Tim Peeler has neat piece up on GoPack.com. (Link)
I’m looking for a little help. To help celebrate the 40th anniversary of Carter-Finley Stadium, the athletics department is looking to identify the top seven games ever played at NC State’s home football stadium.
After we have identified the top 20 candidates, we’re going to conduct a fan poll that will whittle it down to seven. Each of the games selected will then be recognized at a home football game this fall during the season-long celebration of the stadium’s 40th birthday.
Peeler says that he is looking for the “top seven games ever played at Carter-Finley Stadium”, but he only lists NC State victories (and one tie) as potential candidates. Therefore we need to focus only on NC State wins (non-losses) as opposed to just the “best games played” which may yield some different results.
Peeler has listed 15 top candidates and is hoping that readers can make it more comprehensive. I am going to hold off on comprising my list of the actual Top 7 until later. For now, the goal is to throw out some other games to add to Peeler’s list of candidates that inlcude:
(1) NC State 42, Virginia 21, Oct. 29, 1966
(2) NC State 13, North Carolina 7, Sept. 16, 1967
(3) NC State 28, North Carolina 26, Oct. 6, 1973
(4) NC State 12, Penn State 7, Nov. 9, 1974
(5) NC State 8, Florida 7, Sept. 20, 1975
(6) NC State 27, Indiana 0, Oct. 4, 1975
(7) NC State 28, Duke 7, Nov. 17, 1979
(8) NC State 27, Clemson 3, Oct. 25, 1986
(9) NC State 23, South Carolina 22, Nov. 1, 1986
(10) NC State 43, Duke 43, Sept. 1988
(11) NC State 28, Georgia Tech 21, Oct. 5, 1991
(12) NC State 24, Florida State 7, Sept. 12, 1998
(13) NC State 38, Syracuse 17, Oct. 1, 1998
(14) NC State 30, Georgia Tech 23 (OT), Sept. 21, 2000
(15) NC State 17, Florida State 7: Nov. 23, 2002
^That is a GREAT LIST. Remember, the games don’t necessarily have to be phenomenal comebacks or closely fought affairs. Don’t forget to weigh “significance” of the game into the equation. For example, 1989’s 40-6 destruction of Carolina would be a candidate on my list because of the significance of such a trouncing against the Heels.
A few others that immediately popped into my mind for consideration:
NC State 24, Duke 23: 1994
The Blue Devils were nationally ranked and having a dream season under first year Head Coach, Fred Goldsmith. Duke led 23-7 in the fourth quarter when Terry Harvey and the rest of the Wolfpack launched a comeback that will not be forgotten.
NC State 15, Marshall 14: 1991
Dick Sheridan’s Wolfpack was 5-0 and climbing the national rankings. Former Wolfpack QB, Jim Donnan’s Thundering Herd were building a mid-major power and were nothing to overlook. The Wolfpack fell into the trap on a beautiful October afternoon that fell on the weekend of fall break. With most of the students gone, and the Wolfpack eyeing a nationally televised contest at Clemson the following week (purple jerseys), State fell behind 14-3 before scoring two touchdowns with less than two minutes to go to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. I was one of the few students remaining in the stands at the end of the game.
For the sake of time, I am going to leave my suggestions at those two for now. I’ll be back with more later, but would love to hear your thoughts now. Ultimately, I’d like to take everyone’s candidates and comments and contruct a “Top 25 Wins” of all-time entry. So, please don’t hesitate to chime in with games that may be a little further down the list than the Top 7. Thanks!