The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
152 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PAST wobbled through the air towards the old A.E. Finley Fieldhouse, then dead silent when it hit the inside of the right upright of the H-style goalpost. It fell, like a wounded bird, between the uprights. What if it had just hit the outside of the post and fell no good? "It was just so quiet for the longest time," Ritcher remembered. "It was kind of surreal. And then the Penn State people realized what happened and after a few seconds they just went wild." Smith sat on the sidelines, leaning back on his arms, his legs spread wide and his head thrown back, practically inconsolable. He still is to this day. "There is not a player on the team who was on the field that day that doesn't think about that field goal every single day," Horn- ing said. "It's one of those things you never get over." Horning's college roommate Ritcher added: "It was really tough. We brought the ball down and scored. None of us thought they would have time to score. Throughout my professional and college career, I've been through some heart-breaking games, and that has to be one of the hardest." The next week, in a 28-7 anticlimactic win in front of 24,000 fans at Duke's Wal- lace Wade Stadium, the Pack earned its first ACC title since 1973, outright and unshared. But by the end of the game, word had al- ready come down that the three bowls once interested in the Pack had chosen others. Jacksonville's Gator Bowl invited North Carolina and Michigan, citing the Tar Heels' ♦ Tailgate Specials ♦ Catering Services ♦ College Student Discounts ♦ Pizzas 1/2 off during AWAY games 3905 WESTERN BLVD • RALEIGH, NC 27606 (919) 851-0473 • WWW.AMEDEOSRESTAURANT.COM AMEDEO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Head coach Bo Rein, who was the young- est coach in college football when he was named Lou Holtz's replacement in 1976, was recognized as one of the best young offensive minds in the country during his time at NCSU. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE Management Professionals, Inc. WWW.ELITE-MGMT.COM Community Association Specialist AAMC 919.233.7660