North Carolina State University Athletics
Final Wolfpack Football Notes
1/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 13, 2003
FINAL NOTES ON THE 2002 WOLFPACK
* NC State's 11-3 final record marks top win total in 111-year history of Wolfpack football
* Chuck Amato became just the fourth coach in ACC history and the second in NC State history to earn bowl appearances in each of his first three years as head coach. Amato's 2000 squad defeated Minnesota in the micronpc.com Bowl, the 2001 squad fell to Pittsburgh in the Tangerine Bowl, and this year's squad defeated Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.
* NC State ended the season with back-to-back wins over opponents ranked in the top 15: Florida State and Notre Dame.
* The Pack finished the season ranked 11th in the final ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, 12th by the Associated Press. Those marked the highest final rankings for the Pack in almost three decades.
* NC State became the first ACC team to defeat Florida State in back-to-back seasons since the Seminoles joined the conference. In 2001, the Pack was the first league opponent to beat FSU on their home field.
* Five Wolfpack players were named to the 2002 All-ACC first team, the highest total for NC State in a decade. On offense, tailback T.A. McLendon, tight end Sean Berton and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery were selected, while linebacker Dantonio Burnette and free safety Terrence Holt were named on defense.
* Tailback T.A. McLendon was named the ACC Rookie of the Year. A Wolfpack player has been so honored in two of Amato's three seasons with the program.
* The Pack boasted a 3,000-yard passer (Philip Rivers - 3,353 yards), a 1,000-yard rusher (T.A. McLendon - 1,101 yards) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Jerricho Cotchery - 1,192 yards).
* The Wolfpack set a school record with 10 blocked kicks for the season, that mark led the ACC and ranked second nationally. Freshman linebacker Manny Lawson tied for the national lead with three blocked punts.
* Terrence Holt set the ACC career record for blocked kicks with a dozen.
* NC State led the ACC in total defense.
* The Pack's 9-0 start was the best in school history.
* The Pack scored nine non-offensive touchdowns in 2002.
* Free safety Terrence Holt was named a first-team Sporting News All-American
* Tailback T.A. McLendon was named a Sporting News Freshman All-American.
* NC State led the nation in kickoff returns.
* Philip Rivers finished his junior season as the winningest junior quarterback in the nation - he posts a 26-12 mark as a starter.
* The Wolfpack garnered 19 ACC Player of the Week honors, three more than any other league school.
* Philip Rivers set the school record for career passing touchdowns, he now boasts 61.
* Jerricho Cotchery led the ACC in receiving yards per game (85.1).
* Receiver Bryan Peterson made at least one catch in 39 consecutive games, a new school record.
