North Carolina State University Athletics
Rivers Adjusting To 'Family Life'
7/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 21, 2002
By DAVID DROSCHAK, AP Sports Writer
PINEHURST, N.C.(AP) - Philip Rivers has shouldered his share of responsibility for the NC State football program from the day he walked on campus and became the starting quarterback as a freshman.
His duties off the field have become even more demanding in the past year. The junior QB married his high school sweetheart, and 15 days ago he became a father.
The 6-5, 235-pound Rivers - always cool in the pocket - doesn't appear nervous by his new obligations away from the gridiron.
"There is a balance of time between football, your family, school work - just like anybody else who has a normal job," Rivers said Sunday at the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Kickoff. "It definitely won't be a negative. It's not something I think about having an affect on my performance.
"Different people take on different things at different times. It just so happens I took them on earlier, but everything has been great."
Rivers said he could have dreamed of being married before turning 21, but not starting a family.
"But things happen for a reason," he said. "Now, I have somebody that depends on me all the time."
Rivers is already thinking like a father.
"It's crazy thinking about how she is going to grow up and be 15 years old one day," Rivers said of his daughter, Halle Elizabeth. "You start thinking about when you were 15 and how your parents were."
Rivers has been NC State's rock the last two seasons, throwing for 5,640 yards and 41 touchdowns in leading the Wolfpack to two bowl games.
He vowed that being a father won't make him soft, but it will offer some perspective.
"I treat football as my job, but when I come home I've got to be a dad and a husband," he said. "If I have a terrible game I am still the best thing in the world to them.
"I will probably be even tougher on myself this year," Rivers added. "I know my career is halfway over at NC State and it flew by and I can be pleased with what I've done, but I can get a lot better."
Rivers and the Wolfpack are getting more preseason hype than usual this year. The N.C. State quarterback is being mentioned as a Heisman Trophy candidate and the team is expected to challenge Florida State for the ACC title.
"Potential has never won a game, that's what my dad always tells me," Rivers said. "But going into a season knowing that people are paying attention to you gives you a lot of momentum. You can get out there and get after it early in the season and think maybe we do have a chance (to win a championship)."
The top individual goal this season for Rivers is actually a team goal - to go undefeated with him under center for every game.
He's also interested in cutting down on his interceptions - to zero. His 17 interceptions in 809 career attempts is already a remarkable figure.
"I know it's almost unrealistic not to throw any all year, but that's one goal I will put down before the season," he said. "I write down something really tough that I think I can accomplish."
One thing Rivers is confident he can handle is being a good husband and father while still being a top student and playing college football at the highest level.
"There is so much correlation between life, family and football, knowing that you're the leader of the house," Rivers said. "They are depending on you to take care of them and it works that way in football. I feel like those guys look to me and depend on me on third-and-2 to find a way to make the play.
"It all boils down to being a close family and a close team and being able to lean on each other to get through the tough times and cruise through the easy ones."
Free safety Terrence Holt just smiled when asked about Rivers being the team's leader.
"He's a guy we look at and people thrive off of him. Some reporters are talking Heisman talk, but I just tell him as far as he takes us that's as far as we'll go."
