North Carolina State University Athletics
Behind the Scenes With Tony Haynes: Wolfpack Must Tune Out Irish Aura
12/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 30, 2002
By Tony Haynes
Jacksonville, Florida--Like most media guides, NC State's 256-page manual features pretty action pictures, helpful historical information, bios and statistics. But when sitting next to a Notre Dame guide, the Wolfpack's version looks like a paper towel. In attempting to give a full and accurate account of the Irish's rich football history, the school's media relations department used a grand total of 456 pages. It is that rich Notre Dame tradition that has caused the Pack and its fans to go absolutely gaga over Wednesday's Gator Bowl game at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Simply put, NC State is hoping to go where Notre Dame has been many times before. Eleven times the Irish have worn the crown given to national champions; seven of its players have won the Heisman Trophy; thirty have been named unanimous first-team All-Americans; and the all-time winning percentage--.749 (781-247-42)-is the highest among all Division I college football teams.
Fortunately, NC State won't be playing against history on the first day of 2003. In fact, it will be facing a Notre Dame program that is just now rebounding from one of the leanest periods in school history. Prior to posting a 10-2 mark under new coach Tyrone Willingham this season, the Irish went just 19-16 in the previous three years. For the purposes of comparison and perspective (such a wonderful thing), it's interesting to note that the Wolfpack was 21-15 during that same period. And if you include this season's win totals, NC State is 31-18 over the last four years, while Notre Dame is 29-18.
Those are the numbers NC State's players should take into consideration before listening to those who might suggest that the aura of Notre Dame is worth seven points before the game even starts.
"I believe every guy that's played college football has dreamed that he was either playing for Notre Dame or against Notre Dame," said Wolfpack defensive end George Anderson. "It's really exciting because Notre Dame is part of the college football tradition. It's just a great way to go out as a senior, playing a team like that."
When he was growing up in the shadow of the Southeastern Conference, Alabama native Philip Rivers was an unabashed follower of the Fighting Irish. Rivers had heard all the stories about Knute, the Gipper and the Golden Dome before eventually deciding to become the quarterback at NC State.
"Growing up I did have a Notre Dame jacket," said Rivers, who wasn't heavily recruited by the Irish. "I was a Notre Dame fan and so was my grandfather on my mother's side. "Rudy" is one of my favorite movies. I liked the gold helmets and that was my team."
Even Pack coach Chuck Amato flirted with becoming a member of the Notre Dame family. The lure and luster of South Bend briefly tugged on his heartstrings when Lou Holtz offered him a job after becoming the Fighting Irish's head coach in 1986. Amato, of course, had worked under Holtz at NC State in the early 1970s.
"I just felt I was better off where I was," Amato said, recalling his decision to stay with Bobby Bowden at Florida State. "But just to be asked to coach at a place like Notre Dame was an absolute delight."
And Amato made the right decision. Through the early and mid-90s, Florida State galloped past Notre Dame on the college football ladder of success. Ironically, FSU won the national title in 1993 after sustaining what was thought to be a devastating late-season loss to Notre Dame. A week later, however, the Seminoles got right back into the hunt when the Irish were stunned by Boston College. The Eagles unlikely win that day turned their coach into one of the most sought after men in the business.
That coach-Tom Coughlin-now leads the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, who play their home games in the very same stadium that will host the Gator Bowl.
Ironies aside, NC State can win on Wednesday if it sets its sights on playing the mortals of the present as opposed to the immortals of the past. Gold helmets, green jerseys, and fabled legends of yesteryear don't win games in the year 2003.
And neither do bulky media guides.
