AUGUST 29, 2024 VOL. 105 | NO. 3
WEATHER
Cookout on Harris Field on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Students participated in line dances including “Wobble” by V.I.C. and “Flex” by Cupid.
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Unpacking common NC State Transportation misconceptions
Matthew Junkroski Correspondent
Whether it’s for class, clubs or events, countless students travel to and from NC State daily. This can lead to confusion and misconceptions surrounding NC State transport. Let’s break down some of the most common transportation myths around campus.
Demar Bonnemere, communications manager for the NC State transportation department, said one such misconception regards parking citations. The transportation department increased fines for these citations for the first time in 20 years at the beginning of 2024.
“It is not a revenue generator for us,” Bonnemere said. “Any citation revenue we receive, 80% of it gets turned back over to the state that goes into a public education fund, and then we keep the remaining 20%, so I would say that’s a big misconception.”
Bonnemere said the department intended to use the increase as a parking management tool.
“We were hoping that it would be more of a deterrent,” Bonnemere said. “Somebody sees, ‘Oh my gosh, I got to pay 60 bucks for a ticket. Let me make sure I’m parking where I’m supposed to,’ as opposed to the 20 or 40 bucks that it was before.”
Bonnemere said another common misconception is that the transportation department is responsible for roads on campus.
“The facilities division is responsible for the roads,” Bonnemere said. “We are responsible for the parking lot. So if there’s a pothole or something like that, that’s not on us to repair.”
In the face of construction around campus, Bonnemere said detours for vehicles aren’t the transportation department’s responsibility.
“We assist them, but ultimately, it is the responsibility of facilities and the contractor or the construction management company to come up with the detours for vehicles, but then also pedestrian paths,” Bonnemere said. “If they’re blocking them off, they still
need to make sure that they create safe passages for pedestrians.”
While detours themselves aren’t the responsibility of the transportation department, they are in charge of determining the Wolfline’s new routes.
“It’s all based on the construction,” Bonnemere said. “So if there’s a road currently closed, we’re going to go around that. But if we see a road is scheduled to be closed, instead of changing the route mid-semester, we’re just going to come up with this new route that will last the entire semester.”
Bonnemere said this is done to minimize the impact of new routes on students.
“The biggest thing is, we’re not trying to disrupt students in the middle of the semester,” Bonnemere said. “So you want to get familiar with this one route, and you’ve got your class set and you’ve got your kind of routine, and all of a sudden, we change up the route on you. It can be a little disturbing.”
Skanda Shastry, a graduate student studying computer science, said the only issue
he’s had with bus lines is with GoRaleigh. “Last semester, I used to stay near Lake Park, and the only way I could get to campus was [route] 11 L, which is GoRaleigh,” Shastry said. “And that used to come once every hour, which is so inconvenient — that’s one issue I had. That’s why I moved closer to campus.”
Bonnemere said students often report full parking decks, but the transportation department is working to improve parking at NC State through new technology.
“You may or may not have noticed that there are these signs at the entrances to all the parking decks,” Bonnemere said. “These are space counter signs. So not only will it give us more data as to when folks are parking in the deck, the busy times and things like that, it can let us know we can sell a few more permits in this deck. That information is also available in the NC State on campus app, so you can quickly look and see, okay, this deck is full, or it’s getting close to full.”
Matthew Burkhart News Editor
NC State has shifted from TransLoc to Passio GO! as its official bus tracking app, marking the end of a nearly two-decade partnership with TransLoc. To ensure a smooth transition, NC State is keeping both apps running simultaneously until Sept. 1.
Connor Jones, NC State’s transit manager, explained the decision to switch apps. He said the move was partly influenced by TransLoc’s recent history of acquisitions by Ford Motor Company in 2018 and by Modaxo in 2022 and subsequent layoffs and staffing issues.
“During that transition period, at least for Wolfline … TransLoc was in a staffing shortage where we did not have a representative direct between the company
and Wolfline for about 16 months,” Jones said. “So whenever things would come up, it would be difficult to get them resolved, just due to that staffing shortage.”
GoRaleigh also ended its partnership with TransLoc last year.
The University issued a request for proposals to explore other options in the market. Passio GO! emerged as the preferred choice due to several key features.
Jones said one major advantage of Passio GO! is its ability to send push notifications for service alerts, which he said was a common complaint in causing students to miss important alerts on TransLoc. This feature allows NC State Transportation to alert users about major detours or impacts directly to their lock screens.
Another enhancement is the ability to view full-day schedules within the app.
Jones said this functionality enables students to plan their trips more effectively, especially for classes later in the day.
Passio GO! also integrates with Google Maps in real time, providing dynamic updates on bus locations and delays, as opposed to the static schedule that TransLoc provided.
Aside from the benefit to Wolfline users, Jones said Passio GO! provides more robust data collection and analysis tools to NC State Transportation.
“The extra data, the really granular data we get from Passio, helps us in route planning now, and helps us kind of know what’s going on with the system where we might
not have had that insight with TransLoc,” Jones said.
Despite these improvements, student reactions to the new app have been mixed. Madison Hollingsworth, a second-year studying biology, said she was frustrated with Passio GO!’s accuracy.
“It’s not as accurate as you think it is,” Hollingsworth said. “The bus will say it’s two minutes away, meanwhile, it’s like 17 minutes down the street.”
Hollingsworth said the app’s interface shows overlapping routes and is generally harder to follow than TransLoc.
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
NCSUsed: NC State merch at affordable price
Alexus Livesey Correspondent
A new semester means new opportunities for NC State students to show their Wolfpack spirit. Darcy Blottenberger, a fourthyear studying business administration and the student founder of NCSUsed, hopes to gear up the Pack with affordable spiritwear.
NCSUsed is a thrift store that carries NC State apparel at an affordable price, with the goal of providing a more accessible, affordable and sustainable option for Wolfpack spiritwear.
Blottenberger collects donations from community members, alumni, students or anyone who has NC State merchandise that they no longer want and resells it at a thrift store price.
So far, Blottenberger has held two donation drives. She said she is looking at Parents Weekend to hold one more drive, in hopes that she will have enough inventory to open a pop-up shop.
“The idea is that there would be an ongoing cycle of donation drives and pop-up shops, so the inventory keeps cycling,” Blottenberger said. “People are continually going through their clothes.”
Tiffany Zhang, a third-year studying chemical engineering, said she appreciates the concept of empowering people who may not have the same privileges and resources to still be involved with school spirit.
Zhang donated an NC State t-shirt to NC-
BUS TRACKING
SUsed in good condition because she said she didn’t wear it often.
“I just wanted to help out the community here, and I thought it was a really it’s an easy way to help out, but I think it also makes an impact,” Zhang said.
“They’re overlapping, so I have to constantly turn off the routes I want versus [TransLoc], I can look at them all and still be able to navigate where we are and that kind of stuff,” Hollingsworth said.
Other students like Allie Huneycutt, a second-year studying industrial engineering, found the transition relatively smooth.
