Bowl notes: Goal in sight for N.C. State

Coach Tom O’Brien is pushing hard to advance the idea that N.C. State has an opportunity to hit a significant season win milestone when it plays in the Champs Sports Bowl.
The Wolfpack is 8-4 heading into the Dec. 28 bowl game with No. 22 West Virginia (9-3) in Orlando, Fla.

At Sunday night’s bowl news conference, O’Brien mentioned that N.C. State has an opportunity to equal the second-highest win total in school history.

Led by Philip Rivers, the 2002 team set the school record with 11 wins. N.C. State has never had a 10-win season, but has had eight nine-win seasons, most recently in 1994.

O’Brien wants his team to add to that total.

“We’re looking to have a good time, but looking to win a football game,” O’Brien said. “The ultimate prize for this team is to win the ninth game, set themselves apart in the history of N.C. State football. So it’s a great opportunity.”

His players seem to be buying into the importance of that feat.

“We’re going to make sure we end the season 9-4, and make sure it’s a good game for everybody to see,” said senior wide receiver Jarvis Williams.
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N.C. State is taking the week off from practice for final exams.

The Wolfpack opened its postseason practice Saturday and Sunday, and will return to the practice field on Saturday, Dec. 11.

O’Brien isn’t sure of the exact itinerary yet, but said the team will spend Christmas in Orlando as part of a normal practice week.

He plans to get the redshirting players as much work in practice as the starters as he takes advantage of the extra practice to build for the future of the program.

N.C. State will open a practice to the fans at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack men’s basketball team plays host to Arizona later that afternoon, at 4:45 p.m. at the RBC Center.
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Two years after the fact, O’Brien and quarterback Russell Wilson smiled Sunday night as they recalled Wilson’s situation from the team’s last bowl appearance, in the Papajohns.com Bowl.

Wilson suffered a knee injury late in the first half, and N.C. State went into halftime leading 17-6 behind 186 passing yards and 46 rushing yards by Wilson. Wilson wanted to play in the second half, but the team doctor said he couldn’t play, so O’Brien benched him.

“You were mad,” O’Brien said to Wilson, who was sitting next to him.

“I was mad,” Wilson admitted. “I wanted to play that game. That’s why I ran back out there. I remember I ran back out at halftime because I wanted to play the second half.”

After dominating the first half, N.C. State collapsed without Wilson and lost 29-23. Even though it cost him a chance at a winning season, as N.C. State finished 6-7, O’Brien doesn’t regret holding Wilson out of the game.

“I wasn’t going to let him play, because obviously he has a bright future in a lot of things,” O’Brien said, “and to play in the second half of a bowl game just so we could win a football game [wasn’t worth it]."

Ken Tysiac

Pack players eager for Champs Bowl trip

Senior linebacker Nate Irving waited until the end of the news conference announcing N.C. State’s bowl destination, then said what was on his mind.

“We’re going to Disney World,” he said, smiling.

The Champs Sports Bowl announced Sunday night that N.C. State (8-4) will meet No. 22-ranked West Virginia (9-3) in the game in Orlando, Fla. – the home of Disney World. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and will be televised by ESPN.

It's the most high-profile bowl trip for the Wolfpack since its Jan. 1, 2003 win over Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl. N.C. State administrators pushed hard for it, sending senior associate athletic director Chris Kingston to Orlando to hand-deliver the school’s marketing plan.

“Our fans are just known to travel well,” said athletic director Debbie Yow.

N.C. State’s ticket allotment for the bowl is 13,500. Tickets are $65 each and are available at gopack.com and the N.C. State ticket office at 919-865-1510.

The Champs Sports Bowl has the third pick from the ACC. Virginia Tech (11-2), which defeated Florida State 44-33 in the ACC title game Saturday night in Charlotte, will meet Stanford in the Orange Bowl.

Florida State (9-4) will play South Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, which announced last week that it would select the loser of the ACC title game. The Champs Sports Bowl picked next and settled on N.C. State.

In other games involving ACC teams, North Carolina plays border state foe Tennessee in the Music City Bowl; Miami renews its rivalry with Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl; Maryland meets East Carolina in the Military Bowl; Boston College plays Nevada in the Fight Hunger Bowl, and Georgia Tech meets Air Force in the Independence Bowl.

Steve Hogan, the CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, which runs the Champs Sports Bowl, said he was impressed with N.C. State’s record and wins over Florida State and Conference USA champ Central Florida.

“We just want to reward a team that deserves to be here,” Hogan said, “and they definitely deserve to be here.”

Hogan also considered Maryland, whose overall and ACC record (5-3) was identical to N.C. State’s. The Terrapins also defeated the Wolfpack 38-31 in the final game of the regular season on Nov. 27.

But the Terrapins already had played West Virginia, and Hogan didn’t want to schedule a rematch, so that was another factor that helped secure a bowl trip quarterback Russell Wilson was eager to make.

Before the team boarded the plane to leave Maryland after the loss that kept the Wolfpack out of the ACC title game, Wilson asked Yow what had to be done to get N.C. State to the Champs Sports Bowl.

“After Plan A falls apart, you’ve got to go to Plan B,” Wilson said. “I think the Champs Sports Bowl is a great situation for us. It’s a great game, and we know West Virginia is a great team.”

Ken Tysiac

Clemson, South Florida to meet in Meineke Bowl

Updated: Bowl makes formal announcement

Clemson (6-6) will make its first appearance in Charlotte’s Meineke Car Care Bowl, playing South Florida (7-5).

The game is scheduled for noon on Dec. 31 at Bank of America Stadium and will be televised by ESPN.

Securing Clemson gives the Meineke Bowl another strong local draw with potential to add to the game’s history of turning Charlotte’s location in close proximity to many ACC schools into a large crowd.

"Both teams have played extremely hard this year with every game being very competitive," bowl executive director Will Webb said in a statement. "We feel that the Tigers and Bulls will be a very entertaining and compelling matchup on the field for everyone watching."

Over the past eight years, the bowl has averaged 60,000 fans, according to its web site, with three sellouts. Although Clemson failed to live up to expectations this season, finishing fourth in the ACC Atlantic Division after being picked for second place in the preseason media poll, the school's location means the bowl will count on the Tigers heavily to deliver fan support.

Clemson is about a two-hour drive from Charlotte and has a strong alumni base in the city.

"It’s a great situation for our fans," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement released by the bowl. "One of the main reasons we were selected for this bowl is because of our great fan support and the passion of our fans."


South Florida also appeared in the bowl game in Charlotte in 2005, losing 14-0 to N.C. State. The bowl will mark the return to North Carolina of Skip Holtz, the popular and successful former East Carolina coach who left after last season to coach South Florida.

The Bulls got their seventh win with an overtime decision over Miami on Nov. 27. South Florida athletic director Doug Woolard said in a statement that the program is riding "a wave of momentum" under Holtz.

"I think people around the country recognize that and it was reflected in our selection by the Meineke Car Care Bowl," Woolard said. "Coach Holtz has done a magnificent job with this football team and program in just a short time. He has provided outstanding leadership from day one and built a very competitive product on the field."
Ken Tysiac














Ken Tysiac

Pack expected to get Champs Bowl invite

Orlando, Fla., appears to be the holiday destination for N.C. State, as the Champs Sports Bowl is expected this evening to formally invite the Wolfpack to the Dec. 28 game.

N.C. State has sent the media information on how to participate in the bowl's team announcement teleconference at 8:45 tonight. That information is not meant to be construed as confirmation that the Wolfpack has accepted an invitation to play in the game, but the school nonetheless is expected to receive - and accept - that invitation.

The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 28 at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium and will be televised by ESPN.

West Virginia (9-3) will be the Wolfpack's opponent in the most high-profile bowl trip for N.C. State (8-4) since its Jan. 1, 2003 win over Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl.

