Despite seeing his 7-5 team lose three of its defensive stars to the NFL Draft, North Carolina State head coach Chuck Amato sees no reason to refrain from his characteristic optimism.
"I am never going to change my expectations for this great school, this football program that we are building," Amato said. "I am not going to change my enthusiasm about the game, about this university, about how I feel and about where my expectations are for anybody's perception, because that's me. That's the only way I can be."
Amato, known across the ACC for his candor off the field and his style on it-he wears Wolfpack red sneakers and sunglasses during every game-has shown an ability to win in diverse ways during his seven years at the helm of N.C. State. Although the Wolfpack has never been able to break through to the national elite, Amato has produced winning seasons with a potent offense and the suffocating defense his team has boasted the past two seasons.
He understands, however, that 2006, in which his Wolfpack was picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic Division, may be his biggest challenge yet.
N.C. State's eighth-ranked defense from a year ago lost three of its front seven to the first round of the NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick, Mario Williams. What was once the team's defining strength has become a potentially glaring weakness, for which Amato admits he has yet to find a solution.
"We've got youthful people on defense," he said. "Are their youth and ambition going to make up for their lack of age and experience? We'll find out. And we'll find out in a hurry."
Amato expects his experienced secondary, returning starters A.J. Davis, Marcus Hudson and Garland Heath, to alleviate the pressure on his front seven.
Offensively, Marcus Stone returns at quarterback after compiling a 5-1 record as a starter last season. Stone hopes to build on the momentum from that finish-which included an upset at eventual ACC champion Florida State-yet knows that he has much room to improve.
"Last year I thought I knew the offense pretty well, but I now have a whole year behind me," the junior said. "I know things that I wouldn't have thought about knowing last year."
With N.C. State's top three receivers from last season gone, the offense will rely heavily on sophomore tailback duo Andre Brown and Toney Baker, who combined for over 1,200 yards in their freshman season.
"We're not really a drop back and throw it down the field team," center Leroy Harris said. "We're a play-action team. Establishing the run is going to be really key for us."
In spite of the low expectations and unresolved defensive holes, Amato's unflagging optimism radiates in Raleigh.
"Some people don't like the fact that I enjoy life for myself, my team and this university," he said. "This is my family. We expect to win every game, every year. And I am not going to change how I do it. That's just part of me."
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