WINSTON-SALEM — Forget the talk about the “new season.” As amazing and uplifting as the four-game winning streak was, it ended with Saturday’s 38-18 loss to Wake Forest.
And if the Wolfpack wants to complete the storybook ending of O’Brien’s debut season, it must first go through Maryland Saturday on Senior Day. A win would complete O’Brien’s turnaround season in his debut as head coach and would solidify his team’s bowl eligibility. A loss would be devastating.
O’Brien said it first. The players echoed him. With a single contest remaining, this has become a one-game season.
“We’re fighting to stay alive,” senior receiver Darrell Blackman said. “We have to go out there and put it all on the line Saturday. We’ve been through a lot this first half of the season. Then the second half we fought back and turned things around. But we’ve got to believe in ourselves and keep making plays.”
Ironically, Maryland finds itself in a near identical situation as the Pack. At 5-6, Maryland’s bowl eligibility also rides on Saturday’s contest. The game is reminiscent of State’s meeting with Maryland on Nov. 26, 2005, where both teams sat at 5-5 and the Pack prevailed 20-14 in Raleigh to improve its record to 6-5, guaranteeing itself a bowl trip.
Junior safety DaJuan Morgan said he remembers the significance of the 2005 game and understands the outcome of Saturday’s contest will weigh heavily on the program.
“It’s the same thing that happened two years ago,” Morgan said. “It was Maryland, the last game of the season. It would just be big for the whole program and recruits. It tells our whole program. It gives us a look going into next year. For the seniors, it’s their last game at home. It would be a big win.”
Some State fans have avoided bowl talk, as if mentioning the possibility of a bowl game would somehow jinx the Pack. But a win could make a bowl game a reality. Present at Saturday’s game against Wake were representatives from the Champs Sports Bowl, the Meineke Car Care Bowl and the Humanitarian Bowl.
Granted, Wake Forest is certainly qualified for a bowl game, but the reality is that bowl officials know State fans will buy tickets, if there are tickets to be bought.
Even a loss against the Terrapins this coming Saturday wouldn’t discredit the turnaround the team has made this season. The second half of the season has shown that when players buy into O’Brien’s system, good things happen.
O’Brien’s recent success has also shown that Lee Fowler managed to steal two great coaches in O’Brien and Sidney Lowe.
With that said, the implications surrounding the Maryland game make Saturday’s contest the biggest game of the year, though the Carolina game is always up there.
Last week I wrote a commentary pleading with students to support the men’s soccer team in the ACC Tournament. I doubt I have to do much pleading with this game. You know what rides on Saturday’s win. So if you’ve shaken the turkey hangover and are anywhere near Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, I expect to see you there.
It’s Senior Day. It’s bowl eligibility. It’s N.C. State football.
“We have loyal fans,” Morgan said. “They travel. So I think it’s going to be a packed house.”
Let Langdon know what you think about State’s bowl chances at sports@technicianonline.com