North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Graduation: The Greatest Walk The Walk
12/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Dec. 15, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Philip Rivers and David Thompson are perhaps the two most popular athletes in NC State history. They are, arguably at least, the greatest Wolfpack athletes ever in their respective sports. Now they share another common bond. They are both NC State graduates, Class of 2003.
Although separated in age by almost 28 years, Rivers and Thompson both will walk across the stage December 17 in separate ceremonies to receive their diplomas from NC State. Rivers, who will wrap up his college football career on December 22 at the Tangerine Bowl, will receive his degree in business. Thompson, who played his last college basketball game in March 1975, finished his degree in sociology over the summer. Summer graduates at NC State are included in the December commencement exercises.
Back in the 1970s, Thompson was the most popular athlete in the state of North Carolina as he helped lead NC State to a perfect 27-0 season in 1972-73 and a 30-1 mark and the national championship a year later. He was a two-time National Player of the Year, and his uniform (No. 44) was retired following his senior year, the only NC State basketball uniform that actually has been retired.
Although he was a charismatic player with eye-popping physical gifts, Thompson was soft-spoken, thoughtful and always friendly off the court, which helped fuel his incredible popularity. In three years with the Wolfpack (freshmen were ineligible in those days), Thompson set school records for points in a single game (57), and points per game in a season (29.9 in 1975) and a career (26.8), records that still stand today. He left NC State following his senior season and embarked on a nine-year professional career in both the ABA and NBA. He was a four-time NBA All-Star and was MVP of the 1979 NBA All-Star Game. The Denver Nuggets retired his NBA uniform (No. 33) in 1992.
Rivers, the 2003 Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, will wrap up his college career with virtually every single-game, single season and career passing record in both NC State and ACC history. He is second in NCAA history in career passing yardage, and is the only quarterback in ACC history to pass for 3000 yards in a season three times, and the only QB in conference annals to pass for 4000 yards in a season ever.
With Rivers running the show, the Wolfpack offense has been incredibly prolific. Over the last four years, NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium has been a house of thrills, with the Wolfpack making countless miracle comebacks, engineering one offensive explosion after another, and defeating opponents with breathtaking precision in the passing game.
NC State has won 33 games in Rivers' four years, which is tied for the winningest four-year span in school history, pending the outcome of the Tangerine Bowl game vs. Kansas. Like Thompson, Rivers is humble and gracious off the field, a devoted husband and father, which has made him even more beloved by Wolfpack fans. NC State retired Rivers' uniform (No. 17) prior to his last game at Carter-Finley Stadium, but No. 17 will probably be worn at Carter-Finley Stadium for years to come. Replica 17 jerseys still rank among the most popular items at area sporting goods stores.
Thompson and Rivers will not be the only NC State athletes graduating this week. Sean Locklear, Dantonio Burnette and Adam Kiker from the football team also will be receiving their diplomas, as will Gretchen Lear and Colette Seville from women's soccer, Justin Walters from men's golf, and Amelia Labador from women's basketball.
