The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/714462
8 ■ THE WOLFPACKER The 2016 season is finally here. It seems like yesterday we were in Carter-Finley Stadium for the Kay Yow Spring Game and now we are preparing for the season opener. I don't know if I have ever been more excited for a fall camp than this year. Even though we are still a young team, we are experienced. We have young players who have seen meaningful action in big games. They know the routine and systems so well that they are now bringing along the underclassmen. At practice, I see our returning players coaching our younger guys on the sidelines. As a coach, this is the best leadership trait that I can ask for: that they help each other and hold each other accountable. When I see leadership like this, I know we are heading in the right direction. We took great strides during the offseason in terms of our physical conditioning. This was in large part due to the new direction of our strength program led by alum Dantonio Burnette and his talented staff. Our summer program was both mentally and physically challenging for the players and pushed them to limits they have never reached before. A lot of credit goes to the team for not only getting through it, but exceeding their goals. We talk about "one more," and almost every member of the team took that to heart this summer. Along with the great work in the weight room, our players got it done in the classroom, earning a 3.018 GPA in our second summer session classes. That's the highest cumulative summer GPA on record for NC State football! All the hard work these guys put in this summer allowed us to hit the ground running as we started fall camp. We are playing football with confidence and speed and that is an explosive combination on the football field. The emphasis this fall has been winning the turnover margin — protecting the ball on offense so that we can sustain drives and score points, and on defense creating oppor- tunities by getting the ball out. We have made it through camp relatively healthy and made great strides with our installs and game plans. We are proud to be able to celebrate the 50th anniver- sary of Carter-Finley Stadium this season. I remind our players that when they put on the uniform, they represent more than just the name on the back. Our fans are some of the most passionate in the country and, along with all of the former players who have worn that jersey before them, we have a lot of responsibility when we take the field on Saturdays. As we start the 2016 season, I want to thank you for your continued support. So many people have come up to me this offseason just to tell me how excited they are for this year. The passion is expressed when we set a school record of season tickets sold with over 36,000. This is something no other team in the state can boast and is a huge advantage for us. Your support means everything to me and our team, and I know we will be a lot of fun to watch this year. 1Pack1Goal, Coach Doeren ■ From Head Football Coach Dave Doeren