The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ■ 49 On Nov. 24, 1971 — just five days after the end of the Wolfpack's regular season — the 34-year-old Holtz was introduced as Michaels' replacement, a disappointment for the former defensive mastermind and trained engineer who had been at NC State since 1953. Holtz immediately offered Mi- chaels his coordinator job back, a gesture of goodwill that Michaels pondered for two weeks before accepting. Holtz also retained assistant coach Jack Stanton and a promis- ing young graduate assistant named Chuck Amato. Caldwell introduced Holtz at a press conference at the newly constructed Ever- ett Case Center adjacent to Reynolds Coli- seum, with Casey sitting by his side. That same day, UNC coach Vince Dooley had nine players — one of which was future Tar Heels head coach John Bunting — named to the 23-player All-ACC team. State had none. "It's obvious our football program needs a fresh offensive style and verve, coupled with its always-reputable defense," Caldwell said. Holtz said building a high-scoring offense would be his No. 1 priority, but it may take time to get it where he wanted. "I'm not a magician; I cannot just wave a wand and make things happen," Holtz said. "What we'll have to do is get into the homes of the outstanding players. And I'm not go- ing to tell you we'll be national champions, or ACC champions, or that we'll have a win- ner in one year, three or five. "But I will say we will be an exciting team as long as we hold onto the ball and play good defense." Among his first acts was to hire a 28-year- old offensive genius from Purdue, Robert "Bo" Rein, who introduced the twin veer option to the ACC. Rein already had two stalwart running backs, Raleigh neighbors Willie Burden and Charley Young, in the program, along with Vanceboro's Roland Hooks coming in from the freshman team. Holtz immediately signed East Tennessee State transfer Stan Fritts. Eventually, they became known as "The Stallions," the most productive backfield in NC State history. Between his hiring and New Year's Day, Holtz put some 9,000 miles on his NC State- provided courtesy car. He found a pair of twins, quarterback Dave and wide receiver Don Buckey, from Akron, Ohio, to gener- ate more excitement. Ultra-promoter Frank Weedon got the brothers on the cover of Sports Illustrated to put a face on newly reinstituted freshman eligibility in college football before they ever played a game for the Wolfpack. Holtz had no doubt that he would be suc- cessful. "Confidence is my strongest suit," he said. In essence, Holtz became a magician, both figuratively and literally. He took lessons from a Cary magician to improve his in- terpersonal skills and develop his banquet shtick. The true tricks, however, happened on the football field. In Holtz's first season, the Wolfpack smashed every NC State total offense and rushing record, and topped them every year afterward. Some of those records still stand nearly a half-century later. The 1972 team scored 409 points, which nearly matched the combined total from the three previous seasons under Edwards and Michaels (420). Just as important, attendance shot up from the low before his arrival to 44,333 in his fourth and final season, an increase of nearly 20,000 fans per game. In four years, Holtz took a Wolfpack pro- gram that had only been to three postseason games in school history to four consecutive bowl appearances, the 1973 ACC champion- ship and the highest end-of-season ranking in program history (No. 11 AP, No. 9 UPI). Holtz — who was funny and engaging — was embraced immediately by the Wolfpack community. They liked his jokes and his self- deprecation, especially when he revealed that he fell through the unfinished roof of a house he and his wife were looking to buy. Even the players who wanted Michaels to get the permanent job came around to Holtz's vision, though his team rules meant that they couldn't have facial hair or long locks. "We will move the football. We may pass it 50 times a game, or we may run it 50 times. You can bet they will move the yard markers, and I hope we can cross the alumni stripe," he said, using his euphemism for the goal line. In four celebrated seasons, Holtz and his team did all of that. ■ Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu. Holtz promised to bring an exciting brand of offensive football to NC State, and his first team scored 409 points, nearly equaling the combined point total from the three previous seasons. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS