North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Not Looking Back
9/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 19, 2005
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C. - If you run into NC State football coach Chuck Amato this week, don't bother asking him about last year's game against arch rival North Carolina. As far as he's concerned, what's done is done. As much as they tried during Amato's weekly press conference on Monday, eager reporters were unable to get the Pack's sixth year head coach to talk about last year's controversial ending in Chapel Hill. It will be a new season and two new teams when the longtime rivals square off for the 95th time this Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Kick off is set for 12:09 p.m.
"Last year is over," Amato replied when asked about the 94th game between NC State and UNC.
When prodded again, Amato said "I'm going to talk in Italian; maybe you'll understand it. I'm not going to change my answer."
So much for rehashing North Carolina's bizarre 30-24 triumph at Kenan Stadium.
Of course, neither Amato, nor his players, nor Wolfpack supporters will soon forget the final seconds of a game that the Pack appeared to have tied in the late going when running back T.A. McLendon stretched the football across the goal line at the end of a one-yard run. The head linesman ruled touchdown and held his hands above his head for more than 10 seconds as NC State's players celebrated. The line judge - stationed directly across the field - came in late and contended T.A. McLendon's knee had touched the ground before the ball crossed the plane of the goal line. It was then up to referee Jim Knight to determine which member of his crew was right. Knight eventually ruled in favor of the line judge and North Carolina.
On the very next play, the last of the game, McLendon was hit in the backfield and fumbled. It was certainly one of the most confusing - if not memorable - endings in a series that has produced more than its share of heart stopping moments.
As it turned out, the ruling at the end of the game was ultimately a turning point for both teams. While North Carolina went on to post a 6-5 record and earn a spot in the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, the Wolfpack would sputter down the stretch in route to the first losing mark (5-6) in Amato's five-year tenure at the school.
"It hurt the same as any other loss does," NC State center Leroy Harris said when asked about last year's contest. "We hate losing like any other competitive person does."
Was T.A. in or out?
"That was last year. It doesn't matter," Harris said.
Like Harris and his head coach, NC State defensive end Manny Lawson says nothing productive can come from dwelling on something that happened nearly 12 months ago.
"Every loss is a tough loss to get over," Lawson said. "Despite what happened last year, last year is last year. We're looking forward to this year and getting where we want to be, and that's ACC champions."
If NC State (1-1) is going to have any chance of staying in contention for an appearance in the first ever ACC title game, it can't afford many more slip ups in league play. After sustaining a tough, hard-fought 20-16 loss to Virginia Tech in its opener, the Pack is already down one game in the conference.
North Carolina, of course, will be licking its chops when it buses over to Raleigh on Saturday. Despite doing a lot of good things, the Tar Heels are 0-2 after dropping games to a pair of nationally ranked opponents in Georgia Tech and Wisconsin.
Like NC State, Carolina needs a win badly.
"We're two different teams [this year]," Harris said. "They're a different team heading in a different direction and we're a different team heading in a different direction. We've got to prepare for this year's game."
In other words, Harris doesn't expect there to be a lot of conversation about what happened last season. This is, after all, a match-up between two bitter rivals. Special motivational ploys that involve revenge are probably not necessary.
"It can be a source of motivation, but if you need that to be a source of motivation then you shouldn't play in this game," Lawson said. "With this being your rival school in North Carolina - that powder blue - that should be motivation enough."
Wolfpack Injury Report: Senior receiver Brian Clark, who sat out Saturday's 54-10 victory over Eastern Kentucky with a sprained ankle, is listed as questionable for Saturday's contest. Also questionable is back-up linebacker Marcus Howell (AC sprain). Starting right guard Dwayne Herndon, who left last weekend's game with a stinger in his shoulder, is listed as day-to-day. Derek Morris also suffered a shoulder injury after only five plays against Eastern Kentucky, but Amato said the big right tackle should be ready to go against the Tar Heels.