The Champs Sports Bowl has the third pick from the ACC. Virginia Tech (11-2) captured the ACC's Orange Bowl bid by virtue of its 44-33 defeat of Florida State in the ACC championship game Saturday night in Charlotte.

Florida State (9-4) will play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, which announced last week that it would select the loser of the ACC title game. With those two teams unavailable, the Champs Bowl apparently has settled on N.C. State, which finished tied for second place in the ACC Atlantic Division with Maryland.

This will be N.C. State's second bowl trip in four seasons under coach Tom O'Brien. The Wolfpack lost to Rutgers in the 2008 Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

N.C. State is 12-11-1 overall in bowl games in its history.

Ken Tysiac

NFLPA suspends agent Wichard for contact with UNC's Austin

The NFL Players Association has suspended sports agent Gary Wichard's contract adviser certification for nine months, NFLPA director of communications Carl Francis confirmed today.

Wichard's name surfaced in connection with the NCAA's investigation of impermissible benefits received by University of North Carolina football players. He was suspended for having impermissible communication with UNC defensive tackle Marvin Austin at a time Austin was not eligible for the NFL draft, according to an NFLPA news release.

The NFLPA release stated that Wichard has agreed to the suspension and has waived his right to appeal.

Wichard also has been connected to the UNC case through John Blake, who resigned as UNC's associate head coach on Sept. 5. Wichard, who is based in California, provided funds to Blake that Blake's lawyers describes as gifts or loans.

Ken Tysiac





Read more: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/nflpa-suspends-agent-wichard#ixzz175dJ8PJ2

Former UNC WR Little signs with Octagon

Former North Carolina wide receiver Greg Little, who was declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA for taking impermissible benefits, has chosen Octagon Sports as his agency for contract representation.

Octagon director of communications Scott Horner confirmed Little's signing in an e-mail message today.

According to an NCAA news release, Little accepted $4,952 in impermissible benefits. The joint investigation by the NCAA and the school found that he accepted diamond earrings and travel accommodations to the Bahamas, Washington, D.C., and on two trips to Miami, among other benefits.

UNC also concluded that he was not truthful during interviews with the NCAA and UNC. Little was found to be involation of NCAA agent benefits, preferential treatment and ethical conduct rules.

He is rated the No. 92 prospect in the 2011 NFL draft and projected as a fourth-round selection by CBSsports.com.

Little was North Carolina's leading receiver in 2009, catching 62 passes for 724 yards and and five touchdowns.

Ken Tysiac

N.C. State's Irving, BC's Herzlich share ACC's Piccolo Award

Senior linebackers Nate Irving of N.C. State and Mark Herzlich of Boston College, who bounced back from life-threatening situations to lead their respective teams’ defenses, will receive the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award, the conference announced today.


The award has been given annually since 1972 in memory of the late Wake Forest and Chicago Bears running back whose fight with a cancer inspired the entire football community.

Irving was severely injured in a car crash on June 28, 2009 and missed the entire 2009 season after suffering a compound fracture of his leg, a broken rib, a punctured lung and a separated shoulder. He returned this season to spark the N.C. State defense at middle linebacker and ranks fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 19 tackles for loss.

“One of the most rewarding things I've experienced as a coach has been seeing Nate Irving come back so strong and enjoy so much success,” N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said in a statement. “He has been a tremendous leader for our team this year with his play on the field and his attitude off the field and is one of the reasons the 2010 team will always be a special one for me.”

Herzlich was diagnosed in May of 2009 with Ewing’s Sarcoma, an aggressive cancer that attacks soft tissue and bone. He underwent extensive radiation and chemotherapy treatments and had a titanium rod inserted in his left leg to stabilize the bone.

He suffered a fracture in his right foot as a result of his rehabilitation, and broke a bone in his left hand. He played wearing a cast for the rest of the fall, but still has recorded 54 tackles and four interceptions.

