Wolfpack Eyes 7-0 Start
Chuck Amato was starting linebacker on 1967 team that opened with eight consecutive wins.

Oct 8, 2002

Chuck Amato knows all about the best start in NC State history. After all, he was a linebacker on the 1967 squad that started 8-0.

Now, the coach tries to lead his team a step closer to that milestone as the 14th-ranked Wolfpack takes on Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

The Wolfpack (1-0 ACC) is 6-0 for just the seventh time in the 111-year history of the program, and first time since 1991.

While five other Wolfpack teams lost their seventh game, Amato's '67 squad pushed two games further, and had been ranked as high as third in the nation before falling to Penn State.

In fact, the Tar Heels (2-3, 0-1) handed one of those 6-0 squads their first defeat with a 33-14 triumph over then-No. 10 NC State at Chapel Hill in 1974.

NC State did not play last weekend, giving Amato the chance to keep his players focused and bringing the injured ones closer to 100 percent.

"We gave them off Monday and Tuesday. How much more do they want?" Amato said. "They are on scholarship.

"We went at it pretty good (last week). In fact, I almost wanted to scrimmage on Friday for 30 plays. Then I said no because it would be crazy to get somebody hurt if a third-string guy fell on a first-stringer's ankle."

Two of Amato's more important players should be able to go full speed.

Freshman tailback T.A. McClendon, who leads the team with 410 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, underwent surgery to repair a broken bone on his right wrist and will wear a cast for four weeks.

"That was the reason we decided to have the operation because we felt if we didn't operate on him, he would have to wear the cast for the rest of the season," Amato explained.

"By operating on him, he'll only have to wear the cast for four weeks, which gives us three games where he won't have to have the cast on. I don't think there will be a lot of pain in there. The big thing will be handling the football."

Defensively, the Wolfpack expects to have starting middle linebacker Dantonio Burnette, who missed a 56-24 victory over Massachusetts on Sept. 28 with a thumb injury.

Burnette will further bolster a defense that is 13th in the nation, allowing just 282.3 yards per game.

"He'll be there, ready to go, chomping at the bit," Amato said of Burnette. "He brings so much to the table. His mental quickness and his mental speed is much greater than his actual speed."

North Carolina had an offensive breakthrough in Saturday's 38-35 victory at Arizona State.

Darian Durant set a school record with 417 passing yards and tied the school mark with five TD passes for the Tar Heels, who also benefitted from four missed field goals by the Sun Devils.

"We wanted to win no matter how we got it, even if it was a shootout," Tar Heels coach John Bunting said. "It was huge for our team morale."

Durant, a sophomore, has thrown for 1,369 yards and 10 touchdowns. But North Carolina has struggled defensively, giving up almost 200 rushing yards per game and 157 points in five contests.


NC State Football

I am so glad to see the team get off to a great start. We have an outstanding quarterback and coach. It has been a total team effort this year. Go Pack!!

I can't wait for the team to play another game and try to get to 8-0. This is a great start by the Wolfpack and brings a lot of exposure to the school and football program..