O'Brien keeps tighter rein on Thanksgiving

A year ago, coach Tom O’Brien altered N.C. State’s practice schedule a bit during Thanksgiving week.

He held practice early so players who live nearby could have Thanksgiving dinner with their families. After the Wolfpack was hammered 37-0 by Maryland two days later with bowl eligibility at stake, O’Brien concluded that he might have given the team too much freedom.

“It wasn’t the best result,” he said.

This year, N.C. State (5-6, 3-4 ACC) will stick with its normal practice routine with bowl eligibility at stake again in Saturday’s noon finale against Miami (7-4, 4-3) at Carter-Finley Stadium. But don’t feel too sorry for the players.

They will be eating Thanksgiving dinner as a team at The Angus Barn restaurant.