North Carolina State University Athletics
O'Brien, Pack Ready for Season Opener
8/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 29, 2011
Full Press Conference Transcript 
RALEIGH, N.C. - Members of the local media gathered Monday afternoon at the Backyard Bistro to gain some last-minute insight from NC State head coach Tom O'Brien and senior linebacker Audie Cole.
O'Brien and Cole spent nearly 30 minutes shedding light on the Pack's season-opening tilt against Liberty on Saturday, and their expectations for the season as a whole.
"We're excited to get started," said O'Brien. "The preseason's finally over. We're looking forward to getting into game week starting tomorrow, and finding out what kind of football team we have."
O'Brien opened the proceedings by breaking down this week's opponent, a Liberty team that the coach stresses should not be taken lightly by his squad.
"We're going against a Liberty team that's been the [Big South] conference champ the last four years," said O'Brien. "Offensively they return a lot of skill people. The quarterback is an All-American, their wide receiver's an All-American.
"Their offense is centered around the quarterback. Last year, when they upset Ball State, he had the ball 55 out of the 66 plays that they ran, so everything goes through him."
After summarizing his scouting notes on Liberty, O'Brien took the time to mention Zach Powell, a senior walk-on cornerback whose hard work this preseason translated into a scholarship for 2011.
"Zach Powell has earned a scholarship," said O'Brien. "He's been a four-year player in our program and has been a great ambassador, especially off the field. Every community service project we've done, Zach's been at the forefront. He deserves to get a scholarship here for his last season."
A pair of true freshmen, Michael Peek and Tyrell Burriss, landed on the two-deep depth chart released to the media. O'Brien lauded the pair when questioned about that move.
"They did an excellent job in preseason camp and earned the right to play," said O'Brien. "As I've said before, especially for freshmen, they have to be guys that you can count on. They're guys that have learned the position, learned the defense, and can execute. Those two kids did a great job in preseason learning what they had to learn, and if they're called upon they'll be ready to play."
At the conclusion of O'Brien's session, Audie Cole addressed the media to offer a player's perspective on this week's task.
"As long as we take care of our assignments and play the way we've been taught, we should put together a good game," said Cole. "We have to bring the right mindset into it. I think [the linebackers] are at a good point right now, we just need to stay focused and do what we need to do."
After a half an hour's worth of questions and answers, at the tail end of the press conference, Cole said something that illuminated the complex mix of emotion that surrounds the start of any season.
"You wait the whole off season just looking forward to this day, and now it's only five days away."
