It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bennett Place gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Ruffin, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Brumley Nature Preserve Northern Part with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Fearrington House Restaurant or visit Ayr Mount, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Ruffin, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Ruffin, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Ruffin, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Purple and gold used to be the primary color scheme in Ruffin McNeill’s closet, and he used to roam the visiting sideline at Carter-Finley Stadium. His goal? Beat N.C. State.McNeill, a 2021 East Carolina Hall of Fame inductee, was part of the Pirates’ program for victories in 1976 and 1977, then again in 2010 and 2013.Thursday, he faces his alma mater and former employer — for the second time in as many games — with the opposite objective, wearing a different color scheme.“I respect East Car...
Purple and gold used to be the primary color scheme in Ruffin McNeill’s closet, and he used to roam the visiting sideline at Carter-Finley Stadium. His goal? Beat N.C. State.
McNeill, a 2021 East Carolina Hall of Fame inductee, was part of the Pirates’ program for victories in 1976 and 1977, then again in 2010 and 2013.
Thursday, he faces his alma mater and former employer — for the second time in as many games — with the opposite objective, wearing a different color scheme.
“I respect East Carolina. It’s been a part of my life for a long time, but I work at N.C. State now,” McNeill said last week. “I’ve got some former players on their staff, but each game is a competition. The fact that I’ve coached there and played there makes it look different.”
Sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey said McNeill doesn’t talk a lot about ECU or any other team — he’s committed to the Pack — but the players know about the connection.
“It motivates me a lot, because I know Coach Ruff wants that win,” Bailey said at ACC Kickoff.
McNeill enters his sixth season as a special assistant to N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren, a job created by Athletic Director Boo Corrigan, after McNeill returned to North Carolina to help care for his late father.
“It’s been an honor to work for Dave and work with him,” McNeill said. “Dave is the winningest coach in N.C. State history and one of the best men I’ve worked for in my 46 years. He really is.
“People throw ‘family’ around a lot, but when I say we’re family, we are. I think the world of him and Miss Sara and the boys, and he thinks the world of Erlene and my girls.”
Doeren and McNeill’s relationship stretches back to 1999. McNeill was an assistant coach at Fresno State while Doeren worked as a graduate assistant at Southern California. Doeren, in 2023, told a story to the Raleigh Sports Club about McNeill’s love for the game and passion for helping young coaches. That resonated with Doeren, who was still new in the business.
After their initial introduction, the two remained friends and competed against each other at various stops, including an overlap as Big 12 assistants, when McNeill was at Texas Tech and Doeren at Kansas. When they weren’t on opposite sidelines, they followed each other’s careers and remained in contact.
They crossed paths again when McNeill was hired as East Carolina’s head coach. From 2010-15, McNeill put together at 42-34 record and led the Pirates to four bowl game appearances, one bowl win, one 10-win season, a Conference USA division title in 2012, and victories over N.C. State and North Carolina in 2013, Doeren’s first season at N.C. State.
At ECU, McNeill also gave now-USC head coach Lincoln Riley his first offensive coordinator gig after they were on the same Red Raiders staff. The opportunity ultimately helped propel the young coach’s career into the highest level of college football.
East Carolina, which has a new athletic director, fired McNeill in 2015 after the team went 5-7. Scottie Montgomery never won more than three games, and Mike Houston went 27-38 before he was fired last season. Blake Harrell served as interim head coach in 2024 and was promoted at the end of the season.
“In my opinion, the biggest mistake ever made was that school letting him go,” Doeren said two years ago.
McNeill, however, said he had a great experience, with wonderful staff and players during his time at ECU. He doesn’t have any regrets and is grateful for the opportunity many don’t receive.
“It’s something that doesn’t happen all the time, but it did for me. It’s called a blessing. Sometimes you get a ‘God wink,’ when you get a chance to coach at your alma mater,” McNeill said. “All of my coaching stops have been fantastic. I’ve enjoyed coaching. I’ve enjoyed the profession of teaching, the camaraderie among the staff at all the schools I had a chance to coach at.”
McNeill spent the 2016 season at Virginia, alongside current N.C. State offensive line coach Garrett Tujague, and three at Oklahoma with Riley as the assistant head coach. He expected to retire upon his return home, but Doeren’s offer allowed flexibility to be with his family and remain around the game.
“We’re so fortunate to have him here,” Doeren said last August. “He’s a national treasure, in my opinion, in many ways; coaching knowledge, the way he just treats people, his humanity, his love for people in general — not just players and coaches. He’s a great human being … I love being around him. It’s so awesome for me just to be able to go into his office every day and sit on the couch and talk.”
The two will discuss anything from family life, players, upcoming opponents and “pain points,” as Doeren described, of the job. McNeill, as his friend and boss calls him, a “second set of eyes” for the program and a mentor, not only to the coaches but the players.
McNeill is often at practice to greet the players and has an open-door policy for anyone, young or old. Anyone in the program is welcome to seek support, advice or even a laugh.
“If Coach Doeren is not there, Coach Ruff is going to be the guy,” Bailey said. “I talk to Coach Ruff almost every day, because he has some knowledge. He’s been around a very long time.”
North Carolina has always been home for McNeill, growing up in Lumberton — a little more than an hour and a half south of Carter-Finley Stadium — to parents who were both teachers. His father, the late Ruffin McNeill Sr., was also a football coach. The younger played football, basketball and baseball.
McNeill, now 66, wouldn’t pick a favorite sport — he said all three — but he stuck with football because he was offered a spot at East Carolina, becoming the first Black athlete from Lumberton High School to earn a Division I football scholarship.
He summarized his own college career, from 1976-80, saying he played for a great coach in Pat Dye Sr., met great teammates and “won some games.” During McNeill’s playing career, he was part of the 1976 Southern Conference championship team and won the 1978 Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech.
McNeill transitioned into coaching after his playing career ended, assisting the ECU staff in spring ball for the 1981 season, before joining Lumberton High School as an assistant football coach, head basketball coach and track coach.
“I enjoyed it. Then as I stayed in it, I had an interest in giving college coaching a try,” McNeill said. “That’s when I got into Clemson and started my college path at that time.”
While completing his Master’s Degree in counseling at Clemson, he coached the Tigers as a graduate assistant. His career spans nearly half a decade with stops at Austin Peay, North Alabama, Appalachian State and UNLV, in addition to the ones most people know.
McNeill has been involved with football for most of his life, but the longtime coach doesn’t think he’s arrived. He hasn’t accomplished everything he’s set out to do.
“I strive for learning every day and at every stop I’ve learned,” McNeill said. “Here, I learn something every day about myself, about the team, about people I’m working with; and make sure I’m trying to get better as an individual, as a coach and help others.”
Entering Year 46 as a coach, Ruffin McNeill has now spent six years with NC State, a place where he's grown more comfortable being behind the scenes. But he's been at the center of preparing the Wolfpack to face his former team once again.RALEIGH, N.C. -- On the first day of fall camp, NC State players ran out onto the practice fields outside Carter-Finley Stadium to open the final preparation for the 2025 season. For some, it was the first time as a freshman or transfer. For others, it was the final first fall prac...
RALEIGH, N.C. -- On the first day of fall camp, NC State players ran out onto the practice fields outside Carter-Finley Stadium to open the final preparation for the 2025 season. For some, it was the first time as a freshman or transfer. For others, it was the final first fall practice after spending an entire career in Raleigh.
But one thing they all had in common was paying respect to the OG himself -- Ruffin McNeill.
The now 66-year-old coach was patiently waiting as the sun rose over the Close-King Indoor Facility as every player and coach began to trot out onto the field. Sitting on his famous golf cart known as the "Ruff Rider," McNeill was dapped up by players as they ran by before driving Athletics Director Boo Corrigan around the fields to observe the first day.
After devoting 46 years as a coach after more than a decade as a player, being behind the scenes is now where McNeill feels the most comfortable.
"Honestly, that's how I've always been and anybody in that building will tell you that," McNeill said. "I want everyone else in the limelight as much as possible. I do everything I can to help both the players and the coaches. I don't need [attention] and frankly I don't want it. Their success is my success.
"I do miss coaching a position, but I'm really able to take advantage of helping mentor the entire team. That's what I really value in this role."
While he's technically only in an advisory role as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach at NC State, there's very few moments McNeill isn't around the team. He motivates players with his presence, but also holds them accountable through attending workouts, watching film and giving pep talks whenever a player or coach needs him.
"It's amazing because coach Ruff observes everything," quarterback CJ Bailey said with a smile. "He'll park his golf cart and just watch. At workouts, he's been to every workout we've had -- even 6 a.m. workouts -- he's been there. He's an observational guy, so with him watching, he's always got a lot more knowledge to give us."
McNeill hasn't always been behind the scenes, though.
Following four years as a cornerback at East Carolina where he met his wife, Erlene, McNeill climbed his way up the coaching ranks starting out as an assistant at Lumberton High. He then made stops at several programs like Clemson, Appalachian State, UNLV, Fresno State and Texas Tech before landing back with his alma mater as the head coach in 2010.
After leading the program to three straight seasons with eight or more wins from 2012-14 -- including the second 10-win campaign in school history -- McNeill was fired by the Pirates. In the nine seasons since his firing, ECU has won eight games twice and yet to reach the nine-win mark once over that span.
For McNeill, the next few years of his life would be filled with tremendous highs and devastating lows.
The year following his firing from ECU, McNeill was an assistant at Virginia when his father, Ruffin McNeill Sr., was diagnosed with dementia and could no longer live on his own. And even while McNeill Jr. served as the associate head coach with Oklahoma under Lincoln Riley for the next three seasons -- winning 12 games every year -- he needed to return home.
