North Carolina State University Athletics
Philip Rivers Chat Transcript
9/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 17, 2002
Rivers, whose name is being mentioned as one of the up-and-coming Heisman hopefuls, is on target to shatter every NC State passing record and perhaps claim the Atlantic Coast Conference passing marks before his career is over. Rivers, who leads the nation in passing efficiency heading into this Saturday's game at Texas Tech, has passed for nine touchdowns already this season. See what the NC State QB had to say during his chat Wednesday.
Philip Rivers: Hello everyone! Glad to be here. I'm ready for your questions.
Darin (Orlando): Hey Philip, what are some of the similarities and differences you see between yourself and your counterpart this weekend, Kliff Kingsbury?
Philip Rivers: To tell you the truth, other than seeing him a few times on TV, I haven't seen much of him. From what I hear, he is a great QB and really leads that bunch. A lot of their success is due to the way he leads that team down the field.
Jason Harris (Raleigh,NC): At the end of these past few games, you have been sitting out most of the 4th quarter due to a blowout, except with the Navy game where Chuck kept you in longer resulting in your outstanding QB rating for that game. Do you wish that you could stay in longer in more games, not only due to competitive drive, but also due to overall stats? By the way, I know you don't focus on the individual performance, JUST THE TEAM :)
GO WOLFPACK!!!!! #16 and rising!!!!
Philip Rivers: I really don't. The amount I have played the first three games was good and it was good to get Davis in the game and get some reps in a live game. I think certainly there will be plenty of times I will be in there until the end.
John (Raleigh, N.C.): Hey I am sitting in the computer lab on campus and I just wanted to ask you how you felt about this week's game? We are a ranked team going in as an underdog. How do you feel about this and how does it make your drive to win increase or decrease? Does it make you feel we are overrated?
Philip Rivers: I think it shows although we are 4-0 we don't yet have that respect of being a good team. We will use that as motivation. I don't mind being an underdog. That is just the way it goes sometimes. We just have to concentrate and play our game.
Greta (Raleigh): How do you feel about playing on astroturf this weekend at Texas Tech? Have you ever played a game on turf since you've been at State?
Philip Rivers: I don't think it will be a big deal. I have worked out on turf before. It won't be a big deal unless we make it one. I have heard the turf is in good shape so it should be fun to play on a new surface.
Keith (Atlanta): Philip I'm sure that you already have people mentioning to you that you should consider going pro early. Now that you are a new father with a family depending on you, is the allure to leave State strong because of the financial security or are you still inclined to stay and win titles?
Philip Rivers: That has had no effect. My plan has been to stay and graduate and be a senior on this team. I have always wanted to do that and that is the approach I am taking.
Danny (Wilmington NC ): Congradulations on the season so far. I was just curious if we can expect to see more of Chris Murray in the rotation at wide out this season. Thanks, Go Pack!
Philip Rivers: That could gradually happen. He is still working hard and learning along with some other guys. He is still a freshman and gradually getting better. Down the road you may see a number of different guys in there.
Mark, Raleigh NC: Twenty years from now after Amato has several national championships, and your NFL career is complete, would you consider returning to NC State as a coach?
Philip Rivers: You never know .. I had that coaching desire in me, I majored in business so I'm not necessarily taking that route. But I like being a leader so you never know. That is something that certainly would be fine with me!
Phillip (Raleigh): Can anyone on the team beat you at EA Sports College football for Playstation 2?
Philip Rivers: I'm up there with the top guys .. Burnette and Peterson can slip up and beat me sometimes. I always tell them I am the best.
Matt (Raleigh): Great work in games 1-4. You seem to a coach out on the field, yelling at receivers and players when they make mistakes. I don't remember this as much in past years. Is this a result a concerted effort to be the leader, a result of a better understanding of the offense, or of your dad being a coach?
Philip Rivers: It's not so much yellling, it's just correcting things on the field. I ask them what they saw that I didn't see. It's more communication than yelling. But I feel I have to take that role and make sure we correct things and do things right.
John Rinehart, Rocky Mount, NC: What's the story on the two unsportsman-like conduct penalties against the offense after touchdowns last week against Wake Forest? Are the refs getting more strict about end zone celebrations?
Philip Rivers: To tell you the truth, I didn't see exactly what happened. I know we were showing great excitement and it was probably the right call. But they were celebrating with each other, they weren't showboating. I'm sure the ref made the right call.
Anna, Nashville: First of all, let me say thank-you for being a great representative of NC State, both on and off the field! On average, how many "reads" do you make per throw? Do you do most of your "reads" before the ball is snapped or after the play has begun? It seems impossible to look at 4 different receivers in 5 seconds with 280 pound DE's chasing you!
Philip Rivers: Certainly you have a pre-snap read as to what they are showing you .. then from there, depending on the play, you may be playing off what one guy does. Some plays are more of a progression than a read .. you go from one guy to the next to the next. You are right, you can't look four different ways each time, you just don't have time.
Todd (Raleigh): Philip,
With all the hype going on about the great QB battle this weekend, I still haven't heard much about the Tech secondary. Are you confident that your receivers will be able to get open consistently and hopefully open up our running game? How do you think our DB's will fare against Kingsbury? There is NOTHING I enjoy more than watching you and the pack play on Saturdays. Good luck this weekend and kick some Raider butt!!!Philip Rivers: I think so. Certainly they have a great defense but it will be key for us each week to concetrate on ourselves. Everything else will take care of itself. Our passing game has been good and continues to get better so we just have to keep executing.
Brad Kidd (Raleigh): How does your unorthodox style of throwing the ball work so well? Is it your decision making that makes you such a great quarterback, or something else?
Philip Rivers: My throwing motion has been talked about for years .. it's not as awkward as it is made out to be. The object is to get the receiver the ball quick as you can .. I just flick it out to them on those short passes. I make good decisions and take a lot of time working on that. Any good QB has to be quick and make smart decisions.
Cy (Cary, NC): Phil,
Awesome year so far! I know you are not the type of person to worry about stuff like this, but would you like the school to start promoting you more for the Heisman? Good luck in Lubbock, GO PACK!
Philip Rivers: I think that will gradually come as far as us getting better and succeeding. I'm not an individual guy but if we keep winning, myself and the other guys will get more recognition.
Andre (Detroit,MI): Hello Phillip. As a quarterback what type of reciever would be a favorite target for you? Size, Speed?
Philip Rivers: I think the first key thing is understanding the game and what the QB is seeing. If you are running a curl pattern, he has to adjust to that and understand what we need them to do. Running good routes is key. Making the great catch is something you have to be able to do to be a good WR. Our guys have done that. I get credit for it, but they are the guys making the great plays.
t (greensboro, nc): Do you have any favorite pro teams that you pull for?
Philip Rivers: Goodness.. I liked the Colts growing up and I like the Packers. If I were to play Madden on PlayStation I play with the Packers. I like watching the Raiders, especially when they are throwing it all over the place like last week.
Johnny-Raleigh: How do you think the team's weak nonconference schedule will prepare you for the better teams in the nation, like Florida State? They may be the first ranked opponent you face, and it has to be tough to adjust to their level of play after facing weaker teams for a large part of the season.
GO STATE!!
Philip Rivers: I think it prepares us fine. We have taken heat for the schedule but we have gotten better in every game we have played. This week is no easy game. This will be a very tough game on the road. With the thick of the ACC coming up, we will be very ready for teams like FSU.
I have to run. Thanks for writing in and for all of your support. Go Pack!!!!!!!!!!!!!
