North Carolina State University Athletics
The Gift of Gameday
9/5/2015 8:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - It all comes down to this.
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The alarm clock going off at 4:30 a.m. on a frigid January morning.  The conditioning runs when it's so cold you can see steam rising from your teammates' heads or so hot you're drenched before you start.  Watching so much film that your eyes are red.  Laying down sore and tired every night because you had to get that "one more" rep in the weight room.
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This is what it was all for:  game day.
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Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren summed it up this week:  "It's about raising the bar and being better than we were.  It's about pushing to not underachieve as a player, as a coach, as a program. Then you get to play ... and that's the gift – the gift of game day."
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There is no doubt that NC State enters the 2015 season with a buzz surrounding the program.  The number of players on the watch lists for prestigious awards is hard evidence that the program has moved closer into the shine of that national spotlight.  Season tickets are sold out, as Wolfpack fans want to make sure they don't miss a minute of what they feel could be a special season.
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The excitement is tangible within the walls of the Murphy Football Center as well, but Doeren hasn't forgotten how young his team is.  He knows that mistakes will be made and lessons will be learned.  But it's how his team responds to those mistakes that he is most interested in.Â
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"'Raising the Bar' is not just an offseason slogan," Doeren said.  "It's going to be our mindset after every play, every quarter, every game.  We want to get better with each experience – as coaches and as players.  It's going to be a fun ride. I love the process."
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Noting the Pack:
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The alarm clock going off at 4:30 a.m. on a frigid January morning.  The conditioning runs when it's so cold you can see steam rising from your teammates' heads or so hot you're drenched before you start.  Watching so much film that your eyes are red.  Laying down sore and tired every night because you had to get that "one more" rep in the weight room.
Â
This is what it was all for:  game day.
Â
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren summed it up this week:  "It's about raising the bar and being better than we were.  It's about pushing to not underachieve as a player, as a coach, as a program. Then you get to play ... and that's the gift – the gift of game day."
Â
There is no doubt that NC State enters the 2015 season with a buzz surrounding the program.  The number of players on the watch lists for prestigious awards is hard evidence that the program has moved closer into the shine of that national spotlight.  Season tickets are sold out, as Wolfpack fans want to make sure they don't miss a minute of what they feel could be a special season.
Â
The excitement is tangible within the walls of the Murphy Football Center as well, but Doeren hasn't forgotten how young his team is.  He knows that mistakes will be made and lessons will be learned.  But it's how his team responds to those mistakes that he is most interested in.Â
Â
"'Raising the Bar' is not just an offseason slogan," Doeren said.  "It's going to be our mindset after every play, every quarter, every game.  We want to get better with each experience – as coaches and as players.  It's going to be a fun ride. I love the process."
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Noting the Pack:
- NC State is tied for sixth nationally with fewest number of seniors (11) on its roster.
- QB Jacoby Brissett already ranks eighth in school history in career passing touchdowns (23) and fifth in percentage (.597). He set a school record for rushing by a quarterback last season with 529 yards.
- 72% of the Wolfpack squad is made up of freshmen and sophomores.
- The Wolfpack boasts the ACC's most experienced secondary in terms of career games started (83).
- 24 true freshmen have seen action for the Wolfpack under Dave Doeren.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballCoach 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