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The 2007 NC State football team takes a day to get to know its fans.
On August 18, the 2007 NC State football team took a day off from preseason preparation to mingle with more than 5,000 Wolfpack fans during Meet the Pack Day, held at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, NC.
Held in conjunction with the Wolfpack's annual photo and media day, the two-hour meet-and-greet session gave players and coaches a respite from the record-setting summer heat they faced all week in practice.
"It was nice to take a day off, and the players were happy to get it," said NC State head coach Tom O'Brien, who who was hired Dec. 9, 2006, to be the 33rd head coach in the university's 115-year football history. "It was well-deserved because they've worked so hard this preseason."
But the event meant more than just a day off to members of the football program - it gave the players a chance to say a heartfelt "thank you" to Wolfpack fans for their unwavering support.
"Meet the Pack Day is always a great experience for us," senior tight end Marcus Stone said. "It's an opportunity for us to meet the fans who are out there day in and day out, cheering us on during every game."
Although fans carried mini-helmets, digital cameras and jerseys in hopes of capturing a meeting with their favorite players, they also brought school supplies to benefit those in need, a benefit drive made possible through NC State's partnership with Communities in Schools of Wake County.
"These fans are wonderful," said O'Brien, who made his Wolfpack coaching debut Saturday as NC State hosted Central Florida. "I'm glad to be part of the Wolfpack family."