The Wolfpacker

July-August 2020 Issue

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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JULY/AUGUST 2020 ■ 3 ■ On The Web VISIT THEWOLFPACKER.COM for the latest updates on the 2020 football season, recruiting and more! FEATURES 2020 FB SEASON PREVIEW ........................... 26 QB DEVIN LEARY ............................................ 28 OC TIM BECK ................................................... 30 DL ALIM McNEILL ........................................... 32 P TRENTON GILL .............................................. 34 DEPARTMENTS WOLFPACK CLUB NEWS ....................................4 TRACKING THE PACK .........................................8 QUARTERBACKS/RUNNING BACKS .............. 36 WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS ...................... 38 OFFENSIVE LINE .............................................. 40 DEFENSIVE LINE/LINEBACKERS .................... 42 NICKELS/CORNERBACKS ............................... 44 SAFETIES/SPECIAL TEAMS ............................. 46 PACK PAST ....................................................... 48 PACK PERSPECTIVE — TIM PEELER ............. 50 PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW EDITION From The Publisher I first met Bobby Purcell in the fall of 1981, the second year of The Wolfpacker. He was grading film in the football offices, which occupied half the top floor of the Case Center. We became fast friends, like most who meet Bobby do, and would occasionally grab supper at Brother's or Two Guys, two Hillsborough Street landmarks that no longer exist. Despite what Bobby will say, I always picked up the check. When Bobby was hired as the full-time recruit - ing coordinator by head coach Tom Reed in 1983, he had our company produce posters and other materials for NC State football. He also taught me a valuable lesson. Bobby and his assistant Jeff Long, now the ath - letics director at Kansas, called me with a problem. "Coach Reed wants to put Wulfie in every cor- ner of this postcard we want you to print for us. It's too many wolves and looks terrible. We need you to talk him out of it," they said. I told them I would be happy to help out, and a meeting was arranged. "Coach, the postcard will be much cleaner with just two wolves on it," I explained. "I like the four wolves," Reed said. "Bobby and Jeff, want do you think?" "Coach, I agree with you. I love the four wolves," they both said. "That decides it," Reed said. I was shocked by the betrayal, and after Coach Reed left the room, I said, "What the hell was that about? I thought you only wanted two wolves." "Stu, we are not going against Coach Reed. You didn't get it done," they stated. Bobby and Jeff were great friends, but their loyalty was to their boss. We continued to do work for the football team until Bobby moved over to the Wolfpack Club. I did not see him as often, but when we did meet for a meal (and, yes, I still paid) or talk on the phone, we always had that friendship bond, laughing over retold stories and discussing the Wolfpack. After one long stretch of not getting together, I finally got Bobby on the phone. After we talked a few minutes, he said, "Stu, give me a call sometime." I replied, "Bobby, I am calling you now." Ever since then, he has ended all our phone calls with that line. For close to 40 years, Bobby has been a very special friend to me and my small company. I greatly appreciate the business he has given us, his warmth as a person, his care for others and his sense of fun. I, like all Wolfpackers, thank him for a job well done and wish him the best always. July/August 2020 ■ Vol. 40, No. 6 Managing Editor: Ryan Tice Editors: Matt Carter, Jacey Zembal Contributing Editor: Steve Downey Staff Writer: Justin H. Williams Contributing Writer: Tim Peeler Photographer: Ken Martin Cover Photo: Courtesy NC State THE WOLFPACKER (ISSN 0273-8945) is published bimonthly for a total of six issues a year by Coman Publishing Co., PO Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702, (919) 688-0218. (E-mail: TheWolfpacker@comanpub.com) Offices are located at 905 W Main St Ste 24F, Durham, NC 27701. Periodical mail postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. A one-year, six-issue subscription is $29.95. First-class postage is $15 extra per year. For advertising or subscription information, call (800) 421-7751 or write The Wolfpacker. Website: www.TheWolfpackerOnline.com Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Wolfpacker, PO Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. Publisher: Stu Coman Design/Production: Jeanette Blankenship, Chris Miller Business Manager: Linda Autry Merchandise/Marketing Manager: Beverly Taylor Director Of Advertising: Michelle DeLee-Hamilton Customer Service: Cathy Jones, Laura Thornton BOBBY PURCELL'S PACKED CAREER PAGE 20

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