“I was a little annoyed at first, but honestly, they kind of go the same to me,” Huneycutt said. “For the basic use, I think they’re very similar.”
Bailey Freedle, a second-year studying chemical engineering, said she appreciated some aspects of Passio GO! but
Blottenberger said the idea to start NCSUsed came to her during freshman orientation.
“There was some sort of Poole College brainstorming activity where we had to come up with an idea for a business that
generally found the app more overwhelming.
“It definitely shows the routes a little better, but I don’t think that it shows getting off one bus and then immediately getting on the next bus correctly,” Freedle said. “And it’s kind of hard to figure out what time you’ll get places because it has that big list of times.”
NC State Transportation department acknowledged that there’s a learning curve associated with the new app. Demar Bonnemere, communications manager for NC State Transportation, said much of the feedback has been about users familiarizing themselves with the new interface.
“TransLoc is awesome at wayfinding,” Jones said. “So if somebody doesn’t know which route or where to go, TransLoc was very good at directing them there. Passio GO! within the app itself does not have the same level of functionality as TransLoc did, but with that extra Google Maps power, it pushes you to Google Maps.”
CRIME ON CAMPUS
hasn’t been done before, and then pitch it to your small group of other incoming freshmen,” Blottenberger said. “I thought, ‘Oh, that would be such a neat idea — to have thrifted NC State merchandise or thrifted college merchandise.’”
In addition to her start at Poole, Blottenberger’s interest in fashion pushed her to begin working on NCSUsed.
“I’ve always had an interest in fashion and accessible fashion and upcycling and whatnot,” Blottenberger said. “And so with that idea in my head, I was like, ‘Wait a second. I could actually start this.’”
Blottenberger conducted research on campus to see if her idea was something the Wolfpack community was receptive to.
“I had a Google form that I sent out to quite literally everyone … about how likely would you be to purchase thrifted items and about college merchandise and how big of a prices factor into accessibility and the things that I was really keen to market for NCSUsed,” Blottenberger said. “If that was important, it would make sense to continue as a project.”
The answers to these questions were overwhelmingly yes. Now, NCSUsed is off and running. Blottenberger plans to continue with donation drives throughout the year, then form a pop-up shop.
More information on the project, including how to donate, can be found on NCSUsed’s website.
To address any issues or bugs, the app includes options for users to provide feedback directly to Passio GO!’s development team or to NC State Transportation.
“If anyone comes across a bug, if anyone comes across a feature that’s weird or not working, they can directly go into that ticket that goes directly to the Passio development team, and they can describe what’s going on,” Jones said. Bonnemere said this direct feedback is crucial for troubleshooting.
“The importance of the user being able to submit feedback to Passio through the app, is [Passio GO! being] able to provide more information than we could if you were to let us know,” Bonnemere said. “So, example, you know the type of device you’re using, that could be a factor as to the issue you’re seeing, or the operating system that you’re using, which all of that can get passed onto Passio.”
CONTRIBUTED BY DARCY BLOTTENBERGER
Gen Alpha is developing slang strangely fast
Grace Turschak Correspondent
Editor’s Note: This article contains reference to sexual assault.
From “skibidi” to “sigma,” it’s hard for those of us born before 2010 to keep up with the newest methods of communication. Generation Alpha, known as the “iPad kids,” are now old enough to be on social media — and to develop their own slang at light-speed.
Ever since language became easier to share across the internet, slang development has steadily accelerated. But with Gen Alpha, it feels quicker than ever.
But, the internet has been around for two decades. What’s different this time?
Typically, slang terms come with a definition, but Gen Alpha’s vocabulary is largely composed of words that can be applied to anything and everything, and that’s why they’re able to make it up so fast. What’s also relatively new is the repetitive algorithms that turn over trends before you’ve even heard about them.
At this pace, we’re going to end up with an entire language that none of us prehistorics will bother to learn.
I’m not ready to call myself old or for the slang I use to be considered outdated, but I’ve made more trips to Urban Dictionary than I’d like to admit, frequently to no avail.
Brody McCurdy, a Ph.D. student in
communication, rhetoric and digital media, said this change is accelerated by the modern social media landscape.
“The transmission of [slang], or the development of the slang that is being used, is probably facilitated a lot more easily over TikTok or social media where this slang can catch on quicker,” McCurdy said.
Back in 2016, Instagram caused a major controversy when the platform did away with its chronological feed in favor of an interest-based algorithm. Other social media quickly followed suit, essentially becoming carbon copies of one another with differing aesthetics, allowing for trends to spread like wildfire from one app to the next in an effort to compete for user engagement.
Like millennials losing Blockbuster, preexisting users required adjustment to this change, making them less likely to participate in this new transmission of slang. This Instagram algorithm is native for Gen Alpha, so fast-paced transmission is the norm.
Interestingly, Instagram made this switch a few months before Musical.ly officially rebranded to TikTok. Relative to internet veterans, this app is new. Gen Alpha, however, grew up with it.
McCurdy provided other catalysts for development, “algospeak” being one of them.
According to McCurdy, algospeak is “when people are on TikTok and they can’t say a certain word because they think they’ll get flagged. Things like ‘SA’ instead of ‘sexual assault’ or ‘pew, pew’ instead of ‘gun.’”
Moreover, a lot of Gen Alpha slang comes
from video games.
“Fanum tax,” coined by Twitch streamer Fanum, is a notable one. Video games have been around for some time, but the ability to watch others play games on streaming services is new. If it weren’t for Twitch, “Fanum tax” would be nonexistent.
Gen Z dominated social media for the last several years, and Millenials dominated in the very beginning, each time creating our unique vocabularies quicker than the last. Only now, it seems Gen Alpha’s is replacing Gen Z’s prematurely.
As a rite of passage, the newest generation is taking full reign of social media, whether we’re ready or not.
“The interesting part of slang is it’s often associated with particular in-groups,” McCurdy said. “You want to sound cool.
You want to sound like you’re a teenager. … The minute that older people pick it up, or the minute that a politician tries to do a meme where they use slang, it’s instantly uncool, right?”
Like Gen Z cringes at Millennials and Millenials cringed at Gen X, our slang is being considered outdated when it’s not even a few years old.
This ultrasonic speed at which slang is developing comes down to the fact that Gen Alpha has access to more sophisticated technology than previous generations — and they take full advantage of it.
It’s a sign of the times. Continuing at this rate, Gen Alpha will soon be unintelligible to generations who aren’t used to this unusually high-speed transmission of language.
What sports deserve to be in the Olympics?
Smith Correspondent
As attention surrounding the 2024 Paris Olympics begins to settle, people are looking back and questioning some of the sports included in this year’s lineup, especially the newly-minted event, breaking. This reflection raises a common question: What sports should be included in the Olympics, the highest stage for athletics in the world?
At the 1896 Athens Olympics, the beginning of the modern-day Games, there were 43 events across ten sports, such as track and field, cycling, wrestling and weightlifting. In contrast, the 2024 Paris Olympics had 329 medal events spanning 32 different sports.
