2012 North Carolina State Football Preview:
The North Carolina State (NC State) Wolfpack were one of the biggest surprises in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during 2011 and fought their way to an 8-5 record and a 4-4 record in the conference. With tough wins over Top 10-ranked Clemson and ACC stalwarts Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia and a bowl win against Louisville, head coach Tom O'Brien's fifth season has been one of his most successful. With 17 wins over the past few seasons, the Wolfpack has been hit by a slew of graduations and players leaving for the NFL, but they look to be a dangerous team on anyone's schedule in the ACC this year.
Offensively, the Wolfpack will go as far as their offensive line takes them. The team is returning all but one starter from last year's squad, but they will have to play more consistently to gain respectability in the ACC. Quarterback Mike Glennon will return to lead the offense, and it will be tough to top his 31 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions from a year ago. On the ground, the Wolfpack struggled during 2011, but likely hope to have a breakout year from running back James Washington. The Wolfpack have lost multiple starters in the wide receiver corps, so Tobias Palmer is expected to lead a young group of players and should benefit from the presence of Mario Carter at tight end to move the chains.
On defense, the Wolfpack are a veteran team all-around and will return their entire secondary from a year ago. Cornerback David Amerson picked off 13 passes during 2011, so his presence in the deep field should keep opposing quarterbacks on their toes. Sterling Lucas, Rickey Dowdy and a mixture of underclassmen will man a developing linebacking corps while the defensive line will return three starters from last year. All in all, the Wolfpack's compelling mix of veterans and talented depth players makes them one of the sleeper teams in the ACC heading into 2012.
The Wolfpack's great finish last year won't do them any favors for their 2012 schedule. The team opens up against Tennessee and will face tough matchups against Clemson, Florida State, Miami and North Carolina. With two bowl game wins in their pockets over the past two years, the Wolfpack may just make the jump to BCS contention if they have a strong enough showing in the ACC standings during 2012.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK INFORMATION:
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Stadium: Carter Finley Stadium
Conference: ACC Conference
Rivals: North Carolina Tar Heels, Textile Bowl (vs Clemson Tigers)
Mascot: Mr. Wuf
Notable Alumni: Ted Brown, Bill Cowher, Torry Holt, Roman Gabriel
Notable Bowl Games:
The NC State Wolfpack has a rich football tradition. The Wolfpack saw much of its conference success in the '50s, '60s, and '70s. NC State won seven conference titles during those years. North Carolina State has played in 23 bowl games as well, with a solid record of 12-10-1. Some of the notable NC State football alumni include Bill Cowher, Tory Holt, and Philip Rivers.
The NC State Wolfpack play their home games at Carter-Finley Stadium. The stadium was opened in 1966 and holds a capacity of 60,000. With the small clearance between the stands and the playing surface, Carter-Finley Stadium is a tough place for teams to visit. The fans are notoriously vocal and they seem to be right on top of the field. Attend a game at Carter-Finely and see why visiting teams are often quite intimidated. Buy North Carolina State Wolfpack tickets today and watch this storied program return to the top of the ACC!
See Also:
NC State Wolfpack Bowl Game tickets
NC State Wolfpack Basketball tickets
NC State Wolfpack Football Season Preview History
NC State Wolfpack Ticket Information:
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