Tamarcus Cooley: "We're Locked In"

NC State nickel Tamarcus Cooley met with the media to discuss the rivalry matchup against North Carolina.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

This is your first time playing in the rivalry, but you're familiar with it. What does this rivalry mean to you? 
It means a lot to me. I know a lot of people that played for Carolina. I grew up with Carolina fans. My family came out and just playing there meant a lot. 

Are they going to be wearing Wolfpack Red? 
I hope so, I hope not that blue. 

How good was it for yourself to see your brother last week? 
It felt good playing with my older brother. He didn't really play because he's still hurting a little bit. It means a lot. I hate to say this, but he's got a lot. He's got something to brag about for the rest of our lives. Hopefully one day we team up. 

How have you seen yourself improve over the course of this year? What do you think you're doing better now than you were at the start of the year? 
I improved my man coverage. Just having to step up. Being a leader in my room. 

Did UNC recruit you? 
Yes, sir. 

What was it about NC State when you decided to come here? What was it about them that led you to pick them over the team you grew up rooting for? 
Just the people here. UNC is a little cocky. I'm not a cocky person. I just fell in love with NC State.

Is it difficult in that situation to have that team allegiance and sort of set it to the side and say, I'm going to look at this not through the prism of a Carolina fan, but look through it as somebody who's trying to pick the best decision for me for my next three, four years?
Yeah, of course. North Carolina has a lot of great people. Just NC State people stuck to me more.

What's it like preparing for an offense like Carolina that has a pretty elite running back in Omarion Hampton? 
Omarion Hampton is a really good running back. Really good team overall. Just got to step up and play our game.

Do you know many of their players through camps or recruiting visits or anybody you still chit chat with?
I talk to Jordan Shipp, receiver number one. I talk to him almost every week. 

He's a trash talker?
I'm sorry? 

He's a trash talker. 
No, he's really cool. We go to basketball games together. We don't really talk about football. 

What's the vibe around here? You know, you are still one game short of being fully eligible and everything. What's the vibe around here? 
We're locked in. Our seniors, you know, I know they want to go out with a bang, especially against Carolina. So, just being locked in and ready to play. 

You have so much time left in your college career, but you guys like to have them or aid in. But for guys like Davin Vann or Aydan White this is their last time getting to play Carolina. Maybe their last game. How much urgency are you taking to make sure this season keeps going to a bowl? 
In my heart I'm going to do everything I can to help these guys get to a bowl game and beat Carolina.They're two amazing guys. We've got a lot of good seniors that I look up to. I'm not even the type of guy to look up to, but just those two that you name are really good players. I know I'll do whatever I can do to help them. 

Tim (McKay) said that Mack Brown not coming back doesn't change the game at all for him. As someone who was recruited by him though, does that affect the rivalry at all? 
I don't think so.