Tenuta has spent 16 years as a defensive coordinator at seven schools. He won't coordinate N.C. State's defense. Mike Archer still handles those duties, but he said Tenuta will help bring a new dimension to N.C. State in terms of pressuring the quarterback.
O'Brien said the addition of Tenuta won't change much in the structure of the defense, but could change its tenor and coaching points. He said Tenuta might make N.C. State a better blitz team.
Nike Pro Combat Unis Unveiled
They're from the future.
Western Carolina wide receiver Marquel Pittman, who led the team in receiving yards the last two seasons, will not play in the Catamounts’ first two games after being suspended for a violation of team rules.
A redshirt senior, Pittman caught 50 passes for 619 yards and five touchdowns last fall.
Getting To Know Western Carolina
by Akula Wolf on Aug 31, 2010 4:12 PM EDT
3 comments
Western Carolina University
Founded: 1889
Enrollment: 9500
Fun Fact: Western Carolina's marching band, known as the Pride of the Mountains, boasts nearly 350 members and is "the largest college marching band in the Carolinas and Tennessee," according to Wikipedia. The band recently received the Sudler Trophy, which as you know is the Heisman Trophy of collegiate marching bands. They're kind of a big deal.
Western Carolina Football
Affiliations: Division I-AA, Southern Conference
First Game: 1931
All-Time Record: 311-435-23 (.417)
Head Coach: Dennis Wagner (3rd season; 5-18 at WCU).
Fun Fact: The Western Carolina/Appalachian State game is known as the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug. The jug, shaped like a moonshine jug, obviously, is capped with a cork and weighs 25 pounds. I don't know what's inside, but I'm sure it's delicious. Sadly, Western is just 18-54-1 all-time against App State and 7-27 in the "jug era." They've won the jug twice in the last 25 years.
Bonus Non-Football Fun Fact: WCU's Ronnie Carr made the first intercollegiate three point field goal in college basketball history.
All-Name Team: Walt Woolwine, future US Senator Reggie America (America For America in 2032)
Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 5 on defense
Basic Offense: West Coast/Multiple
Basic Defense: 4-2-5/Multiple
The Catamounts went 2-9 (1-7) in 2009, including a 45-0 loss to Vanderbilt and a 27-20 loss to Gardner-Webb. There's not much to like.
Offense
2009 Vitals: 113th in rushing, 91st in passing, 86th in passing efficiency, 111th in total offense, 107th in scoring (14.1 PPG). (All ranks I-AA.)
Incumbent quarterback Zack Jaynes, the only QB on the roster to take a snap last season, has been named the starter for Saturday after battling South Carolina transfer Zac Brindise for the job. Jaynes has also been battling a back problem, one that's not fully healed and may linger throughout the season. When Nate Irving breaks his back in half during the second quarter, the nagging pain could present a real issue for Jaynes.
Jaynes's numbers last season were about what you'd expect from the guy leading one of I-AA's worst offenses: 1790 yards (5.9 per attempt), 9 TDs, 9 INTs.
Running back Michael Johnson (150 att, 568 yds, 4 TDs), the SoCon freshman of the year in 2009, returns, but the Catamounts have to replace three offensive linemen, and the two returnees are redshirt sophomores.
They're in all sorts of trouble at quarterback and offensive line, which is too bad for senior wide receiver Marquel Pittman, the team's leading pass catcher a year ago (50 rec, 619 yds). There doesn't appear to be much in the way of deep threats for WCU--of the six guys who caught 10+ passes last season, Pittman was the only one to average double-digit yards per reception.
Defense
2009 Vitals: 109th in rushing, 44th in passing, 50th in passing efficiency, 88th in total defense, 69th in scoring (25.9 PPG). (All ranks I-AA.)
From the media guide (pdf):
One of the biggest additions was the return of Adam Hearns, who switches from offense to defensive secondary after a year away from football, at the hybrid "drop" linebacker position.
I don't want to suggest that the situation is dire on this side of the ball, but it...could be better.
If they're going to improve as a unit this season, they're going to have to start by putting a dent in the ugly 4.6 yards per carry they surrendered a year ago. (Vandy, their lone I-A opponent, rolled up 433 yards on the ground.) Getting better against the run means giving up this 4-2-5 nannypants crap.
But they're going to be undersized no matter what they're running, and they'll likely continue getting pushed around. Their starters up front run 235 lbs (end), 235 (end), 285, and 270. Their corners are both 5-9.
There's not enough here for the Catamounts to entertain even a mild, hey-we're-wthin-two-scores-at-halftime surprise on Saturday. Hope they bring the band.
Depth Chart Released; Dean Haynes Starting At RB
by Akula Wolf on Aug 30, 2010 2:42 PM EDT
1 comment
James Washington and Curtis Underwood are nowhere to be seen on the depth chart for the Western Carolina game, which was released this afternoon. While those guys sit because of nagging injuries (FWIW, according to a producer at 620 AM, they "should be good to go" for UCF), freshmen Dean Haynes and Mustafa Greene have an opportunity to show what they've got. (Just don't fumble, kids.)
Elsewhere, juco transfer Mikel Overgaard gets the nod at right tackle, while Rob Crisp will back up Jake Vermiglio at left tackle. Rieskamp, Mageo, Slay, and Akinniyi are going to start up front for the defense; Audie Cole and Terrell Manning start alongside Nate Irving at linebacker.
There are three true freshmen listed as backups in the secondary: David Amerson at corner, D.J. Green and Dontae Johnson at safety.
When it all came down to it, North Carolina State's Logan Scarborough performed exactly as he needed to.
The recent forest-management graduate recovered from a middle-of-the-road performance in the stock saw and finished first in the final two events of the week -- the single buck and underhand chop -- to win the gold medal Sunday in the 2010 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series presented by Carhartt.
NC State, Central Michigan Agree To Three-Game Series (In Football)
by Akula Wolf on Aug 30, 2010 12:36 PM EDT
0 comments
According to CMU's student newspaper, the Chippewas have agreed to a two-for-one deal with NC State that begins in Raleigh next season. CMU will come back to Raleigh in 2013 and the Pack will travel to CMU in 2014. The 2014 game will be a season-opening Thursday night matchup (so...TV, then?):
This is a chance for them to come to our place on a Thursday night," said CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke. "We’re trying to build scheduling that can bring some of those (teams) into Kelly/Shorts. It can be challenging at times with the success we’ve had and the revenue component that is required to pay those teams to come here."
Central Michigan will be paid a total of $750,000 for the pair of trips to NC State. We're getting $250k for our visit.
If CMU can prove there's life after Dan LeFevour, this could be interesting.
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Next Game
Western Carolina Catamounts
@
N.C. State Wolfpack
Saturday, Sep 4, 2010, 6:00 PM EDT
Carter-Finley Stadium
Wolfpack Football Schedule
| Western Carolina | Sat 09/04 | 6:00 PM EDT |
| @ Central Florida | Sat 09/11 | 7:30 PM EDT |
| Cincinnati | Thu 09/16 | 7:30 PM EDT |
|
@
Georgia Tech
|
Sat 09/25 | TBA |
|
Virginia Tech
|
Sat 10/02 | TBA |
|
Boston College
|
Sat 10/09 | TBA |
| @ East Carolina | Sat 10/16 | 12:00 PM EDT |
|
Florida St.
|
Thu 10/28 | 7:30 PM EDT |
|
@
Clemson
|
Sat 11/06 | TBA |
|
Wake Forest
|
Sat 11/13 | TBA |
|
@
North Carolina
|
Sat 11/20 | TBA |
|
@
Maryland
|
Sat 11/27 | TBA |
Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
(updated 1.6.2010 at 1:40 AM EST)
| Atlantic Division | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Clemson Tigers
|
6 | 2 | 9 | 5 |
|
Boston College Eagles
|
5 | 3 | 8 | 5 |
|
Florida St. Seminoles
|
4 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
|
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
|
3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
|
N.C. State Wolfpack
|
2 | 6 | 5 | 7 |
|
Maryland Terrapins
|
1 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
| Coastal Division | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
|
7 | 1 | 11 | 3 |
|
Virginia Tech Hokies
|
6 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
|
Miami Hurricanes
|
5 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
|
North Carolina Tar Heels
|
4 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
| Duke Blue Devils | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Virginia Cavaliers | 2 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
