North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hopes to End the Trend
10/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 8, 2002
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-NC State safety Terrence Holt has a lot of memories from previous games against North Carolina. Unfortunately, most of those memories have left a bitter taste in his mouth. In fact, two plays that stand out most in the senior safety's mind come from games that the Pack lost.
Play No. 1: "A play I remember from last year was when we had them backed up facing a third and 10 or third and 11," Holt recalls. "They caught a touchdown pass on me. We were in two deep and it was my responsibility to be over the top and cover the play. We lost by eight points. I think of that as being big."
Play No. 2: "A play that really sticks out in my mind was when Jamie Barnette threw the ball to Chris Coleman about a toenail from the end zone, but he wasn't able to get in. I can't forget the feeling we had losing that game. If we would have won we could have gone to a bowl. Losing in Charlotte like that, it was just a terrible feeling-a feeling we don't want to have anymore."
That game from 1999-won by North Carolina 10-6-contributed mightily to the demise of former Pack coach Mike O'Cain. The outcome was, in many ways, so very similar to many of the games between the two backyard rivals over the last decade. Heading into this Saturday's meeting at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels have prevailed in eight of their last nine games against NC State. Even on those occasions when the Wolfpack has been favored, it has often come up short. When 11th ranked State (6-0) and Carolina (2-3) engage in their annual clash this Saturday, the Pack will once again be favored. Just like in 1999. Just like last year.
Holt's best memory? It comes from two years ago when NC State snapped a seven-game losing streak in the series by downing UNC in Chapel Hill, 38-20.
"I think every year is totally different," Holt said. "What we try to think of is the feeling we had when we went over there and won the year before last. But there's also the feeling that we had when we lost in our own backyard (last year). I don't think there's any carryover. We try to use at as motivation, both from losing here last year and winning over there two years ago."
In the long and storied history of a series that dates back to 1894, it hasn't been all that unusual for one team or the other to run off a streak of wins. Prior to Carolina's current reign of dominance, Dick Sheridan's Wolfpack clubs whipped the Heels five straight times. Sheridan's NC State record against UNC was 6-1. Prior to Sheridan's arrival in Raleigh, Carolina strung together seven consecutive wins in the series.
Adding to the intrigue the last two years have been a pair of head coaches who also experienced the rivalry as players. As a starting linebacker at UNC from 1969-71, John Bunting was 2-1 against the Wolfpack. NC State's Chuck Amato, a Pack linebacker from 1965-67, enjoyed a win over the Tar Heels in his senior year.
"It's a big game and a huge rivalry," Bunting said. "It's something you look forward to as a coach and something that you look forward to as players. These are player games. Some of you would like to think it's about myself and Chuck, but these are player games and fans games."
Both coaches know that special motivational speeches probably won't be necessary this week.
"If we as coaches have to make an emphasis about the rival game to get our players ready then we're in trouble," Amato said. "If the kids don't feel that, we're in trouble. Our players know it and their players know it; their fans know it and our fans know it. John understands that and I understand that because he went there and I went here."
NC State-Carolina Flashback:One of NC State's biggest wins in the series came in 1956. UNC was welcoming back Jim Tatum in his first game as head coach at his Alma Mater. The Pack had not beaten the Tar Heels in the previous nine meetings. This was the first of three straight wins over UNC win for head coach Earle Edwards, and was a major factor in the NC State fans' endearment to Edwards and his teams. The 26-6 season opening win was the Wolfpack's first triumph in ACC play.
