Wolfpack ready to make another run at 'state title'

By: By Bill Cole | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: September 19, 2009

N.C. State was undefeated against in-state teams last season, winning the mythical "state title," and will try to add to its streak today when it plays Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The Wolfpack defeated Duke, East Carolina, North Carolina and Wake Forest in 2008, and Coach Tom O'Brien is hoping that the start of another "title run" will provide incentive. State is 1-1; Gardner-Webb is 2-0.

"Certainly you want to do good in your own state," O'Brien said. "It's been a point of emphasis that was called to our attention last year. This is the first time we have to go on the field and defend it."

Gardner-Webb will be N.C. State's second straight opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision, but safety Bobby Floyd said that the Wolfpack will not be overconfident. Last season, Gardner-Webb lost just 10-7 at Georgia Tech, allowing only 79 yards rushing.

N.C. State throttled Murray State 65-7 last week, scoring on its first 10 possessions. Defensive coordinator Mike Archer told his players to forget the score and not to expect an easy game.

"Coach Archer has said this before: It's not necessarily about who you're playing. It's about us. It's about improving us as a defense," Floyd said. "This is another week to get better. And the way you get better is practicing hard. You practice and approach every week the same. You don't want to practice a different way for Murray State than you do for the University of North Carolina."

Quarterback Russell Wilson will try to build on his streak of 293 passes without an interception, the second-longest in NCAA history. Another 33 interception-free attempts will break the record of 325, set in 2007 by Kentucky's Andre Woodson.

Wilson and the State receivers might need a big day. Gardner-Webb's defensive effort at Georgia Tech last season wasn't unusual. The Bulldogs have held nine of their last 13 opponents to fewer than 100 yards rushing and 12 of the last 16 to fewer than 125 yards.

N.C. State's defense is coming off a dominating performance against Murray State, but O'Brien still has concerns. A freshman, a redshirt freshman and two seniors start in the secondary, and three of the backups are freshmen or redshirt freshmen, with Floyd the only senior backup.

"North Carolina State owns the positions," O'Brien said. "A player doesn't own the starting job. We're still trying to find who the best people are, and who knows how it's going to end up after practice this week?

"It's true not only for the secondary but other places. It's a process right now of trying to find the best guys and the best rotation for us."