Football Tidbits: ACC Spring Football Prospectus, Rutgers Bled Cash To Play In Pizza Bowl

Tidbit 2: Rutgers Loses 184K Going To The Pizza Bowl

Rutgers University collected $1.2 million for its trip to the PapaJohns.com Bowl last December. But by the time expenses were paid and the coaching staff given its performance bonuses, the school lost more than $184,000, according to reports filed with the NCAA.

While the football team’s expenses were more than covered through the Big East Conference — which pools playoff money — the university spent more than $200,000 to send faculty, staff and 187 members of the band and cheerleader squads to the game.

That’s a lot of cash to bleed in a recession.  I haven’t seen NC State’s numbers, but I would bet that the expenses were a lot more prudently managed.  If I recall correctly, State did not send its dance team and had a modest contingent present in Birmingham.

One group that did show up were Wolfpack fans who clearly were in the majority at Legion Field.

Football Prospectus

For those of us going through football withdrawal (I have April 18th circled as a holiday, it’s the day of the Spring Game) here’s a little reading courtesy the ACC offices: the ACC Spring Football Prospectus. (pdf).  Naturally, most of the NC State mentions are of Russell Wilson.

State is the lowest in the conference for returning lettermen at 32.  For those of us who like numbers in black and white, they have an interesting look at the returning percentages of each phase of the game.

Lettermen Returning ………… 32
Lettermen Lost ………………… 17
% Passing Returning ……… .951
% Rushing Returning …….. .586
% Receiving Returning…… .756
% Receiving Yds Ret. ……… .797
% Scoring Returning ……… .725
% Kickoff Returns …………. .859
% Punt Returns ……………. 1.000
% Tackles Returning………. .653
% Turnovers Forced ………. .679
Spring Practice Dates: Mar. 20, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31; Apr. 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 17; Spring Game–Apr. 18.

'09 Football General

75 Responses to Football Tidbits: ACC Spring Football Prospectus, Rutgers Bled Cash To Play In Pizza Bowl

  1. com state10 03/02/2009 at 8:44 AM #

    Thank you for saying ANYTHING about football to take my mind off basketball for a day or so before I head to Raleigh wednesday night for senior night.

    I can’t wait to see how spring practice shakes out and how many times early in the season we can find glennon some playing time.

    I wanna go to my first spring game this year but have to be in charlotte early morning on the 18th, does anybody know what time the spring game is that afternoon?

  2. CStanley 03/02/2009 at 8:51 AM #

    Gardner Webb & Murray State should be great opportunities to get Glennon in. Hopefully that is all he will be needed next season. It would be nice to get him in against some ACC teams as well, but only time will tell.

  3. Sam92 03/02/2009 at 9:27 AM #

    yes, thanks for the football tidbit. only 6 months until the South Carolina game, which presents a huge opportunity for us

    will glennon actually compete for the starting position, or is it settled on Wilson?

  4. Sw0rdf1sh 03/02/2009 at 9:31 AM #

    I looked through this the other day. I was interested in the pre-season All ACC picks (I think that is what it was called). The list of players had me thinking on where we were lacking or more importantly where the MEDIA ASSUMED we were lacking. I mean hell, they didn’t they we would have an All ACC QB last year that is for sure.

    I’m so ready for the Spring game I can’t stand it.

  5. Noah 03/02/2009 at 9:53 AM #

    I’m curious to see how Toney Baker looks. Last year, I don’t think many people on the inside thought he would ever really recover. There was a lot of talk that he would move to FB. He’s strong as a moose, but it was the lateral quickness and the stopping and starting that was in question. At fullback, he could dictate the action and use his strength to clear a path.

    Now…people are talking about how he’ll be ready to go at tailback. I do not believe he’ll ever recover all of his quickness. The knee just doesn’t work like that. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be effective in some role for us.

    I’m also curious how Terrell Manning will look.

  6. Daily Update 03/02/2009 at 10:14 AM #

    This is going to be an interesting year for Wake.

    They lose five players on defense who have started more than 39 games. The lose two other players who started more than 23 games.

    To put that in perspective, we only lose 4 total defensive players and the most starts of any of those players was 20. Wake loses its top 5 tacklers and even some of the backups they lose were good players for them on that side of the ball.

    Their offense has been anemic for the last two years and while they only lost one started…that starter was by far their best player and only all-ACC player on offense.

