North Carolina State University Athletics
Fans Guide to Saturday's Spring Football Game
4/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 11, 2003
Spring Game Set for Saturday
The NC State football team will conclude spring drills with a controlled situational scrimmage on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium. The competition will pit the Wolfpack offense against the defense. At halftime of the event, the Pack kickers will have a "Kick-Off," taking turns kicking off from the 35-yardline from the different hashmarks.
Murphy Center Closed to Public
The Wolfpack's new operations complex, the Murphy Center, has been in use by the team and staff for the past two weeks, but is not yet open to the public. The team will use the lockerrooms in the center on Saturday.
Several Players Sit Out with Injuries
Several Wolfpack players will miss Saturday's scrimmage as they recover from injuries and/or surgery. These players include: Andre Maddox (neck injury), Sterling Hicks (recovering from shoulder surgery), T.A. McLendon (recovering from wrist surgery), Alan Halloway (recovering from hand surgery), Avery Gibson (MCL sprain), Lamont Reid (groin injury), Ashley Wingate (MCL sprain), Jed Paulsen (recovering from knee surgery) and T.J. Williams (high ankle sprain).
Position Changes Work Out Well for Pack
The Wolfpack coaches have been pleased with several of the position changes they made for spring. Dovonte Edwards has performed well at cornerback, earning the team's "Most Dependable" defensive back award for the spring. Avery Gibson's move to tight end was hampered by injury - as soon as he was cleared from his ankle surgery, he suffered a knee sprain - but coaches think he could be a factor there.
Wolf Pups Impact Defense
Two of the four players who graduated from high school early and joined the Pack this spring are already on the NC State two-deep chart. Mario Williams finishes spring as the starter at one of the defensive end spots, while DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler is listed as the backup at one of the tackle positions and could battle for a starting role this fall. Ernest Jones had a solid spring at linebacker as well, and is listed as a reserve on the weak side.
