The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545830
JULY/AUGUST 2026 ■ 35 BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN E ach year, NC State athletics direc- tor Boo Corrigan and head foot- ball coach Dave Doeren meet to figure out how they can boost the Wolfpack football program going forward. Their conversations are aimed at helping NC State keep pace with the rest of the country. A frequent subject of those talks in recent years has been improving the Murphy Center. The building, which was constructed in 2003, is the pro- gram's central hub and has been mod- ernized in ways that were first outlined in the meetings between Corrigan and Doeren. From a new weight room to a state-of-the-art broadcast control room, the athletics department has made a long-term phased effort to up- grade the facility. The latest improvement is a new kitchen and dining area. NC State is in the midst of a full renovation of the third-floor cafeteria, a project budgeted at $5 million, with funding coming from the Wolfpack Club and its donors. For Doeren, who takes pride in his program's success at developing home- grown talent, the dining area is an un- derappreciated part of the Wolfpack's football infrastructure. "That room, in particular, is one of the most important non-talked-about rooms in a football building — where these guys eat," Doeren said. "In de- veloping players, nutrition is a massive piece of that." The 14th-year coach polls his team annually to figure out how he can make the program better. One of the most oft- cited areas for improvement has been the team's dining options. That's not necessarily a surprise. There are 105 players on the roster, and not everyone is going to like the food being served on a given day. Before the renovation, the Wolfpack's kitchen staff was restricted to a few dishes per service. But once the con- struction equipment clears the Murphy Center, that shouldn't be an issue any longer. Seen in construction renderings, the new dining hall features three separate food serving stations with brand-new equipment. Of the new areas, two ap- pear to boast their own food prep sta- tions and a grill behind the larger of the two. These will replace the original serving area, which was smaller and had the look of a high school cafeteria line. " W h e n yo u 're ta l k i n g a b o u t a 20-year-old-plus kitchen and 20-year- old-plus equipment, the chefs are lim- ited," Doeren said. "Having different stations, having a bigger kitchen, having brand-new equipment is giving the chef an opportunity to be much better at his job and create variety." Additionally, the upgraded dining hall will feature a refreshed seating area. Wooden tables are set to replace the smaller circular tables that were previ- ously scattered throughout the room, while the pillars will be emblazoned with NC State's familiar "Hard. Tough. Together." signage. Construction began after last season ended and is set to conclude in August ahead of the Wolfpack's 2026 season opener at Virginia on Aug. 29. It will be a welcome sight for all involved, in- cluding Doeren, who will have yet an- other player-development tool at his disposal, as well as a recruiting perk. "We're trying to continue to build the Murphy Center one spot at a time," Do- eren said, "facelifting it into a modern building." ■ Nutrition Is Focus Of Latest Murphy Center Project The Murphy Center's kitchen and dining areas are being upgraded as part of NC State's efforts to modernize its football headquarters. RENDERING COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS