Having grown up in another state and in a different college football culture, I’ve learned to appreciate N.C. State fans during my four years in Raleigh. They’re loyal and they’re always excited for the next game, no matter how badly the Wolfpack may have played the week before. And finally, they’re always optimistic that the Pack will do well.
No matter how deeply the “N.C. State Crap” sentiment may pervade, Carter-Finley Stadium is still packed every Saturday. The Wolfpack has best fans in the ACC, no question.
And I love the optimism. I really do. I want so badly for State to win every game by five touchdowns and win the ACC title and play for a national championship.
But let’s be honest. That isn’t going to happen. Not this year, not the next, and probably not the one after that either.
That isn’t me being pessimistic. It’s me being realistic.
That isn’t to say that Dave Doeren isn’t an awesome coach. I firmly believe that State football is in very good shape heading down the road. Athletics director Debbie Yow knocked that hire out of the park.
But I want to focus on the present. Right now the Wolfpack sit at 2-0. It’s hard to complain about winning your first two games, but this team has a lot of work to do, and everybody knows it.
If it weren’t for junior kicker Nicklas Sade’s golden toe, the Wolfpack would be dealing with an embarrassing loss to an FCS school right before playing what may prove be the Pack’s toughest test all season–a home matchup with national title contender Clemson on Sept. 19.
In that 23-21 squeaker over Richmond, the Wolfpack raised several red flags. An inexperienced secondary allowed Spiders quarterback Michael Strauss to complete 29 of 45 passes for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This came a week after State limited Louisiana Tech’s Scotty Young to 178 yards and no touchdowns.
After turning the ball over just once against Louisiana Tech, State committed three turnovers on Saturday. All of those miscues took place in Richmond territory.
Of course, the Wolfpack won the game. I apologize if I sound disappointed, which I’m not. A win is a win no matter how you slice it.
But here is the point I’m trying to make: State is a young team. Young teams often struggle with consistency, especially if they’re still trying to grasp a completely new offensive system.
They can practice it ‘till the cows come home, but until the Wolfpack gain regular game experience in Doeren’s system, which they eventually will, the bumps in the road will likely continue. But they should become less frequent as the season moves along.
When Clemson comes to town, the Pack will have to contain Tigers quarterback Tahj Boyd. This is the same Tahj Boyd who torched State for 426 yards and five touchdowns in Death Valley last season.
The Tigers feature a level of speed and raw talent that few teams in the nation can compare to. Ditto Florida State, who the Wolfpack must face on the road later in the season. You don’t get to play against Richmond every game.
I said it before the season, and I’m going to stick with it–State is going to a bowl game this year. Which one it will be in anybody’s guess. The road to get there, however, will be anything but a straight shot. The competition is only going to get tougher from here.
But buckle up, because the ride’s just starting. Go Pack.
