UNC and NC State prep for big rivalry game
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- In case you've been living under a rock, this is old news : NC State and UNC are not each other's biggest fans.
"I know there's no love between these two schools, and I know their players and our players equally want to beat each other," said Wolfpack Head Coach Dave Doeren.
The bitter feeling between the two rivals will be on its utmost display in the 104th meeting between the schools' football programs.
"Our fans go back and forth the whole year of who's going to be better and what's going on here and what's going on up there," said Tar Heels quarterback Marquise Williams. "It's going to be a great environment on Saturday."
After denying cross-town rival, Duke, a shot in the ACC championship game with a 45-20 win on November 20th, the Tar Heels find themselves in an interesting position that is rare in college football -- playing back-to-back rivalry games.
"We're blessed to have that situation," said Tar Heels offensive guard Landon Turner. "You've got bumps and bruises, but these last two weeks, no one's thinking about how their bodies feel because the games are just so big to us."
In terms of this week's rivalry game, bulletin board material is not lacking. The Wolfpack cast the first shot when Safety Hakim Jones questioned Williams' toughness during a press conference on Monday.
"After you hit him a few times, he basically almost quits," Jones said.
Williams' teammates didn't take to kindly to that.
"To me that just shows a lack of confidence when you've got to talk before, but we're going to focus on us and play the game how it's supposed to be played," said Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer.
It was a statement that caused many ACC followers to scratch their heads. Marquise Williams leads the conference in three offensive categories, as well as leading his team on the ground with 12 rushing touchdowns - numbers that have most Wolfpack players saying that the Carolina quarterback is, in fact, their main target of containment.
"He's a very dynamic player and really explosive with his feet so guys like that you just kind of have to change the pass rush," said Wolfpack DE Art Norman. "You know he'll take off on you and you just kind of always have to have quarterback awareness."
NC State fans and players are aware that the Wolfpack have fallen at the hands of their rival for the past two seasons, and last year, after the game, the Tar Heels took to NC State's midfield in a gesture that was not appreciated by the home team.
"Just stomping in your yard -- it's kind of disrespectful," said Wolfpack quarterback Jacoby Brissett. "Everything they did last year, it doesn't matter because it's a different year, it's a new game. We just gotta come out and understand what they did and just make sure that they're not doing that again."
So the daggers are thrown continuously, but it's important to look at what really matters: the football played on the field. Both teams are playing for better position come the post season.
"There's no doubt they're going to play hard," said UNC head coach Larry Fedora, "so we're going to have to play and play really well."
"That motivation isn't necessary for this game," said Brissett.
"We know what we're playing for. Both of us are bowl eligible, but it's a matter of that thirty minute drive of who wants it more and just going out there and really putting it all on the line for one more game."
