Saturday, October 8
Raleigh, N.C.
12 p.m.
NC State
vs
Notre Dame - 50th Anniversary of Carter-Finley
Pack Welcomes Notre Dame for Carter-Finley Anniversary Celebration
10/7/2016 9:33:00 AM | Football
Game Day Central | Thursday Notebook | #CF50 | Top Games
This Place We Call Home | Improving Defense Faces Challenge
Game 5: NC State Wolfpack (3-1) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-3)
October 8, 2016 • 12 p.m. • ABC/ACC Network Extra
Raleigh, N.C. • Carter-Finley Stadium (58,200)
TV: ABC/ACC Network Extra | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network, Tunein, Sirius 108, XM 193
Live Stats | Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
RALEIGH, N.C. - Very few birthday parties have featured such a sizeable guest list: more than 58,000 fans are expected to be on hand Saturday when the NC State football program celebrates the 50th anniversary of its beloved home, Carter-Finley Stadium.
In what would be icing on the birthday cake, the Wolfpack (3-1) hopes to punctuate the occasion by knocking off one of the most storied programs in college football history. Notre Dame (2-3) teams have traveled far and wide across the country over the years, but the Irish have never played a game in Raleigh.
That all changes with a noon kickoff on Saturday.
"As a football fan growing up, you know about Notre Dame," said NC State tight end Cole Cook. "We're excited about playing this game. It's a big game because it's the next game. We're focused on ourselves and making sure we execute our plan."
The Notre Dame game happens to fall on October 8th, exactly 50 years to the day that NC State played its very first game at then Carter Stadium on October 8th, 1966. The timing of the affair has generated both anticipation and hype around the NC State campus, a fact that left Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren in the unenviable position of trying to keep his players focused on the same preparation routines that are employed for every game, regardless of the opponent and circumstances.
"For us to beat anybody regardless of what they used to be or what they are now or what people say they're going to be or how many stars they have or what they're preseason rankings are, we have to control the things that we can control," Doeren said. "The history of that program has nothing to do with what's going to happen on Saturday."
No, Knute Rockne will not be providing a pregame speech in the visitors' locker room on Saturday, although Notre Dame team managers will attach a travel version of the famous sign that carries the words "play like champions today" to the locker room door.
And although Joe Montana won't be taking snaps at quarterback this weekend, current Irish signal caller DeShone Kizer is already putting a dent in the Notre Dame record book this season. The junior has thrown for 1,196 yards over the last three games, the second-best three game stretch in school history. Kizer's 471 passing yards in last week's 50-33 win over Syracuse were the most ever delivered in a Notre Dame victory.
"He's a very good football player and a very smart player," said Wolfpack linebacker Arius Moore. "He's going to make plays because he's a good player, but we just have to make it hard for him."
Behind the passing and running of Kizer, Notre Dame rolled up 654 yards of total offense against the Orange. Emerging as Kizer's top target in the passing game is 6-5 sophomore Equanimeous St. Brown, who averaged 45.5 yards on five catches against Syracuse.
"They have really good personnel and they're scoring a tone of points," Doeren said. "They probably have the best offensive line we'll see all season. They're tough and they're big. Offensively, there's a lot of max protect and deep shots down the field."
Notre Dame finds itself with three losses not because of offense, but due to some defensive liabilities that ultimately led to the release of defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder following a 38-35 loss to Duke on September 24. The Irish have played just one game under the direction of new coordinator Greg Hudson.
"Anytime you have some defensive coaches changing, you just have to look at what they've done on tape thus far and what they might do, but you have to prepare the best you can," Cook said. "If they do something different, then we'll just have to adjust to it."
Like Notre Dame, NC State has been putting up some eye-popping numbers on the offensive side of the ball. The Wolfpack has accumulated 500 yards or more of total offense in three of its first four games for the first time in school history. State's per game average of 506 yards ranks 21st in the FBS and third in the ACC. The Pack's third down conversion rate of 55 percent also ranks No. 1 in the league and second-best in the FBS. Not only is quarterback Ryan Finley completing 72.4 percent of his throws, he's one of just two starting quarterbacks in the ACC who's yet to throw an interception.
"They're really good at getting it to open spaces," said Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. "They have really good concepts that stress your defense. You can't be a vanilla coverage team. You have to show them different looks or they'll just wear you out. You can't line-up like ducks or you're going to be on the field all day."
Based on the weather forecast, Saturday could be a day that only ducks could enjoy. Outer residue from Hurricane Mathew threatens to produce some rain drops, and based on what's happened so far this season, less than perfect conditions may be the only thing capable of slowing these two prolific offenses down.
"It's obviously a big opportunity," Cook said. "Notre Dame is a big name in college football and we're excited to play them. "Anytime we can go out on national TV like that and play, it's a great opportunity to show off what we can do."
With a noon kickoff, the Wolfpack Sports Network begins its pregame coverage at 10 a.m. with the Matthews Motors Countdown to Kickoff. In hour two of the pregame show from the radio booth, former Wolfpack All-American Johnny Evans takes question from fans on 'Ask the Analyst.' Questions about Pack football can be sent to Johnny via Twitter @packradio or by clicking HERE.
