NC State's Trent Pennix expects emotional senior night against UNC

NC State graduate tight end Trent Pennix was asked which player would be the first to cry on senior night this weekend. He did not wait long to give an answer, and he raised his own hand. 

“It might be me,” Pennix said with a laugh. “It might be me, if I’m being honest.”

Pennix said the emotions might not even wait for Saturday night when he is honored for the final time at Carter-Finley Stadium. 

In NC State’s team meeting on Monday, coach Dave Doeren put photos of all of the Wolfpack’s seniors on the board. Pennix said he almost started crying at that point, five days before kickoff against North Carolina.

He can only imagine what his emotions will be like when his name booms over the soundsystem in the stadium he has called home for the past six seasons.

“It’s already emotional as it is, this first practice alone, but just hearing my name being called, and hearing my name one last time in front of Carter-Finley … it’s definitely going to be something,” Pennix said. “A lot of emotion.”

Pennix is going to be emotional because Raleigh is home. He was born right down the street from NC State’s stadium, and he grew up in North Raleigh. 

All the tight end has ever known is NC State — and he is readying for his final home game in the Wolfpack’s red and white.

“I’ve always been around NC State pretty much my whole life,” Pennix said. “To know that I graduated [from] here, ending my college career here as well … it just really means something to me and my family.”

But Pennix’s journey at NC State has been full of ups and downs. He began his collegiate career as a running back — he totaled 3,039 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in his career at Sanderson High — but he soon transitioned to tight end. 

Pennix has been a dependable tight end for the Wolfpack, but he missed six games last season with an injury in the season opener against East Carolina. He returned to play against Virginia Tech, and scored a touchdown, but then he missed two more games with an injury. Pennix tried to give it a go at North Carolina last fall, but he did not record a reception in the contest. 

While he faced the various stints with an injury, Pennix said he learned from them, both on and off the field. And as he prepares for life after football, those experiences will be beneficial for him.

“Everything is not going to be easy,” Pennix said. “People are not going to be perfect. God tests everybody every day in their lives, so it’s just how do you respond to that test? How do you improve yourself? How do you become better and overcome that adversity that steps in front of your way?”

But for the kid that grew up in North Raleigh with NC State on his mind, Pennix’s last home game could not be any better — against the Tar Heels, the Pack’s archrival. 

He said once he saw the schedule at the beginning of the season and saw North Carolina was the final home game — and senior night — all of Pennix’s feelings about the Tar Heels came to his mind. 

It is clear that the two programs do not like each other, but Pennix can not wait to suit up for the final time at Carter-Finley against the Tar Heels.

“I ain’t going to say too much now — I do respect them as well — you always got to respect your opponent, but at the same time, we’re here to win,” Pennix said. “At the end of the day, we’re here to win, we’re here to dominate.”

While the Tar Heels and Wolfpack is a highly anticipated game each year, Pennix said one game does not define a team’s season — though beating the team in Carolina Blue is an added bonus.

“Ain’t really going to worry about one game, but at the same time, it’s good to have that win over that rival — especially against them boys in blue,” Pennix said. “Definitely some tight feelings, animosity versus both of each other, but just head down, blue-collar school. We work, we don’t worry about talking much.”

With Thanksgiving on Thursday, Pennix reflected on his time at NC State. The word “family” has been the theme of the week for the team, and Pennix took that to heart with his final home game on the horizon.

“You really want to value that word, family,” Pennix said. “Thanksgiving, be thankful for your family — your blood family, your football family, anybody that’s helped you in your football career to get to this point.”