North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Wolfpack Motivated, Ready For UNC Week
11/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
Is there anything you’ve got to change as far as motivating the team when the postseason is something that is no longer obtainable?
“It’s an ACC game against a team that’s a rival and we all want to win it,” Amato said. “We do, they do, our fans do and their fans do.”
No magical motivational techniques are necessary at NC State, not when the next opponent happens to be
This year’s match-up is somewhat odd given the fact that both teams are winding down very disappointing seasons. Between them, NC State and
This will also mark the first November meeting between the two clubs since 1999.
Perhaps both teams will try to take their respective frustrations out on each other, a scenario that could create the type of contest that defies the disappointing season the two longtime rivals have experienced.
And there has been plenty of frustration to go around.
A few days after its 23-0 loss at
The Wolfpack’s story has been somewhat different. Being competitive hasn’t been a problem, but winning has. During its current losing streak, NC State has been in a position to win most if not all of those games well into the fourth quarter, only to be left on the losing side of the scoreboard each time.
The same script played out during Saturday’s 20-14 defeat at Clemson.
“Definitely they’re disappointed with their record as we are with our record,” said Wolfpack cornerback and
The recruitment of
But with Bunting the former
“Nobody likes it,” Amato said. “He’s a good man and he’s a good coach.”
As the week progresses, Amato and his medical staff will be monitoring the health of an offensive line that was gradually decimated during Saturday’s game at Clemson. After spraining an ankle at Georgia Tech the week before, left guard Leroy Harris didn’t last long in
By its final drive of the game, NC State was also missing tackles Jon Holt and James Newby, although neither shows up on this week’s injury report.
A total of nine different offensive linemen took snaps at Clemson, including tackles Merci Falaise and Jerrail McCuller, who had played very little this season. Despite the musical chairs on the offensive line, the Wolfpack had one of its most productive days running the football, getting 174 yards on 34 carries from sophomore tailback Toney Baker.
“I saw some of our linemen getting banged up, but that’s a part of the game,” Baker said. “We’ve got to get them healthy and get them ready for this game this week. It’s unfortunate how they were coming out of the game.”
Baker had his busiest day as a college player, in part because Andre Brown injured his neck on the Wolfpack’s first offensive series of the game. Baker took full advantage, tallying both career highs for yards and carries.
“It reminded me of high school a little bit,” said the former North Carolina High School Player of the Year from
On Saturday, Baker will try to take advantage of a
“Their kids haven’t quit,” Amato said. “They play hard and they go out there with the thought process that they’re going to win no matter who they play. There are a lot of similarities between these two teams.”
In a year when neither team has won as many games as they and their fans had hoped for, the search for silver linings has often been difficult. But when asked to list some positives, Amato didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve got a team that has an awful lot of character. I’ve got a team that won’t quit. I’ve got a team that fights to the very end. I’ve got a team that on the last series of every game but two, it came down to somebody making a play that could either win or lose the football game. Let’s just leave it at that.”
