It’s another pit in my stomach. It’s another lowered head. It’s another cringe and another sigh. But this time, coach Chuck Amato didn’t let me down on the field.
This time it’s sheer embarrassment after Amato, in response to why his team lost to Akron last Saturday, offered the fact that Akron allows academic nonqualifiers to play football as a potential reason for N.C. State’s 20-17 loss.
“They’re in a conference that allows nonqualifiers in school. Nonqualifiers,” he said Monday. “Y’all need to look that one up to write stories. The Boise States. The Fresno States. The Louisvilles before the new rules.”
His comments have ignited the national media and brought their heat back to our University.
David Duffey of ESPN.com listed the Wolfpack as No. 5, right next No. 4 Duke, in his weekly “Bottom 10” column, in which he wrote: “‘Are you out of your Vulcan mind?”: Pointing out that the MAC allows nonqualifiers in his news conference was an undeserved low blow by Chuck Amato.'”
SportsIllustrated.com’s Stewart Mandel, who called Amato the “Worst Coach in America” prior to the season wrote yesterday “Among the many titles N.C. State coach Chuck Amato has earned over the past several years — snazzy dresser, king of the chests, worst head coach in the country — we can now add a new one: Sore loser.”
And finally, Fresno State’s coach Pat Hill told the Durham Herald Sun yesterday he wanted to play the Pack this season.
“Why don’t we play a game?,” Hill said in the Herald Sun. “Just tell him instead of talking — if they want to talk about us, then let’s play. Play us in Boise. See if they want to do that because if they have dates available, say we’re available to play.”
Chuck Amato is not an embarrassment to our University, but his comments were a childish, weak attempt at a copout after a disappointing loss. His comments are an embarrassment to this University.
I’ve always equated success to getting up one more time than you fall. It’s OK that our football team is struggling. It’s OK that Pack football is down right now. The truest State fans are going to be there every Saturday they can this fall.
But to kick someone while you’re down — it’s not what this University is about. It’s not what sports or life is about.
Amato is scheduled to talk to the media later today after his team’s practice. Wouldn’t it be nice to see him pick himself up, apologize for his comments and move on to Southern Mississippi?
Contact Tanner Kroeger at sports@technicianonline.com.