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. Noah 03/02/2009 at 4:08 PM #

    I’ve not heard anything of substance to make me fear that Toney Baker would not be back.

    He’ll be back. It’s just a question of how good he’ll be. Donald Bowens is the guy who might not back.

    The left tackle will be the same as last year…Julian Williams. McCuller will take the right tackle spot.

    The OL battle will be at center. Same as last year.

  2. Noah 03/02/2009 at 4:10 PM #

    BTW, you asked about Mattes…the two backups going into the spring at tackle will probably be RJ Mattes on the left and Andrew Wallace on the right. Both were very impressive last year and will be the front-runners to take over next year.

    I don’t know where Sam Jones figures in at this point. (not saying he doesn’t have a place…I just don’t know where it is)

  3. Astral Rain 03/02/2009 at 4:29 PM #

    I don’t think we’re an ACC contender this year- but I think we can get a winning record in-conf like 5-3 or maybe even 6-2.

    I hope I’m wrong and we’re playing a meaningful game in December, and a non-meaningful one in January.

  4. zahadum 03/02/2009 at 4:33 PM #

    Interesting that the pdf linked makes no mention of Julian Williams. Oversight on their part?

    Of course gopack.com still doesn’t show any stats more recent than 2007. You’d think they would have updated by now.

  5. RickJ 03/02/2009 at 4:46 PM #

    “The OL battle will be at center. Same as last year.”

    Noah – You are way more attuned to this stuff than I am but I thought I remember some buzz that the coaches felt like Ted Larsen was a star in the making. He had two bad snaps against South Carolina that were costly but he seemed to settle into the role as the year went along.

  6. Noah 03/02/2009 at 5:03 PM #

    Interesting that the pdf linked makes no mention of Julian Williams. Oversight on their part?

    I would assume so. I didn’t read the .pdf. But Williams and McCuller are seniors this year.

    Regarding Larsen, the center position was a major concern last year. They tried everyone there. I never heard that Larsen was considered a star (he may be, I don’t know), but I was told that this was still a major concern.

    Maybe it’s a question of a pre-snap read that they are worried about.

  7. BJD95 03/02/2009 at 5:08 PM #

    5-3 or 6-2 could easily win the ACC. It did last year, in each division.

    I’m just grateful to have something NC State related to look forward to, rather than dread.

  8. GAWolf 03/02/2009 at 9:14 PM #

    On another bright note, I’ve read elsewhere that we’re in good shape for the top 3 recruits in NC for 2010 and several others in the top 15. I fully expect as we improve on the field… which we will… that recruiting too will fall into place.

  9. Noah 03/02/2009 at 10:20 PM #

    Who are you considering the top three recruits?

    Robbie Crisp is undoubtedly the #1 guy and we ARE in good shape there.

    Who have you got as #2? Creecy?

  10. Alpha Wolf 03/02/2009 at 10:37 PM #

    ^ I expect Butch will be going whole hog after these guys and that this season some marginal UNC players will slip down and injure themselves, not make their grades or break some rule. in order to make room for the signing class of 32 that they are no doubt planning for.

  11. turfpack 03/02/2009 at 10:38 PM #

    I do know most of the H.S.coaches I’ve talk with at meetings across the state like TOB and his staff.His staff is really excited about the 2010 class in N.C.and have early in roads with alot of them.One of them is a local running back in wake county -his dad’s a big State fan. As a Soph(5’11 185lbs).had 1800yds
    11TD’s very fast.

  12. blpack 03/02/2009 at 11:44 PM #

    Lots to look forward to with Wolfpack football. Our division is very tough, but also wide open. 5-3 got BC to the title game a similar record or maybe 6-2 could do the trick in 09.

  13. inhoc... 03/03/2009 at 3:11 AM #

    Random thoughts….

    Other than bowens haven’t the knee surgery, what makes you think he isn’t returning next season? has some info come out about the degree of the injury????

    I have really been hoping that tony baker can flight thru all this and become an impact player for us. probably the only 5 star (not that really counts for anything important in the long run) recruit left on the team. we owe eugene a lot for his past effort but IMHO he is a C+ (havnt really seen the break away speed, and is a little undersized the blow people backward on contact or run up the middle) RB in the grand scheme of things….
    we could really use a hoss in the backfield that can bring the pain.

    i really wish Brown wouldn’t have missed so much PT. he would have been HUGE had he had he avoided some tough breaks in his career

    other than barnes, what other players red-shirted out of last years class who will be looking to impact as a FR-rs????….glennon obviously

    and oh- i would be counting on seeing Glennon here and there outside of the I-AA games. as much as i love RWs style/intensity it also begs for injury…….improved line play this upcoming year may cut down on the time he spends running for his life which,in turn, will cut down injury risk, but still…

    how many times did we turn to backups this past season again?
    i dont anticipate him going out as frequently this upcoming season, but its bound to happen at least once.
    i`m looking to see the glennon/wilson situation turn out better than the glennon/taylor fiasco….glennon at VT looks like he fades in and out in his consistency.

  14. Noah 03/03/2009 at 7:15 AM #

    ^ I expect Butch will be going whole hog after these guys and that this season some marginal UNC players will slip down and injure themselves, not make their grades or break some rule. in order to make room for the signing class of 32 that they are no doubt planning for.

    UNC will not be a factor for Crisp or Creecy.

  15. Noah 03/03/2009 at 7:21 AM #

    Other than bowens haven’t the knee surgery, what makes you think he isn’t returning next season? has some info come out about the degree of the injury????

    It was an incredibly serious knee injury. It was his second consecutive season-ending injury. He’ll be a senior next year and the road back is very, very long.

  16. Alpha Wolf 03/03/2009 at 9:05 AM #

    UNC will not be a factor for Crisp or Creecy.

    Good to hear and thanks for the info, Noah.

  17. Greywolf 03/03/2009 at 9:13 AM #

    “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.”

    Clempson used a kid named Ford who IIRC had a long run of this kind of play action (man in motion looping behind the RB) against us. Could have been a swing pass.

    Using this type of play action moves a top athlete from one side of the formation to another. Defensive adjustments to compensate can lead to confusion, mis-matches and missed assignments — all of which give advantage to our offense. Think Graham or Owens or Barnes covered by a linebacker or safety who hits hard on run support but isn’t the swiftest guy on the other side of the line.

  18. Greywolf 03/03/2009 at 9:19 AM #

    And thanks Noah for your comments and input. BTW Do you have an alter ego who posts on the basketball blogs? 😉 No offense intended. It’s just that the difference in the input on football threads and the generally negative comments on basketball threads seems almost Jekle and Hyde like — or so it seems to me. (Notice I read all of it regardless.) I should talk, my drivel hardly deserves a glance but I enjoy myself.

  19. Noah 03/03/2009 at 9:51 AM #

    It’s just that the difference in the input on football threads and the generally negative comments on basketball threads seems almost Jekle and Hyde like — or so it seems to me.

    It might have something to do with the people running the two respective programs and my feelings towards them.

    BTW, inhoc asked about other redshirt freshmen who will make an impact this year…

    – Zach Allen will probably start at right guard. Since he first got here, the staff felt like he just an incredible steal. (BTW, whoever it is that is responsible for finding targets in Georgia is doing an incredible job. I think it’s Andy McCollum, but I don’t know.)

    – Barnes is going to get a lot of carries. He’ll probably be pretty heavily involved in the passing game as well.

    – Mario Carter is supposed to be really good. He apparently worked extremely hard last year rehabbing his knee injury and there are a lot of high hopes for him this year.

    – Terrell Manning is going to get a ton of playing time. I think he’ll probably end up starting at strongside LB (with Irving on the weakside). But I don’t know if he’ll be the starter going into spring practice. I have asked repeatedly if he’s 100 percent back from his injury and I’ve been told repeatedly that he was.

