The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743343
NOVEMBER 2016 ■ 101 BY MATT CARTER R edshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Finley had just completed 17 of 21 passes for 174 yards with two touchdowns and no intercep- tions in guiding NC State to a season-open- ing 48-14 win over William & Mary. Finley earned the start after much specu- lation over who would be the first-string quarterback between him and classmate Jalan McClendon. Striding to the podium with a NC State baseball cap tightly fitted around his head, he was quick, to the point and often times deflective in his answers. For a young man who just won his second spirited preseason quarterback battle (he beat out heralded Boise State sophomore Brett Rypien for the job last year before getting hurt), there were no signs of relief or excitement. His thoughts on leading the offense to four touchdowns in the first half, estab- lishing himself as the presumptive starter going forward? "We had some great drives, touchdowns, that was fun," Finley said. "Excited about the win." Could you elaborate about that or your emotions going into the first series (or any- thing)? "I was a little nervous, more just excited to go out there and play." This was the start of a Q&A session of four-plus minutes that Finley had with the media that proceeded exactly like the first two questions above. In the classic baseball movie "Bull Dur- ham," veteran minor league catcher Crash Davis was brought in to help mentor Ebby Calvin LaLoosh, a prodigy pitcher with raw talents. One of the lessons Davis, portrayed by actor Kevin Costner, taught LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins, was to learn how to handle media interviews. Davis: "It's time to work on your inter- views." LaLoosh: "My interviews? What do I got to do?" Davis: "You're going to have to learn your clichés. You're going to have to study them; you're going to have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: 'We got to play them one day at a time.'" LaLoosh: "Got to play … it's pretty bor- ing." Davis: "'Course it's boring, that's the point. Write it down." That began a series of classic clichés that Davis spilled out to LaLoosh that sounded all too familiar to sports fans and media. Davis would have probably compli- mented how well Finley handled the media after his first Wolfpack start, but the truth is that Finley's unassuming nature is both genuine and an asset in making him the successful quarterback that he has been through the first half of NC State's season. A Cerebral Quarterback Unlike LaLoosh, who was generally a meathead that needed to learn the ins and outs of being a professional baseball player on and off the field, Finley has a method for his guardedness with the media. "Part of the reason I love college football is we keep so much in house, and this is our family," Finley noted. "It's important to keep stuff in our family, and that's how I feel sometimes." Finley, who graduated from Boise State in three years with a degree in psychology and a cumulative grade point average of better than 3.5, is also comfortable in his own skin. That extends onto the football field.