State still searching
By LORENZO PEREZ, Staff Writer
N.C. State coach Chuck Amato entertained national championship dreams as recently as two seasons ago, armed with quarterback Philip Rivers who was entering his senior year.
"Why not?" Amato said in August 2003, on the eve of what turned out to be an 8-5 season. "You get a few breaks, win all your games, and there you go."
Three games into this season, however, many Wolfpack fans and followers of the team have spent more time wondering, "What happened?" than asking, "Why not?"
Carter-Finley Stadium has been bolstered by the $26 million Murphy Center, the headquarters for the football team, and the $39 million Vaughn Towers, which added 51 luxury suites this fall. But recent results on the field have been less flashy: a 5-6 stumble of a season last year, seven losses in State's past eight ACC games and five straight home losses to Division I-A opponents.
Amato started 26-12 at State; now, he is 40-25 overall and 20-22 in ACC games. Three games into his sixth season, State is 1-2 and a slight underdog heading into tonight's game at No. 24 Georgia Tech (3-1).
Still, recruiting analysts, NFL scouts and officials with ties to the program credit Amato with installing a foundation for future success. And his defenders, including his most prominent former assistant, say it's too early to determine whether Amato can deliver on past promises.
"I think it's just a little dip in the road," said Norm Chow, Amato's offensive coordinator in 2000 before he left to become the offensive coordinator at Southern California.
Chow, now offensive coordinator for the NFL's Tennessee Titans, said it's only natural for fans to grow impatient after Amato boosted expectations.
"Guys that tell you they don't hear the boo-birds are not telling you the truth," Chow said. "We're all human, and we all hear them. It's unfortunate that it has to be that way, but I think Chuck has the resolve. I don't think there's any question: Chuck has the resolve to withstand all that and get it done."
Pack competitive
Amato has made State more competitive. Of the 25 defeats during his tenure, the Wolfpack has lost only six games by 10 or more points. In Mike O'Cain's seven seasons as head coach, State suffered 29 double-digit losses.
In many of the close losses under Amato, the Wolfpack was doomed by rashes of penalties that killed State's momentum or revived the opponent's. The penalty problem has not been eliminated. State ranks last in the ACC in penalty yardage and 113th nationally -- out of 117 Division I-A teams -- with 10 flags a game.
Yet, recruiting analysts look at the close losses and see the strides State has made. The Wolfpack's rejuvenated recruiting in North Carolina, as well as in talent-rich Florida, has made the program more competitive, they say. At the same time, analysts with Rivals.com and other services note that the overall recruiting edge still belongs to elite programs such as Southern California and Florida State. Because of that, the Wolfpack does not have the depth to be able to rely entirely on physical talent to overwhelm opponents.
According to Rivals.com, Amato's recruiting classes ranked 19th in 2001, 34th in 2002, seventh in 2003, 28th in 2004 and 27th this year. From 1995 to 1999, O'Cain did not have a recruiting class rated higher than 39th.
"He's doing a pretty good job in staying in there with a lot of top guys," Chris Wallace, Rivals' ACC editor, said of Amato.
Although Amato is frequently credited, along with former assistant Doc Holliday, for tapping talent-rich Florida, Wallace noted that most of the players from that state who commit to N.C. State are "Plan B" options for Florida State, Florida and Miami.
Another football recruiting analyst, Miller Safrit of Scout.com, said it's too soon to expect State's slumping performance on the field to negatively affect its recruiting. He said other coaching staffs, such as Georgia Tech's, are known more for their ability to develop talent than the ability to snag the elite recruits.
"At N.C. State, I see more of a group of coaches who are great at recruiting," Safrit said. "N.C. State tries to out-talent the other team, and most of the time that approach works. So it surprises me to see them where they are at this time."
Pro scouts continue to visit games at State, which now has 17 former players playing in the NFL. Those include Rivers and five seniors from State's team last year.
Tom Marino, a Raleigh-based scout for the NFL's St. Louis Rams, said he considers State "just below" elite programs such as Southern California, Michigan, Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Miami in terms of its ability to recruit and develop pro talent.
"I know the kids there get better. I've watched them get better," Marino said. "I think Chuck will straighten things out. Chuck is every bit as good a football coach as he was three or four years ago."
Echoing those comments, ESPN analyst Lee Corso said Amato was the victim of unrealistic expectations fueled by his early success. In a league made tougher by expansion, Corso said, realistic goals are within reach.
"State should try to get to a bowl every year and every once in a while, sneak in a win against Florida State and Miami," said Corso. "That's realistic."
As long as Bobby Bowden, Larry Coker and Frank Beamer are steering the programs at Florida State, Miami and Virginia Tech, however, it's unlikely that State could ever surpass them, let alone match them, Corso said.
A frustrating loss
Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell said no single defeat has prompted more frustrated phone calls to the club than this year's loss to North Carolina. Purcell said he and other Wolfpack Club officials spent several days fielding calls from disappointed donors and fans.
"We're all frustrated," Purcell said. "But at the same time, I think we have tremendous potential in the long term. I have every confidence we're headed in the right direction."
Amato bristled last week at reports of fan criticism. Asked by a News & Observer reporter after practice to respond to fans who question whether he is the man to lead the program, Amato said he did not respond to fans. He softened that response on his radio show the following night and in a Q-and-A posted on State's athletics Web site, stressing his appreciation of Wolfpack fans.
Amato remained defensive, however, as he continued to rebuff questions about the mounting losses. Asked on Friday how he kept his team from getting frustrated, Amato said, "It is [frustrating], if you've never put a jockstrap on in your life. ... It can be if you don't have the character, if you don't have the winning attitude."
Consistency lacking
State players maintain the same outlook, even while acknowledging they can't explain the team's struggles.
One senior, tight end John Ritcher, is the son of former N.C. State All-America Jim Ritcher, an offensive lineman on State's last ACC champion team in 1979. John Ritcher remembers how a nine-game winning streak and Gator Bowl victory over Notre Dame in the 2002 season fueled dreams of a national championship.
"I still think we're still on the rise," Ritcher said. "We've had our moments. I think that's been our biggest problem: consistency. ... We have flashes of greatness, and then we have flashes where you want to beat your head up against a wall."
