Orlando, Fla. ? N.C. State defensive linemen Alan Halloway and Sheldon Lewin will not play in the Tangerine Bowl, and their college football careers have ended.
Halloway and Lewin, both seniors and former junior-college transfers, did not make the trip, said Annabelle Vaughan, assistant athletics director for media relations. Vaughan did not specify why the players did not accompany the team to Orlando. NCSU coach Chuck Amato was not available for comment Thursday night.
Halloway was the only senior listed as a probable starter on defense for the Tangerine Bowl. A 6-foot-2, 285-pounder who has been used at end and at tackle, Halloway started eight games this season and had one of the season’s more memorable plays: a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown against Florida State.
Lewin, who played with Halloway at Nassau County (N.Y.) Community College, started three games this fall and had a career-high eight tackles against Wake Forest.
Both players were held out of games this season by Amato for unspecified reasons. Halloway did not play against Texas Tech, and Lewin missed the North Carolina, Georgia Tech and Virginia games.
Some of the Wolfpack players plan to take in the sights at Disney World and Universal Studios. It’s all a part of a bowl trip — relaxing, having some fun, playing the role of “tourist.”
“I don’t care what bowl you go to, you’re a tourist,” Amato said. “Go to the Orange Bowl in Miami and you’re a South Beach tourist. Go to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and you’re a Bourbon Street, French Quarter tourist.
“You can be a tourist here. Both teams will do it.”
Senior offensive tackle Sean Locklear was in Orlando two years ago for the Tangerine Bowl and said he took every side trip. Not this time, though.
“Been there, done that,” he said. “This time, it’s a business trip. I’m here to win a football game.”
In 2001, the Pack had a lot of fun before the game, then lost 34-19 to Pittsburgh.
Kansas has a couple of “two-way” players. Tailback John Randle and wide receiver Charles Gordon have been used at cornerback this season.
The Wolfpack players and coaches arrived in Orlando on Wednesday night, walked off the plane and started grabbing for coats. The temperature in “balmy” Florida was in the 40s.
“I thought we left Raleigh and circled the airport for a while,” Amato cracked. “It was freezing.”
The wind chill early Thursday was in the high 30s, and the cold snap is expected to last another day.
“They’re saying [today] could be the coldest day of the year,” Amato said.
