North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack and Heels: At Home on the Road
9/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-NC State (2-2) and North Carolina (0-3) will meet for the 93rd time on Saturday, meaning of course that it's time to say it one more time: "You can throw the records out the window." Here's something else you can toss through the window before you close it: home field advantage. The last time the Wolfpack beat the Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium, a guy named George Bush was in the White House and a war with Iraq had just concluded. Sounds like 2003 doesn't it? Actually, it was 1991. That interesting little streak will be among many important items on the line this weekend.
"Since '91, [home field advantage] hasn't been very important over here," said Wolfpack head coach Chuck Amato. "But since 1991, NC State has won only three football games. Period. The advantage has gone to the University of North Carolina more times than not. We hope it will be to our advantage and I think it will be. I didn't use to think that home field was a big advantage, but it can be. If things are going bad or going good, [the fans] can give a big lift. They can be that 12th man. I'm glad we're playing over here this year."
NC State's only three victories in the series since '91 took place, naturally, in Chapel Hill. Of course, all of these odd little trends over the last 12 years probably won't amount to a hill of beans when the kickoff time of 2 p.m. rolls around on Saturday. Nostalgia won't help the Tar Heels stop the run better, nor will it expedite the healing process in T.A. McLendon's ailing hamstring.
McLendon's status, however, will certainly be a factor. The reigning ACC Rookie of the Year picked up 164 of his 1,101 total yards last season in NC State's 34-17 triumph at Kenan Stadium. With him in the line-up, a leaky North Carolina run defense that is surrendering 225 yards per game figures to be in for a long afternoon.
But McLendon has a hamstring pull, an injury that doesn't heal overnight, even when exposed to all of the technologically advanced treatment toys the new Murphy Center training room has to offer.
"I don't feel good about it," said Amato. "I'm not going to trick anybody; I don't feel good about him playing. A hamstring is a tough thing for a skill player to come back from."
McLendon was in the midst of a 67-yard gallop to the 1-yard line in last week's game against Texas Tech when he felt the twinge in the back of his right leg. If he can't go, the bulk of the running back duties could fall on the capable shoulders of Josh Brown, who posted a career-high 88 yards in last year's tilt with North Carolina.
Whatever the case, the Heels have had a difficult time stopping most of the running backs they've played the last two seasons. The good news is that UNC's Dexter Reid will likely lead the ACC in tackles for the second straight year. The bad news is he's a safety. In fact, Reid and fellow safety Mahlon Carey are North Carolina's top two tacklers through three games this season.
And as was the case in their competitive 38-27 defeat at Wisconsin last week, the Tar Heels defense becomes more vulnerable to deep play-action passes downfield when their safeties are constantly staying involved in stopping the running game.
"They're (the safeties) going to have to do most of the tackling this year and next year and maybe the year after that because we're not going to be able to make them all up front," said North Carolina coach John Bunting. "I would love to make them up front. But now, if you watch NFL and college games, people design offenses to make safeties make tackles."
But his team's inability to stop the run the last few years must hit Bunting where it hurts, especially since he was an outstanding college and pro linebacker during his playing days. Amato, of course, knows the feeling as well. Also a former linebacker and longtime defensive coach, he watched his own defense yield 681 yards of total offense in a winning effort versus Texas Tech a week ago.
The shaky circumstances surrounding the two defenses combined with the substantial offensive firepower both clubs have shown this season would lead some to assume that points will be plentiful on Saturday.
Even without much of a running game to speak of, the Tar Heels do feature quarterback Darian Durant, a competent player who needs just 422 more yards to become North Carolina's all-time leading passer. The junior also possesses another weapon that scares all of NC State's defensive coaches: an ability to make something out of nothing with his mobility.
"When you play against Darian Durant, you just can play the pass against him," said Wolfpack linebacker Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay. "This guy can run. He's a great athlete and he controls their offense over their really well. He can run it on you and he can pass it on you. If we can find a way to contain him, I think we'll have good success."
Durant certainly has positive vibes about Carter-Finley Stadium. As a freshman quarterback two years ago, he led his team on two key scoring marches that proved to be the difference in UNC's 17-9 win over the Pack.
This year, however, it will take more than 17 points to keep Carolina's Carter-Finley streak alive. Although injuries are certainly taking their toll on the Wolfpack offense, NC State's attack is still among the nation's best, ranking high in a number of categories. With Philip Rivers pulling the trigger, State is averaging 42.5 points and 453.8 yards per game.
"Rivers is as good as I've seen since I've been back in the college game," Bunting said. "I said that three years ago when we played them. All he has done is get better and better because he so experienced and it's obvious he prepares extremely well for every game. He seldom takes a sack; he doesn't get very often get hit. The ball comes out fast; he knows where everyone is. What they have done with formations and shifts and motions, it can really frenzy your defense. It can really stretch your defense in terms of just trying to get your guys lined up and then trying to cover guys that can really run."
With Sterling Hicks (knee) and Richard Washington (suspension) gone, NC State's once deep receiving corps has thinned out rapidly, so much so that Dovonte Edwards has gotten some snaps on offense this week. A receiver the first two years of his career, Edwards, was moved to cornerback last spring.
The NC State - North Carolina rivalry dates back to 1894, when the Wolfpack's season consisted of two games versus the Tar Heels. The all-time series favors UNC by a fairly one-sided 60-26-6 margin.
Will the Heels continue to make Carter-Finley Stadium their home away from home? The answer comes Saturday afternoon.
NC State Injury Report (9/26):
DOUBTFUL
Troy Graham, FS - Broken toe
T.A. McLendon, TB - Hamstring strain
OUT
Chris Colmer, OG - Parsonage Turner Syndrome
Sterling Hicks, WR - Torn ACL
