North Carolina State University Athletics
Program Spotlight: Bradley Pierson
9/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY BRANDON YOPP
RALEIGH, N.C. - In the world of college football, the efforts and importance of walk-ons and scout team members is by and large unrequited. Few get the praise that they deserve for their work in the grueling practices, lengthy meetings and study sessions and helping the game day squad prepare for its upcoming opponent.
Many assume that walk-ons and scout team contributors just appreciate the mere fact that they are a part of the program. Often times, however, that thought alone isn’t enough.
Bradley Pierson is one of those players that was never satisfied with being relegated to the absolute bottom of the depth chart. He didn’t come to NC State to learn another team’s plays or packages.
He came to hit the field on game day.
A four-sport letterwinner at East Duplin High, Pierson grew up playing soccer but always wanted to get into football. His size, however, created problems. But Pierson had speed and a strong leg. Why not give kicking a shot? From the moment he started, he was consumed.
Enter former Wolfpack associate head coach Doc Holliday, who lauded Pierson’s efforts and recruited him hard. When the time came for him to sign on the dotted line however, Holliday broke the news. NC State would be signing another kicker, and the program just didn’t have enough scholarships to give one to Pierson.
“It was tough,” said Pierson. “But Coach Holliday invited me to walk-on and told me that I had a really good shot at earning a starting position and playing on a regular basis. I had a great relationship with him and I really wanted to go to NC State, so I just went for it.
“At the time, it just felt like it was the best option to get some playing time and earning a scholarship.”
It didn’t take long for things to change.
Pierson came to Raleigh but Holliday departed a year later for the University of Florida, and the nearby Chinquapin, N.C. native was forced to tough it out and work towards impressing the remainder of head coach Chuck Amato’s staff. Although extremely difficult at times, Pierson did his best to stay strong. With an impressive work ethic and the determination to prove what he could do, he roughed it out. Eventually the tide seemed to turn in his favor, as all signs pointed to Pierson being rewarded a scholarship following the 2006 season.
That’s when the axe fell.
After a head-scratching 3-9 campaign in ’06 Amato and company were released from their contracts, and Boston College captain Tom O’Brien was hired to pick up the pieces and rebuild the once budding program. Many players in the Murphy Center locker room, Pierson included, were left in limbo.
“I felt like I was back in the hole,” said Pierson. “With Coach Amato and his staff I had earned their respect and a spot on the team. Going into the next season I felt that I was going to be a starter and was going to be given a scholarship. When they left I had to reprove myself.
“I was already a walk-on and at the bottom of the depth chart, and the new staff coming in had no idea about what I had done in the past as far as working hard and trying to earn my way. It was a difficult period.”
Once again, Pierson stuck with it. With encouragement from his family he opted to stay on board and prove himself to the new regime. His intentions were never more apparent than during his first meeting with Coach O’Brien.
“I came into his office, introduced myself, and told him that I had been there for a few years and I planned on working hard,” Pierson said. “I said Coach, I plan on being a starter on this team and earning a scholarship,’ and I meant every word I said.”
When the 2007 season began, Pierson wasn’t the starter. He did, however, take some solace in his relationship with special teams coach / recruiting coordinator Jerry Petercuskie, who had noticed Pierson’s skill and work ethic and was by all accounts impressed.
“It was in the back of my head that I might not ever get my shot,” said Pierson. “At times it really seemed like my chances of playing were slim to none, but I just keep working hard in case the opportunity ever presented itself that my number was called to get out there, contribute and prove myself.”
That opportunity finally came in the second game of the year at Boston College. After starter Nathan Franklin, who struggled in the season opener against Central Florida, bobbled the snap on a punt, Coach Petercuskie told Pierson on the sidelines to get his leg ready. It was his turn to show what he could do.
“I was real nervous,” said Pierson. “It was unexpected.”
Pierson finally made it to the field during the fourth quarter, albeit with the wind blowing directly in his face as he attempted his first collegiate kick.
