A Pack-tastic future

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on April 15, 2004 1:57 PM

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Over 220 area Wolfpack fans got a little icing on the cake Wednesday evening as they filled the Walnut Creek Country Club at the 2004 Wolfpack Club Spring Caravan.

It was announced earlier in the day that 2004 ACC Player of the Year Julius Hodge said he was staying at N.C. State for his senior season.

N.C. State head football coach Chuck Amato, head women's basketball coach Kay Yow and assistant men's basketball coach Larry Harris each addressed the red-clad crowd.

The trio each spoke about successful past seasons as all three teams fought through a handful of close, tough losses and made trips to the postseason.

All three also spoke about their particular incoming recruiting classes.

Both Harris and Yow stressed the importance of adding size to their basketball rosters as the men will bring in the six-foot-nine Cedric Simmons (West Brunswick) along with three other newcomers, including Georgetown transfer Tony Bethel.

Tiffany Standsberry, the National Junior College Player of the Year, headlines Yow's recruiting class.

By all accounts, Amato and his staff will bring in a solid class in 2004. Greensboro Dudley all-American Demario Pressley (DT) and Greenville Rose standout running back Andre Brown lead a class that will add depth to the program.

They also praised the support of Pack fans and asked for continued support as the university continues to progress with various athletic expansion projects. The Wolfpack Club, which raised eight million dollars in 2003, chose the slogan "Building Futures" for 2004.

A handful of projects are in the works, headlined by the construction of Phase II of the project at Carter Finley Stadium -- Wolfpack Towers. The towers will add 2,000 new seats, including 51 suites, 95 club seats and additional media, coaching and operations seating. The Pack's home capacity will be 53, 500 when the towers are completed in time for the 2005 football season.

Also, the home of N.C. State baseball, Doak Field is nearing its final month of renovations, while an indoor tennis facility is almost finished. A basketball practice facility will likely begin construction this fall.

Wayne County continued to be one of the largest contributors in 2003 to the Wolfpack Club in District 6, consisting of Carteret, Craven, Greene, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Pamlico, Pitt and Wayne counties. Wayne County donated $79,211.25 during 2003, second highest in the District to Johnston, who gave $127,890.44.