| North Carolina State Wolfpack Football News: |
| With only a couple of weeks of intense studying, the three new members of the NC State coaching staff have most of the names secured in their memories. Now, they will start trying to find ways to make improvements.
That might be difficult for the Wolfpack defense, which finished last year ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense, after allowing only 221.4 yards per game to opposing teams. That's terrific in the eyes of new defensive coordinator Steve Dunlap, who inherits an experienced defensive line that is loaded with potential superstars like Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo. But he has also been through something similar before. When Dunlap was the defensive coordinator at West Virginia in 1996, the Mountaineers were ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense. The next year, however, they weren't even close. "The difference was, we lost eight starters off that team," Dunlap said. "Then we had these young guys, who came in and thought all they had to do was show up, go out on the field and that would be it because of this great defensive scheme we had. |
| Event | Date | Tickets | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
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South Carolina Gamecocks Football
vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
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11:59 pm
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Williams-Brice Stadium
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North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. William and Mary Tribe Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Carter Finley Stadium
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Clemson Tigers Football
vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
|
12:00 am
|
Clemson Memorial Stadium
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North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. East Carolina Pirates Football
|
11:59 pm
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Carter Finley Stadium
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North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. South Florida Bulls Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Carter Finley Stadium
|
|
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North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. Boston College Eagles Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Carter Finley Stadium
|
|
|
North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. Florida State Seminoles Football
|
7:30 pm
|
Carter Finley Stadium
|
|
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Maryland Terrapins Football
vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
|
11:59 pm
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Byrd Stadium
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Duke Blue Devils Football
vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Wallace Wade Stadium
|
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North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Carter Finley Stadium
|
|
|
North Carolina Tar Heels Football
vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Kenan Stadium
|
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|
North Carolina State Wolfpack Football
vs. Miami Hurricanes Football
|
11:59 pm
|
Carter Finley Stadium
|
| More North Carolina State Wolfpack Football News: |
| There is a little more experience in the secondary, where senior Marcus Hudson and junior A.J. Davis have as much experience as most starters. At safety, however, senior J.J. Jones, junior Garland Heath and sophomore Miguel Scott have no starting experience, though they all contributed last year.
"They shouldn't be starry-eyed when they step out there," Dunlap said. On offense, Trestman will spend more time installing his version of the Wolfpack offense with his own terminology. The former offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and several other NFL teams plans to spend the spring teaching his system and developing more discipline on an offense that had 32 turnovers last year. "Philosophically, we will be very similar in terms of what we are trying to do on offense," Trestman said. "The style of play will be about the same. "But I mostly want to watch the guys play and work and try to establish discipline. That means no pre-snap penalties, no silly mistakes. I think we have enough good players to win." New wide receivers coach Dwayne Dixon, the last of the three coaches hired by Amato, has had the shortest crash course in learning about his talented corps of receivers, which includes seniors Brian Clark, Sterling Hicks and Tramain Hall and junior LaMart Barrett . "I have been evaluating video, seeing how they play, how they work, how they practice," Dixon said. "I am trying to get a feel for them. Then we will utilize what they are good at." |