North Carolina State University Athletics
2002 Football Preseason Diary, Day 12
8/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2002
I didn't get to all of this morning's practice because of our weekly football operations meeting. This is when a group of adminstrators get together and talk about security, parking, pre-game and halftime entertainment, phone lines, team entrances, credentials, video, concessions, traffic, sideline control - you name it, we cover it. It is quite an undertaking to put on a football game. Shannon Yates, our assistant athletics director for game operations and varsity sport administration, does a great job keeping a huge staff of parking, security and game ops. folks clicking like clockwork.
When I did get to practice this morning, it was very hot and very humid. I'm sure the guys are pretty beat. Saturday's scrimmage was very intense and then they had to be out in the hot sun at the stadium yesterday for photos and interviews for more than three hours. This year's group seems to find the fun in everything, however, which makes them a good group to be around. They were having a good time joking around with each other and their coaches. When we took the coaching staff photo, you couldn't hear the photographer's instructions because all of the players were LOUDLY picking on their position coaches (and the head coach).
The guys had a great time at the "Day of Champions," mainly laughing at their teammates creative entrances to the court when they were introduced. Afterwards, they went back to campus and had segment (position meetings), so it was a long day for them.
Coach Amato continues to remind the players about the loyal fans who have really dug into their pocketbooks and pockets to help build the facilities at Carter-Finley. I've heard him say several times, "Do you think I'm going to let you NOT work hard after everything these folks are doing for you?" You could see how impressed the players were with the new building Saturday at the scrimmage. The facade that faces the field is almost completed, and it really is an impressive site from the field and the stands.
Two of the guys who missed practice on Saturday were back today (T.A. McLendon - bruised foot and Sterling Hicks - bruised shoulder). Everybody knock on wood REAL hard right now, but we've been really lucky from an injury report this season. There were NO pink jerseys in practice today (I think some of the guys toughen up to keep from having to put on the pink jersey). Speaking of injuries, my assistant Jason Corriher, should be in a pink jersey today. Yesterday, while loading coolers and media guides at the stadium after media day, the door of a car turned evil and smacked him in the head. While some of you were enjoying the "Day of Champions," he was at the urgent care center getting stitches in his head!
Dantonio Burnette did a long interview over the phone with his hometown paper today after practice. These guys are great about handling their media responsibilities - even though I know they're hot and tired and ready to go lay down after a long morning, they never (well, almost never) complain about their obligations. It's well known that "Thunder Dan" is one of my all-time favorite players. He always does everything anyone asks him to do and he always does it with a smile on his face and with a great deal of enthusiasm. You can ask the coaches, trainers, managers, media - just about anybody associated with Wolfpack football - who their favorite players are, and you can put money on the fact that Dan will ALWAYS be on the list.
From what I can see, the defense has really picked it up out there. Everybody is talking about our improved speed, and you can really see it when they go live. I don't think I've mentioned yet that Chip Cross is now playing defensive end instead of inside, which gives some good speed at the end, and the speed of our defensive backs has been well-documented. Coach Amato liked to tell people in the off-season that when Cross was on the line, he was faster than any of our linebackers (he runs about a 4.6 from what I can remember). But now that Manny Lawson is playing strongside linebacker, that wouldn't be the case any more (he evidently runs a 4.3, which would make him the fastest guy on the team at 6'6"!).
Diary, Day 1
Diary, Day 2
Diary, Day 3
Diary, Day 4
Diary, Day 5
Diary, Day 5, Part 2
Diary, Day 6
Diary, Day 7
Diary, Day 8
Diary, Day 9
Diary, Day 10
Diary, Day 11
