North Carolina State University Athletics
New Preseason Rules Leave Coaches Scrambling
7/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 30, 2003
By Tony Haynes
In previous years, freshmen football players at NC State and everywhere else benefited from an early reporting date, a two or three day orientation period that would allow them to become acclimated to their surroundings before the upperclassmen reported for preseason drills. This year, however, things have changed. A new NCAA rule being implemented this fall requires all players, rookies and veterans, to come in at the same time. It's a switch that will leave many in the Wolfpack's freshmen class even further behind when they check in for this year's official reporting day on Monday, August 4.
"It's going to force us to get them into our practices quicker," said NC State head coach Chuck Amato. "We're going to have to spend time with our freshmen on homesickness. Before, we had three days where we could put our arms around 17 or 20 young men and after that third day was over, we could sit them down, do some good things with them and try to keep them from going home. It's going to be an adjustment for them, but they don't know any different anyway."
When they were given the opportunity to come in early, rookies had a chance to learn the basics, like where to go for equipment, how to set up their lockers and where they needed to be on the practice field when a certain drill was called for. In a stroke of good fortune for Amato and his staff, seven members of NC State's freshmen class were able to participate in spring drills following their early graduation from high school last December. The others, however, will be asked to hit the ground running like never before when they join the full squad next week.
Another new rule that is going into effect stipulates that two-a-day practices cannot be held on back-to-back days during fall camp. It's a change that could make it very difficult for Amato to put his team through the maximum number of 29 workouts before the August 30th opener against Western Carolina, especially if the weather becomes uncooperative.
"Once we start, we're going to go without a day off," Amato said. "We'll practice on Sundays, which we didn't do before. It's going to be tough because you never know when the rains are coming."
Preseason Coverage on Gopack.com: Once fall practice starts next week, Gopack.com will again provide daily coverage on the Wolfpack as it prepares for the 2003 season. To go along with a regular dose of stories and player profiles, NC State Media Relations Director Annabelle Vaughan will be back for a behind the scenes account of Pack football with her daily diaries, which will recap the days events both on and off the field.
Rivers on the web: Philiprivers.com, a new web site dedicated to the exploits of NC State's senior quarterback, will also be launched next week. Along with chronicling River's magnificent career, the site will include pictures, statistics and an audio interview with the man himself.
Open Practice: Fans attending the annual McDonald's Day of Champions festivities on Sunday, August 10 will receive a special bonus: a chance to watch NC State practice. Following an autograph session at the RBC Center from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., the players will head over to Carter-Finley Stadium for a preseason workout that will be open to the public (there will be no weightlifting exhibition this year).
