North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Hosts Wake Forest on Senior Day
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2014
TV: RSN/ESPN3 | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network | Live Stats
Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
RALEIGH, N.C. - Nineteen NC State seniors will be suiting up at Carter-Finley Stadium for the final time on Saturday afternoon and no one wants to send them off with a win more than head coach Dave Doeren and their teammates. Standing in the way of the seniors and one last home hurrah is the Wolfpack’s oldest football rival.
State (5-5) and Wake Forest (2-7) meet for the 108th time with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. The game will be televised by RSN Affiliates.
“I had the seniors stand up and face the team in our team meeting room,” Doeren said earlier this week. “I think that’s always a unique thing when you stare at those guys and know that it’s the last time you’re going to walk down the tunnel with them. Our guys are excited about senior day, Military Appreciation Day and they’re excited about trying to get win number six.”
Steeped in military tradition, NC State will again offer its annual tributes to military veterans and active personnel with a variety of festivities before and during Saturday’s game. The Wolfpack will also be trying to nail down a sixth win that would make it bowl eligible.
With games remaining against in-state rivals Wake Forest and North Carolina, the Pack still has a chance of getting it done. The preferred scenario would be to take care of business on Saturday so that a do-or-die storyline can be avoided when NC State travels to Chapel Hill for the regular season finale in two weeks.
“It’s very important because six doubles our total from last year,” NC State safety Hakeem Jones said. “Being bowl eligible is great as well because I haven’t been to a bowl in two years since we went to the [Music City Bowl] in Tennessee. Being in a bowl game is a great experience for the coaches and the team. We look forward to that and getting our next win against Wake.”
As a redshirt junior, Jones feels a special kinship with the fourth-year seniors in this class because he was with them when they first arrived on campus three years ago. With one more year of eligibility of remaining, Jones will have his senior day next season, but he also has a burning desire to make sure the current crop of seniors who will be celebrated on Saturday have a day to remember for the rest of their lives.
“It’s a big deal because most of the seniors came in my class back in 2011,” he said. “I came in with those guys and I know them well. My roommate is Jarvis Byrd and I hang around with him a lot, which makes me feel like a senior as well.”
Byrd, a safety, has a unique history. He’s wrapping up his sixth year in the NC State program after undergoing three ACL reconstructions in his career. Others, like offensive tackles Rob Crisp and Tyson Chandler, running back Tony Creecy, receiver Bryan Underwood, tight end Tyler Purvis, defensive tackles T.Y McGill and Thomas Teal, and linebackers Brandon Pittman and Rodman Noel, will be leaving NC State as young men after arriving on campus as wide-eyed teenagers.
The Wolfpack will also be saying so long to the incomparable kicking combination comprised of placekicker Niklas Sade, punter Will Bauman and long snapper Scott Thompson – who have all started since their freshmen seasons.
It’s a senior class that Doeren inherited when he was introduced as NC State’s head coach in December of 2012.
“I’m proud of them,” Doeren said. “When I first got here, and it’s like this with every coaching transition, I had to earn their respect and I think I’ve done that. Some of those guys are playing terrific football right now. I think about the way Thomas Teal is playing right now and the way he’s grown or Rob Crisp and the stuff he went through last year (concussion). It’s very rewarding as a coach. I’m proud of those guys and I really want to send them off the right way.”
On a day when NC State will celebrate its seniors, the game itself will pit two of the ACC’s youngest teams against each other. Seven different true freshmen have earned starts for the Wolfpack this season, the fifth highest total in the FBS. In Dave Clawson’s first year as head coach, the Wake Forest roster features 74 players who are either freshmen or sophomores.
Although the Deacons are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, they have shown dramatic improvement in their last two games against Boston College and Clemson. A week ago Thursday, Wake was in a 20-20 tie with the Tigers after three quarters before eventually falling, 34-20.
