North Carolina State University Athletics
Welcome Back Pack
9/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Osad
Sept. 19, 2011
Raleigh, N.C. - Classes began at NC State on Wednesday morning, but Wolfpack student-athletes were officially welcomed back to campus this evening at the athletic department's second annual "Welcome Back Pack" dinner. Over 500 members of State's varsity teams gathered with their coaches in the McKimmon Center on campus for a fun and inspiring evening.
Former Wolfpack women's basketball player and current national television analyst Debbie Antonelli was the keynote speaker at the event and challenged the members of the 2011-12 Pack. "I sat in the seat where you are right now," she said. "We are all connected because we will always have a part of NC State in us and we are a part of the Wolfpack family."
Antonelli offered advice for the various classes represented. She exhorted the freshmen to have "no fear. Don't be afraid to try new things or to accept your role on your team."
She urged the sophomores to have "no excuses. You should have it figured out by now, so get excited about what's ahead."
And to the upperclassmen, she told them to have "no regrets" - to make the most of the opportunity that they have been presented with. She also told the gathering that although they weren't "entitled," they could become "empowered" by making good choices.
Following Antonelli's address, Director of Athletics Debbie Yow congratulated the student-athletes on their accomplishments of the past year, citing the departments 22 spot jump in the Director's Cup standings, the highest graduation rate for student-athletes in history and the highest number of student-athletes ever named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll (213).
Yow also recognized the teams that earned points for the Pack in the Director's Cup standings from the lowest points, to the highest: women's outdoor track & field, wrestling, baseball, women's cross country, men's cross country, men's golf, football, women's tennis and gymnastics.
Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council were introduced and the State cheerleaders led the crowd in singing the fight song.
