North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Pondering Bowl Possibilities
10/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 27, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-As a crucial stretch of November football games approaches, NC State's postseason possibilities cover an entire gambit of scenarios. With wins in its last three games or even two of its last three, the Wolfpack will likely land an attractive postseason bowl bid somewhere. Of course, given the fact that NC State's last three opponents own a combined record of 17-7 and have all been ranked in the top-25 at one time or another this season, the road to the finish line will be filled with all kinds of challenging obstacles. The beginning of the end starts this Saturday, when the Pack hosts 5-3 Virginia at 3:30 p.m.
"If we don't win any of the next three games, we'll have Christmas together [at home]," said coach Chuck Amato, who has led NC State to three consecutive bowls since taking over in 2000. "That's why all these games are important. There's no question that the more you win, the better your chances of going to a good bowl. Bowls are a reward, no matter where you go. If we're fortunate enough to go to one, I don't care what bowl we go to. It's a reward for those young men and they deserve it."
Of course, some of those rewards are more lucrative and attractive than others. Barring an unexpected Florida State (6-0 in ACC) collapse, NC State's most realistic shot is to land a second or third place finish in the final ACC standings, which could potentially produce a spot in either the Gator or Peach Bowls. The ACC also has tie-ins with the Tangerine, Continental Tire and Humanitarian Bowls. Right now, the Wolfpack (3-2) is one of five teams tied for second place in the loss column.
In other words, the travel itinerary could have NC State flying anywhere from the warmth of sunny Jacksonville, Florida to the bone-chilling cold of Boise, Idaho, site of the Humanitarian Bowl. There's also the dreaded "home for the holidays" option Amato mentioned if things don't go well over the last three games.
"The way we play determines what bowl we go to," said sophomore linebacker Manny Lawson. "If we win out, there's no telling what bowl we may go to. If we sell ourselves short right now, there are some lower bowls that we may go to, and we don't want any of that. Our main focus right now is to win out no matter what."
Now that would be impressive given the level of competition NC State will see down the stretch. In Virginia, the Pack will be facing another team that has its sights set on a strong finish that could also result in an attractive bowl trip. Also 3-2 in league play, the Cavaliers will likely come to Raleigh with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder after what happened during the bowl selection process in 2002. Not only did Virginia beat NC State last season, it also finished ahead of the Wolfpack in the ACC standings. But when it came time for the Gator Bowl to exercise its option of making the first bowl selection out of the ACC post BCS, it bypassed the Cavaliers and chose NC State.
That didn't sit to well in either Charlottesville or College Park, Maryland. Like Virginia, Maryland was also bypassed in favor of NC State, although it to won the head-to-head meeting and finished ahead of the Pack in the final standings.
Either way, Saturday's game will feature a couple of teams that will have plenty to play for.
[Virginia coach Al Groh] preaches the same thing coach Amato preaches: you've got to be nasty on defense," said NC State receiver Jerricho Cotchery. "Those guys were hitting last year. On top of that, it was cold and rainy. Every hit I took, I was bracing for."
Reggie, Reggie: Freshman tailback Reggie Davis has earned enough confidence from the coaching staff to get a second consecutive start in the Wolfpack backfield. In his first career start against Duke on Saturday, the rookie from Tallahassee had 19 carries for 55 yards and one touchdown.
"We were very pleased," Amato responded when asked about Davis' debut. "He blocked fairly well. That's the toughest thing that running backs have to do when they come out of high school is the blocking aspect of it. They all want to run the football. He runs north and south and he runs with body lean. We were very pleased with what he did and he will continue to play. It's not going to be 50 snaps and sit on the bench for the next three games. He'll be the starter even if Josh [Brown] is 100 percent."
Brown, who has missed the last two games while recovering from injuries to his hip and abdomen, is listed as probable for Saturday's game.
Of course, the guy that Amato would really love to throw out there is tailback is T.A. McLendon, who is trying to make a quick comeback from arthroscopic knee surgery.
"There is a chance, but it's wait and see," said Amato. "I think they said this morning that the flexibility in his good knee is 128 degrees and the bad one is 121 degrees, whatever that means."
Even if he is unable to play this weekend, there's very little doubt McLendon will be ready t go when NC State travels to Florida State on November 15th, especially since that game comes after an open date. Amato scoffed at the notion that he might consider holding the sophomore out until next season.
"There's no next year unless next year is January first," Amato said. "Fortunately, it's not an ACL or something that would be season ending. It's something that can be rectified within a limited amount of time. There are three games left and if he can play in one of them and help us win, he'll want to do it. We're going to wait and see. We're not conceding anything there."
In other injury news, receiver Richard Washington will definitely miss the Virginia game after cracking a couple of ribs over the weekend. Cornerback Lamont Reid, who has missed two straight games with a shoulder injury, is listed as probable.
