The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1318516
28 ■ THE WOLFPACKER man year when the Pack beat South Caro- lina on a Hail Mary to end the game. It was when Agnew was a freshman that he watched his teammate and receiver Hay- wood Jeffires become a first-round draft choice of the Houston Oilers. Suddenly, Agnew's dream of playing in the NFL be- came more realistic. When he saw other teammates and opponents in the ACC get selected, he began to think, "I'm just as good as those guys." Others agreed. Agnew was NC State's first-ever defensive player to be named ACC Rookie of the Year, and he would become a two-time first-team All-ACC choice. He finished his senior season in 1989 with 87 tackles, six sacks and two forced fumbles. A year before, Agnew had 70 stops, five sacks and 21 quarterback hurries. After his senior season, Sheridan would tell The Wolfpacker: "Ray will be remem- bered as one of the best football players ever to play at NC State, especially among defensive linemen." A Decorated NFL Career Draft night was exciting with his family and friends surrounding Agnew, but there was soon to be some culture shock when arriving at New England. "I remember growing up with my south- ern drawl … I would come up through the drive-through window [in Boston] and they would say, 'Can you say that again?'" Agnew joked. "You are used to the southern hospitality where you speak to people you don't even know. You speak to people up north and they are like, 'I don't know you.'" That first year in New England did not go all that well for the team. The Patriots went 1-15, but Agnew still had his moments, leading him to be named to the NFL's All- Rookie Team. "We played in my second game as a rookie the Indianapolis Colts, and Eric Dickerson was in the backfield," Agnew recalled. "I tackled Eric Dickerson, and I was like, 'Oh man, I just tackled Eric Dick- erson!' "One of the veterans told me, 'Man, you got to act like you have been here before.' I was like, 'That's Eric Dickerson!'" The beauty of Agnew's pro career was how it went full circle. After five seasons with the Patriots, he played three with the Giants and then his last three with the St. Louis Rams. In 1999 — 10 years after being on a 1-15 Patriots team — Agnew started every game for a Rams squad that won the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XXXIV was played in At- lanta, close enough to his Winston-Salem home that all his family was able to be there. "We had a little young rookie on the team from the Wolfpack named Torry Holt," Agnew noted. "I told him you are really blessed to win a Super Bowl as a rookie. It was definitely my proudest moment, win- ning the championship." Over 11 years in the NFL, Agnew totaled 448 tackles, 22.5 sacks and two intercep- tions. In the middle of training camp before the 2001 season, he called it quits. "I retired in training camp, which is crazy," he admitted. "I don't know why I did that." Agnew had purchased land in Raleigh to build a house and was thinking about maybe coaching high school football, but Rams head coach Mike Martz had other ideas. Martz and many others in the organization counted on Agnew for his leadership, and the coach wanted that to stay with the Rams. Having not really thought out career Agnew was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection at NC State, won Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams and has worked for the team ever since he retired prior to the 2001 season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS