Pack's O'Brien Stresses Character

WRALSportsFan

Pack's O'Brien Stresses Character

Aug 29, 2007

comments

New N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien drew applause and laughter on Wednesday when he addressed the Raleigh Sports Club.

Fans applauded when he spoke of the need to stress academics with his team. And he drew laughter with an anecdote about the importance of putting team goals over individual achievement.

O’Brien referred to a touchdown by receiver Darrell Blackman in the spring game.

“We ended up scoring at the end of the game and Darrell Blackman catches the ball and runs down takes his helmet off in the front of the TV camera,” O’Brien recalled.

“When we had our family dinner after the game, I called Darrell up and had everybody take a look at him so they’d know what he looked like without his helmet and he wouldn’t have to take it off any more.”

In building a team, O’Brien stressed the importance of recruiting the right type of players.

“It goes back to who you recruit,” O’Brien said. “The old saying is you win with character, not characters. We’ve got to avoid characters.”

But he drew laughter when he added, “Now, if those characters have great ability and we can control them, we’ll take them.”

Most Recent Comments

jimbo, I agree 2-3 years will bring a lot of positive change... but TOB has FAR MORE talent now that he did ever at BC. I just wish we had Hill back... he was going to blow up this year.

While I approve of the things Coach O'Brien is saying, I don't know that character is going to make that much difference this year. There are no true superstars on this team, and yes, I am including Toney Baker in that mix, he is good not a Heisman candidate.

For all the Pack fans, I think it will be 2-3 years before you start to see the success O'Brien will bring.

The Pack lost a lot of games under Amato because he cannot coach. O'Brien can coach. He has proven it at the Division I-A level. The only thing Amato proved is that he is a clown.

I love it, if we would of had some character and discipline, the last couple of years, we could of won alot more games. Look at some of the games during the Amato Era. You can count on one hand, games where State was outright beat. The rest lost because of penalties, turnovers, etc. Penalties, Penalties, Penalties.

Go 'Pack

Character and discipline will work. When the chips are down, teams and players with character will reach down and pull themselves up by the bootstraps. The Pack lost a lot of games because of stupid repeated penalties. I don't believe that will happen under Coach O'Brien.

Go Pack!!

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan