North Carolina State University Athletics
The Weekly Blog (Aug. 21-27)
8/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006
The annual Unity Picnic for all NC State student-athletes, coaches and athletics deparment staff was held Thursday evening in the grassy area between Carter-Finley Stadium and the RBC Center. Usually, it is held at the Paul Derr Track, but was moved because of the construction of the new soccer, track and softball stadiums on campus.
The event usually draws several hundred athletes, and this year was no exception, as representatives from all varsity sports were in attendance. Everyone got "Student-athlete" T-shirts and there was a buffet provided by McCall's Barbecue and Seafood Restaurant in Clayton.
Most of the head coaches were also there, including women's basketball head coach Kay Yow, new men's basketball coach Sidney Lowe and football coach Chuck Amato, who came over from the football practice fields on the other side of Carter-Finley Stadium.
There were inflatable games, music and a variety of other activities during the two-hour event, provided for the student-athletes, but also enjoyed by several kids of athletics department staff, as you can see in the photo gallery above.
While it is not a public event, it was a good opportunity for the athletes to get reacquainted with each other and hang out, something that isn't always possible throughout the school year with so many sports spread across campus.
Posted by Tim Peeler, 4:01 p.m., 8/26/06
Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006
The receiving line lasted about 45 minutes, but the emotions will stick with Sidney Lowe for a long time. Tuesday evening, Lowe and most of his coaching staff were the honored guests at a reception for students and fans at the McKimmon Center.
The pep band was there, along with a long list of dignitaries: Chancellor James Oblinger, athletics director Lee Fowler, Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem James West, Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell, Mr. Wuf.
But what caught Lowe a little off guard was just how many faces he recalled from his days as a Wolfpack player and NC State student, people associated with the university that are still around.
“Really, it is just overwhelming,” Lowe said after shaking hands and posing for pictures with about 300 visitors at the nearly two-hour event. “You always know that people support you and like you, but when you see them come out just to say hello and welcome home, it is really a great feeling.”
The event sponsored by the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and African-American Affairs, the Black Alumni Society and the Wolfpack Club brought in a varied audience that included Chuck Sloan, the brother of late NC State basketball coach Norm Sloan, Lowe’s former teammate on the 1983 NCAA Championship team Walt Densmore and alumni who were eager to tell the new coach that they were at Raleigh-Durham Airport nearly a quarter century ago to greet the team when it arrived home from Albuquerque, N.M.
The event wasn’t heavily covered by the local media, though the News & Observer’s A.J. Carr filed this report from the McKimmon Center.
Posted by Tim Peeler, 5:28 a.m., 8/23/2006
Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2006
A roomful of reporters showed up Monday afternoon to talk to new Wolfpack men’s basketball coach Sidney Lowe talk about his program, and the stories from that event dominated Tuesday’s news coverage. Here are the stories from the N&O, the Charlotte Observer and the Fayetteville Observer from the late season press conference.
Lowe will also be the guest of honor tonight at a reception hosted by the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and African-American Affairs, the Black Alumni Society and the Wolfpack Club. The public is invited to this free event, which runs from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the McKimmon Center at the intersection of Western Boulevard and Gorman Street.
There was also some coverage given to football coach Chuck Amato’s response to a question about being on “the hot seat,” a reference to the Sports Illustrated College Football issue, which arrived in mailboxes on Monday. Amato’s response was quick and decisive in his post-practice comments.
Monday, Aug. 21, 2006
If you have signed up for Pack Pass, the new premium subscription package on GoPack.com, this week will give you a taste of what is to come on the site. On Thursday, football coach Chuck Amato's first weekly press conference will be streamed live to Pack Pass members, via GoPack.com.
It and all of his other press conferences, weekly teleconferences and post-game press conferences will be archived on the site, available for viewing at anytime for Pack Pass subscribers. Throughout the season, GoPack.com will bring a variety of content, including men's and women's basketball press conferences and other interviews from all sports, to both the subscription and free portions of the site.
Click here for more information about subscribing to Pack Pass.
Posted by Tim Peeler 6:42 a.m., 8/21/06
It didn’t show up in ESPN.com’s daily transactions for some reason, but late last week, former NC State shortstop Chad Orvella was recalled to the Major Leagues by the Tampa Bay Devils Rays. Orvella, converted to a relief pitcher in the minor leagues, spent more than half of last season with the Rays, but struggled earlier this season.
He has spent the last two months pitching for the Durham Bulls, the Devil Rays’ Triple A franchise, compiling a 1.86 ERA in 27 relief appearances. Since being recalled on Wednesday, Orvella has made three appearances, including a pair of scoreless outings against Toronto and Cleveland.
Sunday, however, Orvella took the loss in a 9-4 decision against the Indians, giving up two earned runs in two innings. His record on the season falls to 1-5.
Posted by Tim Peeler at 6:35 a.m., 8/21/06
FORMER WOLFPACK All-America golfer Tim Clark recorded another Top 25 finish in a major by carding a four-day total of 284 in the PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club. Clark, playing in his first U.S. event since the Western Open in early July, won $53,100 for his performance, upping his season total on the PGA Tour to $1.8 million. It was his ninth top 25 finish of the season.
His one-time roommate, Carl Pettersson, another former Wolfpack All-America, also played in the event, but did not make the cut. Still, Pettersson has made more than $2.3 million on the PGA Tour this year, with one victory, six top 10 finishes and 10 top 25 finishes.
Posted by Tim Peeler, 6:14 a.m., 8/21/06
