FootballState prepares for different challenges

In preparation for Saturday’s game against Akron, coach Chuck Amato said Tuesday he was hoping for anything that would favor N.C. State, including the weather.

“I hope it’s 100 degrees on Saturday,” Amato said. “Because the team we are playing is from Ohio, so maybe they won’t be used to it. But we’ll probably give them good southern hospitality — about 72 [degrees] with no humidity.”

But Amato might get his wish. The temperature at game time is expected to get close to 90 degrees, while Akron is not expected to surpass 80 degrees all week.

And aside from temperature, Amato talked about the different look his team will see this weekend from the Zips compared to what the team saw against Appalachian State.

He said the team expects to see different formations and a completely different game plan when the Wolfpack is on defense.

“They’re two different teams,” Amato said. “Appalachian [State] came in here out of the shotgun and a two-man option. They weren’t going to throw it a lot. This team is going to be just the other way around, probably.”

As it prepares for more passing, State’s defense will have to be ready to go against Akron senior Luke Getsy, who passed for 23 touchdowns and 3,455 yards last season.

“They have a quarterback who is a good one. He is a typical Mid-American quarterback — you can name the Mid-American quarterbacks right now that are in the NFL, playing, playing a lot, and that are young. For some reason, that league attracts them. This youngster can throw.”

— Nick Jeffreys