Dave Doeren details busy stretch at NC State football

NC State football coach Dave Doeren and Duke’s Mayo Bowl executive director Danny Morrison met with the media for the first time since the Pack was paired against Maryland for the contest. The bowl will kick off at noon on Dec. 30.

Here is a quick recap of Dave Doeren’s press conference:

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Dave Doeren opening statement

• Duke’s Mayo Bowl executive director Danny Morrison said that the Charlotte game is “thrilled” to have landed both NC State and Maryland for the Dec. 30 game. Morrison pointed out that the two have a close rivalry dating back to the ACC and each enjoyed successful seasons.

Morrison also said that he has long-time friendships with NC State football coach Dave Doeren and Wolfpack director of athletics Boo Corrigan.

• Dave Doeren expressed his gratitude for the opportunity in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, and he is especially excited to have a chance for the players’ families to watch the game. Few of them could make the trip to San Diego a year ago.

• Doeren praised Maryland’s talent and schemes after having watched their close loss to College Football Playoff (CFP) bound Ohio State earlier in the season.

• “There’s been a lot happened here, I guess, since we last played a game,” Doeren understated.

• Doeren noted that “It’s a pretty important stretch from a recruiting standpoint for me and our program.”

• Doeren is “really excited” for Tim Beck and his family to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Coastal Carolina. Doeren also expressed his gratitude for the job that offensive line coach John Garrison has done. Garrison now has the offensive line coaching position at Ole Miss.

• With those departures came the official announcement that Robert Anae will be the new offensive coordinator and Garett Tujague will be Garrison’s replacement.

“Looking forward to the change,” Doeren said. “Our system can evolve, as it has over time. Robert has been really unique.”

Doeren noted how Anae has been through a wide spectrum of different offenses in his career.

“His offense has got a lot of stamps on it,” Doeren said.

• Doeren joined the chorus of prayers for Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach.

“Mike’s a mentor to a lot of coaches, many that I have on my staff that have worked with him,” Doeren added.

• The offense will start changing after the bowl game. Anae and Tujague’s immediate focus is on recruiting.

“Robert and Garett are here just trying to learn the names of our players now, so I think that’s enough,” Doeren said.

• Tujague, Doeren pointed out, has territorial knowledge of the ACC after coaching at Virginia.

• Doeren feels it is important the coordinator has an offensive line coach that he wants, and that happened to line up that way for NC State with Anae and Tujague, who previously worked together at BYU and Virginia.

“Timing is everything, I guess people say,” Doeren noted.

• Bowl practices started Monday with a development workout for the younger players. NC State is still balancing bowl prep, recruiting and final exams at once.

Q&A With Media

• Dave Doeren noted that the success with and without Anae of Virginia quarterback Brennan Armstrong and Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader in Anae’s last two coaching stops are telling.

“Our quarterbacks are very fortunate to have a guy like Robert here,” Doeren said.

Doeren also said that he was looking forward to the current quarterbacks plus “the guys we’re bringing in in recruiting” working with Anae.

• In regards to play-calling, Doeren called that a collective effort for play-calling. Running backs coach Kurt Roper will take the “lion’s share” of the responsibilities. Offensive graduate assistant Austin Davis will handle the offensive line for the bowl game.

• Doeren is not a fan of the current environment of college football’s offseason. He noted that the tampering and bad advice from third parties have been challenging. Doeren also bemoaned that some players are being “robbed” of an opportunity to learn how to battle through adversity.

Doeren understands there is a time to transfer, but also believes that players who are getting playing time and are part of what he called a “brotherhood” getting “enticed or poached” is a shame.

“There’s a place for this, it just needs to be roped in. It needs to be regulated, it needs to be enforced and it needs to be something that is well thought through,” Doeren said.  

• A year ago, NIL was a bigger mystery, and this recruiting cycle has become much more commonplace in conversations, Doeren confirmed.

• Morrison acknowledged that NC State was “pinpointed very early in our process.” The concern was would the Wolfpack be available. The Rose Bowl had a potential domino effect on about 17 different bowls had the game gone in a different direction.

There were several Big Ten teams they were following, but Morrison said Maryland “made sense.”

Morrison noted that the Terrapins have a high-powered offense and played well against Michigan and Ohio State.

• In terms of the post-game mayo bath that was part of last year’s South Carolina-North Carolina game, Morrison said that they have options but nothing is settled yet.

• Doeren said that any players who are in the transfer portal for NC State “are not available for the bowl game.”

• The bowl practices are “critical” Doeren said. In particular, the younger players are getting valuable reps.

“We’re losing a lot of good players, but there’s a good, young group of guys that because of the COVID rule where you have sixth-year players all over the roster they have been patiently waiting their turns,” Doeren said. “Jaylon Scott’s a great example that’s been waiting his turn behind these really good linebackers.”

• Morrison noted that the bowl activities will include a driving experience at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a shopping spree experience at Belk and a community outreach with the Second Harvest Food Bank.

• Doeren said that Devin Carter, a fifth-year redshirt junior receiver, was the only player who is opting out and will declare for the NFL. (Note: Carter refuted this on social media).

• Doeren is “incredibly proud” of super senior kicker Christopher Dunn for the recognition that Dunn has received, including winning the Lou Groza Award.

• The timeline has changed a lot in college football, Doeren noted, due to the early signing date and transfer portal window. Recruits want to know who is going to coach them, and Doeren understands and respects that.

Thus, Doeren appreciates Corrigan helping them get the hires done quickly.

Doeren also added that he had “a lot of people” calling and texting about the jobs.

“People know how hard we play, they know how tough we are. I think that sells itself. If I’m a coach, somewhere I can go live in Raleigh, North Carolina and work for a head coach that has been at the school for over 10 years now and be in a locker room full of proven players with a culture like this, it’s not as hard as you think to go get a great person to want to be here,” Doeren said.

Doeren added this Anae’s son is an assistant coach at Campbell, and that he has grandchildren living in Fuquay-Varina.

“We couldn’t have been in a better situation to replace two great coaches with two great coaches,” Doeren continued.

• Doeren noted there are a lot of connections between Anae and Tujague on the current NC State football staff. Anae has worked with special assistant to the head coach Ruffin McNeill and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, while Tujague is a former college teammate of Pack corners coach Brian Mitchell.

• With regard to Maryland, Doeren has only seen one game, but he can tell they are talented.

• On the decision of fifth-year senior quarterback Devin Leary to transfer, Doeren said he wished Leary well.

“He’s been a great young man to coach. Nothing but respect and positive things to say about Devin and his family,” Doeren added. “He made a decision, and let’s leave it at that.”

• With the current quarterbacks, both freshman MJ Morris and third-year redshirt freshman Ben Finley are practicing, but Doeren will not tip his hand to who will start.

• Doeren said that when UNC kicker Noah Burnette was lining up for a field goal in the second overtime, when the cameras showed Doeren with his head down, he was praying.

“Hundred percent talking to God during that one,” Doeren concluded.