Why Coastal Carolina is practicing at NC State this week
Parked just outside NC State’s Close-King Indoor Practice Facility is Coastal Carolina’s football equipment truck. Look just past that, and you will spot the Chanticleers’ on the indoor turf field going through a fall camp practice.
So why is Coastal Carolina in Raleigh? Tropical Storm Debby forced the Chanticleers out of Conway, S.C., and the team was looking for a place to train for a few days with their indoor facility still under construction.
Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck, who spent three seasons as the Wolfpack’s offensive coordinator, called NC State coach Dave Doeren and his request was granted.
“We feel for the folks that are going through it with this hurricane,” Doeren said Wednesday. “Tim called and asked if they could use our indoor. Obviously, yes, if it’s outside of our practice times. We’re happy to help him and hopeful that it won’t last too long and create too much damage in their town.”
The Chanticleers arrived on Tuesday and will practice at NC State through Thursday before returning back to campus. The storm is expected to have far less impact on operations in Raleigh this week compared to what the Conway/Myrtle Beach, S.C., area was expected to receive.
In addition to Beck making a return to Raleigh, so did former Pack quality control staffer Kriss Proctor, who is now Coastal Carolina’s tight ends coach and pass game coordinator. Former NC State wideout Emeka Emezie is also on staff at Coastal Carolina, serving as a graduate assistant on Beck’s staff.
While Coastal Carolina is in Raleigh, the Chanticleers’ former quarterback, Grayson McCall, is readying for his final season of college football with NC State. He transferred to the Wolfpack this offseason after an illustrious career with the Chanticleers.
McCall became the first three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year during his time at Coastal Carolina, which featured 10,005 passing yards, 88 touchdowns and just 14 career interceptions.
Coastal Carolina opens its 2024 campaign against Jacksonville State on Aug. 29, the same day NC State begins its regular season at home against Western Carolina.
