North Carolina State University Athletics
Tony Haynes: Bragging Rights Enough For Pack, Heels
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Tony Haynes
Smiles and jokes were plentiful that day. The relaxed atmosphere afforded both rival coaches the rare opportunity to shake hands and exchange pleasantries.
Nearly four months later, neither coach feels as jovial.
Bunting, in particular, has been dealt an ill-fated hand, having been asked to coach the last five games of
Life has been only slightly more bearable for Amato’s Wolfpack (3-7, 2-5), which has dropped five straight. Adding to the Pack’s misery is the way all of those games have been lost. Each time NC State has gone deep into the fourth quarter with a chance to win, and each time it has walked off the field feeling as if it was just one play away from a different, more satisfying outcome.
So it now comes down to this: On a day when longtime rivals
But for some, that’s more enough.
“This is probably the biggest game of my life so far because growing up in this area, I know all about the rivalry,” said Wolfpack senior cornerback A.J. Davis. “I never missed a
At one time,
On that particular day, Bunting probably felt like picking another tune from the Deano songbook: “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.”
The former
“I know [the intensity] was here when I was here [as a player],” Bunting said. “Duke was big, but State started becoming the focus. I know while I was away it’s become a huge focus.”
It’s a game that stays in Amato’s crosshairs most, if not all of the time. Literally moments after last week’s 20-14 defeat at Clemson, Amato shifted his team’s attention to this Saturday’s 96th meeting with the Tar Heels.
“I think about it every day of the year,” said Amato, who owns a 3-3 coaching record against UNC. “I went to school here. I was fortunate enough to see what it’s like to compete against a rival. There’s always a rival and it’s with you 365 days a year. It needs to be with everybody that long.”
Not one to part with lofty goals, Amato has always spoken of his desire to build NC State into a national program that competes for conference championships and regularly plays in big bowl games. But if there were any doubts about his number one goal, they were laid to rest during his first meeting with his team back in August.
“Coach Amato has been talking about this game since the off-season,” said NC State tailback Toney
That would seem to be an enticing option for both teams since the records in both camps have created plenty of discontent within their respective fan bases.
Wins have been in short supply in
“It’s kind of disappointing,” said
The Pack’s plight is one with which Bunting and his team can empathize.
“I feel their pain,” he said. “They’ve had some of the same problems. I think their defense has played well and their offense has played well at times. Mistakes are what hurt you in any game and occasionally they’ll break down. They’ve had a break or two not go their way and they’ve lost several close games, which we can relate to here some.”
The Bunting Amato dynamic has always added a little extra pizzazz to this game since both coaches openly display special admiration and affection for their Alma Maters. Bunting is loyal to
When Butch Davis takes over at UNC next season, things probably won’t be quit the same.
But then again, no one person, player or coach is bigger than the rivalry. Long after Bunting, Amato and Davis are gone, it will still be NC State versus
And even then, bragging rights will be enough.
NC State UNC: What to Watch For....
Big plays in the kicking game can often sway the outcome of most games, especially those that are fairly evenly matched. NC State’s kick off return team anchored by Darrell Blackman is the ACC’s best and most consistent unit. Blackman is well on his way to leading the ACC in kick off return average for the second straight year, but he also has help. The other 10 players blocking for Blackman take a great deal of pride in what they’re doing and have executed incredibly well week after week. Only 10 of UNC kicker Connor Barth’s 32 kickoffs have NOT been returned. Carolina’s Brandon Tate has 1,274 career return yards and could also present a challenge to the Wolfpack’s kick off cover team. Tate went the distance on a 90-yard return against Notre Dame two weeks ago.
Toney
The NC State defense must limit big plays in the passing game. Although the
All teams tuck away a series of specialty plays that they practice and then put in storage for a rainy day. Well, given the fact that neither team has much to lose and the season is quickly drawing to a close, what’s the point in saving the gadgets? Leave your seat or the easy chair for just one play on Saturday and you run the risk of missing something wildly unusual.
Injuries: NC State's offensive line was banged up after last week's game against Clemson, and it appears a week between games hasn't changed the outlook for guards Leroy Harris (ankle) and Curtis Crouch (concussion). Both players are listed as doubtful for the North Carolina game. Tailback Andre Brown, who suffered a neck strain on the Pack's first drive last week, is expected to be full speed on Saturday.
