North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Shoots for 8-0 Magic Against Duke
10/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 2002
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-The year was 1967. Under President Lyndon Johnson, United States intervention in the Vietnam conflict was mushrooming. Lulu had the year's number one song with "To Sir with Love." At movie theatres, "The Graduate" starring Dustin Hoffman was a big hit. Fifty-two year old crooner Frank Sinatra was married to 22-year old actress Mia Farrow. His body failing him, longtime Yankees' center fielder Mickey Mantle was spending more and more time at first base.
The year 1967 also became a memorable time in Raleigh, where the NC State football team, sparked by a hard-nosed senior linebacker named Chuck Amato, was making history. Playing in two-year old Carter Stadium, the Wolfpack grabbed national headlines by winning its first eight games before settling on a 9-2 record that included a 14-7 victory over Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.
Now, 35 years later, the Wolfpack has a chance to do it again. The only obstacle that stands between NC State and the second 8-0 start in school history is Duke. Currently ranked 10th in the ESPN/USA Today poll and 13th in the AP Poll, the Pack will be looking to take down the 2-5 Blue Devils when the two longtime ACC rivals meet Saturday at 12-noon.
"[Coach Amato] told us that we can be one of the only teams to go 8-0 and that we could be the first team to go 9-0," said NC State freshman running back T.A. McLendon, who leads the ACC in touchdowns with 12. "We want to accomplish all of that, but we also want to take it one game at a time. We just want to do great things this year and want to have the best season ever at NC State."
The Wolfpack, which currently owns the nation's fourth-longest winning streak (7), has seen its role change in recent weeks. NC State is an underdog no more. The unbeaten record and the lofty rankings have served only to heighten expectations, while also bringing more national exposure. For the first time since this monster called the "Bowl Championship Series" came into existence, the Pack is eagerly awaiting the release of the season's first BCS standings next week.
"We're the hunted all of a sudden," said Amato, now in his third year as NC State's head coach. "The one thing about being the hunted, you're going to take the best shot of every team you play. Now can you handle that? Will you give out under stress? Will you fail because of the pressure? We know that by being like this that everyone is going to give us their best shot."
In recent years, Duke's best shot wouldn't have been enough. The Blue Devils endured back-to-back winless seasons before breaking through with a huge victory over East Carolina to open this year's campaign. For the first time in several years, there appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel for coach Carl Franks' program.
"I think this is the best team we've had since I've been here," said Franks, who is now in his fourth season at his alma mater. "Statistically, I think, that would be proven out. Our defense is much better. We run better on defense, which means that we tackle better and we get more tackles for loss; we've got more sacks. Our offensive line is better, which means that we run the ball better."
Franks learned most of his offensive football from the pass-happy mastermind Steve Spurrier, who coached Duke to an ACC title in 1989. But this year's personnel has dictated that Franks make some shifts in his philosophy. With virtually no experience at quarterback and very little speed at the wide receiver positions, the Blue Devils have developed a run-first mentality that has served them well. Big 250-pound tailback Alex Wade is the ACC's second leading rusher with an average of 101.4 yards per game. Defensively, new coordinator Ted Roof has inspired togetherness and intensity, attributes that have helped junior Shawn Johnson become the league's sack leader (7).
It's no secret that Duke will try to play keep away by running the ball, shortening the game in an attempt to keep the Wolfpack offense off the field.
"State's going to be a big challenge because they throw it and run it very well," Franks said. "It will probably be our biggest challenge to date. Coach Amato has got that program really rolling. He's addressed all the things that he needed to address to give them a chance to be one of the best teams in this conference."
Offensively, the Pack features the nations pass efficiency leader in quarterback Philip Rivers and the ACC's top scorer in freshman tailback T.A. McLendon. Over his last three games, McLendon has rushed for 431 yards and nine touchdowns. With a total of 12 touchdowns this season, the Albemarle native has now crossed the goal line a total of 190 times in his last four years of organized football (had 178 touchdowns in high school).
"I was hoping to do this maybe next year or the year after that," said the three time ACC Rookie of the Week. "Hopefully, I can continue my success with the help of the offense and everybody else who contributes. But I really didn't expect to be doing the things I'm doing now."
Within McLendon's reach is NC State's single season record for touchdowns (16) set by Stan Fritts in 1972.
Although it trails the overall series with Duke (39-33-5), NC State has won eight in a row and 11 of the last 12 meetings. The Blue Devils haven't won in Raleigh since 1984.
