North Carolina State University Athletics
A Great Day(es)
9/12/2015 11:02:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - So, Matthew Dayes, on a scale of 1-to-10, how much do you hate standing in front of the media talking about your second consecutive 100-yard rushing game?
"About a 15," he said, with a wry smile that only reinforced the accuracy of the number. "I hate it. I just hate it.
"But it is just part of the process."
It's true that Dayes was the last player out of the locker room Saturday night after NC State's decisive 35-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Carter-Finley Stadium. And it's true that he suffered through every last question patiently, giving credit to his teammates, picking apart his own performance and figuring out ways to be better next time out.
That's just his personality: quiet, even-keeled, never overly excited.
"I've always been that way, and I don't think I'm going to change," Dayes said.
That doesn't mean he's not having fun. He'd rather just have his words translated to numbers on the stat sheet.
"You might not be able to tell, but I really am enjoying every minute of it," Dayes said. "I just don't like talking about it."
The junior tailback rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries against the Colonels and scored three touchdowns on Saturday. He had a career-high 126 yards in the season opener against Troy. Through the Wolfpack's first two games, the native of Weston, Fla., has 242 yards on 48 carries and five touchdowns.
That rushing total is the most by a Wolfpack running back in the first two games of a season since Joe McIntosh had 270 yards in the first two games in 1983 against East Carolina and The Citadel.
So what's not to enjoy?
"I'm not really like this all the time," Dayes said. "I do get really excited when one of my teammates scores. And I do get excited for the offensive line when they open big holes. That's when the hype comes out."
Mostly, however, he's consistent with his lack of words, during a game, in the locker room or at practice.
"I don't think I've ever heard him say more than 'Let's do it,'" said talkative wide receiver Jumichael Ramos. "He just doesn't talk too much at all. He just gets stuff done."
Dayes is a stocky 5-feet-9 inches, with quick moves and shifty feet, a classic scatback capable of breaking away on a rush, on a pass or on a return. Last year, he was the Wolfpack's offensive most valuable player with 1,278 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.
He knew going into this season he would carry the ball more than anyone else for the first two games, and he's made the most of it.
And, for the record, head coach Dave Doeren loves Dayes' demeanor.
"I wish a lot of guys were like him: show up, work hard, take pride in your work, get better, take it personal," said the third-year coach. "He's a very competitive guy. He's intrinsically motivated. I love being around guys like Matt Dayes."
The coach expects he'll love being around the Wolfpack offense even more next week as the team travels to Old Dominion for the first road game of the season, a game in which Dayes' backfield partner Shadrach Thornton will return to action.
"I'm proud of [Dayes]," Doeren said. "He's had two great games. It's only going to make him better with Shadrach coming back. Those two guys, style-wise, are different.
"It's going to make it hard to defend them."
"About a 15," he said, with a wry smile that only reinforced the accuracy of the number. "I hate it. I just hate it.
"But it is just part of the process."
It's true that Dayes was the last player out of the locker room Saturday night after NC State's decisive 35-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky at Carter-Finley Stadium. And it's true that he suffered through every last question patiently, giving credit to his teammates, picking apart his own performance and figuring out ways to be better next time out.
That's just his personality: quiet, even-keeled, never overly excited.
"I've always been that way, and I don't think I'm going to change," Dayes said.
That doesn't mean he's not having fun. He'd rather just have his words translated to numbers on the stat sheet.
"You might not be able to tell, but I really am enjoying every minute of it," Dayes said. "I just don't like talking about it."
The junior tailback rushed for 116 yards on 24 carries against the Colonels and scored three touchdowns on Saturday. He had a career-high 126 yards in the season opener against Troy. Through the Wolfpack's first two games, the native of Weston, Fla., has 242 yards on 48 carries and five touchdowns.
That rushing total is the most by a Wolfpack running back in the first two games of a season since Joe McIntosh had 270 yards in the first two games in 1983 against East Carolina and The Citadel.
So what's not to enjoy?
"I'm not really like this all the time," Dayes said. "I do get really excited when one of my teammates scores. And I do get excited for the offensive line when they open big holes. That's when the hype comes out."
Mostly, however, he's consistent with his lack of words, during a game, in the locker room or at practice.
"I don't think I've ever heard him say more than 'Let's do it,'" said talkative wide receiver Jumichael Ramos. "He just doesn't talk too much at all. He just gets stuff done."
Dayes is a stocky 5-feet-9 inches, with quick moves and shifty feet, a classic scatback capable of breaking away on a rush, on a pass or on a return. Last year, he was the Wolfpack's offensive most valuable player with 1,278 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.
He knew going into this season he would carry the ball more than anyone else for the first two games, and he's made the most of it.
And, for the record, head coach Dave Doeren loves Dayes' demeanor.
"I wish a lot of guys were like him: show up, work hard, take pride in your work, get better, take it personal," said the third-year coach. "He's a very competitive guy. He's intrinsically motivated. I love being around guys like Matt Dayes."
The coach expects he'll love being around the Wolfpack offense even more next week as the team travels to Old Dominion for the first road game of the season, a game in which Dayes' backfield partner Shadrach Thornton will return to action.
"I'm proud of [Dayes]," Doeren said. "He's had two great games. It's only going to make him better with Shadrach coming back. Those two guys, style-wise, are different.
"It's going to make it hard to defend them."
Players Mentioned
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