North Carolina State University Athletics
McLendon Questionable for UNC Game
9/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-It has almost become a weekly question for NC State fans. Will he or won't he? The he is Wolfpack tailback T.A. McLendon. The question is "will he be healthy enough to play in this week's game." This week's answer is "that remains to be seen." The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, who has been slowed down by injuries more than by opposing defenses during his brief career, is listed as questionable for this Saturday's 2 p.m. contest against North Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium.
McLendon was in the midst of a monster game against Texas Tech on Saturday when he stumbled 35 yards from the goal line on a run that covered 67 yards. Knocked out of bounds just a yard shy of the end zone, he limped back to the bench and never returned.
Two days later, an injury that is being labeled a strained hamstring has left NC State and McLendon in limbo once again.
"He's sore," said Wolfpack head coach Chuck Amato. "We'll just have to see how things go. Two weeks ago, I said it would be a bonus if he played against Ohio State and played maybe 15 snaps, and they were bonuses. I'm going to go on record as saying if he plays it's going to be a bonus this week."
So much has been made about McLendon's running physical running style and how it may contribute to the many injuries he's sustained. But on Saturday, there was no contact involved when his hamstring gave way in the open field. The closest defenders were a couple of Texas Tech defensive backs trying to catch him from behind.
"If he would have gotten tackled 30 yards down the field we wouldn't be asking this question right now," said Amato. "He hadn't run that far for over three weeks."
First, there was a knee problem suffered in the season-opener against Western Carolina that kept McLendon out of NC State's September 6th loss at Wake Forest. Although not nearly 100 percent the next week at Ohio State, he was a factor against the Buckeyes, gaining a combined 88 yards on eight rushing attempts and three receptions.
Last weekend, however, McLendon looked as healthy as he's been in awhile, ripping off a spectacular 29-yard touchdown run on NC State's very first series. He had rushed for 115 yards on just 10 carries (11.5 average) when he left early in the third quarter.
The latest problem means more around the clock treatment for a player who has become very familiar with the new training room at the Murphy Football Center. Amato has even suggested to his staff T.A. McLendon might want to consider spending a few nights at the Murphy Center this week.
"They think I'm kidding, but he ought to take one of those blow up beds, bring his pillow and blanket with him and sleep right here," Amato said. "He can get some treatment before he goes to bed at night, right after study hall, one before study hall. He can get one first thing in the morning. He could put [the bed] in one of those whirlpools down there and it would be a waterbed."
Despite playing with a sore shoulder and a broken bone in his wrist most of last year, McLendon still rushed for 1,100 yards and a school-record 18 touchdowns. One of his biggest days came against North Carolina, when he ran for 164 yards and two scores. Entering this weekend's contest, the 0-3 Tar Heels are ranked dead last in the ACC in rushing defense, yielding an average of 225 yards per game.
That particular statistic speaks volumes about how important McLendon's presence could be in this latest match-up between the Pack and Heels.
"He is a special back," Amato said. "T.A. is just a step above anyone else that we have and he may be a step above anyone in the country. He's awfully good."
If McLendon can't go, Josh Brown and Cotra Jackson would be asked to fill the void. When McLendon left on Saturday, Brown came off the bench to pick up 69 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Jackson added a 24-yard scoring run late in the game.
Amato said McLendon could still play on Saturday, even if he's unable to practice during the week.
"I will allow him to play, but he won't start," Amato responded when asked whether McLendon could play if he doesn't practice. "I have a rule that if you don't practice on Wednesday you're not going to start for us. And if you don't practice it all you don't play. That's a rule I can break. I've got a veto on all that stuff."
More Injury News: Amato said he wouldn't be surprised if Troy Graham played even though the junior free safety is listed as questionable with a broken toe. Veteran Victor Stephens is No. 2 on the depth chart at that position. Nothing has changed with senior offensive tackle Chris Colmer, who remains on the doubtful list with Parsonage Turner Syndrome in one of his arms.
