North Carolina State University Athletics
2002 Football Preseason Diary, Day 2
7/31/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 31, 2002
Some of the varsity players were taking full advantage of their last day of freedom on Wednesday, since they just had light workouts this afternoon (some light running and stretching). Bryan Peterson had to get his car inspected ("There's no way I'll have time when two-a-days start.") Sean Locklear was getting a takeout box in the dining hall ("I've got to go take a nap while I can"). And as for the quarterback? I called Philip Rivers' home this morning to schedule an interview, expecting him to be washing bibs or changing diapers, or something daddy-related, and found out that he was on the golf course!
And just an aside on the subject of golf - Philip and Terrence Holt both played golf last week at the ACC Football Kickoff in Pinehurst. Philip played in a foursome with ACC Commissioner John Swofford, but Holt one-upped him. He evidently chipped in a birdie on one hole and should have gotten a penalty for excessive celebration. They said the folks on the other holes could hear him whooping and hollering when the ball went in! He spend quite a bit of time emphasizing to Philip that HE had gotten a birdie, even though Philip considers himself quite a golfer after spending the summer working at a local golf club.
The rookies went out this morning around 9:30 and went at it for a couple of hours. There is a lot of teaching and fundamental work going on out there. It's a good time for the coaches to get to know their new players, but it looks a little strange to see the defensive back or running back coaches, managers and trainers working with just one guy! The group went back out this evening at 7:00 p.m. for an hour and a half.
Coach Amato was very complimentary of some of his "home-grown" rookies today. He has been impressed with Goldsboro's Manny Lawson, who is working at SAM linebacker, mainly because he sees so much versatility in this young man. Manny measures 6'5, and he looks pretty tough out there, even though they don't have pads on. Tarboro's T.J. Williams is another North Carolinian who has caught the head coach's eye early. T.J., a tight end, is wearing #80 and watching him run some routes and catch some balls reminded me of another tight end with that jersey number who made some pretty awesome catches for the Pack. A.J. Davis and T.A. McLendon (T.J., A.J., T.A. - what's with all these initials?!?!) also drew praise from the head coach on Wednesday.
The dreaded gassers were tacked on to the end of practice today, but only a couple of guys seemed to be struggling (I'm sure the varsity has told him that the number of gassers will increase dramatically in the next couple of days).
Tomorrow is a day of meetings for the freshmen. First thing in the morning, they meet with your's truly for a media relations seminar, then they have orientation for the rest of the day. They'll meet the varsity for dinner tomorrow afternoon.