  7. choppack1 03/02/2009 at 10:59 AM #

    Interesting that we return the fewest lettermen. Of course, the good news is that we return a lot on our 2 deep. Here’s what we lose off the top of my head:
    Andre Brown
    Anthony Hill
    Bedics(?)
    Meares Green
    Jeremy Gray
    Neal(?)
    Robbine Leonard
    Goodman
    Willis (DE)
    Holmes (DT)

    I’m sure I’ve missed a few…

  8. Greywolf 03/02/2009 at 11:50 AM #

    Alpha,

    IIRC Basketball was invented to give athletes something to do between football season and spring practice (well, maybe baseball). I try to remember this when I start to feel guilty about my not being as interested in basketball (other than NC State) as a sport.

    What I like most about football is team work means far more in the success of a team than say somebody getting hot and hitting threes from downtown and beating a team that works hard for good shots, executes the fundamentals and hustles. Of course if it’s NCSU that’s hitting the trey and overcoming it’s poor execution, failure to blockout and lack of hustle, that’s different. 😉

    I had rather watch football practice than most basketball games. And the Spring game IS a holiday.

    TOB and the Pack could sure use a faster start this coming year. As I look at the starters who will not be available, I don’t see any we won’t have adequate replacements for and some will be upgraded.

    Personally I will miss Robbie Leonard and his back up Ryan Goodwin, #16, two walk-ons who contributed, yet our supply of young, fast, athletic linebackers will give us excellent replacements. If we are still playing that scheme.

    We have several more invited walk-ons I would like to see succeed. One in particular is the ex-QB, #90 who plays tight end. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if he graduates early and this is his last year. He came to State because of his interest in one of the degrees offered here, instead of taking scholarship offers to other schools. (His sister is one of my granddaughters best friends. I had the opportunity to talk to his family at one of his sister’s school funtions. He is the kind of young man TOB wants in our football program. Eric is a quality young man.)

    God, I love thinking about NCSU football, talking about NCSU football and in general being around NCSU football. In my early days when I was at State and starting to raise a family, going to football practice with my wife, baby daughter and son, Garrick, was our social life, especially in the spring. I’ll never forget Garrick “escaping” (running towards the players in a situation practice) and Coach Edwards catching him and handing him back to a very embarrassed parent. Earle did it with a very kindly said admonitishment.) Earl wound up in the same retirement facility as my mother and I had the chance to speak to him occasionally at a meal. Blah, blah, blah,

  9. j-dog 03/02/2009 at 11:55 AM #

    Hello Pack fans. I would like to see someone breakout at DT along with Cash. I think
    Kuhn has a chance to do that. The DE’s look good coming back but we need solid DL depth. Kuhn needs to show up in the spring. He’s strong, quick, and smart. Kuhn is a rising JR, so he has some game minutes. I’m ready to see Burgess, Mageo, Crawford and
    the FR in the fall. Look for Randolph to make some noise early!

  10. Greywolf 03/02/2009 at 12:22 PM #

    I just can’t help myself…

    Not that I’m particularly in favor of trick plays, but the use of a man in motion who becomes a running back causes defenses problems. We have two young men who could create some serious problems for teams — TJ Graham and Brandon Barns. Defenses would have to honor that speed and running ability which opens up opportunities for our other, more traditional running plays. My football mind goes into overdrive thinking of that speed and ability. Short passes can be long gainers with those two. Open up the deep routes and let the DBs pick their poison. I imagine JE and others would hate to see hesitant defenses (sarcasm alert.)
    I think Toney Baker’s future is at fullback. The knee thing could be enough to keep him from being a pro running back but shouldn’t be a stop at full back. Let’s hope he hasn’t lost any speed. With the spread offenses and offenses that spread the field, we see more and more long gainers by the full back. Once they clear the LOS, there’s not much between them and the goal line.
    A fullback who can block, catch passes and be counted on for short yardage TDs and first downs could land himself a spot on pro roster. If Toney is interested in playing on Sunday, he might consider asking TOB to let him play on special teams. It would increase his value and chance to make a pro roster.

    I’m going now to see if I can find the clip of his destroying a safety on the way to the end zone. Getting in Toney’s way to the EZ might be a bad idea.

  11. whitefang 03/02/2009 at 12:28 PM #

    Thanks for the football thread. I am ignoring sports until basketball season is over. I am not even reading the sports pages because I know who will be on the cover. And they won’t be in red jerseys.

