The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER One of the greatest things about being a college football coach is every year I get to watch one group move on to the next stage of their lives — either in the work force or in the NFL — and another group come in and start the process of becoming the best men that they can be. I take great pride in watching the accomplishments of my former players, whether they're winning a Super Bowl or wel- coming their first child, as well as watching my current players reach goals and continue to grow and mature. This offseason, I have seen so much progress in many of our guys. Under the direction of Coach Thunder [Dantonio Burnette] and his strength and conditioning staff, our guys have made big strides physically. I can't wait to see how that translates on the field when we start practice Aug. 3. After having seven players drafted by the NFL, we obvi- ously have some big shoes to fill this season, especially on defense. Nobody can just walk in and replace Bradley Chubb, B.J. Hill or Jaylen Samuels, but those guys have laid a founda- tion of excellence that I know will help this year's team and others in the future. It's great to watch as younger players step into leadership roles. One of the ways we foster those leadership abilities is with our Real World Wednesdays. We've already had a great lineup of speakers this year that have come in and discussed various topics with our guys. We even had a team dinner with an eti- quette trainer so that if one of our guys ever has a job interview over a meal, they will be able to put their best foot forward. We've had to change the bulb in the red light on the re- cruiting trail several times, because it's been burning almost nonstop. Our success is a direct result of that foundation that I mentioned earlier and the legacy our former players have left. There is a lot of excitement surrounding our program right now. We have great leadership and a lot of talent. They are working extremely hard this summer, and I can't wait to get back in the field with them in August. 1Pack1Goal Coach Doeren ■ From Head Football Coach Dave Doeren PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN