The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK T he Wolfpacker Podcast records at least once a week and has continued virtually throughout the summer despite challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The show is always available to listen to on TheWolfpacker.com, iTunes and most everywhere else podcasts can be listened to. Here are some excerpts from when new NC State beat reporter Jonas Pope IV of The Raleigh News & Observer joined the show in July to discuss his new gig and previewing the Wolfpack athletics season ahead: What specifically made you want to pick up the NC State beat, and what are you most excited about in your new posi- tion? "I've been doing it on a part-time basis for the past few months and I've helped out in the sports department for the last couple years. Taking it over full-time, I think it's going to make it an easy transition or, at least, as easy as it can be during these un- certain times with everything that's going on in athletics. I'm excited about the future and to jump in with both feet. "My editor asked if I had a preference [between beats] and I told him I felt more comfortable with State because of the rela- tionships I've made with people at NC State the last couple of years. I know people in that building better than I know people at the other schools around here, even though I've covered every school in the last few years." With all the uncertainty about what the game-day experience will be like in 2020, what do you think the college foot- ball season could look like? "I remember when we were at the ACC Tournament and we thought they were go- ing to play it Thursday with no fans and everybody was so curious to know what that was going to be like. Now we might get to see it with college football. "Once they throw the ball down and the game starts, it won't matter to them as much as it will to us if there are fans or not. Obviously, it will matter to the uni- versities. Right now, the priority is to get the guys playing again and we'll gradually work fans back into the equation as we move on. It's going to look different. "As I was watching the NBA return, I didn't even think about the fact that there weren't fans. I was just so into the action that I didn't even pay it any attention. They were pumping in the noise and it wasn't until they went into a timeout that I real- ized it was fake." How do you feel about the revised 11-game schedule with mostly ACC op- ponents for NC State? "As long as they get to play, I don't think it really matters to the fans or the players. A couple months ago, we didn't know if we could even get this far. We didn't even know what was going to happen with the NBA or baseball, but now these guys are playing. "On the schedule, non-conference in- cluded or just straight ACC, I don't think it matters. There will be some good match- ups, though. For 10 to 12 weeks, if we get just pure ACC versus ACC, that's fine with me. Big boys versus big boys." What are your expectations for NC State football this year? "For one, I think they'll be better than they were a year ago. The freshmen who played last year, I'm really excited to see that class a year older with experience. That group came in with a lot of expecta- tions with [linebacker] Drake Thomas, [running back] Zonovan Knight, [defensive end] Savion Jackson and [defensive tackle] Joshua Harris, a lot of those guys played last year. "It will also be interesting to see what Linebacker Drake Thomas was among the highly touted recruits that were pushed into action last year as true freshmen and should be better this fall due to that experience. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS JONAS POPE IV The Raleigh News & Observer Beat Reporter PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS