North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack, Tigers Feeling Positive
10/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 15, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-Clemson's 30-27 overtime victory over Virginia on Saturday may have been a season-maker. NC State's last-second 31-24 triumph over Connecticut was probably a season-saver. Either way, both teams needed something to feel good about going into a short week prior to their 7:45 meeting at Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday night. Close wins, it seems, always provide satisfaction for the soul. Positive vibes were exactly what the doctor ordered on Sunday morning when, instead of taking their usual day off to nurse the bruises of battle, players on both teams had to get right back to work.
"We talked about that right after the game because your mind immediately goes to the next game, especially with a short week," said Clemson coach Tommy Bowden. "It's always easier to come in and watch film on Sunday morning when you've won. It's the same thing with your players. [On a short week] you've got to ask them to do more on Sunday than they normally do, but asking that of them with a win is a lot more positive than doing it after a loss."
And while the Tigers (4-2, 2-1) were edging the Cavaliers for a huge win that left them with a 2-1 conference mark, NC State (4-3, 1-2) was breathing a huge sigh of relief in the aftermath of its near-miracle finish at home against Connecticut. Squarely staring at what would have certainly been a very tense overtime scenario, the Wolfpack got a 56-yard interception return from Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay with just five seconds remaining in regulation to avoid such a fate.
Was it a pretty win? No. Was it a dominant performance? No. Was it exactly what coach Chuck Amato's team needed? Perhaps.
"This past week's win was really good," said Pack quarterback Philip Rivers, who admitted to having his worst game of the year against the Huskies. "Certainly, you want to play better in certain phases, but I think it was good the way it happened. It was good for us to win a game like that where we got a break there at the end. I think that may have been just what we needed before this game."
So a game normally referred to as the 'Textile Bowl' could now be called the 'Feel-Good Bowl.'
But it remains to be seen exactly which team will still be feeling giddy by the time it all ends late on Thursday night. Clemson, of course, has nothing good to reflect upon when looking back on its last meeting with NC State.
One year ago, on another Thursday night, the Tigers, playing in front of their home fans and a national television audience, were humiliated by the Wolfpack 38-6. It was on that night that Death Valley resembled a large, outdoor funeral home. And speaking of funerals, some of the more rabid fanatics in Tigertown were quite outspoken in their desire to bury Bowden after that game.
Twelve months later, the flooring under Bowden's feet isn't made of eggshells as it was at the beginning of the season. That, of course, is subject to change pending the outcome of Thursday night's game. With a win, Clemson stays in the ACC race, a fact that Bowden thinks should trump any revenge motives that may stem from what happened a year ago.
"When that whistle is blown, [revenge] is a non-factor," Bowden said. "That's not going to have anything to do with this game. By the time you start talking about revenge, then you lose your focus and concentration on what you need to do as far as your defensive and offensive game plans. I'm not na?ve to the fact that our players are 19 and 20-year olds and they're well aware of what happened last year. But we haven't discussed it as a staff."
Bowden and his coaches have probably spent more time discussing Rivers, T.A. McLendon and an NC State offense that is putting up a league-leading 441 yards and 38 points per game. Last year, the Clemson orange brought out the best in McLendon, who rushed for a career-high 178 yards and two touchdowns against the Tigers. After missing a pair of games with a pulled hamstring, the sophomore tailback had a chance to get some playing time on Saturday, rushing for 32 yards on 12 carries.
"It was big and he ran hard," Rivers said when asked how important it was for McLendon to get a game under his belt on Saturday. "He didn't have a huge game statistically, but he ran hard and it kind of got him back in the flow. He's healthy and he was bouncing around in practice."
McLendon's return should provide a boost to the NC State offense, which, in spite of its stellar numbers, has been lacking balance this season. Without a running game, the Wolfpack attack has often become too one dimensional and too reliant on Rivers to make plays against defenses that are sitting back and putting a heavy emphasis on stopping deep throws downfield. As usual, Rivers will likely encounter a variety of coverage looks on Thursday night.
"I don't think you can play your base defense," Bowden said. "Like when you're facing most good quarterbacks, you have to make it a little more difficult as far as coverages and pressure. You have to be a little more deceptive in your coverages and also be able to apply pressure. Those guys like Rivers, you've got to try to confuse a little bit."
Likewise, the quarterback on the other side of the field will also be a handful for the NC State defense. Coming into his own as a sophomore, Clemson's Charlie Whitehurst is second only to Rivers in the ACC in passing (272 yards per game) and total offense (272). And the guys catching those throws are also impressive. Receivers Kevin Youngblood (6.3 receptions per game) and Derrick Hamilton (5.17) are among the most talented and dangerous pass catchers in the league.
"You've got to know exactly where Hamilton is every down," said Aughtry-Lindsay. "Last year he led the ACC in all-purpose yards and he's leading it again this year (135.5 ypg). He's a game breaker; he can turn the game around anytime he has the ball in his hands. They've got Whitehurst and he's been playing really well this season. Their receiving corps is probably one of the best in the nation."
That fact may not bode well for an NC State defense that has struggled against the many efficient passing attacks it has faced this fall. It doesn't help that starting cornerback Lamont Reid will miss this game with an injured shoulder. The junior will be replaced in the starting line-up by Dovonte Edwards, a player who switched from receiver to cornerback last spring.
Clemson leads the all-time series with NC State by a 44-26-1 margin. The Wolfpack has prevailed in three of the last five matchups, but has dropped three of the last four meetings in Raleigh.
