NC State players face final game at Carter-Finley against UNC. Here’s what they said
N.C. State (8-3, 5-2 ACC) hosts North Carolina (8-3, 4-3 ACC) on Saturday for senior day. Bragging rights, bowl destinations, momentum and how the outgoing players leave Carter-Finley Stadium all ride on the outcome.
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong, center Dylan McMahon and tight end Trent Pennix spoke on Tuesday about what this week means to the team. Armstrong and Pennix are sixth-year players, while McMahon is a fifth-year senior.
What NC State means to Pennix
“Home. Literally home. I was born at Rex, literally right down the street. Born and raised in North Raleigh. I’ve always been around N.C. State; pretty much my whole life. Just to know that I graduated here, ending my college career here, being here all six years really means something to me and my family.”
What football has meant to Armstrong
“It’s been my whole life. Whether that’s good or bad, in some ways it takes over your life. It’s been great. It’s been a blessing. I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t probably have went to college if I didn’t have this game. Probably would’ve went into the service — my dad did; followed in his footsteps. Something along those lines, but I would’ve never got an education, never been opened up to these experiences.
“Being from a small town in Ohio, probably (would’ve) just went to the military, came back to Ohio and there is my life right? Find a job there. Being here in this game has just given me so many opportunities, so many different avenues, so many different relationships. I’m super, super grateful for it. I don’t really have words other than that I’m super grateful for it.”
What Armstrong learned in six years
“How to be a man, how to grow up, what it’s like to be put down and have to battle through. That happens in everyone’s lives, but mine’s in the spotlight. People see it, people hear about it. I think that’s even tougher, and I think I’ve handled it really well. It’s just made me stronger…And then just figuring out how to succeed and get out of it.”
Pennix on walking out with his family
“I already know it’s gonna be an emotional part. It’s already emotional as it is, just this first practice alone. But, just hearing my name being called, running out one last time under the lights at Carter-Finley, seeing my parents and giving them a big hug and kiss, (there’s) definitely gonna be a lot of emotion tied in with that.”
Who is most likely to cry during senior day activities
“It might be me (Pennix), I ain’t gonna lie. It might be me if I’m being honest… Actually, this morning we talked about it in a team meeting you. Coach Doeren had all the pictures of the seniors and when I first saw that, I almost broke down right then and there.
“Our word of the week is family. You really want to value that word: family. Be thankful for your family: your blood family, your football family, anybody that has helped you in your career to get to this point.”
If Pennix on emotions
“I definitely use that fuel. I really just use any kind of adversity as momentum to give me a boost of why I’m doing this; remember why and who I’m doing this for.”
McMahon on extra motivations or reminders
“I don’t know if you need too much a reminder of who’s coming into your stadium. I mean, it’s UNC. We don’t like them. They don’t like us. I think we can use that as a reminder that they’re going to have a ton of animosity coming into our stadium, and what we did to their stadium last year and knowing how hard they’re going to play because of that. I mean that’s got to be our fuel right there to not let them do the same thing to us.”
What last home game means to Armstrong
“I’ll sit back and enjoy it, but I just really want to win. All I think about is winning. I think I’ll be able to take it all in once once the game is over, we’ve won and those types of things. I’m so locked in on focusing on the job at hand, and then (I’ll) worry about those types of things after. I just want to be there for my teammates and be ready to go and give everything I have on that field while I can.”
This story was originally published November 22, 2023 at 5:30 AM with the headline "NC State players face final game at Carter-Finley against UNC. Here’s what they said."
