Wolfpack kickoff: Week 1 vs. ECU

Everything you need to know about the Wolfpack's season opener against the Pirates

GoPack.com photo

NC State (0-0) vs. East Carolina (0-0)

Carter-Finley Stadium

Noon, ACC Network (PxP: Wes Durham; Analyst: Roddy Jones; Sideline: Eric Wood)

Streaming: WatchESPN; National radio: Sirius 138, XM 193; Live stats: GoPack.com

Series history: NC State leads 17-13 (15-8 in Raleigh)

Last meeting: NC State 58, ECU 3, Dec. 1, 2018

BetOnline spread: NC State plus-17 1/2 | Over/Under 52 1/2 

What they're saying

"You know, it's interesting. Obviously we played him at the end of the season with the different staff. There was a lot of players that didn't play in that game for them that we will see particularly on offense with Holton Ahlers -- a quarterback that we know a lot about. I have great respect for the receiving corps. Blake Proehl, Tyler Snead and Deondre Farrier are three of their starting receivers that were not in our game last year. And then the running back Darius Pinnix, who's a big back that was used as a guy in their backfield last year in a lot of ways. So there is familiarity in a way because you've played him but at the same time you're facing a different system with different staff a lot of new personnel." ... Dave Doeren

"Once the ball is kicked, it's about executing. That may carry you through a workout or give you a good pep talk or whatever it is, but it's still going to come down and play in the game. They're not what they were last year, they're going to be a lot better. I know that. Our team knows that. They're a different team and we're different team, you know, and you got to play the game to find out how different." ... Dave Doeren

"Certainly, this team and this program is at a different point than it was last December. Their program is too. Because each year, what you did in the past is kind of out the window. I hope that they never forget what that feels like because that could be a motivating factor as well. I think they have an opportunity to go out and show what they truly are. I think we have an opportunity to go out and show that’s not how our program is going to be identified or remembered. There’s a big challenge in front of us on Saturday." ...

Mike Houston

Notable

State has won 14 straight games with kickoffs of 1 p.m. or earlier dating back to 2016, including seven last season. The Wolfpack has won its last seven early kicks at Carter-Finley Stadium and also has won its last eight early kicks on the road or at neutral sites ...

This is just the second time since 1900 that State opens the season against the same opponent it played in the previous regular-season finale. The only time it has happened previously was vs. Wake Forest in 1973-74 ...

The Wolfpack has won its last 13 games against non-conference opponents at home, with the last loss coming on Nov. 23, 2013, when Dave Doeren’s first State squad lost to ECU.  That was the only non-conference home loss during the Doeren era ...

State has won its last nine home openers, including all six under Doeren. The Wolfpack has outscored its opponents 222-105 in those games.