The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/862569
SEPTEMBER 2017 ■ 87 ■ PACK PAST cal, and sometimes the most overlooked, in that well-decorated group. However, he still earned five All-Pro honors — the most of any Wolfpack product to play in the NFL — and four Pro Bowl selections. In 1992, the Dome Patrol became the only set of teammates in Pro Bowl history to start at linebacker in the annual all-star game, something that had not happened before and has not happened since. In his career, which ended following a four-game stint with Philadelphia in 1994, Johnson collected 669 tackles, 12 sacks and four interceptions. Former Saints head coach Jim Mora said in comparing Johnson to the rest of the Dome Patrol, "Vaughan was just as good as the other three. Physically, he might have been as gifted as any of them. "He was big. He was strong. He was fast. He was tough. He was good against the run, good against the pass. He was a big reason for the success of our defensive team during the years he played." Already inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, this July Johnson became the final member of the Dome Pa- trol to be inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. "Vaughan Johnson was just a great line- backer, in college and in the pros," said Wolfpack Club executive director Bobby Purcell, who was an assistant coach under Kiffin and Reed. "He was a fierce hitter, who was big and fast. He was a great team leader who had everyone's respect. "He was the total package, including be- ing a quality person off the field." Johnson's path to greatness started on the shores of the North Carolina coast and the fields of Carteret County. He was a stalwart for coach Robbie Barrow's West Carteret High School teams that went 17-3 in Johnson's final two seasons. He was recruited by dozens of schools, but decided early in the process that he wanted to stay in North Carolina so his family could see him play. Rein's staff was the first to offer a schol- arship, but Johnson took visits to East Carolina and North Carolina, and decided neither of them felt like home. He's been a devoted Wolfpacker ever since. "NC State was the first team to offer me a full scholarship, and by the end every- body in the country was throwing schol- arship offers at me," Johnson recalled. "I just felt more comfortable with the other players, coaches and administrators than I did at any other school. "Even when Coach Rein left for LSU, I knew I still wanted to go there. My com- W E P L AC E L AW Y E R S FIRST ATTORNEY RECRUITING FIRM IN THE CAROLINAS www.legalplacementspecialists.com Member, National Association of Legal Search Consultants CELEBRATING 24 Years 1993-2017 • Looking for an in-house attorney? • Need partners, groups? • Have an interest in a merger? • Experienced attorney needing a job? Email: careers@legalplacementspecialists.com Our Team SuppOrTS The WOlfpack! C.B. Lee & Company Accountants, Consultants & Tax Advisors 4617 Western Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27606 919-851-2640 Fax 919-851-4577 Accounting & Tax Preparation Accounting & Business Managment Services Taxes Individual - Corporate - Partnership - Trusts - LLC's Proud supporter of "The Wolfpack" for over 30 years WOLFPACKER • PO BOX 2331 • DURHAM, NC 27702 • 1-800-421-7751 Wolfpack Cornhole Item #2163 $199 + $30 S&H More styles available in our online store! TheWolfpackerOnline.com Official 24"x48" ACA regulation size boards with folding 2x4 legs. Set includes 8 bags (6"x6") filled with whole corn kernels.