North Carolina State University Athletics
Gary's Game Notes Returns
9/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2001
Indiana (0-0) vs. NC State (0-0)
DATE: Thursday, September 6, 2001
TIME: Kickoff: 7:38 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: ESPN
A WIN -- Would give NC State its fourth straight victory in a home opener and fifth straight season-opening win. Since 1986, the Pack is 13-2 in season opening games. It would also mark the fourth straight victory over Indiana in the series and second in as many years.
A LOSS --Would be the first in a season opener for NC State since Georgia Tech downed the Pack 28-16 in 1996, breaking a streak of four straight opening game victories and would mark Indiana's first-ever victory in the series. It would be the first season-opening loss to a non-ACC opponent since 1987 when East Carolina beat the Pack 32-14.
LOTS OF OFFENSE -- NC State finished the 2000 season No. 41 in the nation in total offense (396.4 ypg.), No. 15 in passing offense (292.5 ypg.), and 36th in scoring offense (31.0 ppg.). Indiana averaged 439.5 yards of total offense, 172.7 passing yards and averaged 30.6 points a game last season.
A RECORD YEAR FOR RIVERS-- Quarterback, Philip Rivers, won ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2000, the third straight Wolfpack player to earn the award. Rivers was ACC Rookie of the Week a record eight times. He set 10 school or ACC records in his first season at NC State. He holds the school record for completions, passing attempts, touchdown responsibility, and touchdown passes in a season. 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 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. Rivers completed 237-of-441passes during the 2000 regular season with 10 interceptions.
SECOND HALF MAGIC--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.
IF THEY CAN GET TO 20 -- Since 1997, the Wolfpack is 26-9 (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 143 yards vs. Wake Forest in its 2000 regular season finale, but overall NC State was 100th in the NCAA in rushing (103.8 ypg.). Indiana led the Big Ten in rushing in 2000 with an average of 266.4 yards per game and 34 rushing touchdowns. IU's 5.8 yards per carry was No. 2 nationally.
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., 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 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.
HARD TO RUN EM' DOWN--The Pack's last three 2000 regular season opponents (Duke, Virginia and Wake Forest) averaged 183.3 yards rushing a game. Virginia rushed for 231 yards. The Pack finished 98th nationally against the run (191.0 ypg.). Indiana allowed 186.4 yards a game rushing.
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS - The Wolfpack converted 36 percent of its third down opportunities last season (63 of 173), but was successful on 10-21 fourth down plays (48%). Indiana was 45 percent on third down (67-148) and 9 of 21 on fourth down (43%).
NO PASSING FANCY --The 2000 Wolfpack did a good job containing the opposition's passing game. NC State ranked 18th nationally in passing defense and led the ACC, allowing 184 yards per game. Over the last 38 regular season quarters, the Pack's defense has yielded only 11 touchdowns through the air. Indiana surrendered 271 yards passing a game and gave up 25 passing touchdowns in 2000.
GIVE AWAY- TAKE AWAY -- 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. Indiana gave the ball away 30 times and forced only 14 turnovers in 2000.
SACK CITY-- NC State had 32 sacks last season, but allowed 35. Indiana sacked opposing quarterbacks 18 times last season and allowed only 9 sacks in 2000.
BLOCKED! -- 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.
THIS LEG HAS AN ARM TOO-- As a true freshman in 2000, Austin Herbert, punted 59 times for a 37.7 yard average. His longest punt was 59 yards. Against FSU, Herbert faked a punt and tossed an 81-yard TD pass to Adrian Wilson.
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.
REPLACING K-ROB?-- Replacing wide receiver, Koren Robinson, now with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, won't be easy. As a sophomore, Robinson led the Pack in receiving in 2000 with 62 receptions for 1,061 yards and 13 touchdowns. That performance earned him first-team All-ACC honors. Robinson led the ACC in receptions per game (5.6), receiving touchdowns (13). He was also one of the nation's top kick returners, finishing 2000 at No.11 in both kickoff returns (25.3 ypr.) and punt returns (15.6 ypr.).
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, OT Scott Kooistra (leg)-probable, OLB Brian Jamison (foot sprain)-questionable. Indiana: None reported as of 8/31/01
NEXT GAME -- The Wolfpack will host Ohio University on Thursday, September 13th. Airtime will be 6:45 on the Wolfpack Capitol Sports Network.
A LOOK AT INDIANA AND NC STATE PLAYER PROFILES WILL BE POSTED ON TUESDAY.
