The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/368728
SEPTEMBER 2014 ■ 13 ■ From Head Football Coach Dave Doeren It is my favorite time of year. Football season is finally here, and I am very excited for us to take the field for the first time. This is a very big year for our team in our pursuit of building a championship program. Our emphasis this offseason and leading into fall camp was building from the ground up. Last season was a major learning experience for all of us. We examined it and saw that we needed to grow into a more physical and mature team. Our theme in the weight room was "Brick By Brick." We are trying to build the foundation of a championship program, and it takes everyone to buy in to make it happen. Individually we are bricks, But together we are a wall. This was one of the best summer workout programs I have been around. The players bought into what we were doing and they made a decision to not only hold themselves accountable but their teammates as well. I am happy to see the gains we made this summer, and it was great motivation heading into fall camp. We had a very productive fall camp. There was a noticeable difference in the players in practice number 1. It is very apparent that these guys came into camp ready to get better. I wanted to have a very physical, competitive camp. I wanted to challenge them and see them strain to get better. This team is full of tough guys, and they pushed each other, which makes me happy to see where our leadership is heading. Eric Thomas Speaks To The Football Team Eric Thomas is a motivational speaker from Detroit that I have known for four years. He has a remarkable story, growing up in the inner city and falling in with the wrong crowd. He eventually dropped out of high school and began a life of crime. Eric made a conscious effort to turn his life around. He eventually earned his GED, enrolled in college, earned a Master's degree and will earn his Doctorate in a few months. He travels the country spreading his story and has become a social media sensation because of his high- energy speeches on YouTube. His message is passionate and powerful. I was so excited that our administration decided to bring him to NC State to talk to our athletes. He spoke to the football team specifically, and his message was spot on. He has always been a great resource for me, and I am glad our players can look to him for inspiration and motivation. Close-King Indoor Practice Facility Groundbreaking The construction of our new indoor practice facility is underway. The facility will be named the Close-King Indoor Practice Facility in honor of NC State alums Der- ick S. Close ('82) and James S. King ('62), who donated the lead gifts for the project. It was an honor to be a part of the event, and I cannot thank them, and everyone who helped make this indoor facility a reality, enough. The benefits we will receive from this facility are invaluable. The progress of the facility is impressive, and I cannot wait to be practicing in it next spring. As we get into this season, I think people will be pleased to see how much this team has improved since a year ago. One thing you will constantly hear me remind the players is, "Believe in yourselves, and trust the pro- cess." It is important for us to take this season in stride and be prepared to handle anything that is thrown at us as a team. If we can be a tough, physical and smart football team, then the sky is the limit for this program. 1Pack1Goal! Coach Doeren Brick By Brick