    – RJ Mattes and Andrew Wallace are your tackles of the future. There were a lot of rumbings about those two last year. I don’t know how many reps they’ll get, but that’s your starting left and right tackles once Williams and McCuller graduate. They’ll also be the guys stepping in if there are injuries.

    – Earl Wolff is going to be a good safety. I don’t know when he’ll see the field, but he was scout team MVP a couple of times last year.

  20. GAWolf 03/03/2009 at 10:24 AM #

    Miller Safrit’s Early Top 15 in NC:

    1 Robert Crisp OT Chapel Hill (N.C.) 6-7/300
    2 Keenan Allen S Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley 6-3/195
    3 Tony Creecy WR Durham (N.C.) Southern 6-0/190
    4 Gabe King DE Greensboro (N.C.) Page 6-5/230
    5 Victor Hampton CB Charlotte (N.C.) Independence 5-11/175
    6 Kendall Moore MLB Raleigh (N.C.) Southeast Raleigh 6-3/230
    7 P.J. Clyburn OLB Statesville (N.C.) West Iredell 6-1/205
    8 T.J. Leifheit OT Wilmington (N.C.) Hoggard 6-7/320
    9 Christian McCain OLB Greensboro (N.C.) Northern Guilford 6-6/196
    10 Prince Shembo OLB Charlotte (N.C.) Ardrey Kell 6-2/210
    11 Fre’Shad Hunter DE Cary (N.C.) 6-4/250
    12 Braxton Deaver WR Charlotte (N.C.) Providence 6-5/190
    13 Chris Smith DE Mount Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan 6-3/220
    14 Reggie Wilkins CB Shelby (N.C.) Crest 5-11/180
    15 Kevin Parks RB Mount Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan 5-7/190

  21. inhoc... 03/03/2009 at 11:24 AM #

    i must be missing something, i thought Bowens only had one injury/wurgery. he only missed this past year i know baker had 2….

  22. zahadum 03/03/2009 at 12:17 PM #

    Inhoc, Bowens’ last injury was pretty recent, within the last 6 weeks or so. He tore up a knee playing b-ball.

    Hate to lose him, but even minus Donald I think we’ve got the makings of a good corps of receivers. There’s no one guy like a Torry Holt in the bunch, but as a whole they could be pretty impressive.

  23. Noah 03/03/2009 at 1:11 PM #

    I think we’re in good shape with Crisp and Creecy (one more than the other). But I think Keenan Allen is supposed to be a heavy, heavy Alabama lean. King is supposed to be all UNC and Victor Hampton has already committed to Florida.

    I said this last year, but it bears repeating: Last year’s class in North Carolina was a very average group of players. This year’s group is very deep and very talented.

    You had two elite players in Nixon and Moss and then a pretty serious dropoff. Nixon is NOT better than Crisp and I don’t think Moss would necessarily be rated above King.

    What would’ve been really nice is if some players from the previous two classes would have stuck around. That attrition really forced us to take a full class last year. And that will limit us a little bit this year.

    Way back at the start of last year, I made the point that attrition is really the killer of football programs. It really does end up creating a hole that you can’t fill for four to five years.

  24. packalum44 03/03/2009 at 1:40 PM #

    “I don’t think we’re an ACC contender this year- but I think we can get a winning record in-conf like 5-3 or maybe even 6-2.”

    Playing catchup here, maybe someone has mentioned this. I agree with you. Either of those records might be good enough to get us to the ACC championship game. BC and V-Tech were 5-3 last year in ACC. There are no dominant teams anymore. Parity is rampant.

  25. Alpha Wolf 03/03/2009 at 1:43 PM #

    “attrition is really the killer of football programs. It really does end up creating a hole that you can’t fill for four to five years.”

    Yes it is, and we are really just at the razor’s edge of restoring talent. That’s why this class is pretty critical to NC State’s continuity. Fortunately, we have a solid coach, solid recruiters and real substance in the football program that had been missing for some time.

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