BLACKSBURG, Va. -- N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien didn't disclose many specifics about the medical condition that kept offensive coordinator Dana Bible from traveling with the team Saturday.
Bible stayed in Raleigh for medical tests of an undisclosed nature as the Wolfpack lost 38-10 on Saturday to 16th-ranked Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium. Bible is a private person, and federal privacy laws limit the medical information that school officials can provide without an employee's consent.
O'Brien and N.C. State sports information director Annabelle Myers wouldn't comment further on Bible's situation, or when he might return to the team.
"I have nothing else to say about it," O'Brien told a room full of reporters after the game.
O'Brien didn't learn until Friday that Bible wouldn't be able to make the trip. N.C. State moved running backs coach Jason Swepson from his usual position on the field up to the coaches' box to call plays.
He signaled plays to O'Brien, who saw that they got relayed to players on the field. O'Brien said he always has backup plans in place, but said adjusting in the short time frame was difficult.
"It's no excuse for the three fumbles we had," O'Brien said. "... That's just bad football on our part."
Bible, 56, also coaches quarterbacks and wide receivers for the Wolfpack. He has been a member of O'Brien's staff since 1999 at Boston College, and previously served as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at N.C. State from 1983-85 under coach Tom Reed.
With Bible at the helm, the N.C. State offense entered the game ranking third in the ACC in scoring (32.6 points per game) and third in total offense (413.2 yards per game).
"You feel for him, because Coach Bible is such an emotional inspiration for this team," said senior offensive tackle Jeraill McCuller. "The way he attacks everything with such fire and passion, you can't help as a player but feed off of that."
Without Bible, the Wolfpack was held to its lowest point total and yardage total (259) since the season opener against South Carolina.
Extra points: N.C. State backup cornerback DeAndre Morgan left the game with a concussion and did not return. He was hurt tackling Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams. ... The Wolfpack tied a season high with six quarterback sacks allowed and rushed for a season-low 14 yards. ... N.C. State punter Jeff Ruiz had one of his best days. He punted three times for an average of 47 yards and downed one kick on the 3-yard line.
