CARR: Warren Defined Student-Athlete

A.J. Carr, a 51-year veteran of the sports writing ranks, has joined the GoPack.com staff as a contributing writer.  A Wallace, N.C., native and a graduate of Guilford College, Carr spent more than 42 years on the staff at the Raleigh News & Observer, covering generations of Wolfpack sports.  Both of his sons, Greg and Brad, are NC State graduates.

BY A.J. CARR

RALEIGH, N.C. – Early in his football career at NC State, Steve Warren sized up the opposition and figured it would be tough to out-muscle larger behemoths on the defensive line.

Cerebral, calculative and bulldog competitive, he figured out a way to block the bigger opponents.

Slightly over six feet tall and weighing about 220 pounds, Warren – a right tackle – worked sedulously to fine-tune techniques. He studied angles, applied his football smarts and lots of grit to win battles in the trenches.

“You have to use what God gives you,” said Warren, who started every game for three years in the pre-freshmen eligible era and served as a co-captain of the fabled “White Shoes” 1967 team that beat Georgia in the Gator Bowl.

That brain-over-brawn scenario wasn’t surprising. Warren embodied the “student-athlete,” earning consensus Academic All-America honors and graduating with a 3.5 GPA in textile technology.

He also had domestic duties, beginning his freshman year. That’s when he married high school sweetheart, Jane Cornwell, also an honor student at State.

After the college days, Warren went on to become a highly successful businessman, a church and community leader, ardent back-the-Pack alumnus, and family man.

He and Jane raised three children -- daughter Brett (an attorney), and sons Eric (physician) and Kent (attorney).

A master of multi-tasking, Warren always found time to serve NC State, accepting a variety of roles. He is in his seventh year on the Board of Trustees, a more challenging and pressurized job these days.

“I’m trying to pay State back for all it has done for me,’’ said Warren, 63, who lives in Greensboro and works as managing partner of Gateway Management, a restaurant chain company.

Down and Dirty

As a high school player in Lincolnton, Warren was dubbed “Pig Pen” because he sweated profusely and got downright hog-dirty blocking and tackling on a grass-withered practice field.

Early on he became buddies with teammate and Lincolnton legend Dennis Byrd. The two linemen were such close friends they agreed to attend the same university.

That was doubly delightful for NC State. Byrd burgeoned into an All-America defensive tackle and often went helmet-to-helmet in practice against the smaller, feisty Warren.

“I never played against a player as good as Dennis,’’ said Warren, adding that trying to block the 6-4, 255-pound Byrd day-after-day made game-challenges seem easier.

Byrd admired Warren’s savvy, determination and work ethic.

“He had decent ability; He was not the quickest or biggest,” Byrd said. “[But] he was a gutsy sucker, would out work you. He was smart, would do what it took. He got it done.”

The two pals had a big time playing for coach Earle Edwards’ Pack, especially in 1967. That’s the year they stunned Houston 16-6 in the Astrodome, gained the program’s highest national ranking (No. 3) and upset Georgia 14-7 in the Gator Bowl.

Ironically, on the way to a 9-2 record, Byrd and Warren triggered a team brawl during halftime at Maryland.

Unbeaten at the time, State’s offense struggled throughout the first half. So players on the defensive unit, led by big Byrd, challenged their offensive teammates.

Byrd confronted Warren, asked what was wrong, but didn’t get a satisfactory answer.

“He was down and that wasn’t like him; that made me mad,” said Byrd, who slapped his friend. Warren retaliated with a punch and a fight broke out between the two units,  “60 guys” grappling in a small dressing room.

After that scrum the offense turned its wrath on Maryland and State wound up winning, 31-9.

More Memories

It was a season of memorable moments, most good, but a few bitter that still linger 42 years later.

Thanks to a masterful game plan by assistant coach Al Michaels, State shocked No. 2 ranked Houston 16-6 in the Astrodome and ruined a party planned by one of the Cougars star players.

What Warren seems to remember most about that night was a hilarious comment in the State huddle when the Wolfpack was driving for a go-ahead touchdown.

“While [quarterback] Jim Donnan was calling the play, Settle Dockery suddenly shouted: ‘Look at that plane!’ Warren said. “We all turned to the jumbotron...and saw a huge TWA rising on the screen. It was amazing. Donnan quickly got our team’s attention, called the play and the rest is history.”

The toughest day, one of the most disappointing days in State football history, came at Penn State. The Pack, 8-0 and No. 3 in the country, lost 13-8 to the No. 4 Nittany Lions after getting stopped less than a foot from the goal line late in the game.

“We would have been No. 1 in the country; the two teams ranked above us lost,’’ Warren lamented. “ Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve. I’ll never forget it. I still dream about that game. It still haunts you. I wish we could line up and play that game again.”

After a loss at Clemson the following week, the resilient Pack came back and beat Georgia in the Gator Bowl, which ranks as one of the program’s finest moments.

“Like the Blues Brothers, we felt we were on a mission from God,’’ Warren said. “We could line up and play anybody. It was a great ride...”

Moving On

After completing his career at State, Warren played in the Blue-Gray game, then used a post-graduate scholarship to get a masters degree in marketing and finance at UNC.

Later he spent nearly three decades in the Textile business, rising to president of Elastic Fabrics of America. During one 15-year period Warren helped a firm in Clinton, S.C. increase revenue from $15 million to almost $500 million.

In 2001, as the textile industry shifted, he became involved in the restaurant business. But there was always time for life beyond the work place.

During the last 30 years, his community endeavors include serving as president of five civic organizations and chairing the Board of Deacons and Clerk of The session at First Presbyterian Church.

His hours devoted to NC State have been numerous as well.

“Steve was very appreciative of the opportunity to play football and he has never forgotten that,’’ said Bobby Purcell, Executive Director of the Wolfpack Club. “It shows in all he has done -- providing leadership, his financial support, being a tremendous fan of all sports.

“He has been a tremendous friend, mentor and role model to me. He’s a man of strong faith and that is an inspiration to all of us.”

Looking at the State athletic program, Warren -- like the Wolfpack nation -- wants to see teams win conference championships, a scarcity the last several years.

“You need to win, graduate players and have integrity,’’ Warren emphasized. “You’ve got to do three of three. Two of three won’t work. We all want to win. We’ve all got to pull together.”

While the tasks are sometimes daunting, he applauded athletics director Lee Fowler and is supportive of the coaches. 

“I think Lee’s done a nice job. He’s been a great representative for the athletic program and he’s well respected across the country by his peers,’’ Warren said.

As for the football program, Warren said he’d like to suit up for coach Tom O’Brien.

“I would love to play for the man,’’ Warren said. “He and I share a lot of the same values. Anybody who goes to practices sees a whole different change in culture.”

Warren equated O’Brien’s philosophy to that of former Wolfpack coaches Dick Sheridan and Earle Edwards, each of whom stressed character, achieving academically, athletically and being solid citizens in the community.

Which is what Warren did as a student-athlete at State – on the way to becoming a role-model man.

North Carolina State University Athletics

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