North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Fans Getting Spring Football Fever
4/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 15, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - It only happens at a handful of schools, but interest in football is at such a fever pitch that the spring game is actually televised. And while NC State isn't at that point, there are indications that the annual Red/White scrimmage is becoming an annual must-see event at Carter-Finley Stadium. Since coach Chuck Amato's arrival in 2000, attendance has been on the rise, slowly but surely. Over the last few years, estimates have placed as many as 15,000 to 18,000 fans in the stands. Amato hopes to see at least that many friendly faces when the Pack concludes this year's spring workouts Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
"Our fans are so good," Amato said. "We've had as many as 16 to 17,000 fans at our last two spring games. It would be great to have 24 or 25,000 people and then we could be like Clemson or Miami who are putting their spring games on TV because there are a ton of people in the stands. That excites our kids and it excites out fans too."
Technically, the Red/White Game isn't really a game. The NCAA mandates that schools can practice a maximum of 15 times during the spring. For NC State, Saturday's public display will count as the 15th workout. For that reason, Amato and his coaches want the scrimmage to be as productive as possible. The format will be situational in nature, meaning the scrimmage won't have the same flow as an actual game one might watch on Saturdays during the fall.
"We don't truly have a game," Amato said. "Sometimes [the fans] don't like that, but instead of losing an entire practice to make it look like a game, which it really isn't, the scrimmage format is a lot more beneficial to us."
More often than not, the ones will be matched up against the twos on both sides of the ball on Saturday. That may not be welcome news to the second team offensive line, which may be asked to block a first team defensive front that could very well be one of the nation's top units next fall. Ends Mario Williams and Manny Lawson will join tackle John McCargo on a front four that anchored college football's top ranked defense a year ago.
Behind that athletic, physical front, however, there will be some new faces in new places. A middle linebacker his first three years, senior Oliver Hoyte has been learning the WILL or weakside linebacker spot this spring. And former safety LeRue Rumph has been trying his hand at the other outside position.
Admitting that he's a "coward" when it comes to making changes during fall practice, Amato hasn't hesitated to do some experimenting over the last few springs.
"We want to get the right people in the right spots in the spring," said Amato. "This is the right time to do it. Oliver Hoyte has been a middle linebacker from day one. Now we've moved him to WILL, which could add some depth in case of injuries. That leaves Patrick Lowery at the starting MIKE (middle linebacker). Pat had a real good game against Florida State this past year and played well in the last three games. LeRue Rumph is starting to feel like a linebacker and not a safety anymore. We've got two linebackers coming in this summer. We're a little short at that position; we'll need to bring in quite a few next year."
In addition to the position changes on defense, Amato has moved veteran Dwayne Herndon and redshirt freshman LaMarte McGhee from the defensive line to the offensive line. A few years ago, lineman like Sean Locklear and Shane Riggs became top flight blockers after being convinced to move from defense to offense.
"Sometimes when you move those defensive linemen to offense they're just a little better athletes and the mentality is a little bit different," Amato said. "Offensive line coaches don't like that because they don't get them right away, but the offensive line takes a little while to learn anyway."
Red/White Game Details
NC State's annual Spring Red/White football Game will be held this Saturday, April 16, at Carter-Finley Stadium. The scrimmage begins at 1:00p.m. and admission is free.
All parking lots surrounding the stadium will be open, but all seating will be on the west (press box) side. There will be no access to the east side due to concrete restoration. Gates will open at 11:00 a.m.
Fans are also reminded of the NC State Athletic Department's surplus sale before and during the Spring Game. There will be no available ATMs inside Carter-Finley, but there will be the RBC Centura ATMs open at the RBC Center.
