When football coach Tom O’Brien walked into the visitor’s press tent in College Park, Md., after his team’s fourth consecutive loss, the frustration was palpable. Midway through the press conference, Maryland’s band marched by, drowning out reporters’ questions as it blasted its fight song just yards away from where coach O’Brien was standing.

In the midst of all this, I couldn’t help but think, or at least hope, that this will be remembered as the low point of O’Brien’s career with the Wolfpack. Right now, the numbers show the Pack to be the worst team in the ACC.

State has ridden a four game losing streak to last place in the Atlantic division and the worst record in the ACC — even worse than Duke’s. If you go beyond the win-loss records, and begin to look at the statistics, the situation gets only bleaker.

The Wolfpack ranks last or near the bottom of the conference in virtually every significant team statistic. State is currently 10th in scoring offense, 11th in total offense and dead last in both scoring defense and total defense.

It is hard to say what this defense is really good at, as it is last in the ACC in both rushing defense and pass defense. The Pack has earned the fewest first downs while allowing its opponents the most first downs than any team in conference.

There is one statistic in which the Wolfpack dominates kickoff return average. But State’s success in this category could just be a result of the fact that we return more kicks than anyone, and thus are the most experienced.

Despite the evidence, I just can’t help but think that this team is not that bad. Just ask Boston College, Florida State or Maryland, the three teams at the top of the Atlantic division. State took all three of them down to the wire. While all that matters at the end of the day is the almighty “W,” one cannot just condemn the Wolfpack as the dregs of the ACC when it is competing on an even level with some of the top teams in conference.

Looking at the season, it is hard to believe the team that was shut out at South Carolina or was blown out in Clemson is the same team that was fielded against Maryland on Saturday.

In September, it seemed as if every week the football team announced another injury to a critical offensive player, but that is over now, and the continuity on the offense is beginning to pay dividends. The Wolfpack moved the ball at will against the Terrapins for most of the game, and the emergence of quarterback Russell Wilson has been incredible.

Much of Wilson’s success can also be attributed to the offensive line, which has been solid in the last two contests. Wilson had plenty of time to make decisions against the Terrapins. At one point, the Maryland faithful were literally booing their defense’s inability to put any pressure on him.

The defense, which played atrociously against the Terps, looks as if it is in need of a tackling lesson. It is clear O’Brien is still looking for which players will give the Pack the best chance to win. Freshman cornerback Dominique Ellis and redshirt freshman linebacker Audie Cole saw extensive playing time in the second half when the game was on the line. After the game, O’Brien acknowledged the staff was going to take a serious look at the defensive depth chart.

“We’re going to evaluate our personnel again to see if we’re getting the right guys in the game,” O’Brien said.

The possible return of star linebacker Nate Irving in the Pack’s next game against Duke could bring a much-needed boost to the defensive secondary. To some, it may seem as if the situation could not get much more depressing for the Pack. The statistics and the numbers all show State to be the conference’s worst team. However, the team has showed it can compete at a high level in its last three games, so let’s just hope it can use this bye week to learn how to win. As coach O’Brien said, “We’ll see what kind of football team we have.”