Award is given to the nation's top lineman. In his last two regular season games in 2000, Fisher recorded an amazing 41 tackles, including 21 vs. Maryland. He also led the Wolfpack in tackles for loss (15) and in pass break ups (8) last season.
DANTONIO BURNETTE --Nicknamed "Thunder Dan", the hard hitting junior linebacker opened the 2001 season with 7 tackles vs. Indiana. He tallied 105 tackles last season, which was third-best on the team. In his first two seasons at NC State, Burnette recorded 218 tackles. No other player in school history has compiled as many stops after their freshman and sophomore years. He set a school freshman record with 124 tackles in 1999. Burnette became a starter in just his second collegiate game in '99.
COREY SMITH --A solid pass rusher, Smith forced two fumbles and recorded a sack to open the 2001 season vs. Indiana. Last season, no defensive lineman played more snaps (634) for the Pack than Smith. The senior defensive end started every game and led the team's defensive linemen with 55 stops. One of the Pack's top pass rushers, Smith led the team in quarterback pressures (14) last season and was No. 2 in tackles for loss (12). He is eighth in Wolfpack history with 23 career tackles for loss.
TERRENCE HOLT --Recorded 6 tackles and a fumble recovery in the 2001 opener against Indiana. A bone jarring hit from Holt temporarily knocked IU quarterback/receiver Antwaan Randle El from the game. Last season, Holt started every game at free safety for the Wolfpack and finished 2000 as the team's No. 4 tackler with 89 stops. One of the top special teams players in the ACC, Holt blocked three field goals last season, including a potential game-tying attempt at Indiana. He was the leader as the Pack set a school record in 2000 with four blocked field goals and three punt blocks. The year before, the Wolfpack set the school mark for blocked punts with six. Holt had two of those punt blocks in an upset victory at Texas.
BRIAN JAMISON -- As a junior, Jamison was moved from defensive end to outside linebacker late last season and the move is paying off. He recorded 8 tackles and blocked an Indiana punt in the end zone that Troy Graham recovered for a Wolfpack touchdown in NC State's 2001 season opener. Last year, Jamison led the Pack with 5.5 sacks. He also forced three fumbles.
AUSTIN HERBERT -- His debut as both punter and place kicker for the Wolfpack in 2001 had its ups and downs. Herbert had an extra point and a 39 yard field goal attempt blocked and shanked two punts. On the positive side, the sophomore boomed a 53-yard punt and kicked a 27-yard field goal against the Hoosiers. As a true freshman punter, Herbert started ever game at that position in 2000. His best performance came at Indiana. He punted 4 times for a 42.5 yard average. For the season, Herbert punted 59 times for a 37.7-yard average while also handling kick-off duties for the Pack. At Cary High School, Herbert set the North Carolina high school record for career field goals with 37.
HERBERT (Field Goal kicking 2001) 0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-plus TOT LONG 0-0 1-1 0-1 0-0 0-0 1-2 27
INJURIES--NC State: RB Carlos Doggett (broken foot) -out, WR Andy Bertrand (shoulder) -out for season, DB Rod Johnson (broken arm)-out. SMU: TE Michael Brown (knee)- out for season, DT John David Blagg (broken leg)-out, OL Brad Kieschnick (knee ligament sprain)-out.
NEXT GAME -- The Wolfpack will host North Carolina on Saturday, September 29th. Airtime on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network will be 11:15 a.m. with kickoff at 12-noon.
