As you probably already know, we lost to UNC this past week. I know, I know, I am sorry for bringing it up again, but I promise I have a reason for mentioning the heartbreaking evening. Even though it was devastating to lose to the most annoying team in the league, the intense cheering at the game reminded me of how spirited our school is, regardless of if we win or lose.
We went in hopeful considering the victorious defeat of Duke a couple weeks ago. Duke beat UNC. Basic math properties show that if A > B and B > C then A > C, am I right? However, history also shows that UNC generally just beats us, with a record of having 155 wins over our 77. The upside to this fact is that as a student body, we never really just accept defeat going into a game. I don’t know about you all, but I always go into every major game full well knowing that we aren’t the best team, but still super hopeful that we will still win.
It’s just the Wolfpack way.
We, as NC State fans, even have the same opinion on our basketball coach. On the game Wednesday, the crowd actually booed Gottfried in unison. It was recently revealed that Mark Gottfried will not return as NC State men’s basketball coach following the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. State is getting a new coach and the booing at the game shows that the Wolfpack should be pretty excited about a change in the coaching staff. In response to the news of Gottfried leaving, he stated ”NC State is a special place and I appreciate the opportunity to finish the remainder of the season.”
Gary Parish from CBS Sports is scrutinizing us for pushing away another coach in hopes of winning more than we do now. In response to his sassiness, I say that it isn’t unreasonable to want the team that you so fully back to win once and a while.
A blogger for State Fans Nation wrote a response to Parish saying, “I for one plan to forget the other noise and support the team. Yes, that does include its current coach.” I agree with this individual because even though we aren’t all super happy with Gottfried, we shouldn’t let our sentiments toward him get in the way of enjoying the remaining of the games. Plus, I just don’t think we have it in us to not enjoy the games.
I think that our student body has the same general idea about our basketball games, being that you just can’t take it all too seriously. Josh Walker, a sophomore studying finance and self-proclaimed huge sports fan, sums up what it’s like to be an NC State fan nicely.
“I am beyond devastated by the continual bad play this basketball season,” Walker said. “Part of being an NC State fan is being able to laugh at yourself at times. But at the end of the day, I will always back the pack and defend my team in even the most dire situations.” I think the dire situations that Walker is referring to definitely include last Wednesday night. Sorry, that’s the last time I’ll mention it, I promise.
NC State students are super spirited no matter what the circumstances, and it doesn’t simply end when you graduate from here. My mom tells me about every time she meets an NC State alumni, which happens pretty often when living in Charlotte. Everyone seems to have the same quality: They are die-hard Pack fans. Even if it is an emotional rollercoaster with certain sports teams, we, as NC State students, are apparently sworn in for life.
