What a difference a year makes.
At this time in 2012, there was hardly a red and white soul who wasn’t excited for N.C. State football. The Wolfpack had very little uncertainty at key positions in the depth chart, and had just put together a solid 8-5 season capped off by a victory over Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
Now, as we plow through the dog days of summer, the anticipation level is certainly down a notch, at least from what this writer can tell. This season is full of mysteries, like how new head coach Dave Doeren will fare in his first season in a BCS conference, or who will take the snaps for the Wolfpack.
I’ve heard many people say that graduate student transfer Brandon Mitchell, formerly of Arkansas, will be the starter for the Wolfpack when they open against Louisiana Tech on Aug. 31. My question is, what exactly are people basing that decision on?
Now, if Doeren and company decide that Mitchell is the man for the job, then I’m not complaining. I trust our coaching staff one hundred percent. But consider this: Mitchell has a total of three career starts in four years of college, throwing just 43 passes. Colorado State transfer Pete Thomas, who has been competing for the starting job with Mitchell and sophomore Manny Stocker, started three times that many games in 2011 alone. Granted, Thomas’ 18 touchdowns and 21 interceptions are far from impressive numbers, but solely looking at the experience factor, it’s no contest. Advantage, Thomas.
Both Stocker and Thomas were on the roster for the spring game back in April, and have been practicing under Doeren’s system for much longer than Mitchell. I have nothing against Mitchell, it just seems interesting to me that a guy can transfer in and automatically be anointed the starter when there’s a competition going on.
There are some interesting differences between this year’s Wolfpack team and that of 2012. Last season, the quarterback situation was clear as glass-—Mike Glennon was returning as the starter and everyone and their brother knew it. The defense, and the secondary in particular, was highly regarded, led by ballhawk David Amerson, who is now a member of the NFL’s Washington Redskins. The Wolfpack faithful thought that 2012 would be the team’s best season since the Philip Rivers days.
We all know what happened next. State took to the Georgia Dome for a nationally-televised clash with Tennessee, a team which had finished near the bottom of the SEC the season before, and just got burned.
The season did have ups, such as the upset of then-No. 3 Florida State in Raleigh, but it also had its downs, like the homecoming drubbing at the hands of lowly Virginia and the unspeakable game in Chapel Hill. All in all, I don’t think there was anyone who considered 2012 a success. Athletic Director Debbie Yow certainly didn’t, showing head coach Tom O’Brien the door after six years.
And that’s where Doeren and company come in. Expectations certainly aren’t as high as they were a year ago, and with powerhouses such as Clemson and FSU expected to rule the ACC Atlantic Division, I suspect that only the most esteemed Wolfpack fan sees State making it to Charlotte on the first Saturday in December.
But fear not, Wolfpack faithful. I’m not generally one to put a lot of stock into preseason projections, but Athlon Sports has State finishing 7-5. Bowl eligible. Chip Patterson, host of Gameday Live on 99.9 The Fan, said on air a couple weeks ago that he expects the Pack to go bowling as well.
Therein lies my point: You just never know.
Last season, the Wolfpack were expected to make noise, and they didn’t. Is there any reason that the shoe can’t be on the other foot this time around? I implore everyone reading this column to be that esteemed fan. Our fanbase makes tons of noise about how State sports are cursed, that no matter how much talent we have, “N.C. State Sh*t” will keep us down. The sooner we snap out of that mentality, the easier it is to envision success as a program, no matter who the quarterback or the coach is.
Keep an open mind, Wolfpack fans. That’s all I’m asking.
