North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Stays Optimistic
10/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 7, 2003
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Before the season, North Carolina State fans and players talked of making a run at a national championship. Six games later, those hopes have vanished.
Still, the Wolfpack is focused on what lies ahead going into Saturday's game against Connecticut.
"Everybody knows we've got to get a little better," Wolfpack center Jed Paulsen said Monday. "We've got to keep working on the little things, because that's what's beating us right now.
"We're going to keep having confidence. That's not going anywhere."
The Wolfpack (3-3, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) is coming off a 29-21 loss at Georgia Tech, their third road loss in as many games this year. N.C. State struggled without injured running back T.A. McLendon, finishing with minus-8 rushing yards.
The team has also lost at Wake Forest and defending national champion Ohio State.
"It's not really discouraging, but I'm a little disappointed," linebacker Oliver Hoyte said. "We had our eye set on the national championship, but from where we're at right now, it doesn't look that way."
But coach Chuck Amato pointed out that this year's team is in a similar position to the 2001 squad that reached the Tangerine Bowl. That team returned from Atlanta at 3-3 after a 27-17 loss to the Yellow Jackets, but rallied to win four of its final five regular-season games.
The run included a 34-28 win at Florida State, marking the first time the Seminoles had lost at home to an ACC opponent.
Amato said he's staying positive about this year's team even though some of the lofty goals that hovered over Carter-Finley Stadium in August have disappeared.
"That's why you shoot for the moon; that's why you set your goals high," Amato said. "If you don't reach them, at least you're not in the gutter.
"We're building a program. Programs don't happen overnight. ... We've got time and we've got commitment here and we're going to work like mad to get there."
After ending the nonconference schedule against the Huskies this week, the Wolfpack faces Clemson, Duke, Virginia, Florida State and Maryland. A repeat performance of 2001 could put the Wolfpack back in the hunt for a league title.
"With three losses, I don't think a national championship is still in the picture," Paulsen said. "But an ACC championship still is. Some teams could lose along the road. Upsets have been happening left and right in college football, and you never know."
NOTES: Amato said he does not know whether McLendon will be ready for the Connecticut game due to his pulled hamstring. "If he was an offensive tackle and all he had to do was ... put a hat on somebody, I'd say he'd play. But that's not what he does." ... During McLendon's absence, the Wolfpack has averaged 87 rushing yards in three games. ... N.C. State has lost five straight road games dating back to last season. ... The Wolfpack is 14-2 against nonconference teams at home under Amato.
