NC State defensive coordinator Mike Archer said a lot of people have questioned his relationship with Jon Tenuta, who has 16 years of experience as a defensive coordinator but was recently hired to coach the Pack's linebackers, but Archer said he and Tenuta have gotten along extremely well.

In fact, it sounds like it's going to be a good arrangement for NC State's struggling defense.

“Jon is a great football coach," Archer said. "We’re very fortunate that he would come join us. In spending time with him these last two weeks, talking about scheme and how we can help our players, I think he’s going to do a great job with those kids, and they’re going to flourish in what he’s teaching them."

One thing that's helped smooth the transition is the fact that both Archer and Tenuta have learned from former LSU coach Bill Arnsparger. Their coaching ties go back to 1984. Archer coached at LSU and Tenuta went to Arnsparger's camp.

"His roots go back to my roots," Archer said. “When John and I started talking, all of our trigger terms and the terminology were things we learned from Bill Arnsparger. It’s been very refreshing for me to come in and sit down and talk football and he knows everything I’m talking about and I know what he’s talking about. That’s been tremendous. It’s been better than I ever thought.

"His vast knowledge and his ability to pressure quarterbacks -- everybody in the ACC knows what he’s done. If we can take concepts and ideas and give them to our players yet make them simple -- most importantly make them simple -- because he’s got a system and I’ve got a system. Now what we’re doing is trying to get the kids to understand the simple trigger terms that will help them learn. I’m fired up about it. I’m excited. The last two weeks we’ve spent talking football has been really good.”