That's too much to lose for a program that once had been touted as an up-and-comer nationally.

Amato has an obligation to be concerned, and Wolfpack fans have a right to ask, "What in Sam Hill is going on here?"

Perhaps it comes down to nothing more complicated than cold cash.

Herring, the Pack's defensive coordinator, left for Arkansas, which has given him a three-year, guaranteed contract. Holliday, a fixture of Amato's staff almost from Day One, is going to Florida.

Those schools typically pay top dollar for assistant football coaches. Even though Southern California and Oklahoma nudged Auburn out of the Bowl Championship Series title game, the Southeastern Conference still represents the epitome of big-time college football. Where football is king, the palace princes live well.

McLendon, the team's No. 1 running back, made it perfectly clear that he's leaving school early to play for pay in the NFL.

So there are good explanations for the departures.

But none of that changes the fact that the Wolfpack has lost momentum, status, stability and self-confidence.

A team that should have gone 6-5 instead finished 5-6, failed to qualify for a bowl game and won only three of eight conference games. Two of its five victories came against Division I-AA Richmond and helpless East Carolina.

The offseason footing is tricky for Amato. Recruiting is the lifeline of college football, and assistant coaches are a team's brain cells.

Amato has taken a direct hit on both fronts, waving goodbye to Holliday's recruiting connections in Florida and Herring's defensive expertise.

To replace Holliday, Amato has to act almost immediately. There's no grace period in recruiting. With just more than a month left before signing day, Holliday will now work just as hard against State as he once did for the school. Amato needs to re-establish that presence in Florida.

The defensive coordinator's opening, if not as urgent, is just as critical.

According to the late Bear Bryant, the "road to nowhere" in college football is paved with bad hiring decisions and staff turmoil. Amato stands at a crossroads in that regard. If he doesn't find good successors for his right-hand man and the architect of his defense, the program will suffer.

At some point, Amato has to take a long, close look at why the Murphy Center door keeps revolving. Whether his aides have left for more money, better programs, old friendships, warmer weather, lower taxes, whatever, Amato's staff has been changing since his arrival. That can't be good. Either State has become a difficult place for assistants to work or a prime steppingstone.

Amato's job isn't in jeopardy, of course. One losing record in five seasons doesn't significantly lower a coach's stature. Among most Pack fans, he's still popular.

But he's nearing yellow-flag territory.

With a 20-20 ACC record under Amato, State is not much closer to contending for league championships than it was during Mike O'Cain's final four years.

As the 2004 season began, the energy level among State fans was off the chart. They had a feeling that the Wolfpack would upset visiting Ohio State on Sept. 18 and convert that momentum into an eight- or nine-win season.

Not only did State lose that game, its competitive personality changed. Explosive and unpredictable with quarterback Philip Rivers in the four previous seasons, State morphed into a plodding, methodical, sleepy team.

Quite simply, the program has lost steam. There may be nothing wrong with it that a hot offense and an impressive 2005 record can't fix. But nothing short of that will stop the bleeding.

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