North Carolina State University Athletics
Boone Overcomes Adversity to Make Impact in Win
9/17/2017 8:02:00 AM | Football
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RALEIGH, N.C. - Just before he stepped in front of the cameras to talk about his first career interception, NC State senior Shawn Boone handed the game ball he had been awarded for his performance Saturday to one of his teammates.
A few seconds later, someone handed it back to him, so he could hold it while talking about his big play and the Wolfpack's 49-16 victory over Furman at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The message was clear: don't ever let it get away.
For Boone, letting an interception against Florida State bounce off his hands last season has been the biggest motivating factor for his final season of college football.
"That's what I told you guys all off season and all camp," Boone said. "That game, that play, is what drives me. I want to make sure something like that never happens again."
Two plays after Boone dropped the possible interception in the end zone last year, the Seminoles scored a go-ahead touchdown in the 24-20 defeat. It was one of a handful of ill-fated plays last season that changed the outcome of a game for the Pack.
So when he saw the Paladins line up to run a play they had been successful on earlier in the game, he was ready for it. When teammates Darian Roseboro and Justin Jones put pressure on the quarterback and Jones tipped it after it was thrown, Boone was ready and waiting.
He grabbed a quick look to the right and left and then took off, unhindered, for a 47-yard interception return, scoring his first touchdown since he was a ninth-grade option quarterback.
Even though Boone had plenty of time to think about the importance of the play as he ran it in, he let his mind go blank. When he reached the end zone, he just stood there, waiting to celebrate with his teammates.
"I just tried to soak it all in," he said.
The West Palm Beach, Florida, native had plenty of time after the game to think about what he would do with the game ball, but it's really a no-brainer. He's going to give it to his mother, Veronica Boone, when he sees her next weekend in Tallahassee, Florida, as the Wolfpack faces Florida State.
It's been a tough week for Boone's South Florida family. On Monday, when Hurricane Irma blew through as a Category 5 storm, his parents were at their home when the roof fell in. They've been slowly trying to stitch their lives together since then.
Power is being restored now for the families of the half-dozen Wolfpack players from the affected area, and Boone is comforted by the fact that his family is safe and the lights are back on.
Boone spoke to the coaching staff about it earlier in the week, and his relief was apparent Saturday in the cathartic celebration at the end of an emotional week.
"It's something you just have to be strong about," Boone said. "We've been through it before. Gratefully, my family was good through it all.
"It was rough, though. Family is all I have. I was worried about my mother and my father. They tried to tell me not to worry about it, so I could just go about doing my thing here, but it was hard."
Especially when the storm made landfall, even though it wasn't a direct hit in Palm Beach.
"They were texting me the whole time," he said. "I was trying to find out what was happening with them, with my nieces. When they told me everyone was OK, then I was able to go to sleep."
And he was well-rested enough Saturday to make the play he's been waiting for his whole career.
"It's something I've had the chance to do before, but this was my first one," Boone said. "I'm glad it finally happened."
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RALEIGH, N.C. - Just before he stepped in front of the cameras to talk about his first career interception, NC State senior Shawn Boone handed the game ball he had been awarded for his performance Saturday to one of his teammates.
A few seconds later, someone handed it back to him, so he could hold it while talking about his big play and the Wolfpack's 49-16 victory over Furman at Carter-Finley Stadium.
The message was clear: don't ever let it get away.
For Boone, letting an interception against Florida State bounce off his hands last season has been the biggest motivating factor for his final season of college football.
"That's what I told you guys all off season and all camp," Boone said. "That game, that play, is what drives me. I want to make sure something like that never happens again."
Two plays after Boone dropped the possible interception in the end zone last year, the Seminoles scored a go-ahead touchdown in the 24-20 defeat. It was one of a handful of ill-fated plays last season that changed the outcome of a game for the Pack.
So when he saw the Paladins line up to run a play they had been successful on earlier in the game, he was ready for it. When teammates Darian Roseboro and Justin Jones put pressure on the quarterback and Jones tipped it after it was thrown, Boone was ready and waiting.
He grabbed a quick look to the right and left and then took off, unhindered, for a 47-yard interception return, scoring his first touchdown since he was a ninth-grade option quarterback.
Even though Boone had plenty of time to think about the importance of the play as he ran it in, he let his mind go blank. When he reached the end zone, he just stood there, waiting to celebrate with his teammates.
"I just tried to soak it all in," he said.
The West Palm Beach, Florida, native had plenty of time after the game to think about what he would do with the game ball, but it's really a no-brainer. He's going to give it to his mother, Veronica Boone, when he sees her next weekend in Tallahassee, Florida, as the Wolfpack faces Florida State.
It's been a tough week for Boone's South Florida family. On Monday, when Hurricane Irma blew through as a Category 5 storm, his parents were at their home when the roof fell in. They've been slowly trying to stitch their lives together since then.
Power is being restored now for the families of the half-dozen Wolfpack players from the affected area, and Boone is comforted by the fact that his family is safe and the lights are back on.
Boone spoke to the coaching staff about it earlier in the week, and his relief was apparent Saturday in the cathartic celebration at the end of an emotional week.
"It's something you just have to be strong about," Boone said. "We've been through it before. Gratefully, my family was good through it all.
"It was rough, though. Family is all I have. I was worried about my mother and my father. They tried to tell me not to worry about it, so I could just go about doing my thing here, but it was hard."
Especially when the storm made landfall, even though it wasn't a direct hit in Palm Beach.
"They were texting me the whole time," he said. "I was trying to find out what was happening with them, with my nieces. When they told me everyone was OK, then I was able to go to sleep."
And he was well-rested enough Saturday to make the play he's been waiting for his whole career.
"It's something I've had the chance to do before, but this was my first one," Boone said. "I'm glad it finally happened."
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Players Mentioned
Coach 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