O'Brien not fazed by losing

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O'Brien still confident in long-term plan

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Some N.C. State fans might be losing patience with Tom O'Brien, but he is sticking with his long-term plan.

After the Wolfpack lost 52-20 on Saturday at Boston College, a reporter told O'Brien that he'd received e-mail during the game critical of the coach.

"I can't be concerned with that," O'Brien said. "I've got to be concerned with coaching the football team. I knew this was going to be a process and it certainly is going to be a process.

BC player has Pack on his side

Less than a year ago, Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich crossed paths with N.C. State quarterback Russell Wilson at the ACC football banquet in Tampa, Fla.

Herzlich was there to pick up his ACC defensive player of the year award. Wilson was being honored as the conference's rookie of the year.

They talked for a long time about how Herzlich got to Boston College, about the coach (Tom O'Brien) they have in common, and other things.

Wolfpack is run ragged by BC

INSIDE THE GAME

It turns out that N.C. State's ACC-best season numbers against the rush (62.8 yards per game) entering Saturday's game at Boston College were deceiving.

The Wolfpack's statistics were skewed because of two games against Foot7ball Championship Subdivision opponents, plus two ACC foes in Wake Forest and Duke that didn't try to run because they had so much success passing.

BC, Harris run over the Wolfpack

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - At least he was honest.

Before leaving his former haunt at Boston College's Alumni Stadium, N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien admitted that his team has "regressed" in the last two weeks.

That much was obvious to anyone who watched sophomore Montel Harris churn out school records of 264 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a 52-20 thumping of N.C. State on Saturday.

Pack adjusts defense

N.C. State announced major changes to its secondary Monday, two days after allowing Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner to dissect the Wolfpack for 361 passing yards in a 30-24 Demon Deacons win.

Aiming to eliminate mistakes, the Wolfpack (3-2, 0-1 ACC) is replacing youth with experience at both safety positions.

Senior Clem Johnson is replacing freshman Brandan Bishop at free safety, and senior Bobby Floyd is taking over for redshirt freshman Earl Wolff at boundary safety as N.C. State prepares to host Duke at 4 p.m. Saturday.