Saturday, November 14
Tallahassee, Fla.
12:30 PM
NC State
at
Florida State
Wolfpack Seeks Fifth Road Win at FSU
11/13/2015 9:26:00 AM | Football
Game Day Central | Thursday Football Notebook | Doeren Media Availability
Game 10: NC State Wolfpack (6-3, 2-3) at #19 Florida State Seminoles (7-2, 5-2)
November 14, 2015 • 12:30 p.m.
Tallahassee, Fla. • Doak Campbell Stadium (82,300)
TV: ACCN/ESPN3 | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network, Sirius 145, XM 194
Live Stats | Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
RALEIGH, N.C. - The year 1957 was a very good one for NC State football. In a season that ended with the school's first ACC Championship, star tailback Dick Christy earned legendary status by scoring all of the Wolfpack's points in the clincher, a season-ending 29-26 triumph at South Carolina. The dramatic victory over the Gamecocks also gave the Pack its fifth road win that year, something no other NC State team has accomplished since.
Flash forward to 2015.
When the Pack plays its final road game of the season on Saturday, NC State (6-3, 2-3) will be trying to match the famed 1957 team when it shoots for its fifth win in hostile territory. Standing in the way will be 19th ranked Florida State (7-2, 5-2).
The Wolfpack and Seminoles are slated to kick things off from Doak Campbell Stadium at 12:30 p.m.
NC State owns road wins at Old Dominion, South Alabama, Wake Forest and Boston College this season with the lone defeat coming at Virginia Tech.
"I challenged the players," said State head coach Dave Doeren. "We could be tied with the winningest road team in NC State history if we can win this game. To me that's what this is all about, it's all about how can you create history and leave a legacy. We're fighting to get to better status than we were a year ago, so winning this game would give us the right to say we're tied as the winningest road team in NC State history. I think they're excited about that challenge."
Offensively, the Wolfpack has played some of its best football away from home this fall. In the four road wins, the Pack has averaged 40 points and 470 yards of total offense per game.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett says NC State has found a winning formula for away games.
"It starts in practice," said Brissett. "Everybody just gets locked in and knows that they've got to focus a little bit more each week. We understand that it's not our stadium, but at the end of the game when our fans are the only ones there because we won, that's all that matters."
Perhaps NC State can also give an assist to the new indoor practice facility. With a roof overhead, there's nowhere for the loud music to escape when the staff cranks up the speakers in an effort simulate the deafening noise that often accompanies trips to some of the louder venues in the ACC.
The Wolfpack will encounter such a stadium Saturday in Tallahassee. Florida State has won 19 consecutive games at Doak Campbell, and 15 straight against ACC competition.
"We're obviously playing well on the road," said Doeren. "Good road teams don't allow the environment to control them. We talk about being the thermostat in the room, the one that sets the temperature, not the thermometer. That's the kind of team we want to be. Not to allow the surroundings to dictate our play, but to be the guys who dictate what's going to happen and to set the tone. It's a great opportunity to go to Tallahassee for our last road game."
The 'thermostat' approach is apparently working very well. Dating back to the end of last season, NC State has prevailed in seven of its last eight games away from Carter-Finley Stadium when last December's triumph over UCF in the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl is included.
On Saturday, the Pack returns to the Sunshine State for the first time since then, eyeing a win in Tallahassee for the first time since 2005. While their ACC title hopes were flushed with last week's 23-13 loss to Clemson, the Seminoles remain talented, athletic and explosive.
In tailback Dalvin Cook, FSU features one of the best runners in all of college football. The ACC's leading rusher averages 8.32 yards per carry and is on a pace to become the first player in league history to average better than eight yards per attempt. Cook's current per game average of 153.75 is the fourth best mark in ACC history. He's also just 12 yards shy of eclipsing the school's single season rushing record, set by Warrick Dunn in 1995.
"He's one of the best tailbacks in the country, not just the league," Doeren said. "He's a really good football player who makes a lot of plays."
Who will join Cook in the FSU backfield on Saturday is, apparently, a mystery outside the inner sanctum of the Florida State practice fields. Either Sean McGuire, Everett Golson, or both will play quarterback for the Seminoles on Saturday. In his conversations with the media this week, coach Jimbo Fisher remained mum on his quarterback plans for this game.
He was, however, more than eager to talk about Brissett.
"He's strong in the pocket and can make all the throws," Fisher said. "Two, he has mobility and can escape. Three, he's so strong and it's tough to get him on the ground. He can throw in tight areas with people hanging on him. It's like playing with your big brother in the backyard with 10 little kids, and about five of them are hanging on him and trying to get him down. That's what he reminds you of at times."
Last year in Raleigh, Brissett was red-hot early, passing NC State to a 24-7 lead in the first quarter before FSU rallied to post a 56-41 victory. Brissett finished 32-of-48 for 359 yards and three touchdowns.
"We showed a lot of stuff last year that gave us a few pointers about them going into this year," Brissett said. "They're a really good team that's coming off a tough loss, so they're going to be ready to play. Last year is last year, but this year we've got to go out there and finish the game if we can."
And do it on the road...again.
Saturday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff will be preceded by Wolfpack Sports Network coverage, which begins at 10:30 a.m. In the second hour of the pregame show shortly after 11:30 a.m., former NC State All-American and color analyst Johnny Evans takes your questions about Pack football on 'Ask the Analyst.' Send Johnny a question on Twitter/@packradio or through email by clicking here.
