The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1487679
42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER INSPIRED BY FOOTBALL Former Hard-Hitting NC State Linebacker Pat Teague Now Uses Sports To Motivate Others PAT TEAGUE W H E R E AR E T H E Y N O W ? BY MATT CARTER at Teague can still remem- ber when his oldest brother, a football player at Wake For- est, placed a gold helmet on his little head. From that moment forward, he was hooked and about to begin a journey that proved life-altering in ways far beyond the football field. That path would include four years at NC State, where Teague became one of the most prolific tackling machines that the school has ever known. Motivated To Be Great In many ways, Teague was built to be a linebacker. "I just loved to hit," he admitted. "I just loved to run through people. My older brothers were running through me. When I got my opportunity, I wanted to bring it." Like many prep athletes growing up in the 1980s, Teague participated in other sports, including basketball and track. On the hardwood, he was a two-time all- conference performer for Sanderson High in Raleigh. However, football was what captured his attention, and it was a weight room incident as a sophomore at Sanderson that set him on the right path. Coach Brian Al- dridge caught Teague not taking the work- out as seriously as he should. With fire in his eyes, Aldridge approached the young player. "Do you want to play college football?" Aldridge asked. "Yes sir, I do," Teague answered. "Where do you want to play," Aldridge continued. "State, Clemson, an ACC school would be great," Teague replied. "Start practicing, start working out like one. Start acting like a college athlete," Aldridge intently said. Reflecting back, Teague can remember how that conversation shook him to the core. "I loved it before, but then I realized I had to deal with my habits," Teague said. "That set the stage of learning some les- sons." Those lessons would later prove inspi- rational. A Tackling Machine Teague was a three-time all-conference Teague amassed 26 tackles against Virginia Tech in 1986, setting a single-game NC State record that still stands. His 328 career tackles are tied for 14th in school history. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS P