Thirteen years later, former N.C. State head coach Chuck Amato still thinks about T.A. McLendon’s second-down run at Kenan Stadium.
As the guest speaker at Wednesday’s Durham Sports Club meeting at Croasdaile Country Club, Amato, 70, jumped straight to that moment after he was introduced by Tommy Hunt, the ACC Head of Officials at the time of McLendon’s play.
“Chuck never, ever complained about officiating,” Hunt quipped sarcastically.
Amato had reason to complain on Oct. 9, 2004. With the Wolfpack trailing North Carolina 30-24, McLendon lunged across the goal line as the line judge raised him arms to signal a touchdown, but the linesman on the other side of the field ruled that he came up short.