Pack's Tyler says outbursts over

Senior tackle vows to let his pads do the talking in the future

RALEIGH -- N.C. State's DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler got spitting mad in the Wolfpack's game last month at Southern Mississippi.

The defensive tackle promises it will be the only time.

Ejected in the second half of the Southern Miss game after a spitting incident, Tyler was held out of the first quarter of the Pack's ACC opener the next week against Boston College by coach Chuck Amato. Tyler since has played with a fury, like a senior co-captain looking to make amends, saying he will better control his emotions.

"Tank has been more assertive as a leader since that incident," Amato said Monday. "He was embarrassed [by] what happened. He must have apologized to me two or three times, at least, because we always talk about, 'You embarrass the university, you embarrass your name.' He has rectified it to a certain degree."

Not only was Tyler made to sit out the first quarter of the BC game, but he also was not allowed to go out with the other team captains for the pregame coin toss. His absence was noticeable.

"It really hurt me more, [and] I was embarrassed for being kicked out of the game, being a captain ..." Tyler said Monday. "I apologized to my team, I apologized to Coach Amato. And they all know I'm a very emotional person on the field, so they understood my mistake and told me, 'Don't worry about it, pick your head up, and go out and play hard.' "

It's not Tyler's only problem this year. According to court records, he faces misdemeanor charges of assault on a Raleigh police officer and for being intoxicated and disruptive in a public place during an incident in July at a Raleigh nightspot.

Tyler has a court date scheduled for Wednesday, although he said Monday he believed the case would be continued.

Amato, asked about Tyler's charges two days before the BC game, said he was not aware of them. Tyler had little to say Monday about the incident other than noting it did not play into the disciplinary action in the BC game.

"That had nothing to do with it," he said. "It was because of the Southern Miss game."

Tyler said he did not spit at an official in State's 37-17 loss Sept. 16 game at Southern Miss. He said he was exchanging heated words with an offensive lineman when it occurred.

"I always lose my temper," he said. "I try to play with a lot of emotion and enthusiasm and sometimes I get to talking back and forth with another player. I don't mean anything personally.

"I guess the ref took it the wrong way. ... He said I spit on another player. Me and the Southern Miss offensive lineman were talking back and forth, and I talk kind of loud. So I don't know if [the official] saw anything but, I mean, that's what happened and I tried to learn from it."

No more outbursts, he said. No more confrontations. Tyler, who said he has never before been ejected from a game, insisted he would keep his mouth shut and do his talking "with his pads."

Tyler had a career-high 13 tackles. He had a sack and forced a fumble. With the Eagles leading 15-10 and trying to run out the final minutes of the game, Tyler penetrated up the middle, pushing two blockers backward and into the running back. That caused BC to lose yardage and turn over the ball with 46 seconds to play.

That was enough time for quarterback Daniel Evans to take the Pack 72 yards, hitting wideout John Dunlap for the winning TD and a 17-15 victory.

Amato said Tyler's play was so eye-opening it caused a few more NFL scouts than usual to attend the Florida State game on Thursday. At 6 feet 2 and 305 pounds, Tyler can bench press more than 500 pounds, has a strong lower body and has become more sound in his techniques, Amato said.

Tyler had six hits against FSU before being sidelined in the fourth quarter with back spasms. The Pack won 24-20, moving to 2-0 in the ACC's Atlantic Division.

Tyler is listed as probable for Saturday's game against Wake Forest, which has beaten State two of the past three years. Wake rushed for 202 yards and passing for 173 in a 38-24 win in 2003, and used opportunistic defense -- two interceptions returned for touchdowns -- to turn back State 27-19 a year ago when it was limited to 85 rushing yards.

The Deacons (5-1, 1-1) have hurt the Pack with counter and misdirection plays. In 2003, they took advantage of State's inexperience on the defensive line, at times badly fooling the Pack.

"Wake Forest is a powerhouse," Tyler said. "They have a strong running game and their passing, it seems, has picked up a whole lot this year, too. It's a big challenge. I take it as another brick wall in front of our ACC championship that we've got to break."

NOTES: State's game Oct. 21 at Maryland has been scheduled for a noon start. ... Amato is a grandfather again. He said Asher Christopher Moon was born Sunday to Jared and Selena Amato Moon.