North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Amato and the Pack will Stay the Course
9/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 7, 2003
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-In a long and successful coaching career that has spanned more than 30 years, Chuck Amato's philosophy on football has been shaped by the likes of Lou Holtz, Larry Smith and Bobby Bowden. He also played for an NC State legend named Earle Edwards. It's during times like these that the current Wolfpack coach falls back on the many lessons he's learned over the years from his coaching mentors, who always preached the importance of sticking with what you believe in, even under the most difficult circumstances.
On Sunday, the day after NC State had suffered a disappointing 38-24 loss at Wake Forest, there was no time for panic and self pity when Amato and his coaches gathered at the Murphy Football Center.
They know there is still a lot of work to do in Wolfpack land, especially for a young defensive unit that occasionally looked confused and overmatched against a Deacons offense that often leaves opposing defensive players and coaches shaking their heads. But what's done is done, and Amato knows that now, not with a game against the defending national champs on the horizon, is certainly not the time to make wholesale alterations.
"We're not going to make any changes," Amato said. "We've got to tackle better and stop missing assignments. We've got the right people in the right places. We've just got to get them going in the right directions. We're not going to panic. We're going to work and work to get ourselves better."
Noting that it was a pair of veteran defensive players who actually missed assignments during Wake's game-opening 78-yard drive that set the tone for the afternoon, Amato firmly believes his defense will be successful once it cuts down on the little mistakes that can kill a football team over the course of four quarters. Along with the missed tackles and missed assignments on Saturday, the Wolfpack was called for 10 penalties that added up to 90 yards. In the first half alone, there were four offside penalties called on the defensive line. In two games this season, the Pack defense has yet to produce a turnover.
Wake Forest, on the other hand, was flagged just twice and played turnover-free football for 60 minutes. That, in a nutshell, is why the Deacons have had a lot success in two-plus years under Jim Grobe.
"They don't beat themselves," Amato said. "They play sound, fundamental football and they execute. He's doing a good job and he's got better players than a lot of people thinks he has."
Players like junior wide receiver Jason Anderson, who used his athleticism to make a three acrobatic catches on Saturday. Players like defensive end Jerome Nichols, who spent a good portion of the game on NC State's side of the line of scrimmage. Players like freshman receiver Willie Idlette, whose 50-yard punt return for a score was his second huge play in as many weeks.
Some of the talented players who could have helped NC State on Saturday are still in limbo. Amato said he probably wouldn't know until sometime Monday whether star tailback T.A. McLendon (knee), tackle Chris Colmer (arm) and receiver Sterling Hicks (hand) will be well enough to play in next Saturday's much anticipated contest against No. 3 Ohio State. Even though senior Cotra Jackson is a proven back, the Pack's running game certainly took a hit without Mclendon in the lineup in Winston-Salem.
"When you lose a guy like T.A. McLendon, it's a big drop off," Amato said. "But that's not why we lost the football game. It certainly didn't prevent us from scoring when we had the ball first and goal from the three-yard line in the first quarter."
One play later, on second and goal from the one, NC State was called for a false start. From there, the Pack would have to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown that would have tied the game.
Those are the kind of mistakes that make a difference, especially against good, solid teams like Wake Forest. And if repeated this week, those errors will prove even more costly against the Buckeyes, who have prevailed in close game after close game the last two years because, like the Deacons, they don't beat themselves.
The NC State-Ohio State matchup is the game fans and the media in this area have been talking about for months. Perhaps the pregame hype will take hit in the wake of NC State's defeat on Saturday, but now that game week is here, the participants are eager to take the field at one of college football's most spectacular settings.
"I'm looking forward to it," Amato said. "We'll show up on Saturday."
And he'll stick with the things he believes in.
