North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack, Canes Clash at Carter-Finley
10/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2004
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - Since becoming NC State's head football coach in January of 2000, Chuck Amato has endeavored to change the culture of a program that had rarely flirted with greatness. It's a job that continues to this day. Improved facilities have enhanced the Wolfpack's ability to recruit better talent and compete for the services of some of the nation's most sought after prospects. Ultimately, however, the true measure of any program comes down to how it performs between the white lines on Saturdays, especially when it goes head-to-head with top-notch competition. This weekend, the Pack (4-2, 3-1) will have another one of those barometer games when it meets #3 Miami (5-0, 3-0) at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Saturday night's 7:45 contest will be shown nationally by ESPN. And while NC State still isn't being mentioned in the same breath of Miami and some of college football's other traditional powers, it has at least garnered a little more national attention by competing with and sometimes beating the likes of Florida State, Notre Dame and Ohio State.
And while Miami's remarkable résumé, which includes five national titles, deserves its due respect, it's highly unlikely NC State's players will be quaking in their cleats when they line up across from the Hurricanes on Saturday.
"It's a great game and a big opportunity," said NC State linebacker Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, a senior who has participated in two wins over Florida State. "We've been in these types of games, this one just happens to be Miami who we haven't played before. We've played the same type of game against the Florida States and Notre Dames. Miami is considered one of the best teams of the last decade, so having a chance to play them is great."
The Wolfpack's most impressive victory in the post-Philip Rivers era was a 17-16 road triumph at Virginia Tech back on September 25. But make no mistake: an upset over the Hurricanes would clearly rank among the school's most impressive wins.
After watching Miami lose 13 starters from last year's squad, a total that included a mind-boggling figure of six first round draft picks, many in South Florida figured the `Canes might slip. But five games into the 2004 season, they're right where they always seem to be: unbeaten, highly ranked and squarely in the national championship picture.
When a reporter earlier this week framed a question that implied Miami was beatable this season, Amato bristled.
"You can't say they can be beaten because they haven't been," he said. "Nobody has beaten them; they're number two in the BCS. It's all about winning. They had 38 points scored against them [by Louisville last week], but that wasn't enough."
Miami did roar back to beat the Cardinals 41-38 after falling behind 24-7 early. It was a defining comeback for a team that has a difficult time impressing beat writers who cover them. Even after winning that game last week, some of the local papers in south Florida were asking what's wrong with Miami.
The biggest target for criticism has been quarterback Brock Berlin, who has often taken the brunt of the blame for his offense's inconsistent performances this season. Still, Berlin has been a winner in 16 of his 18 career starts for the `Canes.
"What do I see in him? He's a winner," Amato said. "I saw him last year against the University of Florida bring his team back and they won. I saw him the first game of this year against Florida State, brought his team back and they won. I saw him in the Orange Bowl last year against Florida State and he won. I saw him against Louisville in the second half of the game and he won. He is an absolute winner. He did it in high school and he did it in college."
Berlin will be tested by an NC State defense that is ranked No. 1 in the nation in both total defense and pass defense. But Miami's defensive unit is perhaps equally as stout. Before giving up five touchdowns to Louisville last week, the Hurricanes had yielded just one over their first four games. Even after allowing Louisville to tally 38 points, the `Canes are giving up only 12.8 points per contest this season.
Miami's biggest weapon may very well be kick and punt returner Devin Hester, a player Amato referred to as a `category 6' Hurricane. The nation's leader with an average of 32.3 yards per punt return, Hester has already run back three for scores over the first five games.
"Barry Sanders was a great kick returner when I had him at Oklahoma State," said Miami head coach Larry Coker. "He actually led the nation in kick off returns and was second in punt returns. But I don't know if I've ever been around anyone as explosive as Devin. On the returns, the coverage is normally spread because it's a wide field. When he sees a crease, he attacks that crease so fast. That's the thing that's so special about Devin. He really believes every time he touches it he's going to score."
For obvious reasons, NC State will have to be solid with its kick off and punt coverage on Saturday night. Turnovers, as always, will also be a big factor. So far this season, Miami is plus-8 in the takeaway/giveaway ratio, while the Wolfpack is minus-8. In order to have any chance of handing the `Canes their first defeat, NC State will likely have to win the turnover battle on Saturday. As good as the Pack's defense has been thus far, it has come up with only five turnovers for the season and zero over the last three games.
"We just want to be solid on defense," said Aughtry-Lindsay. "As far as coming up with turnovers, you've got to do something a little extra after you do your job. We just haven't had a chance to make big plays with fumble recoveries and interceptions. We've been playing great defense, but we haven't been able to get over the hump. We're still growing as a defense, but we're going to get to that point."
At least the Wolfpack has gotten to the point where it expects to do well in big games against big name opponents. On Saturday, another opportunity will present itself.
NC State Injury Report
PROBABLE
Chris Colmer, OT - shoulder sprain
Dovonte Edwards, WR - knee sprain
Andre Maddox, ROV - hamstring strain
T.A. McLendon, TB - hamstring strain
Tank Tyler, DT - knee sprain
T.J. Williams, TE - groin injury
OUT
Merci Falaise, OG/OT - Arthroscopic surgery, 9/28
Jed Paulsen, C - Ankle surgery, 10/12
