North Carolina State University Athletics
Rivers, Pack Close Out Spring Practice
4/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 11, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-When he walks off Wayne T. Day Field at Carter-Finley Stadium following the Red/White Scrimmage on Saturday afternoon, NC State quarterback Philip Rivers will be closing out his fourth spring practice period with the Wolfpack. What's so unusual about that? Well, most four-year players only participate in spring drills three times in their careers. Rivers, of course, is the exception. Prior to his freshman campaign, he was able to go through the spring following an early graduation from high school. This year, seven new NC State players have followed in Rivers' footsteps.
Dubbed "The Magnificent Seven," defensive end Mario Williams, defensive tackle Tank Tyler, receiver Lamart Barrett, safety Garland Heath, linebacker Ernest Jones, offensive tackle Derek Morris, and offensive lineman Yomi Ojo certainly have a better chance to become more seasoned rookies next season after having gone through the full spring routine.
The best test case is, of course, Rivers, who may not have been ready to take over the reigns of the NC State offense right away had he not gotten his feet wet that first spring. Now the other new kids on the block are gaining the same benefits.
"I think it's helping them a lot," Rivers said. "To me, you look at Lamart Barrett as a wide out. I see him a lot because we're doing a lot of drills with the receivers. He's improved a lot. You imagine him coming in in the fall and what it would be like. But just the improvement he's made the last six or seven days has been great. All those guys are going to be great players. They didn't have the 20-inch snow I had, so it's been a little more fun for them. Those guys are enjoying it and they feel a part of it already."
Rivers' first spring was interrupted by an unprecedented blizzard that dumped nearly 20 inches of snow on the Raleigh area. He also missed the Red/White Scrimmage that year after breaking his hand. By then, however, his presence on the football team had already been established. Now entering his senior year, the Heisman Trophy candidate is on pace to become the ACC's all-time leading passer sometime next fall. For now, he's just looking forward to entertaining the fans in Saturday's scrimmage.
"We've scrimmaged a lot where there's been half scrimmages and things like that," Rivers said of the grueling sometimes monotonous spring schedule. "Late in the scrimmage it gets tough to keep your enthusiasm. But on Saturday it will be exciting with fans here watching. Hopefully it will be a pretty day and people can come out and see some new faces."
Some new faces that are getting some much needed experience, much the way Philip Rivers did four springs ago.
