Though senior defensive end Michael Lemon lost both his parents before transferring to N.C. State from Georgia, he won’t be without family when he walks onto the field Saturday during the Pack’s Senior Day festivities.
“There is one Senior Day story that I think is of note,” O’Brien said. “Michael Lemon, because both of his parents are deceased, will have coach [Keith] Willis and the entire defensive line serve as his family when he goes out on the field.”
Lemon has not only grown as a player for the Pack, but has also made an impact on his fellow teammates, like junior defensive end, Jeff Rieskamp.
“Michael [Lemon] is a really good guy,” Rieskamp said. “He’s always got a smile on his face, and he always seems to make the best out of every situation. To be able to be out there to support him on senior day is really special to me.”
Saturday will mark the end of the careers of 18 seniors, including Lemon, who will be accompanied by their families as they take the field to be honored before kickoff.
Among those leaving are nine starters, including left tackle Jake Vermiglio, wide receivers Owen Spencer, Darrell Davis, and Jarvis Williams, as well as linebacker Nate Irving. One junior, quarterback Russell Wilson, who graduated in May, will also be honored during pre-game.
“Russell is going to go out on the field,” coach Tom O’Brien said. “This very well could be his last [home] game. And, if it is his last game, we are going to honor him just as we will with everyone else who will be playing their last game.”
The importance of the seniors’ final game will only be magnified by the Pack’s precarious place in the standings. Despite dropping three of its last five games, State still controls its own destiny in the ACC’s Atlantic Division.
Coach Tom O’Brien compared the Pack’s situation before and after the loss to Clemson to the movie “Groundhog Day.” In the movie, Bill Murray relives the same day repetitively, and eventually tries to make his life better by helping those around him. The Pack could certainly make its fans happy with a win Saturday against the Demon Deacons.
“It’s Groundhog Day, we wake up and we’re in the same situation as last week,” O’Brien said. “We’ll have to see if we can finish the game and do a better job this time. I told the team that normally you don’t get a second chance on the football field, but this time around, we did get a second chance. We need to make the most of it this time, because there is no margin for error.”
With a win against the Deacons, State would reach the 7-win mark for the first time since the 2003 season. That team featured current San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson.
“Every game here on out is the Super Bowl for us,” senior left tackle Jake Vermiglio said. “We have to win every single game we play. We want to win every game badly, whether it is Wake Forest or North Carolina, we’re going to prepare the same way – as hard as we can.”