“I was trying not to let it psych me out,” said Pierson. “My heart was pumping 100 miles an hour. Everything else around me kind of zoned out. I just kept telling myself that I was going to put off a good kick. My chance had finally come and I knew what I could do.”
Moment’s later his kick sailed into the crisp Chestnut Hill air, a 39-yard effort that resulted in a fair catch on the Eagles’ 16-yard line. A 38-yarder would come later on the contest.
“After the Boston College game, Coach Petercuskie told me that he was very pleased with my performance and that he wanted me to keep working hard and not get comfortable with being named the starter,” said Pierson. “He made it clear that I had earned it, but I couldn’t take it for granted.”
Seven days later he got his first career start in a 38-17 victory over Wofford at Carter-Finley Stadium. Feeling much less pressure than his first time around, Pierson booted nine kicks for an average of 35.7 yards, including a 50-yarder and five bombs inside the 20-yard line.
Since then it’s been his job to lose.
While he was obviously thrilled with his escalated role on the team, there was still one goal that he had left to accomplish. He wanted a scholarship. This past January that call finally came.
Coach O’Brien’s secretary Natalie Brincefield phoned Pierson to arrange a meeting. Despite a hunch that the appointment of a scholarship awaited, he didn’t want to set himself up for a disappointment.
“It was a really short process,” said Pierson. “I basically went in his office and he told me that I had earned a scholarship and to keep working hard. I was thrilled, but I was really proud of myself at the same time. It took a load of my shoulders financially, and it had been a major goal that I had set for myself to reach.”
Things had finally come full circle for Pierson. For a journey that started with such promise and quickly shifted into a series of question marks, his goals had finally been obtained and his skills were recognized. Not only was he NC State’s starting punter, but he was also now a scholarship student-athlete.
“I take a lot of satisfaction in where I started and where I’m at now, but I’m still not satisfied as far as where I want to be,” said Pierson. “I’m glad that I’ve made it. I’m glad that I’m on scholarship and that I’m the starting punter. But I still want to be better than that. I want to have a much better season than last year and I want this team to succeed.”
Achieve one goal and immediately set another. That’s Bradley Pierson for you. Former walk-on aficionado turned scholarship staring punter.
RALEIGH, N.C. - In the world of college football, the efforts and importance of walk-ons and scout team members is by and large unrequited. Few get the praise that they deserve for their work in the grueling practices, lengthy meetings and study sessions and helping the game day squad prepare for its upcoming opponent.
Many assume that walk-ons and scout team contributors just appreciate the mere fact that they are a part of the program. Often times, however, that thought alone isn’t enough.
Bradley Pierson is one of those players that was never satisfied with being relegated to the absolute bottom of the depth chart. He didn’t come to NC State to learn another team’s plays or packages.
He came to hit the field on game day.
A four-sport letterwinner at East Duplin High, Pierson grew up playing soccer but always wanted to get into football. His size, however, created problems. But Pierson had speed and a strong leg. Why not give kicking a shot? From the moment he started, he was consumed.
Enter former Wolfpack associate head coach Doc Holliday, who lauded Pierson’s efforts and recruited him hard. When the time came for him to sign on the dotted line however, Holliday broke the news. NC State would be signing another kicker, and the program just didn’t have enough scholarships to give one to Pierson.
“It was tough,” said Pierson. “But Coach Holliday invited me to walk-on and told me that I had a really good shot at earning a starting position and playing on a regular basis. I had a great relationship with him and I really wanted to go to NC State, so I just went for it.
“At the time, it just felt like it was the best option to get some playing time and earning a scholarship.”
It didn’t take long for things to change.
Pierson came to Raleigh but Holliday departed a year later for the University of Florida, and the nearby Chinquapin, N.C. native was forced to tough it out and work towards impressing the remainder of head coach Chuck Amato’s staff. Although extremely difficult at times, Pierson did his best to stay strong. With an impressive work ethic and the determination to prove what he could do, he roughed it out. Eventually the tide seemed to turn in his favor, as all signs pointed to Pierson being rewarded a scholarship following the 2006 season.
That’s when the axe fell.
