HURRICANES SET TO HOST WOLFPACK SATURDAY
Nov. 2, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MIAMI HURRICANES
vs. NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK
When:
Saturday, November 3, 2007, at noon ET
Where: Orange Bowl (natural grass, 72,319) in Miami
TV: The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, with Clay Matvick (play by play) and Larry Coker (analyst).
Tape Delay Telecast: On CSS at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, with announcers Jason Solodkin and K.C. Jones.
Local Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play by play), Don Bailey Jr. (analysis) and Brian London (sideline reporter).
National Radio: The game will be broadcast live on XM Radio.
Radio En Espanol: The game will broadcast in Spanish on WWWK 105.5
FM and WPIK 102.5 FM with Joe Pujala (play by play) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Student Radio: WVUM 90.5 FM will broadcast the game live with Jay Dryburgh, Kent Brown and Tom Murphy.
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and North Carolina State (www.gopack.com)
THIS WEEK’S GAME
Coming off a bye week and prior to that one of the most exciting come-from behind victories in school history, the Miami Hurricanes are anxious to return to action. Next up is the North Carolina State Wolfpack, who will travel to the Orange Bowl for a noon game on Saturday that will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
The Miami Hurricanes are 5-3 this season after defeating Florida State 37-29 in Tallahassee on Oct. 20. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak this season as well as a five-game road losing streak dating back to last season. It was also the school’s first come-from-behind win since the 2004 season. Coach Randy Shannon sees the victory as one that could spur his team for the final month of the season. “We don’t want to get too upbeat — we just need to stay focused. Focus on the future and don’t worry about the past. The players are starting to realize what we’re saying is true – that we can do it. We just need to keep believing.”
NC State is 3-5 this season and is coming off a 29-24 upset of then-18th-ranked Virginia. The Wolfpack are quarterbacked by Daniel Evans, who has thrown for 1,140 yards and 10 touchdowns (nearly 700 yards and six TDs in the last two games). After injuries to running backs Toney Brown (in the opener) and then Andre Brown (438 rushing yards and five TDs), NC State has turned to sophomore Jamelle Eugene, who has 356 rushing yards, including 112 in the win over Virginia.
This will be NC State’s first (and last) visit to the Orange Bowl since Miami joined the ACC in 2004. The only time the two schools have met as conference foes was in 2004, when Miami won 45-31 in Raleigh. Overall the two schools have met 11 times, with Miami holding a 7-3-1 lead in the series. Through eight games, Miami ranks 96th in the nation in total offense, 59th in rushing and 98th in passing. Defensively, Miami is 28th overall, 46th against the run and 20th against the pass.
Miami expects to have quarterback Kyle Wright back for the NC State game. Wright suffered a sprained ankle against Florida State and missed the two practices during the bye week. Kirby Freeman led the comeback victory over FSU. The Hurricanes are led offensively by a trio of running backs in Javarris James (416 yards, 3.7 average), true freshman Graig Cooper (564 yards, 5.9 average) and true freshman Shawnbrey McNeal (90 yards, 4.5 average).
The game is UM’s annual Homecoming. In 71 years in the Orange Bowl, Miami has a record of 45-23 record on Homecoming (two years there was no Homecoming).
THE OPPONENT
North Carolina State is is 3-5 this season after being hit hard by injuries, and their win over Virginia was their biggest of the year (their other wins were over Wofford and East Carolina). For the season, the Wolfpack rank 95th in total offense, 110th in rushing and 41st in passing. Defensively, NC State is 75th overall, 92nd vs. the run and 41st vs. the pass.
THE SERIES
This will be the 12th game between the two schools, and Miami leads the series 7-3-1. The schools first played in 1939, and among the 11 games was a 2-0 NC State win in 1942 and a 0-0 tie in 1957. Miami is 5-3-1 at the Orange Bowl and 2-0 in Raleigh.
THE COACHES
Randy Shannon is 5-3 in his first season at Miami. North Carolina State’s Tom O’Brien is 77-50 in 11 seasons overall and 3-5 in his first year at NC State.
A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE WOLFPACK WOULD
Give Miami their sixth victory of the season and guarantee a 10th consecutive bowl berth. It would also give them a 3-2 mark in the ACC and give them a a 8-3-1 lead in the series with NC State.