The increase in sports at the Olympics could be attributed to the rise in new and popular sports worldwide. However, it also allows lesser-known sports to earn their spot on the world stage.
While this is mostly a good thing, some sports may not belong in the Olympics.
One notable part of this year’s Games was the controversy surrounding Rachael Gunn, an Australian athlete who participated in the breaking event. Many were concerned that she had “manipulated” her way onto the Olympic stage, with some calling her performance “a mockery of the Australian [breakdancing] scene.”
The public’s response to Gunn’s performance highlights why certain events, such as breaking, should be excluded from the Olympics.
Dance takes many forms across the world and even splits into subforms within specific regions. This subjectivity makes it much harder to judge and even harder to score, especially by judges unfamiliar with the differences in technique, form and style.
For this reason, it should not be judged on the Olympic stage, although it’s certainly a technically difficult and entertaining sport.
There are also other sports that stray too far from the original intentions of the modern Olympics. Equestrian events such as dressage, eventing and jumping, all fit into this
category.
Equestrian events shift the focus from the athleticism of the competing athlete to the pedigree and innate skills of the horse. This goes against the intentions of the modern Olympics: to highlight the skills of human athletes and to promote athleticism, fitness and health.
Equestrian events also bring up ethical dilemmas, such as accessibility for less affluent countries and animal welfare concerns.
Doping scandals are also a major cause for concern in the equestrian community.
So, what makes a sport worthy of being included in the Olympics?
Sports that are globally popular and accessible, such as swimming and track and field, play a large role in the Olympics and shouldn’t be contested. People in any country can run, swim and jump a hurdle.
Another factor is the sport’s level of competitiveness and its ability to display athletic skill. Olympic sports should highlight the intense level of training that athletes undergo to make it to the global stage.
Popularity is also something to consider when determining what sports should be included in the Olympics. A sport that is popular worldwide, such as soccer, boxing or basketball, has earned its place in the Olympics.
There are also many sports not included in the 2024 Olympics that should have been. Sports such as baseball, softball and cricket should be included, as all three are widely popular, showcase athleticism and are accessible to any country willing to participate.
As the nature of athletics changes over time, new sports are sure to emerge. Rather than rushing to add them to the next Olympics, we should consider whether they truly belong on the highest global stage.
By judging sports based on a particular set of criteria that considers the intricate details of what makes a sport eligible to be in the Olympics, we can begin to reevaluate the events we put on the global stage — and ensure we don’t have a Spikeball tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Jacob
Tailgating — why do we enjoy it?
Hot dogs roast on the grill and a fresh case of beer is cracked open. A warm breeze carries the scent of both through the crowd. In the distance you hear friendly banter and the rules to some hazardous parking lot game. It’s football season in Raleigh. Whether you’ve been a football fanatic since birth or were dragged along with the family for years, everyone should experience tailgating as a student at least once. Coming together with friends and strangers alike to dance, chat, eat and drink is an integral part of the college experience.
Although we’d like to think we invented tailgating, its roots dig deeper in history than any of us. The American idea of gathering with friends and relatives to eat, drink and socialize before an event dates back to the early Civil War. The first recognized tailgate was held by spectators of the Battle of Bull Run, near Mass Junction, Virginia. While we may not have the same idea of a spectator sport nowadays, we can appreciate tailgating for the same fundamental reasons as well as for its southern origin.
Being part of a crowd that is gathered for the same reason is a unifying experience. It’s like going back to our roots. The dynamic is reminiscent of the social interactions we had in preschool; when having the same shoes as a classmate meant immediately making a new friend.
High energy music along with some drinks and the shared dream of a Wolfpack win can bring people together like nothing else.
However, despite being a beloved NC State tradition, it’s not always sunshine and beers. There can be some serious inherent challenges when it comes to tailgating and the stress that can accommodate these events isn’t always talked about.
The logistics of transportation to an event which prioritizes parking lot drinking poses obvious issues. Not to mention the difficulty in getting a parking permit and the dreaded last resort of pay-to-park lots that will cost an arm and a leg over time.
There is preparation involved that isn’t always obvious. Sure you can take the bus from campus, but if you don’t live there, you better get to campus first thing in the morning and be prepared to still wait over an hour in line.
For underclassmen who may not have fully formed social circles so early in the year, the stress of who to go with may put a damper on the event. So while it is unifying for many, it could mean some students feel more out of place amidst the crowd. But the upside is that, when it comes to football and pre-game tailgating, to each their own! There is no one way to enjoy a Wolfpack game day, and despite logistical challenges of getting to the lots, there
is nothing but fun waiting to be had. Fans can truly dictate their own experience and tailor it to what they enjoy.
As a nostalgic senior, I will personally be soaking in each and every one of my last football games as a student. You can catch me doing the Wolfpack chant with some of my favorite people on the way from the lots to the stadium. I’m wishing everyone a safe and memorable season at Carter-Finley. As always, go Pack!
Katie Howell Staff Writer
GRAPHIC BY HENRY O’BRYAN
Target Walk of Eternity Emma Reid, Staff Cartoonist A fourth-year in design studies
Culture
2024’s ever-changing seasonal fashion trends and how to participate sustainably
Kelsey Bohn Correspondent
Summer 2024 brought a whirlwind of blink-and-youmiss-them fashion trends. From Zendaya’s newest blockbuster “Challengers” unleashing a floodgate of tennis skirts and athleisure to the release of pop star Charli XCX’s album “Brat” bringing back party girl chic. In an age where thousands of hours of content are a touch away, it’s hard to keep up.
Sam Pearce, assistant professor of the practice in the Wilson College of Textiles, provided her insight into how short-form social media content has influenced fashion.
“Fashion trends are spreading a lot faster now because of the advent of social me dia,” Pearce said. “It’s like every month there’s a different ‘core.’”
Platforms like TikTok, Insta gram and Pinterest are notori ous for spreading fashion trends built around a certain aesthetic, oftentimes referred to as a specific “core.”
For example, the release of “Bar bie” in the summer of 2023 influenced a massive fashion trend called “Bar biecore,” which centered around every thing pink and head-to-toe sparkles. The advent of different cores based on trending film, music, current events and other media has only intensified the rate at which new fashion crazes pop up.
All the conflicting buzz online can feel over whelming to sift through. Pearce recommends people-watching as a great way to gauge how trends have been translated into everyday wear.
“I get all of my fashion trend information from watching students,” Pearce said. “I used to teach fashion illustration, and I made my students sit outside and people watch and write down what fashion trends they saw the most often.”
“I’ve seen long skirts everywhere, and I noticed big statement jewelry,” Stewart said. “When I was in Italy, a lot of people were wearing chunky earrings and big necklaces and belts.”
Vogue and WhoWhatWear, two major fashion publications, have both reported that maxi skirts, wide-leg pants and pendant necklaces are the go-to options when styling your summer wardrobe. But fashion moves quickly, and
burgundy are all things to consider for the fall 2024 season. Staying up to date with the latest trends is a great way to feel confident and fashionable, but if you don’t already have what you need for summer or fall in your closet, consider doing your part in sourcing your fashion sustainably.
Textiles themselves, not even counting the amount of clothes thrown in the trash every year after on-the-whim purchases, account for 20 percent of global clean water pollution. Textile production was also the third largest water
“Long skirts are definitely going to stay,” Stew art said. “I also see us moving into looser linen pants because they’re very breathable and comfortable to wear in class.”
The pace at which trends fluctuate influences the rapid increase in clothing production and waste. This contributes to the already overwhelmed landfills and encourages clothing brands to fall back on inhumane working conditions to overproduce cheap clothing that can satisfy the sudden jump in demand. However, just because you’re environmentally conscious doesn’t mean you can’t be trendy. Pearce said thrifting and luxury consignment are at the top of her list for how to sustainably stay up to date with
“If you want to follow the trends in a responsible way, you can share with your friends, consign and donate,” Pearce said. “We are what we consume, and we are who we hang around with and who we look at on social media. At the end of the day, that’s going to influence what we buy and how we want to dress.”
Abby Stuart, a third-year studying fashion and textile brand management and marketing, reflected on what specific pieces she saw during the summer 2024 season.
Along with baggy silhouettes, lots of other unique fall inspiration has debuted on the runway. Boho, maxi skirts, cardigans, bubble skirts, low-waisted jeans and everything
Luckily, Raleigh is a city occupied by plenty of thrift and vintage stores, where second hand clothing is plentiful. Throughout the year, NC State has thrift fairs full of local vendors as well, a lot of which are students. Goodwill, Cause for Paws, Uptown Cheapskate, Cheshire Cat and more are all very close, and might give you an option to be more sustainable in the coming season.
Kevin Fedarko authors tale of nature, friendship
Grace Turschak Correspondent
New York Times bestselling author Kevin Fedarko discussed his book “A Walk in the Park,” the story of he and his friend’s 14-month hike across the Grand Canyon, at D.H. Hill Library on Monday.
The discussion covered a range of topics, from stories of the adventure itself to raising awareness for dwindling nature to acknowledging the indigenous communities that had been displaced for the sake of nature preserves.
Ken Johnson, associate director for the University Honors Program and an orga-
nizer of the event, said that Fedarko’s book jumped to the bestseller list in July.
“At the Wake County Libraries, all 15 [copies] were not only checked out, but they were wait lists,” Johnson said. “So it seemed clearly something that the community wanted to read and talk about.”
Alex Peterson, a second-year studying mechanical engineering, found the beginning of the discussion especially impactful.
FEDARKO continued page 9
GRAPHIC BY MEGAN MERSCH
WOLFPACK ATHLETICS
Packapalooza 2024: Something for everyone
Patricia Scholle Staff Writer
Wolfpack Welcome Week came to a grand conclusion with Packapalooza on Saturday, 12 years after the event’s debut at NC State. Hillsborough Street closed down to make room for hundreds of vendors, food trucks, student organizations and performers.
The event lasted eight hours without a single dull moment. The long, blocked-off street showcased booths selling jewelry, candles, coasters and creatively handmade knicknacks. People offered massages and hair cuts between inflatable bull-riding and basketball tosses. There was even a fox who could write poetry.
The variety of attractions provided appeal to a wide audience and connection between attendees. Students were not the only ones enjoying the festivities. Alumni, family members of students and Raleigh locals all
FEDARKO
continued from page 7
“I really liked the part when he was just talking about when he grew up in a place of not very much beauty and how it made him appreciate beauty down the road and the desire to find more,” Peterson said. “That was really impactful.”
Fedarko’s initial interest in nature sparked at a young age when he saw the cover of Colin Fletcher’s “The Man Who Walked Through Time.” He said the cover grabbed
gathered to enjoy the diverse opportunities of entertainment.
Simar Pama, a fourth-year studying biological sciences with a minor in psychology, said the event helped them to feel more connected to NC State as a transfer student.
“I think it’s become a really good way to socialize and that means meeting a lot of different people,” Pama said.
Zones organized the entertainment into different physical sections so people could find their specific interests. Zones included arts, food and even a play section with games and inflatables. Scattered around the zones were three stages, which were used throughout the entire day by various performers.
Elise Boorom, president of Chordination Acapella and a fourth-year studying biological sciences, said the feeling of performing at this event is different from those they have previously participated in because of the different types of people Packapalooza
hold of him and wouldn’t let go, prompting his desire to stray from his urban hometown and further into untouched nature.
Other students had unique takeaways. Abby Martin, a second-year studying business, said she was drawn to the event because of her own personal experience at the Grand Canyon.
“I can connect what I saw while I was on vacation to something a little bit more academic,” Martin said. “My favorite part was hearing directly from the author. I think it’s one thing to read the book and another thing to actually hear it from somebody who experienced it.”
Jymon Ross, a third-year studying com-
attracts.
“There’s tons of people around the stage, lots of smiles, which was really sweet,” Boorom said. “It’s so cool to see kids, students, parents, everybody just enjoying all different kinds of performances and organizations.”
The final concert was performed at the largest stage closest to the Belltower. This year indie pop rock band, The Rescues, headlined.
The band formed in 2008 and is led by lead singer Kyler England, a 1998 NC State graduate. Heavily involved in campus life, England was an RA and Caldwell Fellow, on top of performing in a college band.
Justine Hollingshead, Assistant Vice Chancellor for DASA and a chairperson for Packapalooza, said that involving an alumni helps make the event unique to NC State. Although this is not always possible, the planning committee’s goal is to uplift students, current and past alike.
puter science, appreciated the chaoticness of the ordeal.
“My favorite part was the fact that he embarked on this whole journey on two crazy whims,” Ross said. “The first being that he saw a cover on a book that inspired him to get really deep in nature. And the second being his friend, Pete, just proposing a crazy idea.”
Readers were not the only ones who got something out of this visit. Read Smart was Fedarko’s first time visiting North Carolina.
“[My time at NC State] has been fabulous, and I’ve been amazed at how attentive and engaged and excited and enthusiastic the students are,” Fedarko said.
The Rescues also incorporated Chancellor Woodson into their performance, inviting him on stage for a song. Hollingshead said having an alum for the headlining performance was extra special because Chancellor Woodson is retiring this June, making this his last Packapalooza.
“[England] came to school here and spent time as a musician performing all over the world,” Hollingshead said. “And so it just worked out. It was fate, I guess, having the Chancellor perform.”
After the festivities ended and the crowd went home, the feeling of Packapalooza stayed. When the vendors packed up and the performers were long gone, a special memory of laughter, community and joy lingered.
No matter your interests, Packapalooza is filled to the brim with more than enough options to entertain anyone. From paintings to drum lines, Packapalooza had something for everyone.