A complete recap of the NC State-Notre Dame game will be available Sunday on the Dave Doeren TV Show. Check HERE for times and stations.
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This Place We Call Home | Improving Defense Faces Challenge
Game 5: NC State Wolfpack (3-1) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-3)
October 8, 2016 • 12 p.m. • ABC/ACC Network Extra
Raleigh, N.C. • Carter-Finley Stadium (58,200)
TV: ABC/ACC Network Extra | Radio: Wolfpack Sports Network, Tunein, Sirius 108, XM 193
Live Stats | Game Notes | @PackFootball Twitter | Ask the Analyst
RALEIGH, N.C. - Very few birthday parties have featured such a sizeable guest list: more than 58,000 fans are expected to be on hand Saturday when the NC State football program celebrates the 50th anniversary of its beloved home, Carter-Finley Stadium.
In what would be icing on the birthday cake, the Wolfpack (3-1) hopes to punctuate the occasion by knocking off one of the most storied programs in college football history. Notre Dame (2-3) teams have traveled far and wide across the country over the years, but the Irish have never played a game in Raleigh.
That all changes with a noon kickoff on Saturday.
"As a football fan growing up, you know about Notre Dame," said NC State tight end Cole Cook. "We're excited about playing this game. It's a big game because it's the next game. We're focused on ourselves and making sure we execute our plan."
The Notre Dame game happens to fall on October 8th, exactly 50 years to the day that NC State played its very first game at then Carter Stadium on October 8th, 1966. The timing of the affair has generated both anticipation and hype around the NC State campus, a fact that left Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren in the unenviable position of trying to keep his players focused on the same preparation routines that are employed for every game, regardless of the opponent and circumstances.
"For us to beat anybody regardless of what they used to be or what they are now or what people say they're going to be or how many stars they have or what they're preseason rankings are, we have to control the things that we can control," Doeren said. "The history of that program has nothing to do with what's going to happen on Saturday."
No, Knute Rockne will not be providing a pregame speech in the visitors' locker room on Saturday, although Notre Dame team managers will attach a travel version of the famous sign that carries the words "play like champions today" to the locker room door.
And although Joe Montana won't be taking snaps at quarterback this weekend, current Irish signal caller DeShone Kizer is already putting a dent in the Notre Dame record book this season. The junior has thrown for 1,196 yards over the last three games, the second-best three game stretch in school history. Kizer's 471 passing yards in last week's 50-33 win over Syracuse were the most ever delivered in a Notre Dame victory.
"He's a very good football player and a very smart player," said Wolfpack linebacker Arius Moore. "He's going to make plays because he's a good player, but we just have to make it hard for him."
Behind the passing and running of Kizer, Notre Dame rolled up 654 yards of total offense against the Orange. Emerging as Kizer's top target in the passing game is 6-5 sophomore Equanimeous St. Brown, who averaged 45.5 yards on five catches against Syracuse.
"They have really good personnel and they're scoring a tone of points," Doeren said. "They probably have the best offensive line we'll see all season. They're tough and they're big. Offensively, there's a lot of max protect and deep shots down the field."
Notre Dame finds itself with three losses not because of offense, but due to some defensive liabilities that ultimately led to the release of defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder following a 38-35 loss to Duke on September 24. The Irish have played just one game under the direction of new coordinator Greg Hudson.
"Anytime you have some defensive coaches changing, you just have to look at what they've done on tape thus far and what they might do, but you have to prepare the best you can," Cook said. "If they do something different, then we'll just have to adjust to it."
Like Notre Dame, NC State has been putting up some eye-popping numbers on the offensive side of the ball. The Wolfpack has accumulated 500 yards or more of total offense in three of its first four games for the first time in school history. State's per game average of 506 yards ranks 21st in the FBS and third in the ACC. The Pack's third down conversion rate of 55 percent also ranks No. 1 in the league and second-best in the FBS. Not only is quarterback Ryan Finley completing 72.4 percent of his throws, he's one of just two starting quarterbacks in the ACC who's yet to throw an interception.
"They're really good at getting it to open spaces," said Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly. "They have really good concepts that stress your defense. You can't be a vanilla coverage team. You have to show them different looks or they'll just wear you out. You can't line-up like ducks or you're going to be on the field all day."
Based on the weather forecast, Saturday could be a day that only ducks could enjoy. Outer residue from Hurricane Mathew threatens to produce some rain drops, and based on what's happened so far this season, less than perfect conditions may be the only thing capable of slowing these two prolific offenses down.
"It's obviously a big opportunity," Cook said. "Notre Dame is a big name in college football and we're excited to play them. "Anytime we can go out on national TV like that and play, it's a great opportunity to show off what we can do."
With a noon kickoff, the Wolfpack Sports Network begins its pregame coverage at 10 a.m. with the Matthews Motors Countdown to Kickoff. In hour two of the pregame show from the radio booth, former Wolfpack All-American Johnny Evans takes question from fans on 'Ask the Analyst.' Questions about Pack football can be sent to Johnny via Twitter @packradio or by clicking HERE.
A complete recap of the NC State-Notre Dame game will be available Sunday on the Dave Doeren TV Show. Check HERE for times and stations.
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