Amato, State Weather Change in Year 2

But State fans shouldn't concern themselves with the new scoreboard or the updated seating. They should worry about life without Koren Robinson.

The All-ACC wide receiver/kick returner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks with the ninth pick in the 2001 NFL draft. Now State coach Chuck Amato has to find a new favorite target

for sophomore quarterback Philip Rivers.

"You know, there may be somebody who will return punts, which he did," Amato said of Robinson. "There may be somebody who returns kickoffs, which he did. And somebody who goes deep,

which he did. And somebody who can catch it short and break it, which is probably

the thing he did the least of."

Robinson caught 13 of Rivers' 25 touchdown passes. This season, Amato will try to fill Robinson's spot with Bryan Peterson and a handful of underclassmen.

Amato also has the option of looking to the running game for help. Senior Ray Robinson returns this season after leading the team in rushing a season ago, totaling 788 yards and averaging 4.1 yards a carry.

"I think the running game is going to be used a lot just because we're going to have to," Robinson said. "And it's really up to me. If we do well with the running game, we'll continue to run. If we don't, we'll continue to pass. I've got to set the tone for that."

New offensive coordinator Marty Galbraith will succeed Norm Chow, who took the same post at Southern California. This year, Galbraith will help guide Rivers, who set ACC freshman records

for passing yardage (3,054), touchdown passes and total offense (2,969 yards).

On the other side of the ball, Amato lost All-ACC defensive back Adrian Wilson but returns Lombardi Trophy candidate Levar Fisher to stabilize a defense that allowed 28 points a game.

Amato hopes junior college transfer linemen Terrance Chapman and Shawn Price will help shore up the a weak run defense and add to the pressure Fisher and Brian Jamison will create.

As for the relative inexperience of the defensive backs and wide receivers, Fisher didn't seem to be too stressed.

"We expect those guys (at wideout) to come in and make a big impact," he

said. "As for DBs, they're going to be good. There are some new guys, but we have a good coaching staff, and they're going to pick the right guys to play the right positions."