North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Wolfpack Kicks Off Spring Practice
3/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. – Before offensive coordinator Dana Bible could return for spring football practice, NC State head coach Tom O'Brien made him get a note from his doctor saying he was cleared to participate, just like he does with players returning from major injuries.
It was a tongue-in-cheek request that Bible, who had a major scare after being diagnosed with leukemia at the end of last season, fulfilled before he walked on the field Tuesday afternoon for the first of 15 practices leading up to the Wolfpack's April 17 spring scrimmage at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Bible is trying to gently ease his way back into the spring routine. He is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments in the morning, coming into the office by 11:30 a.m. He meets with the staff and prepares for practice.
Tuesday, Bible was active throughout the first half of practice, but sat in a golf cart on the sidelines in the latter part of practice.
"He is going to come out and do what he thinks he can get done," O'Brien said. "His doctor agreed that this is good for him. As much as he can do, we are going to let him do."
Still, O'Brien is making some changes. He and assistant coach Jason Swepson are more active in calling plays and writing practice scripts.
"We got caught flat-footed last year [when Bible missed two games because of his illness]," O'Brien said. "We are splitting up more of the things on offense. We anticipate that he is going to be here [every day], but there are going to times when he has to go sit down, which I think he did today. That's fine.
"Part of the thing about this is getting him out here and letting him be involved."
O'Brien is anxious to see several more people involved on the field as well, like senior linebacker Nate Irving, who missed all of last season after sustaining near-fatal injuries in a single-car accident. Irving was recently cleared to play and will be at middle linebacker this year, as opposed to outside linebacker.
"He certainly can't be as physically well as he was a year ago, when he was our defensive MVP," O'Brien said. "He hasn't really been able to train until he was cleared about three or four weeks ago. I think he can get back to the level he was at previously.
"He is much further along than Toney Baker was a year ago on his first day at practice. That's the difference between a ligament tear and a broken bone."
Offensively, the Wolfpack will be adjusting to sophomore Mike Glennon taking most of the snaps with the first team, as two-year starter Russell Wilson spends the spring playing baseball. And, with the first day of spring practice open to the media, many eyes were on No. 8 as the Wolfpack worked out in shorts and shoulder pads.
"This will really benefit him a lot," O'Brien said. "He's getting a lot of time to throw, he's getting a lot of attention coaching wise. He should get better and better each and every day. It is really important to him. He really studies the game.
"Today, I don't think he made a bad decision on the field. Whatever was dictated, he made the right decision."
The Wolfpack will continue drills in shorts and pads on Thursday, then take 10 days off for spring break before resuming workouts. Spring will conclude with the annual reunion of former players on April 16 and the second-annual Kay Yow Spring Football Game on April 17 at Carter-Finley Stadium.'
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