Irving is N.C. State’s fourth Piccolo Award honoree, joining Toney Baker (2009), Scott Adell (1991) and Ralph Stringer (1977). Herzlich is the first Boston College player to receive the Piccolo Award.

Ken Tysiac

Chick-fil-A Bowl no longer a possibility for N.C. State

Cross Atlanta off the list of N.C. State’s possible postseason destinations.


The Chick-fil-A Bowl, held Dec. 31 in Atlanta, announced Thursday that its ACC selection will be the loser of Saturday’s conference championship game between Virginia Tech (10-2) and Florida State (9-3). The conference title game will kick off at 7:45 p.m. at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium.

That leaves the Champs Sports Bowl, held Dec. 28 in Orlando, Fla., with the next pick from the ACC and a possible selection of N.C. State. Steve Hogan, the CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, which runs the bowl, said earlier in the week that he is considering Maryland (8-4), Miami (7-5), North Carolina (7-5) and N.C. State (8-4) as the bowl’s ACC representative.

The Champs will match an ACC team with Notre Dame (7-5), West Virginia (8-3) or South Florida (7-4). The Champs is waiting for the Rutgers at West Virginia and Connecticut at South Florida games to be played Saturday before making a decision.

“I think they’re in a holding pattern until then,” ACC associate commissioner Michael Kelly said Thursday evening. “They’re kind of waiting for that.”

After the Champs Sports Bowl, the Sun (Dec. 31 in El Paso, Texas), Meineke Car Care (Dec. 31 in Charlotte) and Music City (Dec. 30 in Nashville, Tenn.) bowls, in order, have the next selections from the ACC.

Hogan said earlier in the week that N.C. State is attractive because it’s a much-improved team with strong fan support that has a signature win over Florida State. But N.C. State lost to Maryland, which holds an identical record, in the final game of the regular season.

North Carolina has fewer wins than N.C. State or Maryland and lost to the Wolfpack, but also has a win over Florida State. Hogan said the Tar Heels would be attractive because they haven’t been to the Champs Sports Bowl and are probably better than their record indicates.

Because North Carolina has played the last two years in the Meineke Bowl, the Music City Bowl and a possible meeting with border state Tennessee has been widely discussed as a possible destination for the Tar Heels.

Ken Tysiac

Did clash of sponsors sink Wake-Notre Dame game in Charlotte?

Next season's Wake Forest-Notre Dame football game, which will be played in Winston-Salem, nearly came to Charlotte.

As Ron Green Jr. reported in Tuesday's Observer, Deacons athletics director Ron Wellman said it would be unfair to Deacons fans for the game to be moved out of Winston-Salem.

But a source close to the negotiations to bring the game to Charlotte said there was another reason. "Sponsorship issues," the source said.

Could be that Winston-Salem-based BB&T -- one of Wake Forest's biggest corporate sponsors which has its name on the Deacons' stadium -- wasn't thrilled to have such a high-profile game played at Bank of America Stadium. -- David Scott

Hokies' Taylor named ACC player of the year

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who led Virginia Tech to an 8-0 conference record and a Coastal Division title, has been named ACC player of the year in media voting.
Taylor received 27 votes. N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson was the runner-up in the balloting with 19 votes. Da'Quan Bowers, the Clemson defensive end who led the ACC in sacks, received eight votes, and Boston College running back Montel Harris received three votes.

Taylor also was selected as the ACC offensive player of the year. Bowers was the defensive player of the year.

Here are the vote totals for offensive and defensive player of the year:

Offensive: Tyrod Taylor, QB, Virginia Tech (31); Russell Wilson, QB, N.C. State (23); Montel Harris, RB, Boston College (4); T.J. Yates, QB, North Carolina (1); Danny O'Brien, QB, Maryland (1); Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami (1).

Defensive: Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson (36); Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College (14); Jayron Hosley, CB, Virginia Tech (3); Nate Irving, LB, NC State (2).

Ken Tysiac