New N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren got his first look at his Wolfpack squad Tuesday morning when the football team held its first spring practice, opening up the 2013 spring drills. The team will practice 15 times during the spring and will conclude workouts on April 20 at 1:30 p.m. with the Kay Yow Spring Football Game.
Doeren, who was named the Wolfpack’s head coach on Dec. 1, was excited to be on the field to see what he had to work with this upcoming season.
“It’s good to be back on the field,” Doeren said. “There’s a lot of work to do and I kind of expected that, but there is definitely some high points.”
Doeren coached Northern Illinois to an Orange Bowl berth during the 2012 season. Doeren’s Huskies averaged 38.6 points per game and featured a fast, high-octane offense that was well-balanced on the ground and in the air. Sophomore quarterback Manny Stocker took notice to the change of pace from former head coach Tom O’Brien’s more conservative offense.
“The first practice is definitely a learning experience,” Stocker said. “It’s a lot different from last year. The pace is a lot faster and I think everybody is trying to run around and figure things out. The first practice is just so everybody can get a feel of how it’s going to be for the rest of the year and the rest of the season.”
Players have also taken notice to Doeren’s enthusiasm as a coach and have quickly taken to him.
“He’s a real young energetic coach,” redshirt junior quarterback Pete Thomas said. “I think he relates to us real well. We all love him and we’re all real excited to play for him.”
The Wolfpack is returning just three seniors who were starters last season after losing 12 starters who graduated or left for the NFL Draft. One of the key points of emphasis for the spring practices will be determining who the team’s leaders will be for the upcoming season.
“Three people are gone from the secondary from last year,” senior cornerback Dontae Johnson said. “I played all last year and everything so it’s going to be a challenge for me to step up this year and make sure these guys step up into the void and fill it with proper technique and energy and passion to play in the secondary in the ACC.”
Doeren is happy with what was shown to him on the field Tuesday and is looking forward to the team coming together in upcoming practices.
“I think there’s been a lot of excitement,” Doeren said. “I’m proud of the players for their work ethic. They showed up today with great attitude. They’re still learning what we want from them too, so that part of the growing process will be constant for three or four more practices and then it’ll become more of a routine for them.”
