North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Spring Means Fundamentals for Football
3/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH – New NC State football coach Tom O’Brien likes the kind of curve-balls that game-like scrimmages can throw at his players.
So he embraces the opportunity for a real-game format for the April 14 Red and White Game at Carter-Finley Stadium, which will conclude the Wolfpack’s annual spring practice. The format will be like a regular game, with everything but kicking and punting.
“One thing about a game is that … always something happens that you don’t set up in practice,” O’Brien said. “That’s what I like about the spring game. Something will always pop up that we will be able to teach off of and use as a motivational example for the team.”
Fundamentals – and how to prepare for the unexpected – have been a big part of the first half of spring practice under O’Brien, who was hired in early December as the 33rd head coach in the history of NC State football.
“Getting back to the fundamentals, that is what he said spring practice would be about,” said junior Daniel Evans, last year’s starter at quarterback for the Wolfpack. “[He wants] each individual player getting better fundamentally. He has been really harping on protecting the ball, for wide receivers, running backs and quarterbacks.
“So far, I think everybody is buying into [his philosophy].”
Among the other events during the weekend of the spring game is a Friday, April 13, reunion organized by O’Brien and his staff to meet NC State football alumni. The coach has invited all former players to attend Friday’s practice and a reception at Vaughn Towers. Any former players who haven’t contacted the football office about the event can get more information here.
The game itself will kickoff at 1 p.m. For out-of-town fans not able to be at the game, it will be available exclusively on the Pack Pass premium portion of www.GoPack.com, which is available for a $9.95 monthly fee. Voice of the Wolfpack Gary Hahn will do the play-by-play for the webcast. However, there will be no live radio or television broadcast of the game.
Admission and parking are both free, as NC State looks to host the Triangle’s biggest football event of the spring. All seating and parking will be done by general admission, with the gates opening at noon.
Football posters and schedule cards for the coming season will be available for free. The new Wolf Patch and Stadium Spirit Carpets will also be on sale.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