  12. Mike 03/02/2009 at 12:36 PM #

    Interesting we only have 32 lettermen back – at first glance that is bad. But I think this number is misleading since we had so few lettermen on the team. Last year numbers were one of the big problems, so this comes as no surprise.

    Sam92 asked about Glennon getting a shot at QB, or is it already RW’s. Glennon will get a shot, and if he beats out RW, then we will have a very good QB running the show.

  13. RickJ 03/02/2009 at 12:54 PM #

    The lettermen issue is not very instructive. In addition to the above point concerning how few players we had available to earn a letter, I am pretty sure each team decides how a “letter” is earned and could have vastly different criteria. This is just a guess but knowing TOB, it probably means a little more to earn a letter under him than some other coaches. The starters returning and starters lost column could be a better indication of experience returning. Here we have 15 starters returning and 9 starters lost. These numbers look pretty good compared to other league teams.

  14. packbackr04 03/02/2009 at 1:04 PM #

    off topic, but they just found an overturned boat in the gulf of mexico, comfirmed to be the same boat of the missing football players. Only one person was clinging on to the side of the overturned boat and he is said to be a former USF football player. 3 remain missing, including former NCSU player. not good news

  15. choppack1 03/02/2009 at 1:08 PM #

    Rick J – I agree that it’s more important to look at who comes back on your 2 deep. In addition, it will be interesting to see who fills the gap.

  16. packalum44 03/02/2009 at 1:23 PM #

    We have a legitimate chance to win the ACC. When is the last time we could claim that? I am excited about the explosive atheletes we have. Assuming the redshirt freshmen are as good as advertised:

    Russell Wilson, Brandon Barnes, TJ Graham, Owen Spencer, Donald Bowens, Jamelle Eugune, Toney Baker, Nate Irving, Terrell Manning, Willie Young, Alan Cash to name a few.

    These players are game changers. Our O-Line will be really good. Our biggest weakness will be defense. Mainly the secondary. I expect our linebackers to be better and deeper. I also expect our D-Line to improve.

  17. SouthernWolf 03/02/2009 at 1:32 PM #

    has anyone heard anything about us potentially switching to a 3-4? Mike Archer has an extensive background in the 3-4 both as an assistant at Pittsburgh and DC in Kentucky. Furthermore we seem to be reciting alot more LBs in these last two classes and our DT’s that he have recruited are bigger than average. We have a 6-6 (Chandler) guy in our most recent class and Mageo is 6-4, Everret is also 6-4. Most 4-3 DT’s are around 6-2. Furthermore the DE’s that we have recruited are smallish more like 3-4 outside backers. Our LB’s are big as well, Rice 6-3, Manning 6-3, Beasely 6-2, Maddox 6-2, Lucas 6-2. (source Scout.com)

    Sterling Lucas is in my class and he is a big dude, every bit of 6-2 and looks taller to me like maybe 6-3+. Anyway i was wondering if anyone else is thinking that maybe in spring of 2010 we implement a 3-4 D.

  18. choppack1 03/02/2009 at 1:43 PM #

    packalum – Donald Bowens had reconstructive surgery on his knee.

  19. wolfpacker420 03/02/2009 at 1:59 PM #

    those last four games are a tough road

  20. wolfonthehill 03/02/2009 at 2:03 PM #

    Given that we lost the most returning lettermen, can we now stake a claim to Chief Butch’s perennial “we’re so young” rant/whine/excuse?

  21. Noah 03/02/2009 at 2:32 PM #

    Look for Randolph to make some noise early!

    He has to get qualified first.

    I wouldn’t look for Bowens to come back.

  22. zahadum 03/02/2009 at 2:47 PM #

    Interesting, I had no idea that Owen led the league in yards per catch last year. Imagine what he could do if it wasn’t always his first day with the new hands.

    Greywolf, I’m somewhat like you in that whenever I think about Barnes and Graham, I start having visions of the offense that Florida runs.

    Baring injury, of course, who do you guys think will be our starting guards?

  23. Noah 03/02/2009 at 3:03 PM #

    Jake Vermiglio and Zach Allen. There isn’t really any question about it right now.

  24. StateFans 03/02/2009 at 3:19 PM #

    I’ve not heard anything of substance to make me fear that Toney Baker would not be back. That gives us a great mix of depth, talent and experience in the backfield with Baker, Eugene, Underwood, Barnes, Jackson & Gentry

  25. zahadum 03/02/2009 at 3:31 PM #

    Noah, if we do move Vermiglio to guard, then who takes over at left tackle? Mattes? Jones?

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