Everyone in attendance of the event, from students to organizers and pure fans of the book, left with a newfound appreciation for nature.
“For me, a takeaway would be that it is a wondrous place we live on, and not just to care for it, but to notice that,” Johnson said. “I think it’s easy to get caught up and get blinders on and you miss the beauty of the world.”
This event was made possible by the Read Smart program, a 13-year-old program NC State Libraries does in partnership with Wake County Libraries.
GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN
The Rescues performs on stage on Hillsborough Street near the NC State Belltower as part of Packapalooza on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. Packapalooza capped off the events and performances associated with Wolfpack Welcome Week.
10 TECHNICIAN
COLUMN: It’s a 10-win season or bust
Aidan Carlson
A majority of NC State’s undergraduates weren’t alive the last time NC State had a 10-win season. It’s been 22 years since the Wolfpack has eclipsed the double-digit mark in wins, the last time coming with Phillip Rivers at the helm.
In the past four years, NC State has had two eight-win seasons and two nine-win seasons. The Wolfpack’s been brutally close to the mark but have come up short every time. With three bowl losses in that period as well, the Pack has had plenty of opportunities but never capitalized.
For the 2024 season, there is no reason this Wolfpack team cannot reach that mark. With arguably the most offense the program has ever had, 10 wins should be the minimum.
“What we did last year and the year before and the year before is good,” said head coach Dave Doeren. “Winning nine games is good. We don’t want to be good. We want to be the best at what we do. These guys understand that.”
NC State’s favorable ACC schedule, combined with No. 10 Florida State’s 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech this past Saturday, puts it in a prime position to win an ACC Championship for the first time since 1979.
The Wolfpack’s biggest tests — and threats to the elusive 10-win season — will come against No. 15 Tennessee and No.
14 Clemson, with both games coming in the first four weeks of the season. Both teams are coming off 9-4 2023 seasons with a bowl win.
NC State has played Tennessee once in recent history, while Clemson has been a yearly matchup that’s plagued the Pack for years. With a 30-60-1 all-time record against the Tigers, Clemson has been the boogeyman for Wolfpack football time and time again.
As the men’s and women’s basketball
teams have shown in the past year, it’s possible to lose the negative outlook associated with NC State athletics and go on historic runs. With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams for the first time in its history, who’s to say NC State can’t make it, especially with an autobid from whoever is crowned the ACC Champs?
There might not be more pressure on any one player than there is on graduate quarterback Grayson McCall. A transfer
from Coastal Carolina, McCall has the second-highest passing efficiency in a single season since 1956 when he threw for 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions as a sophomore in 2021.
If there’s one excuse for not reaching 10 wins, it’s McCall getting injured.
The graduate quarterback never played every game in a season at Coastal, including last year when a concussion against Arkansas State limited him to just seven games. Coastal Carolina head coach and former NC State offensive coordinator Tim Beck even insinuated that McCall might give up playing football after his most recent concussion.
If McCall can’t stay healthy, it would be the third-consecutive year that the Pack’s football season has gone off the rails because of injuries or questions at the quarterback position.
The offense is run through the quarterback nearly every play, making it easily the most important position on the field. And if McCall does go down, there isn’t a lot of experience behind him. The remainder of the quarterback room consists of four freshmen and a sophomore, all who have never started a game at the collegiate level.
Can Doeren guide this Pack team to 10 wins? Only time will tell. There is experience at nearly every position. The cards for the ACC football season have been dealt, and with aces up its sleeve, the Wolfpack need to go all in.
HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN Head coach Dave Doeren yells at the referee about an issue with the amount of time left on the clock during the game against Miami at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. This game marked Doeren’s 78th win, the most in program history. NC State beat Miami 20-6.
Assistant Sports Editor
Matthew Burkhart News Editor
Justin Welch Managing Editor
Colby Trotter Sports Editor Ethan Bakogiannis Managing Editor
Connor VanDerMark Asst. Sports Editor
Ellie Bruno Design Editor
Ethan Rimolt Photo Editor
Aidan Carlson Asst. Sports Editor
Jakob Halbur Asst. Video Editor Kate Denning Editor-in-Chief
NC State football sets its sights on promising 2024 schedule
Gavin Gallimore Staff Writer
After a productive offseason, NC State football looks to put its skills to the test with a schedule that features a revamped ACC and many familiar foes.
Week 1 vs Western Carolina
The Pack will start its 2024 season on Aug. 29 as it takes on the Western Carolina Catamounts in a Thursday evening showdown. In its first matchup since 2019, NC State has won all seven of its contests against the Catamounts. Despite most expecting the Pack to cruise in its season opener, fans should not overlook Western Carolina as it is fresh off a 7-4 campaign in 2023.
Week 2 vs Tennessee
Little time will pass until NC State encounters its first huge test of the season. The Pack will hit the road for a contest with the Tennessee Volunteers in the Dukes Mayo Classic in Charlotte. As a marquee matchup, this gives the Pack an early opportunity to assert itself on the national stage. With much buzz around the dominance the SEC commands in
college football, it would do NC State well to pull off a win here. However, the Wolfpack hasn’t beaten an SEC squad since 2016.
The Volunteers enter the season ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and look to be one of the nation’s best. After finishing 9-4 with a win in the Citrus Bowl, Tennessee returns star quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Pack will have its hands full if it wants to contain a team as talented as Tennessee.
Week 3 vs Louisiana Tech
The Pack got more than what it wanted the last time it faced Louisiana Tech, squeaking by with a narrow win during the 2021 season. Coming off of three straight seasons in which the Bulldogs finished 3-9, the Pack will likely have to fend off a hungry team that is looking to make vast improvements.
Week 4 at Clemson
It is rare for a team to have both of its most challenging games within the first month of the season. However, that is the reality for NC State as it travels to Death Valley to take on the Clemson Tigers. Over the past decade, the Tigers have
owned the ACC, emerging victorious in seven of the last ten conference championships. If the Pack is to truly make noise at the top of the ACC, it will need to take down the mammoth Clemson Tigers in their own backyard.
It has been 22 years since NC State has defeated the Tigers within the confines of Death Valley. Despite many pondering if the Clemson dynasty is at the end of its days, there is no doubt that this matchup will be a tough one for NC State.
Week 5 vs Northern Illinois
As NC State rounds out its nonconference schedule, it will welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies to Raleigh. In the Pack’s Parents and Families Weekend game, Head Coach Dave Doeren will take on his former school.
Week 6 vs Wake Forest
Last season, the Pack conquered one of its largest demons as it defeated Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina for the first time since 2015. This year, it will look to extend its winning streak against the Demon Deacons to three. Even though Wake Forest has been a consistent face at
the top of the ACC for several years, it is currently in the midst of a rebuild as it finished 4-8 last season and missed a bowl game for the first time since 2015.
