The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
20 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK FUTURE FOOTBALL GAMES AGAINST NOTRE DAME ANNOUNCED NC State will have four future games against Notre Dame between the years 2016 and 2025. The Wolfpack will host Notre Dame at Carter-Finley Stadium in October 2016, and then travel to play the Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium (capacity 80,795) in South Bend, Ind., on Oct. 28, 2017. NC State will get another chance to host Notre Dame during the 2023 season, and will head back to South Bend in 2025. NC State and Notre Dame have met only one time, when the Wolfpack fa - mously whipped the Fighting Irish 28-6 in the 2003 Toyota Gator Bowl to finish 11-3 overall. Quarterback Philip Rivers completed 23 of 37 passes for 228 yards with two touchdowns and was named bowl MVP. NCSU safety Rod Johnson picked off three passes, and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery caught 10 passes for 127 yards and a score. NC STATE WOMEN'S HOOPS PROGRAM EXPECTED TO SIGN SIX PLAYERS The NC State women's basketball program is expected to sign six seniors during the November signing period (Nov. 12-19). NC State landed Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI power forward/center Jonquanae Cole and Upper Marlboro (Md.) Riverdale Baptist power forward Lena Niang this fall to finish off the recruiting class. Recruiting analyst Bret McCormick of All-Star Girls Report ranks the 6-4 Cole as the No. 58 overall player in the class of 2015, which is the highest of the six commitments. Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park power forward Rydeiah Rogers is ranked No. 102 in the country. The 6-1 standout is the daughter of former Wake Forest and NBA star Rodney Rogers. Local standout Amber Richardson, a 5-11 wing from Southeast Raleigh High, is rated No. 108. She is joined on the perimeter by Buford (Ga.) High shooting guard Camile Anderson and Raleigh Broughton point guard Kaila Ealey. The 5-9 Anderson is ranked No. 143, and the 5-9 Ealey is right behind her at No. 153. The 6-1 Niang played with NC State freshman guard Chloe Jackson at Riverdale Baptist. The Senegal native is ranked No. 196 in the country. NC State also has one commitment in the class of 2016, two in 2017 and one in 2019. Class of 2015 Commitments No. 58, Jonquannae Cole, 6-4, center, Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI No. 102, Rydeiah Rogers, 6-1, power forward, Charlotte (N.C.) Myers Park No. 108, Amber Richardson, 5-11, wing, Raleigh Southeast No. 143, Camile Anderson, 5-9, shooting guard, Buford (Ga.) High No. 153, Kaila Ealey, 5-9, point guard, Raleigh Broughton No. 196, Lena Niang, 6-1, power forward, Upper Marlboro (Md.) Riverdale Baptist Class of 2016 Commitment Lucky Rudd, 5-9, point guard, Thomasville (N.C.) New Hope Christian Class of 2017 Commitments Kai Crutchfield, 5-9, shooting guard, Raleigh Millbrook Kayla Jones, 6-1, forward, Williamston (N.C.) Riverside Class of 2019 Commitment Jada Peebles, 5-7, guard, Raleigh Wakefield Middle School NC STATE FOOTBALL LOSES PAIR OF LINEMEN NC State dismissed one defensive lineman, while an offensive lineman decided to give up football this fall. Redshirt sophomore defensive end Joe Wright was dismissed from the team Oct. 13. The 6-7, 236-pounder from Greenville (N.C.) Rose High recorded two tackles and a sack in 21 snaps this season, and played in just five games the last two years. Rivals. com rated Wright as a two-star prospect in the class of 2012, and he originally picked NC State over interest from East Carolina, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech. NCSU redshirt freshman Patrick Roane elected to give up the sport a few weeks into the season. He blew out his ACL during the first day of practice Aug. 2 during a blocking drill against freshman defensive end Kentavius Street. The 6-7, 303-pounder from Hope Mills (N.C.) Gray's Creek High was a Rivals.com three-star prospect in the class of 2013. He originally picked NC State over offers from Old Dominion and North Carolina A&T on June 25, 2012. NC STATE HIRES YAHYA RADMAN AS DIVING COACH NC State hired Yahya Radman as the diving coach Oct. 22, three meets into the new season. Radman comes to the Wolfpack after serving as the head diving coach at University of Wyoming for the past two seasons. He replaces Josh Karshen, who was hired June 18, 2012. "We are looking forward to Yahya [Radman] joining our staff, as well as his family joining us in Raleigh," NCSU coach Braden Holloway said. "As we look to the future in diving for our program, we're encouraged about his vision and plan to help bring NC State diving back to the storied program it has been in previous times." Radman guided six total all-league performers in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) at Wyoming. He also helped Wyoming send five divers to the 2014 NCAA Zone 'E' Diving Championships, which marked the most representatives for the school since 2010. "I'm honored to join the Wolfpack family," Radman said. "NC State has a rich tradi - tion of excellence on the boards. I look forward to building on that success and help- ing our divers elevate the level of success on the boards to go along with the success of the swimming team. This is also a great opportunity to bring my wife and daughter closer to our extended family." Radman spent two seasons (2010-12) as the assistant diving coach at Florida State. The Bloomington, Ind., native also served as an undergraduate volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater Indiana. MELISSA SIMMONS NAMED WRESTLING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Melissa Simmons was hired as NC State's wrestling director of operations. Simmons is a former national champion at Oklahoma City, where she has served as assistant coach. She helped Oklahoma City win three of its four team national cham- pionships and three of its five NWCA national duals titles from 2009-11. "Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program," NCSU head coach Pat Popolizio said. "Her time at USA Wrestling and her coaching experience will be a valuable resource for our athletes. Her involvement in our day-to-day operations will help elevate the NC State wrestling program in all aspects." Simmons posted a 73-18 record with 42 falls. She became the 2008 72-kilogram national champion, then the 2010 82-kilo national runner-up. After finishing third place at 158 pounds as a junior, Simmons competed on the U.S. World Team. The Ridgefield, Wash., native gained seven national titles and All-America honors competing as a youth. She trained at the U.S. Olympic Education Center prior to her collegiate career. ■ Red And White Notebook NC State will host Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and his Fight- ing Irish squad in October 2016, with three more games against the traditional college powerhouse to come between then and 2025. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA