The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1502339
24 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER year ago, NC State was one of the preseason darlings of college football. The con- sensus predicted the Pack would be a contender in the ACC and a potential top-10 team nationally. But during an interview last summer with The Wolfpacker, NC State head coach Dave Doeren forewarned that while talking championships was "very realistic," he added that, "In Game 6 if I'm playing with my third-string quarter- back, then that changes things." Starter Devin Leary was lost during Game 6, and three games later Doeren was on his third starter. After the completion of an 8-5 campaign, the Pack had started four quarterbacks for multiple games. Doeren is quick to note, not many teams that start four quarterbacks win eight games in a season. "It was remarkable to win eight games," he said. "Does that mean I'm satisfied with eight wins? Of course not. Under the circumstances, I think it was a very suc- cessful season with all the things we dealt with." This preseason, the Pack seems to be more in the lane NC State frequently occupies this time of the year. In a divi- sion-less Atlantic Coast Conference, Phil Steele projects the Wolfpack to end in a tie for sixth with Louisville among the 14 league squads. ESPN's preseason Football Power Index has NC State 36th nationally, which is seventh best among ACC teams. Athlon has the Pack finishing eighth in the conference and going to the Gasparilla Bowl against Auburn. Doeren noted, "It's normal for people to pick the teams with the most returners. That makes sense." NC State is replacing six starters on of- fense and five on defense, but Doeren sees a squad that could surprise. "I like our team," he proclaimed. "They are gritty. They have a big chip on their shoulder. I think playing from this chair for us probably is a little bit easier than what we had last year with the expecta- tions on the guys." New-Look Offense The offense will be different this year. In an effort to boost the effectiveness of the unit, Doeren hired Robert Anae, who was the offensive coordinator at Syracuse A NC State Football Schedule Date Opponent Time (TV) Aug. 31 at Connecticut 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) Sept. 9 NOTRE DAME Noon (ABC) Sept. 16 VMI TBA Sept. 22 at Virginia 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sept. 29 LOUISVILLE 7:00 p.m. (ESPN) Oct. 7 MARSHALL TBA Oct. 14 at Duke TBA Oct. 28 CLEMSON TBA Nov. 4 MIAMI TBA Nov. 11 at Wake Forest TBA Nov. 18 at Virginia Tech T BA Nov. 25 NORTH CAROLINA TBA READY TO SURPRISE NC State Aims To Surpass Expectations In 2023 Dave Doeren's 11th NC State team has been ranked No. 36 nationally and seventh in the ACC by ESPN's preseason Football Power Index. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN