North Carolina State University Athletics
Athletics Department Hosts Welcome Back Pack Dinner
8/15/2017 9:51:00 PM | Pack Athletics
RALEIGH - The NC State Athletics Department hosted its annual Welcome Back Pack Dinner Tuesday evening in the Talley Student Center. The event took place on the eve of the first day of fall semester classes and served as an opportunity to get student-athletes, coaches, and staff together before the school year begins.
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Special to be a part of @PackAthletics - always great to start the new year with our fellow teams with a united vision and mission! pic.twitter.com/whQMaJOjtp
— NC State Volleyball (@PackVball) August 16, 2017
Athletics Director Deborah Yow kicked off the evening by acknowledging accomplishments from last school year. She highlighted the teams that finished in their respective Top 25 rankings and asked the student-athletes to join her in setting a goal to finish the 2017-18 season ranked in the Top 25 of the Learfield Directors' Cup.Â
Senior Associate Athletic Director Raymond Harrison took the stage next to further emphasize what it meant to have the NC State Athletics family back together.Â
"This concept is phenomenal," said Harrison. "The fact that we get a chance to bring all of our student athletes, all of our coaches, all of our administrators into a room at the same time to kick off the year, that's really exciting."Â
Harrison then introduced Clint Bruce, former Navy SEAL and NFL player, as the keynote speaker for the evening. A four-year letterman and team captain for Navy, Bruce graduated in 1997 and completed SEAL training in 1998. He was also invited to camp with the Baltimore Ravens and the New Orleans Saints.Â
Bruce used his past experiences and his story-telling ability to connect with the Wolfpack student-athletes in attendance. He spoke about carrying lessons from the sports world into the real world, and he focused on what it means to be an elite achiever.
"Everything I need to know about life, I learned in sports," said Bruce.
According to Bruce, elite achievers are five things:
- Balanced: Elite achievers know that they need to create high ground for the hard days, because they know the hard days are coming.
- Curious: Elite achievers want to find out before they need it.
- Tribal: Elite achievers need something more than themselves to do something bigger than themselves. It is important for the student-athletes to trust one another.
- Intentional: Elite achievers know why they are here.
- Authentic: Elite achievers are transparent.
A highlight video showcasing the 2016-17 sports season ended the evening's festivities. The year kicks into high gear as the fall semester begins Wednesday.Â
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ÂAlways a good way to start off the season. Best of luck to our student-athletes as they begin the fall semester tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/WDfnO4Vf8e
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) August 16, 2017
ÂReunited! Had a great time at the Welcome Back Pack dinner and ready for classes tomorrow! @PackAthletics #GoPack ???? pic.twitter.com/PnkaSUPxal
— NC State Gymnastics (@PackGymnastics) August 16, 2017
ÂKicked off the year at the Welcome Back Pack dinner. Here's to what's ahead for Wolfpack tennis! The Pack is rising! pic.twitter.com/CeXcDxySkj
— NCSU Men's Tennis (@PackMensTennis) August 16, 2017
FANTASTIC talk by @ClintBruce_ and an OUTSTANDING start to the PACK's new year!!! Great looking bunch I got to hang out with! #PACKTough ?????? pic.twitter.com/UKIBNkSk0E
— Gary Taylor (@PACKCoachTaylor) August 16, 2017
