Aug. 20, 2004
Aug. 20, 2004
This is a weird, in-between time for the team. They've started school, so it seems like the season should be starting right now. But we're still two weeks away from the opener and have only had one scrimmage. They're out of camp, but they're not in their in-season mode yet either. Jay Davis was in the office this morning for an interview and we were trying to schedule some things for next week and he looked at me like I was crazy - he was thinking next week was game week! As eager as you guys are to SEE them play, believe me, the team is even more ready.
Yesterday was hot. It was the first time all preseason that it was really uncomfortable out there (for me, anyway. I'm sure the helmet and pads make it worse). They worked out a solid two hours and then ran a bunch of gassers, so the fellows were dragging a little bit when they were leaving the field. They picked it up enough to attend last night's Unity Picnic on campus - this is when
Tonya Washington and her Student-Athlete Development staff host a get-together for all of the student-athletes and staff to welcome everybody back to a new year. They have food, music and a lot of fun.
The defense had a strong practice yesterday, which means today's practice will probably look better on offense. They'll go out today in shoulder pads and helmets and will scrimmage tomorrow. Sunday, after church, we'll have media day and photo day before the autograph session begins for the public. Getting all those people lined up for a team photo is something that I always love - when it's over!
I've been overwhelmed this week by the number of folks who have e-mailed me from all over the world saying they love the Pack. It was great to "meet" Keith Warren, who is a Special Agent with the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations and is currently stationed in Baghdad. He says that his first sports memory was the 1974 win over UCLA in basketball. His family is in Ohio now, so he's hoping to be back in the States for a certain NC State game in mid-September.
This morning, I heard from Kasey Stone Stamey, an NC State alum living in Kettering, England. She and her husband (also an alum) are hoping to be at that same game in September (wonder if they've called Premiere Sports Travel to set up their flights?).
People seem to love to hear about former Wolfpack players and catch up on what they're doing now. This morning, Lloyd Harrison stopped by the office. His NFL career ended with a painful shoulder injury, but he's now a loan officer with a mortgage company in Raleigh. It was great to see him - he has lost none of his swagger that he had when he was one of the "Roughriders."
This is a short post, but there's a lot going on these days. I'll write more tomorrow after the scrimmage.
