When coming to a campus with a history in athletics, there is an expectation to know at least the basics of this legacy. While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it is enough for a brief overview, so you are not scratching your head too much in March. Knowledge of the following people and events should get you well on your way to becoming a proud member of the Wolfpack.
1. The History of the Wolfpack Mascot
In 1921, the NC State football team accepted the nickname Wolfpack after an opponent accused the team of playing like a howling pack of wolves. Other sports teams were still known as the red terrors. Chancellor John Harrelson tried to change the Wolfpack name in 1946 because German submarines had been called wolf packs during World War II. However, the students overwhelmingly voted to keep the Wolfpack name. Later, in 1947 NC State chose Wolfpack as the official name for all of its sports teams.
2. NC State played an integral role in the rise of ACC Basketball
Everett Case, former NC State basketball coach, is considered the father of ACC basketball. At the start of the ACC in 1953, the conference was solely composed of southern schools in which football was the foremost sport. Under the coaching of Case, NC State’s fast-paced offense and full court press began to attract large crowds of basketball fans. Before one game, the Raleigh fire marshal forced NC State to forfeit its game against UNC-Chapel H ill because students refused to leave the overcrowded Thompson Gym. Not to be outdone by NC State’s large fan base, other ACC schools began to take measures to attract more fans to their own games. Case’s biggest contribution to ACC basketball was the idea of the ACC tournament. He persuaded NC State authorities to construct a larger Reynolds Coliseum so the school would be able to host the tournament. NC State went on to host the first 13 tournaments. With the efforts of Case, the ACC began to transition from a football conference to a basketball conference.
3. David Thompson and the 1974 National Championship
Led by player David Thompson and Coach Norm Sloan, NC State won the first official Division I NCAA Basketball Tournament in 1974. In the final four of the tournament, NC State faced John Wooden and his UCLA Bruins, which had won the last seven championships. After overcoming a double-digit deficit in the second half, NC State won by three points in double overtime to advance to the championship game against Marquette. Thompson scored 28 points in the win. Neither Marquette nor NC State had ever made it to the finals of the tournament. Thompson dominated the game, scoring 21 points and leading NC State to a 12-point victory. The next year, Thompson was the No. 1 pick in the 1975 NBA draft.
4. The Legend of Jim Valvano
Jim Valvano served as NC State’s men’s basketball coach from 1980-1990 and as the athletic director from 1986-1989. Valvano is famous for his 1983 NCAA tournament run in which he coined the term “survive and advance.” After scraping through the tournament on last-minute victories, Valvano and his team went on to upset the University of Houston and win the 1983 championship on a last-second miracle shot. The tournament run was immortalized in the 2013 ESPN film, “Survive and Advance” and has been regarded as one of the greatest runs of all time by many sportswriters. After being diagnosed with metastatic cancer in 1992, Valvano began to give motivational speeches all across the country. His most famous speech was given at the 1993 ESPYs where he received the first Arthur Ashe Courage Award. During the speech, Valvano announced the founding of The V Foundation for Cancer Research and told his audience “Don’t give up — don’t ever give up.” Jim Valvano died in April of 1993 just eight weeks after this speech.
5. The Legend of Kay Yow
Kay Yow became the first full-time women’s basketball coach in 1975 and served until her death in 2009. Throughout her career, Yow led the women’s basketball team to four ACC championship titles and 20 NCAA tournament appearances. She coached more than 1,000 games at NC State, winning 737 games. When she died, Yow was the fifth most winning women’s basketball coach in history. In 1988, Yow won a gold medal while coaching the USA Women’s National Team. In 1987, Yow was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following successful treatment, the cancer reoccurred in 2004. During her battle with cancer, she received the Jimmy V ESPY Award for Perseverance and created the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. After battling breast cancer for the third time, Yow died in 2009.
6. NC State’s Quarterbacks in the NFL
During the 2014-2015 season, the ACC had the most quarterbacks starting in the NFL. All three had played at NC State. Phillip Rivers has been the San Diego Chargers’ starting quarterback for nine years. During the 2014 season, Rivers threw for 4,286 yards and threw 31 touchdown passes. Rivers also has been named to five ProBowl teams. Mike Glennon has been an off and on starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last two seasons. In the 18 games Glennon started, he threw for 4,025 yards and 29 touchdowns. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson played three of his college football seasons for the Wolfpack. In his first three seasons in the NFL, Russel Wilson has already played in two Super Bowls, winning one, and is the second highest paid quarterback in the league.
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is hosting the second annual walk/run on Saturday to honor those affected by women’s cancer. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was founded by Kay Yow, former NC State women’s basketball coach, before she lost her battle to cancer in 2009.
