On what’s traditionally the curtain raiser to football season, the Pack will play in its spring game on Saturday. In order to rise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the Kay Yow Scholarship Endowment, as well as honor legendary coach Kay Yow , head coach Tom O’Brien decided to re-name the football game. The Kay Yow Spring Football Game is now in its fourth installment, and will showcase everything the team has worked on this spring.
Returning a combined 16 starters on both sides of the ball, the Pack will look to build on the previous two seasons, having gone 17-9 in that period and winning two consecutive bowl games, one of the only two teams in the ACC to do so.
Despite having so many players back on the roster, there are question marks surrounding some very key positions. The situation at tight end is one such issue. The Pack had one of the best tight ends in the form of two-time All-ACC first team George Bryan, who caught 14 touchdown passes during his time in Raleigh. However, with his graduation, there are numerous others waiting in the wings to replace him.
“I think we’ve had a lot of challenge at tight end,” O’Brien said Tuesday. “You know, nobody earns the jersey- that’s what we talk about every practice.
“Everybody’s fighting for the job.”
Senior Mario Carter is one such player who is poised to take over Bryan’s former position, but finds himself in strong competition with redshirt juniors Asa Watson, Anthony Talbert and redshirt freshman Benson Browne.
“You take off, you get hurt, somebody is going to take your spot,” Carter said. “I feel like it’s my time. I’ve been sitting for the past three years. It’s a blessing in disguise, in a way, because my body is getting back through the injuries.”
Another position prompting big question marks is at the linebacker position. Following the graduation of Audie Cole, the departure of junior Terrell Manning to the NFL and the suspension of C.J . Wilson, the Pack finds itself in a situation with a need to fill all three spots in that position.
Fifth-year senior Sterling Lucas has been earmarked to fill in the inside linebacker position. Lucas spent last season recovering from injury and spent a lot of time mentoring the linebackers.
“He’s like a coach on the field,” O’Brien said. “He knows the defense. He was a de-facto coach last year for a lot of things. So he understands things, and he sees things quicker than a lot of those young kids do.”
The other two touted as starters heading into the spring game are sophomore Brandon Pittman and junior Rickey Dowdy. O’Brien said the two were going through the learning curve.
“Sometimes, they take one step forward, two steps back,” O’Brien said. “Because they see something new, and they blow a gasket. But it’s all part of learning, and you know, there’s a lot thrown out here right now.”
The Kay Yow Spring Game raised $100,000 last year and all visitors are asked to donate a minimum of $1 on arrival. Kick-off for the game is set at 3:30 p.m . and will be broadcast on ESPN3 .
