WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Wolfpack Turns To Evans At Quarterback

Sep 18, 2006

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina State's slow start has prompted coach Chuck Amato to make a change at quarterback -- and defend the direction of his program.

Amato said Daniel Evans, a sophomore from Raleigh's Broughton High School, will start against No. 20 Boston College on Saturday, elevating the reserve past Marcus Stone as the Wolfpack tries to overcome a 1-2 start. Evans came on in relief of Stone during the weekend's 37-17 loss at Southern Mississippi and threw for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Amato said it wasn't clear whether Stone would still see time against the Eagles.

"We'll have to wait and see," Amato said Monday. "I don't want Daniel to go in there and to be looking over his shoulder.

"The job's his. We're going to do everything in our power and Marcus is going to do everything in his power to help him succeed."

The Wolfpack have lost two straight games after beating Appalachian State, the defending Division I-AA national champion, to open the season. N.C. State lost to Akron 20-17 at home when the Zips scored a touchdown on the final play, then followed that with the lopsided road loss to the Golden Eagles.

Stone, a redshirt junior who replaced Jay Davis in the final six games last year, had thrown for 345 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions on the year. He had completed just 48.5 percent of his passes this year, starting with a 36-yard outing against the Mountaineers. He bounced back with 209 yards and two scores against Akron, and was 10-for-24 for 100 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against Southern Miss.

Evans went 8-for-11 and had an interception in relief of Stone in that game.

Amato also defended his program, deflecting questions about the slow start by pointing out the Wolfpack's five bowl appearances in six seasons. He also refused to answer a question about whether he believed his job was in jeopardy.

"A successful season is to have a winning record and go to a bowl," he said. "Everything over and above that is gravy."

Amato has a record of 47-30 at N.C. State and is the only active coach among North Carolina's five Division I schools with a winning record at his current school.

But some of the more vocal people in the Wolfpack fan base have started calling for his ouster, citing a 5-6 record in 2004, two straight losses to North Carolina and a sluggish 1-2 start to this season.

Amato fired back at his critics, saying they need to look at his overall record and compare him to his counterparts.

"Why, statistically, aren't we looking at every school in the state? I mean, please," he said. "Let's really be men about it and look at the whole picture over the last six years."