Early this fall, there was a time when N.C. State was without four of its five most proven performers, three of them because of season-ending injuries. Injuries always have been a major part of football and always will be, but you could go a long time without seeing that happen.

Tight end Anthony Hill (knee), a preseason All-ACC selection by many media outlets, was lost for the year even before preseason practice started. Later, veteran tailbacks Toney Baker (knee) and Andre Brown (foot) also were lost for the 2007 campaign. Defensive tackle DeMario Pressley missed two games completely and was hobbled in several others. The running joke in Raleigh was that the Wolfpack needed to put star return man Darrell Blackman in a protective body cast, just to be safe.

"I never have been a part of this before," N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien said earlier this season. "It is what it is. We probably won't have anybody hurt the rest of the year and next year. We've had all of ours added up in three short months. You can't lose guys like we have lost on offense. When you lose as many playmakers — your starting quarterback, your tight end, your (top) two running backs — things add up. It affects the timing."

Since the Pack's ridiculously unfortunate start in the injury category, several other ACC teams have caught up. This weekend's N.C. State-Miami and Maryland-North Carolina matchups are two good examples of this phenomenon.

“I’ve never been in a situation like this (with injuries) in 39 years of coaching," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "We are going to do the best we can, and we’re going to keep fighting. That’s what I’m going to do, and hopefully our team will do the same. I’ve never seen a year like this. I’ve seen guys get nicked up, but I haven’t seen the broken bones we’re having.”

On back-to-back weekends, the Terps lost starting right guard Andrew Crummey to a broken left fibula, then starting left guard Jaimie Thomas to a broken right fibula. Starting left tackle Scott Burley and starting fullback Cory Jackson missed all or most of last week's game against Clemson because of injuries. Starting quarterback Jordan Steffy has missed the last three contests while dealing with post-concussion symptoms.

Similarly, Miami is without seven different players on defense alone who were at least part-time starters for the Hurricanes. At quarterback, coach Randy Shannon said backup Kirby Freeman would get the call if the UM-N.C. State matchup were played today, because starter Kyle Wright still is recovering from a high-ankle sprain.

"It's that time of year," Shannon said. "A lot of guys are out. A lot are playing hurt. That's football. You take what you have, and you go play. No excuses."

THE INJURY FACTOR

Miami

senior linebacker Glenn Cook (starter)
senior linebacker Romeo Davis (starter)
junior defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (second team)
junior defensive tackle Dwayne Hendricks (second team)
freshman defensive tackle Josh Holmes (starter)
senior tailback Charlie Jones (backup)
senior wide receiver Lance Leggett* (starter)
freshman quarterback Robert Marve (backup)
freshman wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie (backup)
junior safety Lovon Ponder* (starter)
senior cornerback Glenn Sharpe (starter)

N.C. State

junior tailback Toney Baker (starter)
sophomore quarterback Harrison Beck (starter)
junior tailback Andre Brown (starter)
junior right guard Curtis Crouch* (starter)
senior wide receiver John Dunlap* (starter)
senior tight end Anthony Hill (starter)
sophomore right tackle Jeraill McCuller* (starter)
senior defensive tackle DeMario Pressley* (starter)
long snapper Corey Tedder (starter)
sophomore left tackle Julian Williams (starter)

Maryland

junior linebacker Chase Bullock (second team)
senior left tackle Scott Burley* (starter)
junior linebacker Rick Costa (second team)
senior right guard Andrew Crummey (starter)
junior defensive end Mack Frost (second team)
redshirt freshman tailback Morgan Green (backup)
junior tight end Dan Gronkowski (starter)
sophomore defensive tackle Travis Ivey (second team)
sophomore fullback Cory Jackson* (starter)
freshman wide receiver Tony Logan (backup)
freshman linebacker Ben Pooler (backup)
junior quarterback Jordan Steffy* (starter)
junior cornerback Richard Taylor (second team)
junior left guard Jaimie Thomas (starter)
freshman wide receiver Ronnie Tyler (backup)
freshman tight end Lansford Watson (backup)
redshirt freshman linebacker Alex Wujciak (starter)

North Carolina

senior defensive tackle Kyndraus Guy (starter)
junior offensive lineman Wyatt Hicks (backup)
junior offensive lineman Ben Lemming (second team)
senior center Scott Lenahan* (starter)
redshirt freshman tight end B.J. Phillips (backup)
freshman defensive tackle Tydreke Powell (backup)
junior linebacker Chase Rice (starter)
sophomore defensive tackle Cam Thomas* (second team)
junior linebacker/end Garrett White* (backup)
senior cornerback Kendric Williams (starter)

* — recently returned after missing game(s)