Never Miss a Start
NC State Athletics Tuffy Head

Never Miss a Start

Learn more
The new NC State head coach answers questions at a press conference in front of an NC State and ACC backdrop
A full Carter-Finley Stadium as fans unfurl a field-sized American flag
A packed red crowd in the stands at Carter-Finley Stadium
Packed stands and the NC State marching band at Carter-Finley Stadium
Aerial view of a full Carter-Finley Stadium on game day

Wolfpack Club

Never Miss a Start

Every monthly gift is a start. Make 51 in a row and your name goes on the 51 Wall at Carter-Finley.

Start at $17 a month Watch Three Generations

His streak at NC State2000 to 2003

51Straight starts
$17A month to start
1,700Goal by day 100

Prepared in advance · not for release until the hire is announced

Placeholder image. Replace with the official press-conference photo before release.

Three Generations

Every coach was somebody's player first.

Three Generations · 28 seconds · Music: "The Red and White Song." Sound on.
Coach Steve Rivers with his young son Philip at Ogle Stadium in Decatur, Alabama

Steve and Philip Rivers at Ogle Stadium, Decatur, before the move to Athens. Photo supplied by Ged King; confirm credit and rights.

Athens, Alabama

His dad was his coach.

Steve Rivers took the job at Athens High. His son played quarterback for him and made all-state.

Game footage: ACC Digital Network

Raleigh, 2000 to 2003

Then he played for us.

51 straight starts. No. 17, retired.

Philip Rivers coaching on the St. Michael Catholic sideline

Coach Rivers on the St. Michael sideline. Photo supplied by Ged King; confirm credit and rights.

Fairhope, Alabama

Then he became the coach.

St. Michael Catholic, 2021 to 2025. A 49-0 win in his first game, and 44 wins in all.

The new NC State head coach at a press conference

Placeholder image. Replace with the official press-conference photo before release.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Now he coaches here.

The coach his dad made comes home to the place that retired his number.

The NC State marching band on the field at Carter-Finley Stadium

Photo: Melizabethi123, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

TheStreak

He never missed a start

NC State quarterback, 2000 to 2003

  • 51 straight starts, an NCAA record
  • No. 17, retired by NC State
  • Every regular-season NFL game, 2006 through 2020

Neither should we.

Seventeen

Seventeen came home.

Now it's our turn.

TheRules

How the streak works

Every monthly gift is a start. $17 a month gets you in. Fifty-one straight puts your name on the 51 Wall at Carter-Finley.

One gift per month

Each month your gift goes through, your count goes up by one start.

The injury report

A failed card doesn't end the streak. You get 30 days to update it.

Opening Day

Join in the first 100 days and Opening Day is marked on your streak card for good.

Move up any time

Raising your level never resets the count. Pausing more than one month does.

TheLevels

Three ways to start

The streak starts with you.

Seventeen

$17

A month

His number. $204 a year.

The 51

$51

A month

His record. $612 a year.

Captain

$170

A month

Ten times 17. $2,040 a year.

Every level counts the same toward the streak. Pick the one that fits, and move up any time.

TheTunnel

The Chuck Amato Tunnel

Named for the coach who handed No. 17 the ball as a freshman in 2000. For the families who want to lead the Pack out.

60

Tunnel families

$50,000

Over three years. Sixty families, one Tunnel.

17

Lead gifts

$500,000 and up

Over three years. Seventeen gifts, one for No. 17.

I'd like to discuss more
Aerial view of a full Carter-Finley Stadium on game day

Photo: SMaloney, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

TheWall

Fifty-one puts you on the wall

1A video thank-you from Coach and a digital streak card
12One full season. A Never Miss a Start pin in the mail
17Your name on the digital 51 Wall
51Your name on the 51 Wall at Carter-Finley and a note from Coach
51of 51 starts

Scroll to watch a streak build. Outlined squares mark starts 1, 12, 17 and 51.

TwoWays In

Everything feeds the streak

Three Generations

A 43-second film. His dad coached him at Athens High. He coached at St. Michael. Now he coaches at NC State.

Watch the film

Come Back to the Pack

He came back at 44. If you've given before and stepped away, come back to the Pack. $17 a month starts your streak.

Start your streak

A packed red crowd in the stands at Carter-Finley Stadium

Photo: Melizabethi123, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

TheCountdown

The first 100 days

Start in the first 100 days and Opening Day is marked on your streak card for good.

Day 1Never Miss a Start opens and Three Generations premieres.
Day 51Halfway. Watch the live count of starters climb.
Day 100The goal is 1,700 starters. Opening Day closes.

Our turn

He never missed a start.

Now it's our turn.

Make your first startI'd like to discuss more