“If you take the last half of the B.C. game and the first three quarters of the Clemson game, it’s probably the best five quarters of football that we’ve put together,” said Clawson, who won a MAC title at Bowling Green before succeeding Jim Grobe at Wake Forest. I’m proud of our football team; they continue to practice hard and play hard. We’re improving and that’s the most important thing.”
True freshman quarterback John Wolford has taken his share of shots this season as the Deacons have surrendered a league-worst total of 36 sacks. Wake ranks last in the ACC in total offense, averaging 203 yards per game. The Deacons average only 28 percent when it comes to converting third downs, perhaps a welcome stat for an NC State defense that has allowed opponents to convert 52 percent of their third down plays.
Punter Alex Kinal and kicker Mike Weaver have helped Wake Forest field one of the most formidable special teams units in the ACC, while senior Kevin Johnson leads a respectable defense. Johnson is projected to be a second or third round NFL draft pick next April.
“They’ve been in every game except for Florida State,” Doeren said. “They play good defense, they’re very good on special teams and they probably have the best punter in the country. He’s only giving up 1.7 yards per return. When you play good defense and good special teams, you’re going to be in every game.”
Wolfpack Sports Network coverage of the 108th meeting between NC State and Wake Forest starts with the Matthews Motors Countdown to Kickoff at 1 p.m. In hour two of the pregame show beginning at 2 p.m., veteran color analyst Johnny Evans takes your questions on Farm Bureau’s ‘Ask the Analyst.’ Tweet Johnny a question @packradio or forward him a question here.
The Dave Doeren TV Show airs on Sunday nights at 11:30 p.m. on WRAL TV-5 in Raleigh and WILM (CBS) in Wilmington. A stream of the show is also available each Monday on Gopack.com. For a full list of times and stations, click here.
Coach Doeren will take questions from fans on Twitter. Submit your questions using the hashtag #CoachDTV.
RSN Affiliates | Military Appreciation Day Info | Thursday Football Notebook
Game 11: NC State Wolfpack (5-5, 1-5) vs. Wake Forest (2-7, 0-5)
November 15, 2014 • 3 p.m.
Raleigh, N.C. • Carter-Finley Stadium (57,600)
TV: RSN/ESPN3 | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network | Live Stats
Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
RALEIGH, N.C. - Nineteen NC State seniors will be suiting up at Carter-Finley Stadium for the final time on Saturday afternoon and no one wants to send them off with a win more than head coach Dave Doeren and their teammates. Standing in the way of the seniors and one last home hurrah is the Wolfpack’s oldest football rival.
State (5-5) and Wake Forest (2-7) meet for the 108th time with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. The game will be televised by RSN Affiliates.
“I had the seniors stand up and face the team in our team meeting room,” Doeren said earlier this week. “I think that’s always a unique thing when you stare at those guys and know that it’s the last time you’re going to walk down the tunnel with them. Our guys are excited about senior day, Military Appreciation Day and they’re excited about trying to get win number six.”
Steeped in military tradition, NC State will again offer its annual tributes to military veterans and active personnel with a variety of festivities before and during Saturday’s game. The Wolfpack will also be trying to nail down a sixth win that would make it bowl eligible.
With games remaining against in-state rivals Wake Forest and North Carolina, the Pack still has a chance of getting it done. The preferred scenario would be to take care of business on Saturday so that a do-or-die storyline can be avoided when NC State travels to Chapel Hill for the regular season finale in two weeks.
“It’s very important because six doubles our total from last year,” NC State safety Hakeem Jones said. “Being bowl eligible is great as well because I haven’t been to a bowl in two years since we went to the [Music City Bowl] in Tennessee. Being in a bowl game is a great experience for the coaches and the team. We look forward to that and getting our next win against Wake.”
As a redshirt junior, Jones feels a special kinship with the fourth-year seniors in this class because he was with them when they first arrived on campus three years ago. With one more year of eligibility of remaining, Jones will have his senior day next season, but he also has a burning desire to make sure the current crop of seniors who will be celebrated on Saturday have a day to remember for the rest of their lives.
