The football team has 29 days to prepare for the college football spotlight– a Thursday night, nationally televised game to kick off the college football season on ESPN. And instead of opening the season with a cupcake opponent at home, the Wolfpack will travel to Columbia, S.C. to challenge Steve Spurrier’s South Carolina Gamecocks in a hostile SEC environment.

The hyped opening game has instilled a sense of urgency in spring workouts, according to coach Tom O’Brien. O’Brien hopes that the intensity carries over into fall practices, which begin today.

“From the first day we came back in January, thereís been a little something about the conditioning program, the workout program,” O’Brien said. “You went to spring practice; you know that you’re going to be the first game of the year; you’re going to be on national TV. I think the intensity [and] I think the concentration picks up, and it certainly has through the summer because they know they’re going to have to be really good early.”

Along with the anticipation of the season opener, the highly speculated quarterback battle emerges as the main question entering official practices. Graduate student Daniel Evans, last year’s starter, is listed atop the depth chart. Still, O’Brien said the competition is wide open and will be determined in the practices leading up to the South Carolina game. O’Brien said he will not name a starter until he is absolutely comfortable with the decision, which may take until the week of the opener.

“I’ve never been in that situation, certainly not in the second year ever going in, having to consider five guys for the quarterback position,” O’Brien said. “But that’s where we are right now, and it’s better to make the right decision than just to make a decision.”

Challenging Evans for the job are redshirt freshman Russell Wilson, who shined in the three spring scrimmages, redshirt junior Harrison Beck, who started five games last season before being sidelined with an injury, and redshirt sophomore Justin Burke, who threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Spring game.

The wildcard of the group is freshman Mike Glennon, ranked the No. 5 quarterback nationally by Scout.com out of high school, and a player O’Brien said reminded him of former Boston College star Matt Ryan after seeing “about three throws” from the freshman. Though Glennon could not compete in spring practices, O’Brien said he will have his fair shot, beginning today, to earn the starting spot, despite his lack of experience.

“I don’t know that yet, that he can [contribute right away],” O’Brien said. ìThatís something that we have to determine in preseason practice. I know that he’s a very talented individual. In my opinion, he was the best high school quarterback in the country coming into the college ranks this year, for what we do. So, we’ll see.”

Members of the media selected the Pack to finish sixth and last in the ACC’s Atlantic Division. O’Brien said the prediction can “certainly” inspire the team.

The tailback duties, according to O’Brien, will belong to redshirt junior Jamelle Eugene, the team’s Most Valuable Performer last season who tallied 114 all-purpose yards per game in the absence of injured backs Toney Baker and Andre Brown.

Brown, who returned at the end of last season only to re-injure his foot in the Spring, said he will not not be able to practice until the second week of camp. Still, Brown is confident he will be ready to contribute by the season opener.

According to Baker, a redshirt junior, he will be ready to practice today for the first time since last September, when a knee injury in the 2007 season opener against Central Florida sidelined him for the entire season and the Spring. Baker said he feels he is at 100 percent when running straight ahead and about 95 percent when moving laterally. Baker said the team as a whole has been focused on conditioning and mental preparation and learning the offense through the summer workouts, hoping to carry that knowledge into fall workouts.

“We’re ready to get back out there and see where we are at,” Baker said. “And we have to get better and get ready for this first game. We don’t have time to mess around at all, we have to be good, really early opening up at South Carolina. We’re just excited to get out there together and to work.”