North Carolina State University Athletics
Injuries Continue to Plague NC State Offense
9/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 15, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - Led by incomparable quarterback Philip Rivers, the NC State offense leads the entire nation in passing with an average of 383.7 yards per game. Furthermore, the Wolfpack ranks 14th in scoring (40.3 points per game) and 27th in total offense (447 yards per game). All of this is being accomplished without full-time contributions from two first-team All-ACC players. While left tackle Chris Colmer has missed every game with a nerve problem in his arm, tailback T.A. McLendon has been limited by a knee injury. On Monday, head coach Chuck Amato also learned that starting wide receiver Sterling Hicks would be out for the rest of the year.
"He's got an ACL [tear]," Amato said during his regular Monday press conference. "Fortunately for him, he's never been redshirted and we can get a medical redshirt for him if he wants to stick around. It's unfortunate because he's a great young man."
Hicks, a 6-2 junior from Pompano Beach, Fla., got off to a great start this season, catching seven balls for 110 yards in the Wolfpack's opening night win over Western Carolina. But he also broke his hand late in that game, an injury that forced him to sit out the week two contest at Wake Forest. Upon coming back for last Saturday's match-up at Ohio State, he injured his knee in the first half against the Buckeyes. Last year, Hicks was NC State's fourth leading receiver with 37 catches for 510 yards and two touchdowns.
"We've been lucky in my first three years," Amato said. "How many times have I sat here and said we can't afford to get anyone hurt, especially in the offensive line? We've had some injuries this year. Our best offensive tackle hasn't set foot on the field yet. Now we're losing our most productive returning receiver next to Jerricho [Cotchery], and he basically only played in the first game. Injuries are a part of this game. Football is tough; you're going to get whacked."
One guy who has gotten "whacked" more than just a few times the last two years is Mclendon, whose gimpy knee prevented him from playing the entire game at Ohio State. But when he was in there, the reigning ACC Rookie of the year made an impact. All told, Mclendon touched the ball 11 times - eight rushing and three receiving - and produced a total of 88 yards and a touchdown during his short stints in the game.
Stopped just short of the goal line on a fourth down toss sweep that would have tied the Buckeyes in the third overtime on Saturday, McLendon wasn't ready to be on the field for the few plays that preceded the decisive fourth down call.
"He had ice on his knees," Amato explained. "I looked him in the eyes and the kid almost had tears running down his face. He felt that he would be a detriment, or at least I felt that way. I told him before the game that I would not do anything to put him or any of my other players on the field if they don't feel 100 percent ready. And he was tired. He hasn't done much of anything in practice for about two weeks. He's a special player and a special young man. I don't want anybody to say that I abused somebody just for a win because there's more to it than all that. He's got a lot of games left in him and I want him to be able to play in those."
As for this week against Texas Tech, McLendon hopes he'll be able to contribute more minutes. It was against the Red Raiders last season that he first made a name for himself by rushing for 150 yards and five touchdowns.
"I'm just sore like after any other game," McLendon said. "I'm feeling pretty good though. I'm pretty sure we'll be ready to go by Saturday. I feel like sometimes they could use my help, whether it's as a decoy or to catch a few more passes out in the flats or run the ball up the middle. If I'm in there, I can help to set up a little more play-action. Philip's passing a little more than usual."
Without McLendon available, NC State has not been able to achieve the extraordinary balance that made its attack so lethal last year. Through three games this season, the Pack has thrown 140 passes compared to just 89 rushing attempts.
As of Monday, McLendon said he was about 90 to 95 percent healthy.
"They told me it shouldn't be long before I'm completely healthy," said McLendon, who has been coming in at six o'clock every morning to receive treatment. "I would love to practice. Believe it or not, I want to be out there getting better, getting crisper on my routes and getting crisper on my plays instead of asking Phil all the time, "what do I do Phil?" It hurt me sitting on the sidelines and seeing them practicing and working hard. I want to be out there working hard too."
Rivers is the Man Again Philip Rivers, who leads the nation in passing, has been named ACC Offensive Back of the Week for the second time this season. In completing 36-of-52 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns at Ohio State, the Athens, Alabama senior shattered ACC career records for passing yards, touchdown responsibility and career pass completions. At one point in the second half against the Buckeyes, Rivers completed 10 consecutive throws.
An Instant Classic As Amato predicted, NC State's triple overtime battle with Ohio State is indeed an "Instant Classic." The game will be replayed on ESPN Classic Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m. eastern time.