“It’s a big deal because most of the seniors came in my class back in 2011,” he said. “I came in with those guys and I know them well. My roommate is Jarvis Byrd and I hang around with him a lot, which makes me feel like a senior as well.”
Byrd, a safety, has a unique history. He’s wrapping up his sixth year in the NC State program after undergoing three ACL reconstructions in his career. Others, like offensive tackles Rob Crisp and Tyson Chandler, running back Tony Creecy, receiver Bryan Underwood, tight end Tyler Purvis, defensive tackles T.Y McGill and Thomas Teal, and linebackers Brandon Pittman and Rodman Noel, will be leaving NC State as young men after arriving on campus as wide-eyed teenagers.
The Wolfpack will also be saying so long to the incomparable kicking combination comprised of placekicker Niklas Sade, punter Will Bauman and long snapper Scott Thompson – who have all started since their freshmen seasons.
It’s a senior class that Doeren inherited when he was introduced as NC State’s head coach in December of 2012.
“I’m proud of them,” Doeren said. “When I first got here, and it’s like this with every coaching transition, I had to earn their respect and I think I’ve done that. Some of those guys are playing terrific football right now. I think about the way Thomas Teal is playing right now and the way he’s grown or Rob Crisp and the stuff he went through last year (concussion). It’s very rewarding as a coach. I’m proud of those guys and I really want to send them off the right way.”
On a day when NC State will celebrate its seniors, the game itself will pit two of the ACC’s youngest teams against each other. Seven different true freshmen have earned starts for the Wolfpack this season, the fifth highest total in the FBS. In Dave Clawson’s first year as head coach, the Wake Forest roster features 74 players who are either freshmen or sophomores.
Although the Deacons are in the midst of a five-game losing streak, they have shown dramatic improvement in their last two games against Boston College and Clemson. A week ago Thursday, Wake was in a 20-20 tie with the Tigers after three quarters before eventually falling, 34-20.
“If you take the last half of the B.C. game and the first three quarters of the Clemson game, it’s probably the best five quarters of football that we’ve put together,” said Clawson, who won a MAC title at Bowling Green before succeeding Jim Grobe at Wake Forest. I’m proud of our football team; they continue to practice hard and play hard. We’re improving and that’s the most important thing.”
True freshman quarterback John Wolford has taken his share of shots this season as the Deacons have surrendered a league-worst total of 36 sacks. Wake ranks last in the ACC in total offense, averaging 203 yards per game. The Deacons average only 28 percent when it comes to converting third downs, perhaps a welcome stat for an NC State defense that has allowed opponents to convert 52 percent of their third down plays.
Punter Alex Kinal and kicker Mike Weaver have helped Wake Forest field one of the most formidable special teams units in the ACC, while senior Kevin Johnson leads a respectable defense. Johnson is projected to be a second or third round NFL draft pick next April.
“They’ve been in every game except for Florida State,” Doeren said. “They play good defense, they’re very good on special teams and they probably have the best punter in the country. He’s only giving up 1.7 yards per return. When you play good defense and good special teams, you’re going to be in every game.”
Wolfpack Sports Network coverage of the 108th meeting between NC State and Wake Forest starts with the Matthews Motors Countdown to Kickoff at 1 p.m. In hour two of the pregame show beginning at 2 p.m., veteran color analyst Johnny Evans takes your questions on Farm Bureau’s ‘Ask the Analyst.’ Tweet Johnny a question @packradio or forward him a question here.
The Dave Doeren TV Show airs on Sunday nights at 11:30 p.m. on WRAL TV-5 in Raleigh and WILM (CBS) in Wilmington. A stream of the show is also available each Monday on Gopack.com. For a full list of times and stations, click here.
Coach Doeren will take questions from fans on Twitter. Submit your questions using the hashtag #CoachDTV.
Coach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
Wednesday, December 03
FB Players Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Postgame Presser vs UNC
Sunday, November 30
Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
Monday, November 24