North Carolina State University Athletics
No Looking Back for Pack
11/7/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 7, 2004
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - In many ways, the day after Saturday's 24-14 loss to Georgia Tech appeared to be just like every other Sunday at NC State's Murphy Football Center. Head Chuck Amato's staff was back in the office bright and early to grade game film from the Wolfpack's third straight loss. But by early afternoon, it became obvious this wasn't an ordinary Sunday. With a quick turnaround in the form of a Thursday night visit from 13th ranked Florida State (7-2, 5-2) on the way, the work schedule - for both coaches and players - was accelerated.
To begin with, Amato's weekly press conference, normally held on Mondays, took place on Sunday. As they usually do on the day after each game, players requiring treatment trickled into the training room. But by the late afternoon and evening hours, preparations were already in full swing for the Seminoles.
And perhaps the quick turnaround is exactly what the beleaguered Pack needs. Saturday's defeat dropped NC State to 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC. Not only does NC State need to finish with back-to-back victories over Florida State and East Carolina to become bowl eligible, it must also win both to avoid the first losing season in the Amato era.
"What can you do?" senior linebacker Pat Thomas responded when asked if the Pack could get it back together in time to salvage the season. "A lot of times you go through downfalls in your life. It teaches you a lot. You're not going to win all the time. Three straight losses are tough, but you've got to know that there will be another day. You've just got to keep working."
As has been the case the last few weeks, NC State will go up against Florida State's defense with an offensive unit that can only be described as depleted. Along with missing three starters on the offensive line (Jed Paulsen, Leroy Harris and Derek Morris) on Saturday, the Wolfpack played the majority of the game without its top two wide receivers, Richard Washington and Tramain Hall.
Hall, who has 25 catches for 255 yards and two touchdowns, was in for only four plays against Tech before being sidelined by back spasms. He is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game. After sustaining a knee sprain more than a week ago, Washington, who has 29 catches for 348 yards and two scores, is listed as doubtful for this week's contest.
"Nobody is going to feel sorry for us, especially that team we're going to line-up and play on Thursday," Amato said. "Even with all that, we've had an opportunity to win our last two football games. Even with all those bad things, we've had our opportunities. You can't miss opportunities and you can't take those points off the board. It's too hard to get across that goal line."
Amato is referring to the fact that the Wolfpack had yet another touchdown taken off the scoreboard because of a penalty on Saturday when Dovonte Edwards' interception return for a second quarter touchdown was erased by a holding call on end Manny Lawson. NC State would get no points off the turnover when John Deraney later missed a field goal. In three of its five losses, the Pack has had four touchdowns nullified by penalties.
The two statistics that continue to hang over NC State's football season like a dark cloud involve penalties and turnovers. With an average of 9.6 penalties per game, the Wolfpack ranks 114th out of 117 Division 1 teams. Overall this season, the Pack has 26 turnovers, 21 of which have come in the team's five defeats.
As it was earlier in the fall, the quarterback position is again a major concern for Amato. Although starter Jay Davis has thrown eight interceptions over the last two games, it's doubtful a change can even be considered until back-up Marcus Stone is ready to return. Stone, who sprained a knee against Miami on October 23, is listed as questionable this week.
"Everything gets magnified on that position so much," Amato said. "It takes a strong person to go through what he's gone through in an eight-day period with the questions he's being asked. To play that position, you've got to be ready to take the good with the bad. He's a pretty strong young man."
In order to bounce back against Florida State, the Wolfpack will need Davis to put together a strong performance on Thursday night, although doing so could be especially difficult give the Pack's injury problems on offense.
Still, the game will provide an opportunity for NC State to rid itself of the bitter taste that has accompanied the last three weeks.
"With two more wins and a bowl game, we'll still walk out of here with our heads held high," said Thomas, who will play his final game at Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday. "We'll walk out of here with our heads high regardless, but we'll have something to finish this book of the 2004 season."