Week 7 vs Syracuse
Despite the Orange finishing last season 6-7 and ending its campaign on a blowout loss in its bowl game, Syracuse looks to be a sleeper team in the ACC with the addition of transfer quarterback Kyle McCord. NC State will look to avenge a frustrating loss at the JMA Wireless Dome in 2022, in which it failed to score a touchdown.
Week 8 at California
As a product of conference realignment, NC State will travel across the country to take on the California Golden Bears. In its first ever matchup with Cal, the Pack will have to avoid a potential trap game. Even though the Golden Bears finished 6-7 last season and in eighth place in the last year of the Pac-12, NC State will still have to deal with its largest week of travel all season long.
HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN
The NC State student section yells and holds up “wolfies” during the game against Marshall at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. NC State beat Marshall 48-41.
NC State football’s showtime offense
Connor VanDerMark Assistant Sports Editor
For the past few years, NC State football has been primarily known for its staunch defense, producing NFL talent like Dolphins edge rusher Bradley Chubb and Bednarik Award winner Payton Wilson. But this year, the Wolfpack looks as though it will be one of the top offenses in the conference.
Although just a few key skill players remain from last year’s squad, head coach Dave Doeren’s heavy work in the transfer portal brought a surplus of talent for second-year offensive coordinator Robert Anae to work with.
Quarterback
The biggest offseason acquisition for the Pack was graduate quarterback Grayson McCall. McCall spent the last five seasons at Coastal Carolina, where he became the first player to win Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year three times. As a redshirt freshman, McCall led the Chanticleers to an 11-1 record and a No. 14 finish in the AP Poll.
As a sophomore, he set the record for the highest passer efficiency rating in a single season, a record broken by Jayden Daniels at LSU last season. McCall’s senior season ended abruptly after suffering a concussion in mid-October. Now fully healthy and ready to return, McCall has an elite arsenal of weapons to throw to and could end up in Heisman conversations throughout the season.
Pass catchers
At this point, you can’t bring up Wolfpack football without mentioning sophomore wide receiver Kevin “KC” Concepcion. The 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year set the NC State freshman record for receiving touchdowns and receptions, recording 71 catches for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns. Concepcion was also a threat in the rushing game, turning 41 rush attempts into 320 yards for an average of 7.8 yards per carry. Expect to see Concepcion fully embrace the primary receiver role as he contends to be one of the top wide receivers in the nation. Opposite Concepcion is Ohio State transfer receiver Noah Rogers. The redshirt freshman barely got playing time in 2023, but with such a talented wide receiver room at Ohio State, it’s rare to get playing time as a true freshman. Rogers can use his 6-foot-2 frame to give himself the advantage in contested catch situations. He recorded over 1,400 yards during his junior season of high school and averaged 20.5 yards per catch. Rogers is a big-time playmaker and will be used as such. Another returning member of the Wolfpack receiving corps is redshirt junior Dacari Collins. The former Clemson transfer didn’t see the field much at the beginning of the 2023 season
SCHEDULE
continued from page 11
Week 10 vs Stanford
Also playing its first ever game against the Cardinal, NC State will welcome Stanford to Raleigh. Despite the rich history that flows from Stanford football, the program is amidst a rebuild as it has dealt with three straight 3-9 campaigns.
but saw his playing time skyrocket towards the end of the season, playing 168 of his 276 snaps in the final four games of the year. He made 14 catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 15.1 yards a catch. Collins stands at 6-foot-4, making him one of the tallest wide receivers on the team and a huge target for McCall.
Rounding out the wide receiver corps is junior Wake Forest transfer Wesley Grimes. The Raleigh native started three games for the Demon Deacons last year, catching 20 passes for 339 yards and four touchdowns. Grimes averaged over 120 yards and two touchdowns per game as a senior in high school and was a four-star prospect. He is an excellent route runner and will be a shifty target for McCall.
The final pass catcher from the transfer portal is former UConn tight end Justin Joly. The four-star transfer was the number two ranked tight end in the portal and for good reason. The 6 foot-3 tank made 56 catches for 578 yards and two touchdowns last season, averaging over 10 yards a catch. Joly provides life to a tight end room that didn’t see as much action as originally expected last season.
Week
11 vs
Duke
In its home finale and senior day, NC State will take on the Duke Blue Devils. For many, this may be the most anticipated of the Pack’s home games. With newly acquired graduate running back Jordan Waters, this marks an opportunity for him to take on his former squad. Last season, it was the Blue Devils who dealt the Wolfpack an embarrassing 24-3 loss.
Running back
After losing three running backs to the transfer portal, the Wolfpack secured Jordan Waters in the portal. The graduate running back ranked fourth in the ACC in rushing touchdowns with 12 and ninth in rushing yards with 753.
Waters is a North Carolina native and stays local after transferring from Tobacco Road rival Duke. Waters looks to revive an NC State rushing attack that hasn’t finished higher than 10th in the ACC in rushing yards per game in the last four seasons.
Offensive line
All four of NC State’s starting guards and tackles are returning and will be joined by graduate center Zeke Correll. Correll transferred from Notre Dame, where he started in 10 of the Fighting Irish’s 13 games last season and finished as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line unit in the nation.
Week 13 at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech already pulled off a stunning upset over No. 10 Florida State in the very first game of the college football season. The Yellow Jackets are gunning for glory as one of the dark horses of the ACC so a potential duel between two conference contenders fighting for a spot in a championship game is sure to be entertaining.
Week 14 at North Carolina
The Wolfpack currently commands the trajectory in the age-old, Tobacco Road rivalry as it has won the last three games against the Heels. Despite several key departures, Carolina is still a formidable foe, boasting the likes of preseason All-American running back Omarion Hampton. NC State will look to replicate the likes of its thrilling double overtime win over UNC in Chapel Hill in 2022.
HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN
Freshman wide receiver Kevin Concepcion holds out his hand as he runs the ball down the field during the game against Marshall at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Concepcion scored two touchdowns for the Wolfpack. NC State beat Marshall 48-41.
COLUMN: 2024 is the Wolfpack’s year
Colby Trotter Sports Editor
The curse has been lifted.
NC State men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball put an end to “NC State Shit” in 2024. The Wolfpack became just the third school to make both Final Fours and the Men’s College World Series in the same year, effectively ending Wolfpack fans’ pain and misery of the last 40 years.
While none of those teams won a national championship, the magical runs those teams took Wolfpack Nation on were more than enough to break the curse on NC State sports.
It all started with men’s basketball when it went on one of the most improbable runs in college basketball history — the Wolfpack was left for dead entering the ACC Tournament with no chance of making the NCAA Tournament unless it won the conference title. Then, the red-and-white won five games in five days for its first ACC title in 37 years — a feat only accomplished once before with UConn in 2011.
NC State rode that momentum into the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed, making it all the way to the Final Four for the first time since 1983.
What made the men’s run even sweeter was the women’s team doing the same thing alongside them. After being picked to finish eighth in the ACC, the women’s team entered the NCAA Tournament as a three-seed and took down higher-ranked Stanford and Texas to reach the Final Four for the second time in school history and the first time since 1998.
There were high expectations for the Wolfpack’s baseball team going into the season, but the team suffered many
injuries that could’ve derailed its campaign. In the past, injuries like that would’ve ended any hopes of postseason success, and “NC State Shit” would be to blame.
Instead, the Pack persevered, advancing to its fourth College World Series and the first since it was controversially kicked out in 2021.
It was an overwhelming amount of success for NC State fans that made all the suffering of the last 40 years seem worth it.
Why bring this all up? What do these other sports have to do with football?
Yes, the curse has been broken, but the football team has a chance to send that dark magic to the shadow realm once and for all, never to be seen again.
It had been 37 years since men’s basketball won a conference title. However, football still owns a longer drought with the last ACC Championship for NC State football being in 1979. This year, NC State has its best opportunity to claim the crown in the Dave Doeren era.
NC State has a loaded transfer class, bringing in one of the most accomplished college quarterbacks in the country in graduate signal-caller Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina, former five-star receiver Noah Rogers from Ohio State, top 10 transfer running back Jordan Waters from Duke, one of the top transfer tight ends in UConn transfer Justin Joly and Notre Dame transfer center Zeke Correll.
To go along with the transfer class, Doeren has a plethora of returning talent. Key returners include reigning ACC Rookie of the Year receiver Kevin Concepcion, senior defensive end Davin Vann, All-ACC cornerback Aydan White
and linebacker Sean Brown. There is also young talent the staff is high on like sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse and freshmen receivers Terrell Anderson and Jonathan Paylor.
With talent comes expectations. NC State is ranked in every preseason poll and is a popular pick to make the ACC Championship game. The last time the Wolfpack had this much hype before the season was 2022, a campaign derailed by quarterback Devin Leary’s shoulder injury, recognized by some as more “NC State Shit.”
Last season, Doeren became the winningest coach in NC State history with the help of four nine-win seasons. But the knock on Doeren is that his team always comes up short of the coveted 10-win campaign, a feat only accomplished once before at NC State when Phillip Rivers led the Pack to 11 wins in 2002.
With this team, 10 wins is the bar and anything less will be seen as a failure, which is a first for the 12th-year head coach.
“What we did last year and the year before and the year before is good,” Doeren said. “Winning nine games is good. We don’t want to be good. We want to be the best at what we do. These guys understand that.”
McCall arrived on campus in January and witnessed the greatest athletic run in the history of the school so he understands the pressure that is on his team to win.
WOLFPACK continued page 14
GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN
Graduate quarterback Grayson McCall (left), graduate running back Jordan Waters (middle) and senior defensive end Davin Vann wait to speak during the ACC Kickoff in Charlotte, NC on Thursday, July 25, 2024. The three players alongside head coach Dave Doeren spoke as representatives of the NC State football team for the event.
NC State football’s defense is built for success
Noah Teague Staff Writer
Under head coach Dave Doeren and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, NC State has built a reputation for its strong defense. Once again, the red-and-white is expected to excel on defense with multiple stars returning.
Defensive line
Any conversation about the Wolfpack’s defense has to begin with graduate defensive end Davin Vann. The standout pass rusher has earned at least four sacks in each of its last three seasons and is set to be an impact player once again. As one of the most athletic defensive linemen in the country, Vann’s ability to wreak havoc on offensive lines will be a key to the Pack’s defense. Opposite from Vann, NC State has a pair of defensive ends to watch for. Redshirt junior Travali Price saw limited action last season but flashed potential. With 13 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, watch for Price to be a key factor in run defense. On passing downs, senior defensive end Red Hibbler will likely rotate in as a pass rushing specialist. Hibbler led the team with 6.5 sacks last season, despite seeing very limited playing time. Hibbler also has a knack for creating turnovers, forcing a pair of fumbles last year.
Manning the middle of the Wolfpack defensive line is junior defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland. At 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, Cleveland is a monster in run defense and is nearly impossible for offensive lines to move out of the way. Now a full time starter,
WOLFPACK
continued from page 13
“A lot of buzz in Raleigh right now with the men’s and women’s basketball team, and baseball,” McCall said. “A lot of energy. A lot of support from the fans in the community. Ready to get this thing rolling, take this momentum and keep it going.”
If McCall and the rest of the Wolfpack keep the momentum rolling with an ACC Championship, not only will the “NC State Shit” curse be six feet under, but it would put a stamp on the most successful year in NC State athletics history and possibly college history.
The only other NC State sports years that contend with 2024 are 1974 and 1983. In 1974, the men’s basketball team won its first national championship to go with a baseball and men’s swimming ACC Championship. In 1983, the Wolfpack won the men’s basketball national championship along with
watch for Cleveland to improve off of his 28 tackles this season.
Linebackers
Moving down from safety, redshirt junior linebacker Sean Brown is set to play a prominent role in the Pack’s defense. As the Pack’s leading returning tackler with 66 stops last year, Brown plays with a physicality that only the best linebackers have. Additionally, with his coverage skills developed as a safety, Brown will be a well-rounded piece in the Pack’s linebacking core.
Joining Brown in the starting lineup is graduate linebacker Devon Betty and redshirt junior linebacker Caden Fordham.
conference titles in men’s basketball, men’s track and field, women’s cross country and wrestling.
While some might say the national titles take those years over the top, it’s the success NC State has had across the board that makes 2024 the best year, and it’s not even over yet.
NC State has won four conference titles this year in wrestling, gymnastics, men’s basketball and men’s swim and dive. Factoring in a potential football conference championship and considering women’s cross country should be the favorite to win its ninth-straight conference title and possibly its fourth consecutive national championship, then 2024 would be the greatest year in NC State sports history. Where would this rank all-time in the history of college sports? The other two schools to reach both Final Fours and the men’s College World Series in the same year were Texas in 2003 and Louisville in 2013. Given the popularity and importance of those sports, these can be argued as the three best years in college sports history.
Betty started 12 games last season at middle linebacker, tag-teaming with star linebacker Payton Wilson. Arguably his most impactful play came against Clemson, when he tipped a pass that Wilson returned for a pick-six. Meanwhile, Fordham played a reserve role last season but racked up 53 tackles, including four for loss.
Secondary
Arguably the best cornerback in the ACC this year plays in Raleigh. Graduate cornerback Aydan White has been lights out as a starter, not allowing a single touchdown over the past two seasons. With eight career interceptions and his crafty ability to bait
The 2003 Texas teams lost in both semifinals of the Final Four, just like NC State in 2024. The 2013 Louisville men’s basketball team won the national championship, but that was later vacated and the Cards’ women’s squad lost in the championship game.
Just based on wins, Louisville has the slight edge because its women’s team advanced to the national championship game but the men’s national championship makes things a little complicated, so let’s just say they didn’t win a game because the title was vacated.
Both 2024 NC State and 2013 Louisville didn’t win a game in the men’s College World Series while Texas made it to the semifinal. That gives Texas the edge in baseball, so at this point, Texas and Louisville are about even while NC State trails closely behind.
Texas then separates itself when it comes to the other sports on campus. In 2003, the Longhorns won nine conference titles while their softball team made the women’s college World Series. In 2013, Louisville won three conference championships while NC
quarterbacks, White is a turnover threat every time the ball is thrown his way.
Opposite of White, sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse and senior cornerback Corey Coley have battled for a starting role. Cisse worked himself into the rotation as a dime cornerback last season, intercepting one pass in limited action. Coley, a transfer from Maryland, has seven career starts, including one against NC State in the 2022 Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Regardless of who wins the starting job, they’ll be challenged early with opposing quarterbacks throwing away from White.
Senior safety Ja’Had Carter is expected to start at the nickel. Carter broke into the spotlight in 2022 at Syracuse, where he earned All-ACC honorable mention honors. With 35 tackles and three interceptions in 2022, Carter proved his ability to disrupt offenses. Last season, Carter missed most of the season due to injuries after transferring to Ohio State, so returning to form will be key for Carter.
At safety, watch for senior safeties Bishop Fitzgerald and DK Kaufman. Fitzgerald started three games last season in his first year with the Pack and consistently improved during the season, finishing with two picks and three pass breakups. To take the next step, Fitzgerald will need to become a stronger run stopper.
On the other hand, Kaufman excels against the run but has room to improve in coverage. The Auburn transfer saw significant playing time each of the last three seasons, bringing valuable experience to the secondary. In each of those seasons, Kaufman has recorded at least 30 tackles and a forced fumble.
State has won four ACC Championships in 2024.
Objectively, Texas has the best year up to this point, but NC State will have a case to make if it does what it thinks it can in football. In 2003, Texas football recorded a 10-3 record and finished 12th in the AP Poll but didn’t win a conference championship.
If NC State wins the ACC Championship, automatically making the College Football Playoff, it would be the most successful year in college sports history among the four revenue sports, especially considering its additional accomplishments in Olympic sports. With that on the line, Doeren and the football team are keenly aware of what’s at stake and are ready to claim 2024 as the Wolfpack’s year.
“It is really a strong athletic department and so that wave of momentum starts with the fall sports and then the winter sports pick it up and the spring sports and it’s our turn,” Doeren said. “We’re excited about riding that red wave everybody has created.”
KATIE RYDER/TECHNICIAN
Junior defensive tackle Davin Vann reaches for his opponent during the game against Notre Dame at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. The Wolfpack fell to the Fighting Irish 45-24.
McCall has ‘grit running through his veins’
Connor VanDerMark Assistant Sports Editor
The plan was always simple for graduate quarterback Grayson McCall — finish his senior year at Coastal Carolina, where he had become the only player to win Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year three times, and enter the NFL draft.
But on an October night in Jonesboro, Arkansas, everything changed.
In a tight battle with conference rival Arkansas State, McCall was having one of his best games of his 2023 season, completing 24 of his 28 pass attempts for 244 yards and two touchdowns.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, it happened. As McCall went to slide on a quarterback keeper, an Arkansas State defender dove at him, hitting McCall with the crown of his helmet. The defender made hard contact with McCall, causing the quarterback’s head to bounce off the turf.
A flurry of flags emerged as the two teams scuffled. McCall laid motionless on the turf.
He remained on the ground for several minutes before being loaded onto a stretcher and carted off the field into an ambulance, where he was taken to a local hospital.
It was later confirmed that McCall suffered a concussion on the hit. Due to the severity of the injury and the NCAA’s strict concussion protocol, he didn’t suit up for the remainder of the season. After suffering such a scary injury, McCall had to consider his long-term health.
“I had to have some tough conversations about whether I was even going to be able to play football again,” McCall said. “Had to see a lot of doctors and have a lot of those conversations and at the end of the day, I didn’t think that I finished the way that I wanted to. I felt like I still had a lot of good football left in me.”
McCall put his name in the transfer portal on Nov. 29, and just two weeks later he committed to the Wolfpack for his final year of eligibility. The Indian Trail, North Carolina native chose to stay local, picking NC State over schools like Oregon State, Baylor, South Carolina and UCF.
NC State has a strong history of producing NFL quarterbacks, including Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson and Jacoby Brissett. However, none of them produced at
the collegiate level like McCall, who has thrown for 10,005 yards, 88 touchdowns and 14 interceptions through his three and a half seasons as a starting quarterback.
He is the only player to earn Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors three times, winning the award from 2020 to 2022. In addition to three-peating the Sun Belt Player of the Year award from 2020 to 2022, McCall led the Chanticleers to an 11-1 record and as high as No. 12 in the AP Poll as a redshirt fresh -
man in 2020. The following year he set the single-season record for passing efficiency rating in FBS history, a record that was broken last season by 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
“I’m a quarterback with a lot of experience,” McCall said. “I’ve taken a lot of snaps and played a lot of football games. I think I’ve really developed into a true pocket passer over the years, a mobile guy that can extend plays and make things happen on his feet … a tough guy who goes out there and plays hard, plays with a
chip on his shoulder and ultimately plays for his teammates. I’m excited to bring that brand of football to NC State.”
An adjustment to the College Football Playoff expanded the field to 12 teams, with the conference championship winner of each Power Four conference getting an automatic bid. McCall is familiar with the pressure of conference championships — he led Coastal Carolina to the championship game in 2020 and 2022. If McCall can lead NC State to its first ACC Championship since 1979, the Wolfpack is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs.
“We know that if we take care of our business, we can end up in that ACC Championship game in Charlotte at the end of the year and see where that takes us,” McCall said. “It’s definitely something that’s in the back of our mind. But we have just got to stay process oriented and approach each game with the same mindset.”
McCall arrived on campus in January, just in time to witness NC State men’s and women’s basketball make it to the Final Four and Wolfpack baseball make it to the College World Series. The Wolfpack faithful amassed in thousands all across the country to support the red-and-white, and now, Raleigh is buzzing for football season to begin.
“Getting here and understanding the support that athletics gets from the Raleigh community is awesome,” McCall said. “We’re taking that momentum into our season and hopefully we can bring that type of success for football this year. I’m really excited to meet all the fans and get out in Carter-Finley and enjoy that atmosphere.”
No matter the outcome of the season, this will be McCall’s final year at the collegiate level. After that, he is expected to enter his name into the NFL Draft, though a year later than originally anticipated. But McCall’s hardworking attitude and determination have helped him persevere through such a tumultuous year.
“He’s a football guy,” said head coach Dave Doeren. “He’s got great experience. He’s a winner. He’s got grit running through his veins.”
McCall will make his debut in the red and white on Aug. 29 against Western Carolina. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.
GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN
Graduate quarterback Grayson McCall at Carter-Finley Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. McCall transferred to NC State with one year of eligibility from Coastal Carolina University where he threw for 9,623 yards and rushed for 1,113.
and it’s the same but North Carolina has voter