After a head-scratching 3-9 campaign in ’06 Amato and company were released from their contracts, and Boston College captain Tom O’Brien was hired to pick up the pieces and rebuild the once budding program. Many players in the Murphy Center locker room, Pierson included, were left in limbo.
“I felt like I was back in the hole,” said Pierson. “With Coach Amato and his staff I had earned their respect and a spot on the team. Going into the next season I felt that I was going to be a starter and was going to be given a scholarship. When they left I had to reprove myself.
“I was already a walk-on and at the bottom of the depth chart, and the new staff coming in had no idea about what I had done in the past as far as working hard and trying to earn my way. It was a difficult period.”
Once again, Pierson stuck with it. With encouragement from his family he opted to stay on board and prove himself to the new regime. His intentions were never more apparent than during his first meeting with Coach O’Brien.
“I came into his office, introduced myself, and told him that I had been there for a few years and I planned on working hard,” Pierson said. “I said Coach, I plan on being a starter on this team and earning a scholarship,’ and I meant every word I said.”
When the 2007 season began, Pierson wasn’t the starter. He did, however, take some solace in his relationship with special teams coach / recruiting coordinator Jerry Petercuskie, who had noticed Pierson’s skill and work ethic and was by all accounts impressed.
“It was in the back of my head that I might not ever get my shot,” said Pierson. “At times it really seemed like my chances of playing were slim to none, but I just keep working hard in case the opportunity ever presented itself that my number was called to get out there, contribute and prove myself.”
That opportunity finally came in the second game of the year at Boston College. After starter Nathan Franklin, who struggled in the season opener against Central Florida, bobbled the snap on a punt, Coach Petercuskie told Pierson on the sidelines to get his leg ready. It was his turn to show what he could do.
“I was real nervous,” said Pierson. “It was unexpected.”
Pierson finally made it to the field during the fourth quarter, albeit with the wind blowing directly in his face as he attempted his first collegiate kick.
“I was trying not to let it psych me out,” said Pierson. “My heart was pumping 100 miles an hour. Everything else around me kind of zoned out. I just kept telling myself that I was going to put off a good kick. My chance had finally come and I knew what I could do.”
Moment’s later his kick sailed into the crisp Chestnut Hill air, a 39-yard effort that resulted in a fair catch on the Eagles’ 16-yard line. A 38-yarder would come later on the contest.
“After the Boston College game, Coach Petercuskie told me that he was very pleased with my performance and that he wanted me to keep working hard and not get comfortable with being named the starter,” said Pierson. “He made it clear that I had earned it, but I couldn’t take it for granted.”
Seven days later he got his first career start in a 38-17 victory over Wofford at Carter-Finley Stadium. Feeling much less pressure than his first time around, Pierson booted nine kicks for an average of 35.7 yards, including a 50-yarder and five bombs inside the 20-yard line.
Since then it’s been his job to lose.
While he was obviously thrilled with his escalated role on the team, there was still one goal that he had left to accomplish. He wanted a scholarship. This past January that call finally came.
Coach O’Brien’s secretary Natalie Brincefield phoned Pierson to arrange a meeting. Despite a hunch that the appointment of a scholarship awaited, he didn’t want to set himself up for a disappointment.
“It was a really short process,” said Pierson. “I basically went in his office and he told me that I had earned a scholarship and to keep working hard. I was thrilled, but I was really proud of myself at the same time. It took a load of my shoulders financially, and it had been a major goal that I had set for myself to reach.”
Things had finally come full circle for Pierson. For a journey that started with such promise and quickly shifted into a series of question marks, his goals had finally been obtained and his skills were recognized. Not only was he NC State’s starting punter, but he was also now a scholarship student-athlete.
“I take a lot of satisfaction in where I started and where I’m at now, but I’m still not satisfied as far as where I want to be,” said Pierson. “I’m glad that I’ve made it. I’m glad that I’m on scholarship and that I’m the starting punter. But I still want to be better than that. I want to have a much better season than last year and I want this team to succeed.”
Achieve one goal and immediately set another. That’s Bradley Pierson for you. Former walk-on aficionado turned scholarship staring punter.
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