North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes, Part I
9/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 25, 2001
North Carolina (1-3, 1-1) at NC State (2-0, 0-0)
DATE: Saturday, September 29, 2001
TIME: Kickoff: 12:08 p.m. (EDT) at Carter-Finley Stadium (51,500)
RADIO: Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network. AIRTIME:11:15 a.m. (EST) (Click for list of stations carrying game)
TELEVISION: Jefferson-Pilot ACC Network (Regional)
A WIN -- Would give NC State its third straight victory this season, second straight over North Carolina and first over the Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium since 1991. The Wolfpack would improve to 7-1 at home under Chuck Amato and extend its home winning streak to four straight, dating back to last season. NC State would move to 26-59-6 all-time against UNC. The Wolfpack would open the season 3-0 for the third straight year.
A LOSS --Would be the first of the 2001 season for the Wolfpack and first to UNC during the Chuck Amato era. The Tar Heels would extend their winning streak over the Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium to four straight games and move to 60-25-6 all-time against NC State.
LOTS OF OFFENSE -- After recording 35 points and 361 yards of total offense vs. Indiana in its 2001 season opener, the Pack managed 288 yards (215 yds. passing) in its 26-17 victory last Saturday at SMU. This week, the Pack is No. 79 nationally in total offense (324.5 ypg.), No. 45 in passing offense (229 ypg.), and 34th in scoring offense (30.5 ppg.). UNC is No. 102 in total offense (269.5 ypg.), No. 76 in pass offense (183.0 ypg.), and 66th in scoring offense (22.3 ppg.).
RIVERS STILL 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 Indiana on September 6th. However, he failed to throw a TD psss last week at SMU (21-31-1 for 215 yds.). It was only the second time in his college career that he failed to throw for a touchdown. With 184 yards passing vs. UNC, Rivers would move to 7th in NC State career passing yardage. Three more TD passes would move him to 4th place, passing Erik Kramer. Last season, Rivers set 10 school or ACC records in his rookie year. 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. Rivers threw for five touchdowns against Indiana, tying Terry Harvey's school record set in 1995. He completed 237-of-441passes in 2000 regular season with 10 interceptions.
SECOND HALF MAGIC --The Pack used a fourth quarter comeback to beat SMU last week, but that was nothing new. NC State has come from behind to win in seven of its 10 victories under Chuck Amato and has either trailed or was tied in the fourth quarter in six of those wins. Last season, six of the Pack's eight wins were of the come-from-behind variety. The Pack outscored opponents 104-62 in the fourth quarter while 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 28-9 (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, but managed only 73 yards at SMU. NC State is No. 99 nationally in rushing offense (95.5 ypg.). UNC is 105th (86.5 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 15 tackles last week at SMU and leads the team with 28 stops. That should not surprise anyone since Fisher led the nation in tackles last season (166). 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. 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.
STOP THE RUN--After two games, NC State is No. 53 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 135.5 yards per game. That's an improvement from last season when the Pack finished 98th nationally against the run (191.0 ypg.). UNC is 50th (129 ypg.) in this week's NCAA stats.
KEEPING DRIVES ALIVE-- The Wolfpack has converted 43 percent of its third down opportunities this season (12-28). That's an improvement from last season's 36 percent. UNC has converted only 23 percent on third down (14-61).On fourth down, NC State was successful in its one try against Indiana. Last season, the Pack was successful on 10-21 fourth down plays (48%).
PACK SECONDARY IS NO FLY ZONE --NC State is allowing an average of 160.5 yards a game through the air this season (28th NCAA) and has surrendered three passing TDs. That is a carry-over from last season when the Pack was 18th nationally in passing defense and led the ACC (184 ypg.). Over the last 46 regular season quarters, the Pack's defense has yielded only 14 touchdown passes.
NEAR TOP IN TURNOVER MARGIN -- The Wolfpack is tied for 5th nationally in turnover margin this week. In two games, NC State has forced opponents into five turnovers while turning the ball over itself just once (+2.00). Turnovers have really hurt UNC. The Tar Heels are 98th nationally in turnover margin (-1.25) with 8 take-aways and 13 give-aways. Last year, the Pack's 20 turnovers marked a school record for fewest in one season.
SACK CITY-- NC State leads the ACC in fewest sacks allowed (2) while Carolina leads the league in sacks (13). UNC defensive Julius Peppers has 4 sacks to lead the ACC. NC State has sacked quarterbacks 5 times in 2001.
BLOCKED! --Terrance Holt's block of an SMU field goal gave NC State its third blocked kick of the season and 23rd since 1998. Brian Jamison and Brian Williams blocked punts vs. Indiana on Sept. 6th. Last season, the Pack blocked a school-record four field goals and three punts. Holt has blocked four field goals and two punts in his career. Williams has four career punt blocks.
A LEG UP ON THE COMPETITION-- The leg of sophomore kicker, Austin Herbert, has been busy this season. He's handled all the kicking chores for NC State. Herbert is 5th in the ACC in punting (37.4 ypp.) and turned in his best performance of the season at SMU last week with 5 punts for a 44 yard average. In the field goal department, Herbert is 3-3 with a long of 28 yards. A 37-yard attempt against Indiana was blocked. As a true freshman last season, Austin Herbert, punted 59 times for a 37.7 yard average and was also the Wolfpack's kickoff man.
THE COMEBACK PACK -- Since 1993, NC State has rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to win 6 times. During the 2000 regular season, the Pack came from behind to gain victory in six of its eight wins, including three of its first four. Last week vs. SMU, the Pack trailed in the fourth quarter before rallying to victory.
SPREAD THE WEALTH-- 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. At SMU eight different receivers had catches led by Ray Robinson's 5 receptions for 46 yards.
RED HOT IN RED ZONE --The Pack is a perfect 8 for 8 inside the opponents 20-yard line this season (5 touchdowns, 3 field goals. UNC is 7 of 8 in red zone opportunities and was 4-4 last week vs. FSU.
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, CB J.J. Washington (ankle sprain)-probable, DE Corey Smith (shoulder sprain)-probable. UNC: None reported.
NEXT GAME -- The Wolfpack will visit Wake Forest on Saturday, October 6th. Airtime will be 5:45 p.m. on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. There will be no television.
