ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WTVD) -- The NC State football team is treating its Bitcoin Bowl experience as a multifaceted holiday opportunity.
"If you're not at home on Christmas, as a football coach and a football player, that means you had a good season. So we're going to celebrate," head coach Dave Doeren said. "They're going to get a lot of gifts from Santa Claus, and we'll have a player dressed up like Santa. We'll have all kinds of fun."
"It's another chance for us to be around each other, and that's the main thing," said Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett. "You spend all year with players, and you don't really get to understand the significance of a family and this month -- that's what it's all about."
The atmosphere will be merry until game time. The Wolfpack face a U-C-F squad that features one of the college game's toughest defenses. The Knights rank third in the nation in total defense, ninth in the country in points allowed (17.9 ppg) and fifth against the run, having only allowed eight rushing touchdowns this season.
On top of those stats, UCF features the AAC's Co-Defensive Player of the Year in sophomore defensive back Jacoby Glenn. Glenn led the conference with seven interceptions and 18 passes defended this season while logging 45 tackles (32 solo, 12 assisted) on the year. Coupled with his strength, the Knights deliver potent defensive pressure with the addition of linebacker Terrance Plummer. The senior led the 9-3 squad with 92 tackles.
"They're a good defense system that's been around there a long time, and I mean, we just got to come out and play sound," Brissett said.
Doeren said the key to winning includes a more comprehensive game plan.
"It's about turnover margin, for starters. We're undefeated when we win the turnover margin, so take care of the ball on offense and create takeaways on defense," he said. "Play sound special teams, be efficient in the run game and be able to throw and catch on their defense, because they do a nice job of stopping the run."
Running the ball has included a balanced ground and air game for the Wolfpack this season. Junior running back Shadrach Thornton's late-season ramp-up of 100+ rushing yard performances against Wake Forest and UNC has made him one of the team's most effective targets, but the Pack are just as even when going to the air, having elected for said-option nearly 51 percent of the time this season. Brissett has thrown for more than 2,300 passing yards and takes care of the ball, with just five interceptions on the season. This offensive balance will be key if the Knights are able to effectively stop the run game.
Both teams meet for only the third time, with each having won a game apiece. Friday's game pushes the series' lead into one team's favor for good, and Doeren is confident that it'll be his Wolfpack walking out of Tropicana Field victorious.
"It's a reward, but it's also a business trip," he said," and goal number one is to get win number eight and goal number two is to really enjoy the process of getting it."