But if there was one thing he did know, it was that he wanted to stay around the game of football.
"My reason for coaching is truly to be an educator. It gives me purpose," McNeill said. "My dad was the same way. My uncle was the same way. I come from an educators and coaches family tree. My mom and dad taught and coached and I always knew that was what I was destined to do. I've been doing it since the day I graduated from ECU. It keeps me going."
NC State head coach Dave Doeren was the first call McNeill received after he announced he was leaving Oklahoma to move back to North Carolina. Doeren never dreamed he'd have the chance to hire one of his early mentors, but he built a position to have McNeill on the staff in an advisory role.
Near the end of his third season with the Wolfpack, McNeill's father passed away on Nov. 6, 2022. Four months later, Doeren's father, Bill, passed away from Alzheimer's on March 8, 2023. After Doeren was there for him, now McNeill was the one helping Doeren deal with the grief of losing the man who raised him.
Having a man he respected by his side both on and off the field was something Doeren continues to cherish years later.
"We're so fortunate to have him here," Doeren said of McNeill last offseason. "He's a national treasure in my opinion, in many ways. Coaching knowledge, the way he treats people, his humanity, his love for people in general, not just players and coaches -- he's a great human being. He wants to help people and it's personal to him. It's so awesome to me to just be in his office every day and sit on the couch and talk.
"Whether we're talking about life or talking about our dads, because our dads both passed away in the last few years, talking about the players, talking about the coaches, talking about the opponent, talking about our families, it's awesome to have that. It's like being at grandpa's house. I love Ruffin McNeill and I'm so thankful I get to work with him every day."
That respect doesn't just come from the coaching staff, it reverberates throughout the entire facility. While he may not be in the meeting rooms with the players, he's one of the first coaches to make an impact on the players ahead of their first season with the Pack.
For the last several years, McNeill has ran the "Pack Talk" program that helps educate players on the program and the culture they're stepping into at NC State. It used to be called "Freshman Focus," but now McNeill teaches a mix of freshmen and transfer portal players to make the transition to Raleigh as smooth as possible.
One of the most recent players to go through that program was Bailey, who went from his senior year of high school to starting quarterback at NC State in less than nine months. Having McNeill guide him through his first offseason and a turbulent freshman campaign was something Bailey attributes to his success late last season.
"Coach Ruff is a great guy," Bailey said of McNeill. "He's an amazing guy. If coach Doeren's not there, coach Ruff is gonna be the guy. I talk to coach Ruff almost every day because he has so much knowledge. He's been around for a long time. Getting with a guy like coach Ruff is really big.
"He just motivates me every day. Good or bad day, he's going to give me some piece of advice like, 'You should do this to help the team.' Him and coach Thunder [Dantonio Burnette] were the two biggest guys for me when I had to step in. They always told me to stay ready so I don't have to get ready. They were always the ones saying, 'You've got this. You're gonna lead this team to victory.'"
That mentorship doesn't just extend to the young players on the roster. It also isn't exclusive to just the offense or defense. Much like he did as a head coach at ECU, McNeill has a tangible impact on every player on the roster.
"Coach Ruff just brings a lot of wisdom from a holistic football approach," punter Caden Noonkester said. "It's not just the offense, defense or special teams, it's all of us. He truly cares about every player that walks through that door. To me, it's all in the details. Obviously coach Doeren has been coaching for a long time and leading this program, but even he leans on coach Ruff at the end of practice and says, 'How can we get better? What did you see?'
"For a guy to be able to lead our leader tells just how much time he pours into us as players. He's always someone you look forward to talking to."
Nearly one decade after his untimely firing from East Carolina, McNeill will now be on the opposite sidelines from his former team once again on Aug. 28. He's been back to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium and traveled up to Annapolis, Md. for the Military Bowl, but next Thursday will mark the first time he's been in red and white when the two teams face off inside Carter-Finley Stadium.
With the changes at the top at AD and now a third head coach, ECU has slowly mended its relationship with McNeill. He was inducted into the ECU Hall of Fame back in 2021 and returned to the school he said, "Will always be a part of my life and hold a special place for me."
Even though he hasn't talked about ECU with the current players on the NC State roster, there's clearly extra motivation for the players knowing McNeill will be on the sidelines.
"He never makes it about himself and always makes it about the team, regardless of who we're playing," Noonkester said. "But as a team, I think we have an extra chip on our shoulders to play for coach Ruff and play for ourselves."
Bailey echoed those sentiments heading into the season opener.
"It motivates me a lot because I know coach Ruff wants us to win," Bailey said of playing ECU. "He doesn't want to bring up other schools while we have plans for an ACC Championship."
More than any fist bump, that would be the ultimate way to show respect to the OG.
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