HAYNES: Forgotten Rivalry Returns

BY TONY HAYNES

Let’s just say that NC State and Duke have gone their separate ways the last four years. The last time the Wolfpack and Blue Devils crossed paths, Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes to Tramain Hall. Chuck Amato was State’s coach. Ted Roof was calling the shots at Duke. And the outcome of that last meeting in 2003 was very much in doubt until Manny Lawson and John McCargo combined on a sack in the final minute to snuff out a potential Blue Devils rally.

And while North Carolina is certainly NC State’s biggest rival, the series with Duke is actually the one where the old adage “you can throw out all the records” truly applies. High scoring shootouts, quirky plays, and dramatic finishes have been the rule rather than the exception in State-Duke clashes over the last 20 years. But despite the unusual number of close games, the Wolfpack has, more often than not, found a way to win. A few days after learning that Barry Wilson would not return after the season, the Blue Devils rallied around their coach and beat the Pack, 21-20, in 1993. NC State has posted 10 straight wins in the series since that day, although the majority of those games were tight and competitive.

When ACC expansion changed the nature of the league’s schedule and took Duke off of NC State’s slate following the 2003 campaign, Wolfpack director of athletics Lee Fowler started thinking outside the box and flirted with an interesting idea.

“When the league expanded, Joe Alleva and I actually talked about playing as a non-conference game,” Fowler said, recalling a few conversations with the former Duke athletics director. “It’s such a good game and fans like seeing us play. At that time, [Alleva] felt like they needed to do some other things to help their program. It’s not out of the question down the road at some point that we would play them in off years because it just doesn’t make sense with the cost of travel and all those things that this series isn’t continuing.”

Fowler says he’s already pitched the idea to new Duke A.D. Kevin White, who left Notre Dame to come to Durham when Alleva was hired at L.S.U.

But for the short term, Duke will be back on NC State’s schedule and Saturday’s 3:30 game will most definitely count in the league standings.

Under first-year coach David Cutcliffe, the Blue Devils have come alive, and with a 4-4 record, they need to win two of their four to become bowl eligible. If that happens, Cutcliffe should be ACC Coach of the Year. It’s rare that the Pack has gone into a Duke game playing the role of spoiler, but that will certainly be the case on Saturday. And while the Wolfpack has dropped four games in a row, its overall level of performance has continued to improve, especially on offense.

With Nate Irving’s expected return at linebacker on Saturday, it would be reasonable to assume that the Pack’s struggling defense might get a lift.

Now a look ahead:

The impact of Irving’s absence can’t be underestimated. When he was healthy for the first three games, NC State’s defense was playing respectably well. A few weeks ago, Wolfpack defensive coordinator Mike Archer went so far as to say that Irving was the best defensive player in the league before he injured an ankle in the first half against East Carolina in week four.

Irving’s impressive physical skills are at least equaled and perhaps even surpassed by his uncanny instincts. Whether it’s checking into the right defense after recognizing an offensive formation or just reading keys and getting to the right spot, Irving simply knows how to play the game and play his position.

Of course, it remains to be seen just how effective he can be following a rather substantial layoff.

As the season has progressed, Duke has become a more physical offensive football team up front, as evidenced by its 145-yard rushing performance at Wake Forest a week ago. And during its current four-game losing streak, NC State has yielded an average of 184 rushing yards per game.

“We have to take care of the rush first,” said Wolfpack head coach Tom O’Brien. “We have to do a better job of stopping the run and that will help you get off the field.”

Duke quarterback Thad Lewis throws for an average of 194 yards per game, a figure that ranks second in the ACC. He becomes even more effective in a play-action passing attack that is set up when the Blue Devils have success running the football.

With Irving working his way back, tackle Alan-Michael Cash healthy again and Clem Johnson making his first start at safety, O’Brien expects to have a better tackling defense on the field on Saturday. It will have to be that way for the Pack to have a chance.

On offense, NC State now has the type of quarterback over which opposing defensive coordinators lose sleep. The ACC’s leader in passing efficiency, Russell Wilson has become one of the more intriguing players in the ACC, and there’s very little doubt that Duke’s defensive coaches have kept the lights on in their offices a little later this week trying to come up with a Russell Wilson containment strategy.

“He’s very athletic, we all know that,” Cutcliffe said. “He’s a guy that we’ve got to try to contain. He’s 5’11 and not 6’5, so that’s a reality. He’s so good, so athletic and poised back there. He’s an impressive young man and I admire what he’s done to this point in the season. He’s a good player.”

Congratulations Russell Wilson! You’ve just been given kudos by the same coach who’s credited with teaching the Manning brothers how to play the quarterback position.

If, as is typically the case, Wilson tries to scamper outside and beyond the pocket, he’ll likely meet up quite frequently with Duke linebackers Michael Tauiliili and Vincen Ray. Both play fast, both are physical and both are among the ACC’s top tacklers.

“They’re going to present problems for [Wilson] because they’re fast and they can tackle you,” O’Brien said. “He’s going to have to be alert as to where they are. Russell’s not easy to bring down himself though, so it will be a good thing if Russell gets out of the pocket. One thing those linebackers have done is to come out of coverage and limit movement outside the pocket.”

Saturday’s meeting will be the 80^th between NC State and Duke, but the first in awhile. Not a single player on either roster has participated in one of these games, yet they all have an inkling of what to expect.

“I’m sure they’re going to come out and give us their best shot just as we’re going to give them,” said NC State offensive tackle Jeraill McCuller. “They’re a very talented group. They’re going to come out with poise and confidence, so we’re going to have to bring our A’ game.”

North Carolina State University Athletics

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