NC State left guard Anthony Carter recently met with the media to discuss his final game in Carter-Finley Stadium against rival North Carolina.
NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.
On senior day…
I'm just trying to enjoy the moment, it's like it's been a journey, a long time. So I think just cherishing these moments with the guys, the young guys, the older guys as well, the other, other seniors as well. But just mostly just enjoying it, just reminiscing like when I first got to college and stuff like that. So just being able to enjoy these last few days and stuff like that. It's been, it's fun. And, it's more so that's all I just want to enjoy.
I was talking to Coach Doeren yesterday. You figured you maybe have known him for eight years.
Yeah.
Do you remember the first time you met Coach?
It was sometime during that, like that recruiting period.
Like junior year, sophomore year?
Yes, sir. You know, stuff like that, coming up to games and stuff like that, games and business.
So like that relationship, you know, was before I got here and stuff like that. So it was always good to build that relationship. So that's, it's been a long time.
So it's fun to see our journey and our relationship build over the years. So I'm grateful for him. When I came out of high school, I had an injury. And he still honored that scholarship. So I'm thankful for that. And, it's still having that loyalty, that trust between each other.
Do you have a favorite memory of playing at NC State? Favorite game, favorite play?
I would say, I would say more so just like the bond and the relationships, like what goes on in the building, the locker room and stuff like that. Like the team runs, like the last after, like the during, just like, I say those, like, that's the biggest thing. Mostly, I feel like those live longer. That's like, that leaves more of an impact. Like those relationships last longer. But like, I wouldn't say any particular game, but mostly just like the relationships over the years. That's why it sticks the most.
You're probably one of the guys that's been around this rivalry the longest on the team. You know, what is this week? How is it different from the other 11?
Like, it's going, it's going to be one of those real physical, physical chippy games. I think it's about having composure, making sure that everyone's on the same page, locked in, controlling emotions is the biggest thing. Rivalry games, a lot of people get over the top with it. So I think just the team that's able to control their emotions, go out there and execute and still go out there and handle business is the biggest thing in this rivalry game that's usually the team that ends up winning.
You talked about relationships. Could you see some of your teammates being your groomsmen one day? Or is that some of the things where you think about, like, I'm going to know these guys for 40 years?
Yes. So it's crazy that you say that, because I've been to Dylan McMahon's wedding. I've been to Brendan Lawson's wedding, former teammates. So it's like I've been to weddings already. So it's like I could definitely see that down the line for sure. Having teammates and stuff like that, going to weddings, showing up for each other. And like those relationships still last. We still communicate and stuff.
So it's definitely something that's more than just us being here for football. Those bonds that we build off the field, going out to eat and stuff like that, hanging out, playing games together. Those are definitely stable for life.
Y'all obviously want to beat every team and beat every coach. But is there any added juice or anything knowing that Bill Belichick is going to be on the opposite sideline?
I want to say it's more juice. I think we all always have the same approach, regardless of who it is. But, it just so happens to be Bill Belichick. So I think we've got the same mindset. We want to go out there and show that we dominate and go out there and get the win and execute. So I wouldn't say it's more juice. We still treat everyone the same. Never too high, too low.
You always make sure that you treat everyone the same. Coach Doeren talked about Rico couldn't really feel his arm last week. What was it like just seeing him push through and play out there?
That's one of them. Like, that's like you got to have that grit and toughness to be able to talk about “hard, tough, together”. That's a part of that. You got to be able to play. Sometimes you have to play through injury. Sometimes you have to, if you're able to, you can play through injury and stuff like that. He was able to do that.
So seeing him be able to stay out there and do that, it was exciting. It might feel like you feel it on the sideline. It's something that we always look back at, laugh at while we're on the sideline. We talk about it and stuff like that. So it's always good to see guys, even though they're banged up, being able to push through as well.
How did you kind of find your personality at NC State? In the sense of, I don't think you enjoyed the recruiting process very much. You were probably very introverted and now you're not.
I would just say more so just like you got to find yourself outside of your sport as well. I think when athletes are mostly just like they get so caught up in their sport, that's like all their life is. They like, they just like, they make that just their identity. But we also have identity off the field as well. And I think just being able to get around other people outside of school and stuff like that, be on campus and interact, that allows you to try new things, learn new things from different people as well. And that's how you build your personality and find who you are as well.