A full recap of the NC State-Florida State game will be available on the Dave Doeren TV Show, which will air in the Triangle on Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. on WRAL TV-5. For other times and stations, click here.
Game 10: NC State Wolfpack (6-3, 2-3) at #19 Florida State Seminoles (7-2, 5-2)
November 14, 2015 • 12:30 p.m.
Tallahassee, Fla. • Doak Campbell Stadium (82,300)
TV: ACCN/ESPN3 | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network, Sirius 145, XM 194
Live Stats | Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
RALEIGH, N.C. - The year 1957 was a very good one for NC State football. In a season that ended with the school's first ACC Championship, star tailback Dick Christy earned legendary status by scoring all of the Wolfpack's points in the clincher, a season-ending 29-26 triumph at South Carolina. The dramatic victory over the Gamecocks also gave the Pack its fifth road win that year, something no other NC State team has accomplished since.
Flash forward to 2015.
When the Pack plays its final road game of the season on Saturday, NC State (6-3, 2-3) will be trying to match the famed 1957 team when it shoots for its fifth win in hostile territory. Standing in the way will be 19th ranked Florida State (7-2, 5-2).
The Wolfpack and Seminoles are slated to kick things off from Doak Campbell Stadium at 12:30 p.m.
NC State owns road wins at Old Dominion, South Alabama, Wake Forest and Boston College this season with the lone defeat coming at Virginia Tech.
"I challenged the players," said State head coach Dave Doeren. "We could be tied with the winningest road team in NC State history if we can win this game. To me that's what this is all about, it's all about how can you create history and leave a legacy. We're fighting to get to better status than we were a year ago, so winning this game would give us the right to say we're tied as the winningest road team in NC State history. I think they're excited about that challenge."
Offensively, the Wolfpack has played some of its best football away from home this fall. In the four road wins, the Pack has averaged 40 points and 470 yards of total offense per game.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett says NC State has found a winning formula for away games.
"It starts in practice," said Brissett. "Everybody just gets locked in and knows that they've got to focus a little bit more each week. We understand that it's not our stadium, but at the end of the game when our fans are the only ones there because we won, that's all that matters."
Perhaps NC State can also give an assist to the new indoor practice facility. With a roof overhead, there's nowhere for the loud music to escape when the staff cranks up the speakers in an effort simulate the deafening noise that often accompanies trips to some of the louder venues in the ACC.
The Wolfpack will encounter such a stadium Saturday in Tallahassee. Florida State has won 19 consecutive games at Doak Campbell, and 15 straight against ACC competition.
"We're obviously playing well on the road," said Doeren. "Good road teams don't allow the environment to control them. We talk about being the thermostat in the room, the one that sets the temperature, not the thermometer. That's the kind of team we want to be. Not to allow the surroundings to dictate our play, but to be the guys who dictate what's going to happen and to set the tone. It's a great opportunity to go to Tallahassee for our last road game."
The 'thermostat' approach is apparently working very well. Dating back to the end of last season, NC State has prevailed in seven of its last eight games away from Carter-Finley Stadium when last December's triumph over UCF in the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl is included.
On Saturday, the Pack returns to the Sunshine State for the first time since then, eyeing a win in Tallahassee for the first time since 2005. While their ACC title hopes were flushed with last week's 23-13 loss to Clemson, the Seminoles remain talented, athletic and explosive.
In tailback Dalvin Cook, FSU features one of the best runners in all of college football. The ACC's leading rusher averages 8.32 yards per carry and is on a pace to become the first player in league history to average better than eight yards per attempt. Cook's current per game average of 153.75 is the fourth best mark in ACC history. He's also just 12 yards shy of eclipsing the school's single season rushing record, set by Warrick Dunn in 1995.
"He's one of the best tailbacks in the country, not just the league," Doeren said. "He's a really good football player who makes a lot of plays."
Who will join Cook in the FSU backfield on Saturday is, apparently, a mystery outside the inner sanctum of the Florida State practice fields. Either Sean McGuire, Everett Golson, or both will play quarterback for the Seminoles on Saturday. In his conversations with the media this week, coach Jimbo Fisher remained mum on his quarterback plans for this game.
He was, however, more than eager to talk about Brissett.
"He's strong in the pocket and can make all the throws," Fisher said. "Two, he has mobility and can escape. Three, he's so strong and it's tough to get him on the ground. He can throw in tight areas with people hanging on him. It's like playing with your big brother in the backyard with 10 little kids, and about five of them are hanging on him and trying to get him down. That's what he reminds you of at times."
Last year in Raleigh, Brissett was red-hot early, passing NC State to a 24-7 lead in the first quarter before FSU rallied to post a 56-41 victory. Brissett finished 32-of-48 for 359 yards and three touchdowns.
"We showed a lot of stuff last year that gave us a few pointers about them going into this year," Brissett said. "They're a really good team that's coming off a tough loss, so they're going to be ready to play. Last year is last year, but this year we've got to go out there and finish the game if we can."
And do it on the road...again.
Saturday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff will be preceded by Wolfpack Sports Network coverage, which begins at 10:30 a.m. In the second hour of the pregame show shortly after 11:30 a.m., former NC State All-American and color analyst Johnny Evans takes your questions about Pack football on 'Ask the Analyst.' Send Johnny a question on Twitter/@packradio or through email by clicking here.
A full recap of the NC State-Florida State game will be available on the Dave Doeren TV Show, which will air in the Triangle on Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. on WRAL TV-5. For other times and stations, click here.
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